[RUMOR] Boston Celtics looking at Joakim Noah

[BudweiserCeltic]

It's pretty tricky to trade for Noah.  Lee is obviously our best salary for matching purposes, but he makes $2 million more than Noah this year, and the Bulls are already solidly in luxury tax territory, so they may not be inclined to take him on.  Trading Amir would be silly, and then our next largest salary would be Bradley, which doesn't make sense on a number of levels.  I haven't followed the Bulls enough to know if they have an additional player that they would dump to save luxury tax bills, but something like Lee and a pick for Noah costs them approximately $4 million in luxury tax.  If they got an additional young guy on top of it, the penalty would be even greater.

But if it could be worked out, I'm on board with a big rotation of Amir, Noah, Sully, and KO.  I think Noah is a very good fit for what Stevens is trying to do here.

I don't think it would be silly to move Amir in a package for Noah. They would essentially play the same type of role with Noah being more versatile than Johnson. We only have Johnson on the books for this year at 12 mil so we might as well use it wisely. That would almost be the perfect running mate for Sully too. For the Bulls they do it because it gives them cap relief next year so they could potentially miss the luxury tax next year or bring in added help.

Other than Amir has been playing significantly better than Noah, and Noah himself is in a one year contract, plus Amir's team option for next year is a very valuable asset to have.

So yes, trading Amir for Noah would be quite silly.

[bcgenuis]

See this post from last year

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=78142.0

[saltlover]

It's pretty tricky to trade for Noah.  Lee is obviously our best salary for matching purposes, but he makes $2 million more than Noah this year, and the Bulls are already solidly in luxury tax territory, so they may not be inclined to take him on.  Trading Amir would be silly, and then our next largest salary would be Bradley, which doesn't make sense on a number of levels.  I haven't followed the Bulls enough to know if they have an additional player that they would dump to save luxury tax bills, but something like Lee and a pick for Noah costs them approximately $4 million in luxury tax.  If they got an additional young guy on top of it, the penalty would be even greater.

But if it could be worked out, I'm on board with a big rotation of Amir, Noah, Sully, and KO.  I think Noah is a very good fit for what Stevens is trying to do here.

Portland has enough cap space to absorb David Lee outright. What might they reasonably command in return for brokering a deal between Chicago and Boston?

More than I'd be comfortable paying, given that Chicago is still going to want compensation for Noah.  The better option might be finding a team with a slightly cheaper expiring than Lee.  For instance, would the Wizards find Lee to be an upgrade over Nene?  (Don't know if they would.). But if they did, it could be Lee to Washington, Nene and a pick to Chicago, and Noah to Boston.  Chicago saves about $600k in tax payments this way, doesn't create a hole in their big rotation, and gets a pick.  If Lee is an upgrade, the Wizards improve without going over the tax -- perhaps the C's kick in some money to make it salary neutral.  And the C's get Noah.

Nice idea.

What did the Sixers get for taking Javale McGee? Was it a single 1st?

It was a protected 1st of OKC.  Top 18 last year I think, and top 14 going forward.  So a 1st they were reasonably likely to obtain in a season or so. Eventually it becomes 2 seconds, but I think not until 2019.  I doubt the Minny pick would cut it.  Maybe our own 1st with similar protections.  And then the Bulls would want the Dallas pick.  I like Noah, but I'm not sure he's worth the two 1sts it would take to find a partner with salary dump room.  Accordingly you need to find another team with a player making $11-$13 million who would be interested in Lee rather than that player, but don't want to give up a decent first to get Noah on their own.  I mentioned the Wizards as one such possibility, but there could be 2-3 others out there.

EDIT:  I take it back.  It's Wizards or bust!

[D Dub]

Sounds like the kind of established player from a third team we'd need to send Sac's way in a Cousins trade.   Perhaps Noah, Bradley + picks to the Kings with Mclemore, young C's + picks to the Bulls?

[DarkAzcura]

I'd take him, but I wouldn't trade any useful assets for him, heh. They'd probably get Lee and a couple seconds at most from the Celtics. Maybe Zeller in addition. That's about it. Noah is expiring anyway so if they can't get decent value for him, they may not even think it is worth it.

