Bunch of guys can be traded as of Dec 14. What's your "shake it up" idea?

[LarBrd33]

There's actually probably no reason to "shake it up" with this team right now.  We're playing really well.  We're playing really hard.  We can hang with anyone.  Still, we have a limited ceiling and no go-to scorer.  Can this team win 50 games?  Maybe.  You know what... maybe.   Will they win a title?  Nah.  We all know the goal has been to acquire a superstar.  That hasn't changed.  Part of me is a little bummed, because I really love watching this starting 5... but I know it inevitably needs to be shaken up.    So it's going to be bitter sweet if/when this team ever acquires a legit star.   I love Crowder, for example, but you can't upgrade the SF spot without moving Crowder to the bench.  That's a bummer.

Anyways, tomorrow (December 14th) is an interesting date, because a lot of guys who signed contracts as free agents this Summer can finally be moved.  Not ALL free agents, mind you.  It's based on when they signed their contracts.  For example, Khris MIddleton can't be traded until Jan 14th and Danilo Gallinari can't be traded until Feb 1st.    But there's a bunch of guys who can finally be traded as of tomorrow.  And in some of those instances, those players might not actually fit into the long-term plans of their team... they were simply restricted free agents that their team re-signed so not to lose them for nothing.  In the case of Tobias Harris, for instance, I feel like Orlando was 50/50 on bringing him back (they have Gordon and Hezonja itching for minutes off their bench)... but smartly realized they'd be insane to let him walk when they could just match any offer and trade him a couple months into the season for assets.    Similar situation with Enes Kanter (can't be moved until Jan 17th).   OKC traded for Kanter and then realized he wasn't a great fit for their team... he's been backing up Steven Adams who is a significantly better defender.  This Summer, Portland offered Kanter a max deal in-part probably to screw over OKC a bit... OKC obviously had to match after the James Harden debacle...  What kind of message would it have sent to Kevin Durant (a free agent this Summer) had they let Kanter walk for nothing? 

So mainly because I'm bored and there theoretically could be some guys moved soon, I wondered what kind of "shake it up" trade ideas you guys had.   There's a bunch of dudes who can finally be traded as of tomorrow...  A partial list includes Paul Millisap, Brook Lopez, Thad Young, Kevin Love, Monta Ellis, Greg Monroe, Robin Lopez, Tobias Harris, Demarr Caroll, Cory Joseph, Bismack Biyombo, Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams, JaVale McGee, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Brandon Bass, Omer Asik, Tyson Chandler, Rajon Rondo, Lamarcus Aldridge...

The first time any of those guys can be traded this season is tomorrow.  Some of them totally could help us (like Asik or Chandler).    Some are lofty and unrealistic.   It'll be interesting to see if any get moved.

Also of note, the first time Amir Johnson (12 mil expiring) or Jonas Jerebko  (5 mil expiring) can be traded is tomorrow as well.  That's not insignificant.   

So Ill start us off with a few pipe-dream "shake it up" trade ideas of my own.

Trade #1 - David Lee's expiring, Evan Turner, James Young, Brooklyn's unprotected 2016 1st, and some other picks... for Kevin Love.   I covered this in the "how good would we be with Kevin Love right now" thread: http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=81669.msg1990189#msg1990189  ... I'm not going to be stunned if Love is moved this year.  I am convinced he signed as part of a handshake agreement and they'll move him if ultimately he's not happy with his long-term role on the team. 

Trade #2 - Sully, Rozier, Sota 1st (most likely two 2nds) for Nerlens Noel.   As covered in this thread:  http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=81658.0  I don't even think Philly would do it, but I'm throwin it out there.  Sully is a better fit next to Okafor.  Rozier gives them a PG. 


Trade #3 - Amir's expiring, Jerebko and Dallas 1st, some 2nds for Tobias Harris.    Orlando is paying a hell of a lot of money (16 mil) for a player who I'm not sure they even wanted to retain.   They get to clear out some money, get a 1st rounder, free up minutes for Gordon/Hezonja and have a couple vets that can help them this year. 

Leaves us with a starting lineup of PG - Thomas, SG - Bradley, SF - Harris, PF - Love, C - Noel... have Smart, Crowder, Hunter, Oly, Zeller off our bench... free up some minutes for Mickey.     Gives us a go-to scorer in Love, another potent scorer in Harris, a ridiculous defensive unit that we can throw out there.   

Ideas?

[SHAQATTACK]

Trade for Nerlins

[nickagneta]

Neither trade you suggested is going to come close to happening. Orlando likes Toby Harris. He is productive, he can rebound, he is only 23 and he has proven he can be a 15-17 PPG scorer, if not more when need be. He is the team's second highest scorer and 2nd highest rebounder. Gordon and Hezonja might be a whole 3 years younger but their play hasn't been exactly screaming out for a higher workload. There is just no way Orlando moves Harris until one of Gordon or Hezonja has outplayed Harris to the point of making him expendable and that isn't happening this year.

