Trade IT4 for a big?

[LilRip]

I know everyone has been clamoring for an ET trade. Even me. But realistically, there aren't many people interested in a guy like ET. So even if I like IT4, I also realize how he's one of the few players on this team with pretty decent trade value.

Where I'm coming from is that we currently have a super solid rotation of guards/playmakers. Guys who can play heavy minutes at a high level are: IT4, Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, and Avery Bradley. Guys who look like they deserve to play role player's minutes are Terry Rozier and RJ Hunter. That's a total of 6 guys who are good enough for minutes, plus the occasional James Young sighting.

However, in terms of bigs, it's pretty clear that despite our depth, outside of Amir Johnson, none of our guys produce at a particularly 'high level'. At least not in the levels of IT4, Smart, Turner or even Bradley, all who bring multiple things to the table.

So to bolster our frontcourt, I think exploring trade scenarios with IT4 for a big is a pretty good move. And I'm not dreaming of landing a Cousins or a Drummond. I don't know who yet, exactly, we can acquire but maybe a guy like Dieng?

[slamtheking]

I don't think IT gets you more than a mediocre backup Center.  TBH, I'd rather shoot for a SF that can get their own shot (if possible).

not a fan of IT as a PG but at least he can provide scoring off the bench.  If we're shipping that out, we should work on our worst position and that's SF.  we have a lot of bigs that are pretty solid players.  we really need a SF that can score

[trickybilly]

Much prefer to ship out IT than Avery.. IT's value maybe  a little higher..

You'd need to throw in too much other stuff though to get a decent big

[BDeCosta26]

Why would we trade the guy who's easily our best offensive player, the guy who was the biggest factor in our 24-12 finish and the only guy who can get buckets at will on this team right now, for a big man like Gorgui Dieng.

That's literally insane. You wanna trade our best player, who's only 26 and under an unbelievably good contract for a back-up level C who's the same age? Why?! Cause he's a "rim protector"?

Amir Johnson and Tyler Zeller are our rim protectors and while that may not be ideal, it's certainly serviceable. Between them and Mickey, we certainly won't be last in blocked shots again and our middle of the road defense last year will take a step into the top 10.

IT is a genuine difference maker on offense, you'd have to be crazy to trade him for a guy like Dieng .

[Tr1boy]

Why would we trade the guy who's easily our best offensive player, the guy who was the biggest factor in our 24-12 finish and the only guy who can get buckets at will on this team right now, for a big man like Gorgui Dieng.

That's literally insane. You wanna trade our best player, who's only 26 and under an unbelievably good contract for a back-up level C who's the same age? Why?! Cause he's a "rim protector"?

Amir Johnson and Tyler Zeller are our rim protectors and while that may not be ideal, it's certainly serviceable. Between them and Mickey, we certainly won't be last in blocked shots again and our middle of the road defense last year will take a step into the top 10.

IT is a genuine difference maker on offense, you'd have to be crazy to trade him for a guy like Dieng .

You make some good points. But IT is not the best player on the team. That award goes to Smart.

Also , some feel Rozier can provide what IT can plus play better D.

IF IT is traded, the backcourt rotation would look like

AB, Smart
Hunter, Rozier

I would be OK with this.

Right now I would trade Turner, Young, Sully or Zeller and IT for a long term solution at the SF spot.  Example Demar Derozan.

[Csfan1984]

IT, KO and Sully for Favors and a protected 1st.

Edit add: 2nd trade
Turner, C's 2016 1st, Dallas 1st, Wolves 2nd, Dallas 2nd for Barnes.

Smart/Rozier
AB/Hunter/Young
Barnes/Crowder/JJ
Lee/AJ/Mickey
Favors/Zeller

[Neurotic Guy]

Why would we trade the guy who's easily our best offensive player, the guy who was the biggest factor in our 24-12 finish and the only guy who can get buckets at will on this team right now, for a big man like Gorgui Dieng.

That's literally insane. You wanna trade our best player, who's only 26 and under an unbelievably good contract for a back-up level C who's the same age? Why?! Cause he's a "rim protector"?

Amir Johnson and Tyler Zeller are our rim protectors and while that may not be ideal, it's certainly serviceable. Between them and Mickey, we certainly won't be last in blocked shots again and our middle of the road defense last year will take a step into the top 10.

IT is a genuine difference maker on offense, you'd have to be crazy to trade him for a guy like Dieng .

I wouldn't trade IT for Dieng, but the fact that IT is our best offensive player is a problem.  I'd love Thomas as a spark off the bench -- Microwave, Eddie House, Hambone Williams.  But at 5'9" he is a liability on the floor and simply cant be the offensive focal point.  If C's can get a PP type scorer, IT would be a great rotation player on this team. But as the top scorer, it's (double-entendre) a recipe for continued offensive mediocrity.

[SHAQATTACK]

Trade IT , Sully , and draft pick for Paul George.

[BDeCosta26]

Why would we trade the guy who's easily our best offensive player, the guy who was the biggest factor in our 24-12 finish and the only guy who can get buckets at will on this team right now, for a big man like Gorgui Dieng.

That's literally insane. You wanna trade our best player, who's only 26 and under an unbelievably good contract for a back-up level C who's the same age? Why?! Cause he's a "rim protector"?

Amir Johnson and Tyler Zeller are our rim protectors and while that may not be ideal, it's certainly serviceable. Between them and Mickey, we certainly won't be last in blocked shots again and our middle of the road defense last year will take a step into the top 10.

