What will it take to sign Sully this summer, is it worth it?

[max215]

Thoughts?

Drummond is an UFA...

...one can dream, right?

RFA*

[kozlodoev]

Thoughts?

Drummond is an UFA...

...one can dream, right?

RFA*

You're right. Oh well.

[crimson_stallion]

To be completely honest, I think that ship has sailed and if I am the Celtics head office I really have no interest in bringing Sully back.

This scenario is eerily similar to the Big Baby one.  Nice player who was able to contribute in a few ways, had a few big games, then wanted too much money and ultimately got told "cya later".  Then went off and ate himself out of the league.

Sully definitely has some skill, but right now he seems to be barely holding his starting job.  He started the season strong - now he's back to shooting 44%, he's still taking too many jumpers (never gets tot he line) and he's still struggling to score at a high rate.  Conditioning still looks to be no better than it ever has been.  The guy is in a contract year - if that's (plus all the competition in Boston's frontcourt) is not enough to light a spark under his backside then nothing ever will.

It's sad to say for a guy who had/has so much potential, but come free agency I must say "good riddance, Mr Sully"

[crimson_stallion]

At least 4/60 IMO. Despite how great he's been this year, I hope we move him at the deadline. I just don't feel comfortable making that sort of commitment to someone with Sully's injury/conditioning history.

Honestly, I fear you may be living in the past by about a month.

Right now Sully is averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 26 minutes while shooting 43% / 30% / 68% and putting up some of the most ghastly 'offensive efficiency' numbers I have ever seen from an NBA Power Forward.

His inside game has also completely vanished - his Free Throw Rate and his FG% inside 3 feet are both at or below the worst of his career.

His rebounding (13.7 Per 36) has been immensely impressive, but that on it's own is not enough o justify a huge pay day. His game is way, way too flawed.  You cannot be a starting NBA Power Forward / Center if you are averaging 10 PPG on 43% shooting.

[obnoxiousmime]

If we don't plan on re-signing him, doesn't Danny pretty much have to deal him this season? It's not like there are a lot of teams that would sign-and-trade with us because most teams are going to have cap space to sign him outright. Besides, it would be for a late draft pick anyway and we're not exactly short on those. The question is what could we really even get for him?

[kozlodoev]

If we don't plan on re-signing him, doesn't Danny pretty much have to deal him this season? It's not like there are a lot of teams that would sign-and-trade with us because most teams are going to have cap space to sign him outright. Besides, it would be for a late draft pick anyway and we're not exactly short on those. The question is what could we really even get for him?

Doesn't have to. If he isn't satisfied with the return, I'm sure he'll just take the production and let him go in the end of season.

[ThePaintedArea]

Here are who I see as possible big body replacements who will/could be available, in no particular order:

-Dwight (Player Option) - could opt out but is soft as doo-doo, also too expensive

-Horford (Unrestricted) - I think this would be our best case scenario but I don't see him leaving ATL

-Pau (Player Option) - I see him opting out if bulls can't find their way this year, but I see him choosing a team much closer to a ring than we are

-Whiteside (Unrestricted) - would happily take

-Big Al (Unrestricted) - no thanks

-Noah (Unrestricted) - no thanks

-Hibbert (Unrestricted) - no thanks

-Zaza (Unrestricted) - would happily take

-Mozgov (Unrestricted) - no thanks


Thoughts?

 Mostly, I agree with your choices.  I would not go for Pau because of his age.

I agree about Zaza! -  losing him is one, but only one, of the reasons that Milwaukee has been so much worse this season. But he'll never make an All-Star team.

 I don't get your comment about Dwight Howard being soft. Not what I would've said!

 I don't believe in Noah either, even though I love his game –  it would be more accurate to say that I don't believe in his knees.

 You have only listed big men here, but what about Kevin Durant?

[Celtics4ever]

He is top flight in one area rebounding, his defense has been better but is still middling.  He is doing well, but I still do not think he is a top dollar guy.

