No disgruntled stars, no players in KG like situation. Danny stuck?

[TheReaLPuba]

If we could some how trade for Rondo/Cousins this team would be pretty good IMO.

Just don't trade away Bradley, Crowder, or Thomas and I'm good.

[max215]

If we could some how trade for Rondo/Cousins this team would be pretty good IMO.

Just don't trade away Bradley, Crowder, or Thomas and I'm good.

Why would you want Rondo when we have Thomas? Thomas is a much, much better fit in Boston and probably just a superior player at this point too. I'd give up anything for Cousins though; he's a top 10 player in this league.

[jpotter33]

Though not a star, Philly will be looking to trade Noel before long, too.

[kozlodoev]

KG wasn't all that disgruntled. Heck, he may have vetoed the trade.

[LarBrd33]

There are a ton of guys I could see us targeting, but they can't be moved until mid December or mid January, because they signed new contracts as restricted free agents.

I'm talking about guys like Khris Middleton and Tobias Harris.   

I'm wondering if it would make sense to move Bradley (who is playing like an all-star, but still too small to share a back court with Thomas... and might be best backing up Smart anyways) for someone like Khris Middleton.   BUcks already have two SF's in Parker and Giannis... they are playing Middeton out of position at SG.   Bradley makes 8 mil.  Middleton makes 15.  Would probably have to include a contract like Jerebko's 5 mil to make it work.   Middleton can shoot and defend.  Would be a great fit.  Not a superstar, but would make a ton of sense for us.  He can't be traded until Jan 14th.

Same for Harris... They have two SF's on their bench who probably project as Orlando's future (Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja).   I think Orlando was on the fence about even bringing Harris back for that kind of money (16 mil per year).  I'd think you could get him.  He can't be traded until December 15th. 

You also have guys like Kevin Love (can't be traded until December 15th) that I wouldn't be terribly shocked to see moved.  Once Kyrie comes back, who knows if Love will continue having his role.  They have Thompson making 14 mil to be Love's backup.  That's a lot of money... considering that Thompson might be a better fit in a Kyrie/LeBron offense, I'm not counting out the possibility that Love (with his value back up thanks to the team taking great care to involve him) gets sold for a bounty of assets. 

[obnoxiousmime]

I don't think Sacramento will consider dealing Cousins until his contract is up and it's clear he will leave in free agency. As I've said before, they will do anything to make him happy, even replacing coaches again. I expect them to remain buyers for the next couple years, until it's clear they will lose him for nothing when his contract expires in 2018. The only chance is if Cousins himself demands a trade and starts acting up, but the Celtics don't have the ready-now talent Sacramento would want in a deal. They do not want to blow it up entirely.

It's not a good time to be hoping for stars to become available. The ones that might be dealt (Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Joe Johnson, DeAndre Jordan, Thaddeus Young, Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker) are either too old, overrated, not good fits, or all of the above. The young up-and-coming stars are already happy on their current teams and are either locked up or will be locked up when their rookie deals are up.

It's possible Durant will be available this or next season, either in free agency or trade, but this Celtics team isn't really good enough for it to be a consideration for him. He's going to want to go somewhere with established stars so he can realistically compete for what will probably be his last few shots at a title.

Horford is also a possibility, but Atlanta would not want to deal him to an Eastern team and they look to still be a strong team in the next few years, increasing the chance he just re-signs.

The Celtics should look to acquire young guys who, in the next few years might be extraneous to their teams due to roster redundancy. In Philadelphia at some point in the next 3 years they will have to trade either Noel or Okafor because they will both gripe about wanting to be starters, not to mention the whole Embiid mess. Gorgui Dieng may want out at some point because Towns is blocking him. Milwaukee may decide that Giannis, Parker, and Middleton can't play together or that all three is too much to invest in wing guys, and one of them becomes available. This is all a few years down the line though.

Basically you're looking for a Monroe/Drummond or Bledsoe/Thomas type situation where young guys who usually would never be available become expendable. Or, you find that diamond in the rough like Kawhi Leonard or Kyle Lowry who is much, much better than he has shown in his first few years in the league and miraculously jumps a few levels in tier. Obviously, that's really difficult!

[LarBrd33]

There are a ton of guys I could see us targeting, but they can't be moved until mid December or mid January, because they signed new contracts as restricted free agents.

I'm talking about guys like Khris Middleton and Tobias Harris.   