Lee + Zeller + maybe one or two of our million second rounders for Noah + Moore. Then I'd probably waive Moore. Everyone is an expiring in this deal, but I guess the Bulls would get Zeller's restricted rights so that's a nice option to have for them. That's all I would do at most, and even then I'm kinda iffy on trading Zeller for a dude who may be breaking down. Anywho, I'd mostly entertain it because Noah is a fantastic passer who could actually fill the role that the Celtics apparently wanted for Lee (initiator of offense in half court sets for the starting unit).

David Lee, Tyler Zeller and the Mavs pick.

(that'd be my offer)

I don't think Zeller or Lee would be a great fit with Taj Gibson or Pau Gasol, though, so that's a problem.  This wouldn't exactly help things for the Bulls.

Yep. I don't think the Celtics and Bulls are particularly great trading partners. I get the sense that they are looking for a little more energy and athletic ability to boost up their rotation. Your offer is pretty much the same exact as mine in terms of players, but I wouldn't even offer up the Mavs pick. With the injury concerns and amount of bad talk Noah has gotten out of the Chicago media coupled with the demotion to the bench plus the fact that he is an expiring contract..I can't imagine he is worth a first round pick at all. Maybe the Minny pick, and that at least gives Chicago some hope that they will get a first rounder if Minny continues to improve..but most likely two second rounders.

The closest I would get to giving them a first rounder is our Philly second rounder.

[yagru]

Noahs skills are in decline..

I would not include KO in the trade

[Moranis]

Still think my trade from the last page is a fair trade (maybe we throw in a first)

Noah, Snell

for

Turner, Jerekbo, Zeller

Chicago saves some money and gets another ball handling wing, a decent back-up center, and a stretch four to back-up Mirotic (or who can play at the 3 when they go big). 

[Chief Macho]

Noah ain't really that good anymore.  I wouldn't give up anything for him.

[__ramonezy__]

Unless Ainge has a hot tub time machine in his office, I'm not even sure why this trade is even an option... unless we can get him for Lee straight up!!! maybe with a few seconds.

I think we may be able to swing a package for Gorgi Dieng... that I would take in a heartbeat

[Rosco917]

He's 30 years old, 7' 245 lb. not a lumbering type of center, a strong, and emotional kind of defender, an exceptional passer, he's a decent rim protecter too. Little scoring ability, and a lot of miles. Also, should the C's acquire a young stud center in the future, he'd be a strong mentor and back up, if we sign him later. As for this year, and the immediate future, he would really help at the center position.

Zeller should be included in any deal for sure, and Noah would take minutes from Sully, while providing a different kind of look for the team. He and Amir could give us a more defensive minded front court.

Don't over pay, but I'm for it.

[SHAQATTACK]

Noahs skills are in decline..

I would not include KO in the trade

Yeah ...not now .......KO is young and on the UP swing and probably has more,to,offer all around than Noah ever will of could offensively . Noah is past his prime on the backslide of his career .   Which basically is based on his athletic  superiority ,  not shooting .   Not sure how many years be can still bring it.

I d let Zeller go ....he fits as a backup to Gasol .....Noah fits the C's system ok.

[LarBrd33]

Noah would be kind of ideal here wouldn't he?  What kind of a defensive monster would Smart, Bradley, Crowder, Amir and Noah be? 

[Geo123]

Zeller, Rozier, Young and Turner for Noah works in the trade machine

To me that's giving up way too much talent for a guy who's declining and on an expiring contract. 

[tarheelsxxiii]

Noah would be kind of ideal here wouldn't he?  What kind of a defensive monster would Smart, Bradley, Crowder, Amir and Noah be?

Amazing. How much would teams hate coming thru Boston ?

[LarBrd33]

Noah would be kind of ideal here wouldn't he?  What kind of a defensive monster would Smart, Bradley, Crowder, Amir and Noah be?

Amazing. How much would teams hate coming thru Boston ?

I don't follow Chicago closely so I'm not sure how washed up Noah is at this point, but the NOah of a couple years ago was a KG-level defensive center.  You stick that guy with the rest of these nuts, you could potentially have the best defensive team in the league.   Dunno how close Noah is to that guy right now... I know Chicago is stacked at the bigs and Noah's stats last year weren't bad... so I'd guess he's still got game.