[crimson_stallion]

Here are who I see as possible big body replacements who will/could be available, in no particular order:

-Dwight (Player Option) - could opt out but is soft as doo-doo, also too expensive

-Horford (Unrestricted) - I think this would be our best case scenario but I don't see him leaving ATL

-Pau (Player Option) - I see him opting out if bulls can't find their way this year, but I see him choosing a team much closer to a ring than we are

-Whiteside (Unrestricted) - would happily take

-Big Al (Unrestricted) - no thanks

-Noah (Unrestricted) - no thanks

-Hibbert (Unrestricted) - no thanks

-Zaza (Unrestricted) - would happily take

-Mozgov (Unrestricted) - no thanks


Thoughts?

 I don't get your comment about Dwight Howard being soft. Not what I would've said!

I get the comment - more about Dwight's attitude than his game I think.

Dwight's been throwing elbows and bumping guys around his whole career, but mentally he's like a big child - massive prima-donna who complains every time somebody touches him (much like Lebron). 

Seems to love dishing out beatings, but seems to not very much like taking them.

Still wouldn't complain about him being a celtic though!

[crimson_stallion]

He's just not a max player. Even in this financial climate in the NBA, he's basically a rebounding specialist that does most everything else decent-to-good but not great. Unless I'm underestimating just how much money will be flying around this summer. I just don't see a team offering a player like Sully a max deal, especially in the wake of Tristan Thompson's free agency last summer.

I think somebody will.

I think they will live to regret it later.

[ThePaintedArea]

His agent says max contract or bust...

He's restricted. It is rare nowadays that restricted free agents change teams.  I would guess that the likelihood of another team offering him a max contract – or any contract at all – is low, and the likelihood of Boston agreeing to one with him is about zero. The Celtics hold the hammer here.  I recall David Falk saying that he always asks for a max contract for his clients; that sounds more like an aggressive  negotiating position than an ultimatum.

[SHAQATTACK]

Lot s and lots of money

[oldtype]

I think trading him is the right play. He's a good player and I wouldn't be surprised if somebody throws Tristan Thompson money at him. We're not at a stage where we should be paying that kind of money to Sullinger, so moving him for value while we can makes sense.

Utah was able to get a top-14 protected first and a second for Kanter, I think Sullinger would be worth about similar. The ideal scenario would be moving him for some help on the wing that doesn't tie up long-term money, of course. (Nic Batum?)

[mctyson]

His agent says max contract or bust, which made me wonder what a max deal for a player with 0 - 6 years experience would be next year.  According to Larry Coon's great CBA website, this year with a 70 mil cap the max is 16.4 mil.  Assuming a 90 mil cap next year, the max for a 0 - 6 player would be in the 21 mil range (if you read Larry's fine print, it really isn't 25% of the cap, more in the 23% range without getting to technical).

Given the crazy state of current NBA salaries (see T Thompson, E Kanter), if Sully stays healthy and keeps producing, I could maybe wrap my head around 16 mil, but 21 mil seems like so, so much.

What do you think?

If Tristan Thompson is a "max" player that Jared Sullinger definitely is.  That is all you need to know.

[CelticPride2016]

To be completely honest, I think that ship has sailed and if I am the Celtics head office I really have no interest in bringing Sully back.

This scenario is eerily similar to the Big Baby one.  Nice player who was able to contribute in a few ways, had a few big games, then wanted too much money and ultimately got told "cya later".  Then went off and ate himself out of the league.

This is the issue and I agree. Sullinger has no excuse for still being overweight. He is a better than average player, but is Sullinger a necessity?

As others have said and it's obvious, Danny loves to get value out of everything. He is probably the last guy to throw out a tube of toothpaste. There must be a little bit more in there.

Why is there such a big mystery about Sullinger's weight and his long-term goal? Don't we have a right to know? My guess is he was fifty pounds overweight and lost 15 or 20 pounds.

It seems common sense that basketball isn't baseball and you probably don't want overweight players competing against real athletes.