I'm wondering if it would make sense to move Bradley (who is playing like an all-star, but still too small to share a back court with Thomas... and might be best backing up Smart anyways) for someone like Khris Middleton.   BUcks already have two SF's in Parker and Giannis... they are playing Middeton out of position at SG.   Bradley makes 8 mil.  Middleton makes 15.  Would probably have to include a contract like Jerebko's 5 mil to make it work.   Middleton can shoot and defend.  Would be a great fit.  Not a superstar, but would make a ton of sense for us.  He can't be traded until Jan 14th.

Same for Harris... They have two SF's on their bench who probably project as Orlando's future (Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja).   I think Orlando was on the fence about even bringing Harris back for that kind of money (16 mil per year).  I'd think you could get him.  He can't be traded until December 15th. 

You also have guys like Kevin Love (can't be traded until December 15th) that I wouldn't be terribly shocked to see moved.  Once Kyrie comes back, who knows if Love will continue having his role.  They have Thompson making 14 mil to be Love's backup.  That's a lot of money... considering that Thompson might be a better fit in a Kyrie/LeBron offense, I'm not counting out the possibility that Love (with his value back up thanks to the team taking great care to involve him) gets sold for a bounty of assets.

On that same note... Amir (12 mil) and Jerebko (5 mil) can't be moved until December 14th either...  so if "big splash" trades were on the table, we haven't yet had an opportunity to officially make them since any superstar trade likely involves us sending out Amir's special contract.   

Maybe Christmas will come early.    Hold tight.   

Lee, Amir, Smart, Jerebko and the top 1 protected Brooklyn pick for Carmelo Anthony and Robin Lopez.   51 wins here we come.

[max215]

There are a ton of guys I could see us targeting, but they can't be moved until mid December of mid January, because they signed new contracts as restricted free agents.

I'm talking about guys like Khris Middleton and Tobias Harris.   

I'm wondering if it would make sense to move Bradley (who is playing like an all-star, but still too small to share a back court with Thomas... and might be best backing up Smart anyways) for someone like Khris Middleton.   BUcks already have two SF's in Parker and Giannis... they are playing Middeton out of position at SG.   Bradley makes 8 mil.  Middleton makes 15.  Would probably have to include a contract like Jerebko's 5 mil to make it work.   Middleton can shoot and defend.  Would be a great fit.  Not a superstar, but would make a ton of sense for us.  He can't be traded until Jan 14th.

Same for Harris... They have two SF's on their bench who probably project as Orlando's future (Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja).   I think Orlando was on the fence about even bringing Harris back for that kind of money (16 mil per year).  I'd think you could get him.  He can't be traded until December 15th. 

You also have guys like Kevin Love (can't be traded until December 15th) that I wouldn't be terribly shocked to see moved.  Once Kyrie comes back, who knows if Love will continue having his role.  They have Thompson making 14 mil to be Love's backup.  That's a lot of money... considering that Thompson might be a better fit in a Kyrie/LeBron offense, I'm not counting out the possibility that Love (with his value back up thanks to the team taking great care to involve him) gets sold for a bounty of assets.

Those are definitely situations to monitor. I'm not sure if I see the Bucks moving Middleton, but there's definitely some logic behind moving Middleton. I can absolutely see Orlando moving Harris or Gordon (Hezonja could play at the 2), who would both be nice fits for us. While I don't see them moving Hezonja this early, he was one of my favorite guys in the draft and I'd love to steal him away from Orlando. I expect Love to be moved well before his contract is over, but I doubt he's coming to Boston; maybe he'll be sent to New Orleans for Ryan Anderson and an assortment of other stuff.

[crimson_stallion]

I don't think Danny is stuck at all.

He doesn't need to make a move right now.  He is in a golden position sitting atop the GM throne - he has arguably a broader range of assets at his disposal than any other team in the league right now.  He can afford to be patient, and wait for the right deal.  Even if that means waiting 2 months, or beyond this season.

For example if you look at current standings Boston would have four 1st round picks:

Dallas: Between Pick #16 and #20 (4 teams tied)
Boston: Between Pick # 12 and Pick # 15
Timberwolves: Pick # 9
Brooklyn Pick: Between Pick # 3rd and Pick # 4th (tied with Pelicans)

So even if the right deal doesn't come along, if the season finished today Boston could move ahead with their (worst case) picks #7, #9, #15 and #20...which would give them at least 2 or 3 decent chances of pulling a future star.

So even in the absolute worst-case scenario, Boston is in a solid position. 

The Cousins / Sacramento situation is playing out nicely.

I think Cousins could be made available in a trade this summer.

Cousins seems like the best chance the Celts will have in the next year or so.  What if Sacramento wants more established talent for him, though?  I wouldn't be surprised if they'd take a Oladipo + Vucevic package, for example, over anything the Celts can offer with all their picks and role players. 