IT is a genuine difference maker on offense, you'd have to be crazy to trade him for a guy like Dieng .

I wouldn't trade IT for Dieng, but the fact that IT is our best offensive player is a problem.  I'd love Thomas as a spark off the bench -- Microwave, Eddie House, Hambone Williams.  But at 5'9" he is a liability on the floor and simply cant be the offensive focal point.  If C's can get a PP type scorer, IT would be a great rotation player on this team. But as the top scorer, it's (double-entendre) a recipe for continued offensive mediocrity.

Well yeah, I'm not saying IT is like untouchable, but considering we're going for as many wins as possible, I wouldn't trade him for anyone that doesn't justify losing a player of IT's impact. I get he's a defensive liability, but he tries hard on that end and we have so many plus defenders we can cover a lot of his deficiencies

Thomas is a Jamal Crawford level 6th man in this league. A guy who makes a HUGE impact even in that type of limited role. I'd easily include him in a trade for a Paul George type, but not for a guy as limited as Dieng. That's just crazy.

[hwangjini_1]

I don't think IT gets you more than a mediocre backup Center.  TBH, I'd rather shoot for a SF that can get their own shot (if possible).

not a fan of IT as a PG but at least he can provide scoring off the bench.  If we're shipping that out, we should work on our worst position and that's SF.  we have a lot of bigs that are pretty solid players.  we really need a SF that can score

good points. it cost the celtics thornton and cleveland's first round pick for thomas. that is not exactly a high price to pay. everyone in the league probably knows thomas' game and limits.

any front line player the celtics would get for IT would have trouble beating out the current roster for playing time.

i think IT is more valuable to the celtics - who need scoring off the bench - than for other teams.

[JBcat]

Trade IT , Sully , and draft pick for Paul George.

Would love that but Thomas is more of a win now player so the Pacers wouldn't have much use for him in a rebuild.  Maybe something like Sully, one our rookies, Young, and a pick (would love to avoid trading the Nets pick if possible so maybe Mavs pick)as a package. 

[LilRip]

IT, KO and Sully for Favors and a protected 1st.

Edit add: 2nd trade
Turner, C's 2016 1st, Dallas 1st, Wolves 2nd, Dallas 2nd for Barnes.

Smart/Rozier
AB/Hunter/Young
Barnes/Crowder/JJ
Lee/AJ/Mickey
Favors/Zeller

Would be completely on-board with a trade for Favors.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Fantasy basketball trade.

[LilRip]

Why would we trade the guy who's easily our best offensive player, the guy who was the biggest factor in our 24-12 finish and the only guy who can get buckets at will on this team right now, for a big man like Gorgui Dieng.

That's literally insane. You wanna trade our best player, who's only 26 and under an unbelievably good contract for a back-up level C who's the same age? Why?! Cause he's a "rim protector"?

Amir Johnson and Tyler Zeller are our rim protectors and while that may not be ideal, it's certainly serviceable. Between them and Mickey, we certainly won't be last in blocked shots again and our middle of the road defense last year will take a step into the top 10.

IT is a genuine difference maker on offense, you'd have to be crazy to trade him for a guy like Dieng .

I wouldn't trade IT for Dieng, but the fact that IT is our best offensive player is a problem.  I'd love Thomas as a spark off the bench -- Microwave, Eddie House, Hambone Williams.  But at 5'9" he is a liability on the floor and simply cant be the offensive focal point.  If C's can get a PP type scorer, IT would be a great rotation player on this team. But as the top scorer, it's (double-entendre) a recipe for continued offensive mediocrity.

Well yeah, I'm not saying IT is like untouchable, but considering we're going for as many wins as possible, I wouldn't trade him for anyone that doesn't justify losing a player of IT's impact. I get he's a defensive liability, but he tries hard on that end and we have so many plus defenders we can cover a lot of his deficiencies

Thomas is a Jamal Crawford level 6th man in this league. A guy who makes a HUGE impact even in that type of limited role. I'd easily include him in a trade for a Paul George type, but not for a guy as limited as Dieng. That's just crazy.

He makes an impact, no one's denying that. That's why he can get us value. The reason I brought up Dieng is because he's still a project at this point but has shown flashes of being pretty good. On top of that, Minny will likely being willing trade partners because they already have Towns.

Someone brought up Favors, which I think would be a fantastic trade. I just don't know if Utah would pull that, even if they already have Gobert. Paul George would make no sense since Indy has Ellis, who is pretty much a better version of IT. Someone brought up Derozan too, who I'd also really like in green, but I don't know if the Raps are interested in IT4 in that they just let Louis Williams walk this offseason.

As someone pointed out, I agree that we can't get a topflight big like Cousins or Davis or Drummond for IT. And even if IT is only 26, I'm in the camp that thinks that he has pretty much hit his prime, and will sustain his current level of play over the next half decade or so. That's not a knock on him. He's pretty good, as is.

Where I'm coming from is that this team has so many other glaring holes (e.g. mediocre bigs, no scoring wings, etc.) that trading someone of IT's caliber could net us someone who can plug up one of those holes and our guard rotation will still be rock solid. So maybe it's not necessarily Dieng. If not him though, then who?

[Hemingway]

I wouldn't want to have to rely on rookies for real roles until I've seen them play a real game.