NOW might be a good time to trade Sully

[trickybilly]

Do Bird Rights attach to rookie deals? And would the trading partner in turn get his Bird Rights? how does it work?

[MJohnnyboy]

Its an interesting question because if the Celtics do trade him, and this has already been brought up, I hope its for someone who can fill a desperate need, like a wing scorer or a dominant big man. DMC comes to mind. Its a pipe dream I know that, and the Kings are going to ask for the farm (not to mention they haven't given up yet on their season), but Sully, Lee, Hunter, the Brooklyn 1st this year, Celtics 1st this year and other filler is a decent package for him depending on how bad Brooklyn is and how much Hunter and Sully can prove in the meantime.

Thats just one idea but the trade Sullinger proposal while his value is high may not be likable, but it may be the best course of action.

[Tr1boy]

After tonight's game I don't think he should get more than 8-10 million a year.   It doesn't matter with the cap increasing.

And because he and his greedy agent won't take that, yes we should consider trading him.

He is shooting less than 50 percent from the field.  And can't make multiple open shots.  Teams leave him wide open around the 3 pt line for a reason. 

Sullinger , Turner,  Young and a 1st and lets see what we can get.  (Add Zeller too)

[oldtype]

I think I agree with this. Now is a great time to move him. (Although I don't know what exactly I would want. There's no point if he's just going to bring back some random late first. Ideally we'd use him to plug the gaping hole at the wing, but who's even available?)

The agent thing is irrelevant though. Falk just has a strategy of rejecting all non-max extensions and testing the RFA market because his experience tells him that whatever offer sheet his clients get will usually be better than what the team offers as an extension. That doesn't mean that he thinks all of his clients (including Sully) deserve the max.

[LarBrd33]

Do Bird Rights attach to rookie deals? And would the trading partner in turn get his Bird Rights? how does it work?

Pretty sure that yes it would carry over to the new team.  He's a restricted free agent, right?  I think they'd get those rights. 

[wiley]

Is this any good?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=q4vf4ho

To Boston: Snell, Portis, Memphis first round pick

To Memphis:  Noah

To Chicago:  Sully, Jeff Green, Evan Turner, James Young

[ssspence]

Sally's free agent (and representation) status is going to reduce his value. Possible a contender with rebounding issues might take a shot, but not for much in return.  Also possible an org who likes widely inaccurate 3-point misses that barely graze the rim might take a shot, but not for much in return.

[max215]

We should deal him as soon as possible. He's been great, but I just can't get over the feeling that he's going to get injured AGAIN. We should target a wing scorer, but we should really just get as much value for him as possible.

[chambers]

I love Sullinger, as everyone has seen from my posts about him, and you're right that Ainge likes to sell the donuts when they're hot, but I can't see us getting much back for him as an expiring with injury/fitness/attitude issues.

He seems much more motivated this season.
The big dillemma for Ainge is:
1) could simply be a contract year effort by Sully.
2) the other possibility is that Sully is motivated because he's being challenged after years of a rebuilding experience and playing out of position-then forcing him to chuck threes for a whole season instead of playing to his rebounding strengths around the basket.

The better decision could be to let him play out the season, tthen attempt to sign him for a bargain deal ala Crowder.
I have a feeling that plenty of GM's would have concern about making large RFA offers with his history-but that may just play into our best interests.

If we could lock him up on a value deal for 4 years, he could become a very valuable trade asset.
It's a gamble either way and I think we need to see another 30 games of Sully playing/hustling/being a great team mate like this before making any decisions.

Of course Ainge may have already made up his mind and is just waiting for calls about him over All Star break.

Sully, Sully you are a frustrating subject.
He's always projected (statistically) as a potential 18 point/12 rebound monster with some stretch capability and an excellent post defender.
Could this be the year that baby Sully turns into a man? He's still only 23 years old after all.

[inverselock]

I don't know what we could get for him,  but we would be a very bad rebounding team with Sully gone.   

[trickybilly]

Do Bird Rights attach to rookie deals? And would the trading partner in turn get his Bird Rights? how does it work?

Pretty sure that yes it would carry over to the new team.  He's a restricted free agent, right?  I think they'd get those rights.

So that would help entice someone, but as you pointed out his health is one of the main concerns so there may not be many partners who see that extra year as a real pull factor.

[BitterJim]

I don't see any trades happening until AT LEAST December 15th, when any players signed this summer can be traded (which would likely be important for matching salaries)

[Boris Badenov]

I have no real preference about whether we keep him vs. any of our other frontcourt players (all of whom are expendable in my view).

The issue though is that Ainge really isn't in position to say "I want to move this guy now, what's out there?" because he's looking to trade up quality-wise, not do a lateral deal or a 1-for-3 type swap. We don't even really want any more draft picks.

We're looking for a deal where we package multiple assets for a very good player or top pick, and those deals tend not to materialize at the point in this season. The Rockets aren't going to move James Harden after ten games. Same with Cousins.

So I think we just have to hope that Sully keeps playing like this for another 15-20 games. Then make the call.

[chambers]

After tonight's game I don't think he should get more than 8-10 million a year.   It doesn't matter with the cap increasing.

And because he and his greedy agent won't take that, yes we should consider trading him.

He is shooting less than 50 percent from the field.  And can't make multiple open shots.  Teams leave him wide open around the 3 pt line for a reason. 

Sullinger , Turner,  Young and a 1st and lets see what we can get.  (Add Zeller too)

What was wrong with last night's game?
He's been our second best player this year. He's been an excellent mid range jumpshooter his whole career (like top 15 in the NBA). When you're a stretch four having a 50% FG is very hard to do-especially when three pointers are part of your role on the offense. He's shooting 37% from three which is a good start.
In 24 minutes a game this year he's averaging:
11 points
9 rebounds
1 block
1 steal
2 assists.

per 36 he's averaging 16.5 points, 13.5 rebounds lol. That's like a young Zac Randolph.
We just have to see if his body has lost enough weight to play at least 30 minutes a night.

You're just never going to get a good return on him in a trade because he's expiring and RFA.

Sullingers rebounding has tremendous value, much like Crowder's defense is elite- Sully is an elite rebounder.

[Celtics4ever]

In 24 minutes a game this year he's averaging:
11 points
9 rebounds
1 block
1 steal
2 assists.

I think he has played decent this year and some games he has been good.   He is trying on Defense which has always been his greatest flaw in the past.   The big questions is:  Is this just because of a contract year?

per 36 he's averaging 16.5 points, 13.5 rebounds lol. That's like a young Zac Randolph.
We just have to see if his body has lost enough weight to play at least 30 minutes a night.

Projection stats are inherently dishonest in this case.   He does not play 36 mpg.   He would foul out or his performance would drop off from fatigue.

Sullingers rebounding has tremendous value, much like Crowder's defense is elite- Sully is an elite rebounder.

He is a good rebounder, but elite?

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/rebounds/sort/avgRebounds/year/2016/seasontype/2

16th in the league.   He definitely has a knock for it.  But 9.2 is a far cry from the double digit guys.  I think to be elite at rebounding you have to get 10+ a game.   He is getting there but it is a little early to frame it that way.

I think he has improved his effort level and has improved his shot selection and fitness.   I am still worried it is just because he wants paid.