The Kings simply can't go into that new arena with a team that's ready to lose 60 games.

If the Celts get the #1 pick from the Nets, that would probably trump all other offers, but if that happens, give me Ben Simmons.  I think Cousins is a great talent, but I'd prefer a superstar prospect who can grow up in Brad's system from day 1 and be under Celts control for 8-9 years.

I would do out pick for Cousins any day of the week. 

As great as Simmons looks like he'll be, there are still no guarantees in the draft.  Blindly assuming he's going to be a superstar is a dangerous gamble to make if you have a guy like Cousins available. 

For example, if you look at the past few years alone you have guys like Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid, D'Angelo Russell, Nerlens Noel, Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Thomas Robinson who were all projected as being future stars and/or superstar.  Not one of those guys has yet shown they can be anything more then a solid starter.

Of course the future is still far from written for the likes of Parker, Embiid, Exum, Gordon and Russell - but I still think it's hard to call those guys anything but a disappointment based on what we've seen so far. 

On the other hand you have guys like Anthony Davis, Lebron, Carmello and Wiggins who have proven to be every big as good as they were hyped to be (except maybe Wiggins, but he's close).

Simmons may well fall into the latter category, but he could also just as easily fall into the former category.  Maybe he will become less Anthony Davis and more Lamar Odom - by no means a bad player, but not near the superstar status people project him to be.

Given that choice I would take the 25 year old, already established superstar over the not-yet-drafted and as-yet-unproven guy who people think/hope will be a superstar.   To be fair it's not an easy decision that I'd make the spot - I'd definitely umm and ahh about it a little.  But at the end of the day if I'm running a franchise with the history and tradition of the Celtics, I want to win as soon as possible and I want take the sure thing over the gamble. 

Much as Cousins is a bit of a gamble himself, he's much more proven than any undrafted rookie.

[SHAQATTACK]

I ...think ....rather know .....Cousins , Davis and Durrant are all going somewhere different ...if they expect to win a title. 

Davis has years s to pee away at NO....no rush.....at best they ll be Magic Howard era like.   He is wasting his time IMO .

Cousins might stumble through this year on the Kings .......the owner has some voodoo magic spell that makes his brain think he is happy there.


Durrant needs to make a Serious decision. .... .....his best years are shrinking away.......not say n Celtics have any chance ...but the guy just needs to leave .   OKC will die a horrible franchise death once he is departed.

[Tr1boy]

I ...think ....rather know .....Cousins , Davis and Durrant are all going somewhere different ...if they expect to win a title. 

Davis has years s to pee away at NO....no rush.....at best they ll be Magic Howard era like.   He is wasting his time IMO .

Cousins might stumble through this year on the Kings .......the owner has some voodoo magic spell that makes his brain think he is happy there.


Durrant needs to make a Serious decision. .... .....his best years are shrinking away.......not say n Celtics have any chance ...but the guy just needs to leave .   OKC will die a horrible franchise death once he is departed.

Davis unlike KG is way too young to go anywhere. Unless he is sick and tired of " mediocre". They made the playoffs last season

I would give up a ton for davis

[mmmmm]

I concur with LarBird33 and others that the situations to watch are going to be the FAs who become vested for trading as of Dec 15.

Harris, Gallinari, Middleton, etc., are definitely players to watch.   The rumors / reports were pretty compelling that Danny was _very_ interested in Harris and then Gallinari when the FA window opened and I would not be surprised if he is still interested in acquiring one of them by trade.

Harris, imho, would be a great fit.   Great size and a very effective outside-in scoring game.  And he's young and on a great contract.

[LarBrd33]

I concur with LarBird33 and others that the situations to watch are going to be the FAs who become vested for trading as of Dec 15.

Harris, Gallinari, Middleton, etc., are definitely players to watch.   The rumors / reports were pretty compelling that Danny was _very_ interested in Harris and then Gallinari when the FA window opened and I would not be surprised if he is still interested in acquiring one of them by trade.

Harris, imho, would be a great fit.   Great size and a very effective outside-in scoring game.  And he's young and on a great contract.

Oh... Gallo makes a ton of sense.  I somehow forgot all about that.  We were ready to go after him...  Denver smartly locked him up and now they can move him for young pieces that make more sense with what they are doing there around Mudiay and Nurkic.   

It looks like he can't be traded until Feb 1st, though.

[obnoxiousmime]

I concur with LarBird33 and others that the situations to watch are going to be the FAs who become vested for trading as of Dec 15.

Harris, Gallinari, Middleton, etc., are definitely players to watch.   The rumors / reports were pretty compelling that Danny was _very_ interested in Harris and then Gallinari when the FA window opened and I would not be surprised if he is still interested in acquiring one of them by trade.

Harris, imho, would be a great fit.   Great size and a very effective outside-in scoring game.  And he's young and on a great contract.

Gallinari and Harris are nice players, but they're more complimentary types. Also, I don't think the Magic and Nuggets need to shake things up right now. Orlando is happy to continue the youth movement and don't need to figure out how the pieces fit until a few years from now. The Nuggets just re-signed Gallinari and I haven't heard of him complaining about being on a bad team. In fact, he knew he was signing on to a rebuilding team at the time. Furthermore, neither team is under any cap pressure to have to make a move.

If Gallinari actually manages to stay healthy, I could see a contender making the Nuggets an overpay offer at the trade deadline, thinking his shooting will put them over the top. Shooters are at a premium these days.

Also, is Gallinari a big enough upgrade over Crowder? We already have Crowder and Jerebko on reasonable deals.

[crimson_stallion]

I ...think ....rather know .....Cousins , Davis and Durrant are all going somewhere different ...if they expect to win a title. 

What makes you say that?

I can't speak for Cousins, but if I were a man who has gone through the past 5 years or so with (what may well be) the most immature and disorganized franchise in all professional sports, the first thing I'd want is to go somewhere with stability and a wining culture, and one that can convince me that I am the missing piece to becoming a contender.

In Boston I think all of that is true.  We are a playoff caliber team without Cousins - with him we'd be an immediate contender, and adding him via a trade before the end of the season would immediately increase our chance of signing additional quality free agents. 

Moving forward with Cousins and Beal for example, would be a glorious start.

Durant I don't see coming to Boston because I just don't think he'll leave OKC.  I think he SHOULD leave for his own career's sake (I don't feel he and Westbrook complement each other) but I think he's too loyal to the city and will inevitably stay.

Davis has years s to pee away at NO....no rush.....at best they ll be Magic Howard era like.   He is wasting his time IMO .

This is an interesting point, and it's exactly the reason why I often question those in the pro-tanking stance.

Anthony Davis would have to be the best player to enter the NBA, from a top 3 draft position, in the last decade.  You can't really get a top 3 pick and hope to get a player any better than Davis.

Yet you look at the Pelicans now (his third season in the league) and they are tied for the 4th worst record in the NBA.  Last year they were no better than we were. 

In fact, if you look at the top 3 picks over the past 5 seasons:

2010:
1 - John Wall (Wizards)
2 - Evan Turner (76ers)
3 - Derrick Favors (Nets)

2011:
1 - Kyrie Irving (Cavs)
2 - Derrick Williams (Timberwolves)
3 - Enes Kanter (Nets -> Traded to Jazz)

2012:
1 - Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
2 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Bobcats)
3 - Bradley Beal (Wizards)

2013:
1 - Anthony Bennett (Cavs)
2 - Victor Oladipo (Magic)
3 - Otto Porter (Wizards)

2014:
1 - Andrew Wiggins (Cavs -> Traded to Timberwolves)
2 - Jabari Parker (Bucks)
3 - Joel Embiid (76ers)

2015:
1 - Karl Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)
2 - D'Angelo Russell (Lakers)
3 - Jahlil Okafor (76ers)

Now if you look a the list of teams who actually held those draft positions (not the teams that the players eventually got traded to) how many of those teams have made it anywhere further than the playoff mediocrity that tanking fans fear so much?

The only team on that list who has been a legit contender in the past 5 years has been Cleveland, that was a completely fluke that was entirely dependent on:

1) The Cavs managing to fluke the #1 pick in 2014 (despite the 9th worst record / bets odds) and then flipping that pick to Minnesota for Kevin Love

2) The Cavs getting lucky enough to have Lebron decide to re-sign there

Prior to this, they were barely contending for a playoff spot.

The only other team on that least that has really made any noise has been the Wizards last year, and they probably wouldn't have made it past the first round without Paul Pierce's constant playoff heroics. 

At the end of the day it all comes down to this - getting a top 3 pick gives you a solid chance at pulling a future star on the cheap, but in order to get that top 3 pick you usually need to be a really, really bad team.  Adding a future star to a really, really bad team makes you what exactly?  A really, really bad team with a future star. 

Danny has put himself in an amazing position. 

He has:
* A very competitive team that has legit playoff aspirations AND
* A draft pick that has a legit shot at falling top 3 AND
* Three other first round picks which should all fall somewhere between 9-20 AND
* A crapload of cap space AND
* A top tier coach AND
* A great team culture AND
* A group of young unselfish players who play hard on a consistent basis

It really is crazy what he has done as a GM.