Noel won't be moved until Philly is sure Embiid can play. When he does get moved, and I think he will but not this year, it will be for a quality young guard.

I just don't see a lot of players that signed this off season that are suddenly on the trade block. It's usually rare that anyone that's any good gets traded that soon after signing with a team.

[LarBrd33]

Neither trade you suggested is going to come close to happening. Orlando likes Toby Harris. He is productive, he can rebound, he is only 23 and he has proven he can be a 15-17 PPG scorer, if not more when need be. He is the team's second highest scorer and 2nd highest rebounder. Gordon and Hezonja might be a whole 3 years younger but their play hasn't been exactly screaming out for a higher workload. There is just no way Orlando moves Harris until one of Gordon or Hezonja has outplayed Harris to the point of making him expendable and that isn't happening this year.

Noel won't be moved until Philly is sure Embiid can play. When he does get moved, and I think he will but not this year, it will be for a quality young guard.

I just don't see a lot of players that signed this off season that are suddenly on the trade block. It's usually rare that anyone that's any good gets traded that soon after signing with a team.

Hey I told you they were pipe dream ideas.  If i'm the other teams, I don't do any of those deals.  Just wanted to start off some discussion.

I think you might be wrong about the Harris situation, though.  He hasn't exactly lit the world on fire with his new contract.  14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1 steal with 45%/30%/84% shooting in 32mpg.  It's good... don't get me wrong.  But 16 million per year is a lot to invest in "good" especially when they have many other guys who need to be paid soon.  Aaron Gordon actually has a higher PER than him... and his per-36 numbers are 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.9 blocks with 47%/32%/67% shooting...  He just turned 20 years old.  I can't speak for Orlando, but if they see Gordon as their future at SF (he might be their best defender already)... and want to start giving Hezonja more than 12 minutes a night (that kid can play), there might be some sense in getting Harris off their books.  All the articles I read this summer suggested they were strongly considering not matching an offer if it was too expensive.  It seemed insane to NOT match an offer, though... considering they could just flip him for assets a couple months later. 

[dreamgreen]

You kept IT4 as the starting PG through all that but I assume Smart would be to being defense to that group and IT4 will be abused in a playoff series. When teams game plan against him he's done.

Otherwise I like what you got!

[jambr380]

I would be happy with all three trades - TP for the idea(s). Likely we would need to kick in a bit more on a couple of those deals, although they aren't totally unrealistic given the other teams' circumstances.

[tazzmaniac]

The Love and Noel trades make absolutely no sense for the opposing teams.  I can't see Harris getting traded now.  If Orlando falls out of the playoff hunt and Hezonja and/or Gordon show significant improvement, I could see them trying to trade Harris before the deadline.  However it would probably be better for them to wait till the off season to do so.   

[LarBrd33]

The Love and Noel trades make absolutely no sense for the opposing teams. 

If I'm either of those teams, I don't trade Love or Noel... but there's enough reason to believe that either one of those guys could potentially be traded this year based on the circumstances surrounding both teams.

[saltlover]

For what it's worth, neither Tobias Harris and  Kevin Love can be traded until January 15th.  Both signed contracts that required Bird rights to be used, which is the threshold that defines when a player can be traded.

[LilRip]

Have the Rockets given up yet? I'd like to swing for Dwight. Or has Philly given up on the Okafor-Noel pairing? Maybe we can get Nerlens. Neither of those 2 guys really solves our scorer/closer issue but I'd like it if the C's could trade for either one of them somehow.

[The One]

Thank you LarBrd33!

Interesting ideas...I think a consolidation trade would be good.

But this team is so gritty and entertaining...I kind of like all the players.

[LarBrd33]

For what it's worth, neither Tobias Harris and  Kevin Love can be traded until January 15th.  Both signed contracts that required Bird rights to be used, which is the threshold that defines when a player can be traded.

double check.  Maybe ESPN lists it wrong because it shows both as December 14

[Vermont Green]

Enes Kantor intrigues me but I must admit that I have some doubts based on some of the comments here about him and I have not had much opportunity to watch him play.  He is 23 years old and last year put up 19 pts / 11 rebs in 31 min.  I know it was an off year OKC but that is really good production for that young of a big.

So my trade would be Avery Bradley and either Lee or Johnson for Kantor and something.  Not sure what the something should be but maybe Waiters although that seems like a lot or maybe it is more like Huestis and a future pick.

I think giving up say Bradley and Lee for say Kantor and Waiters is actually a short terms step back for the Cs but we get that elusive young big who can be our center.  For OKC, I think Bradley would be a really good fit for them and especially to help them get by GSW. (I had a topic about this the other day but no one must have agreed)

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=81648.0

[jr_3421]

Archie Goodwin isn't getting a lot of PT in PHX. I would love him coming off the bench here. Not sure what PHX would ask for but I would start with Zeller.

[2short]

I like our team.  Yes this is not a championship team and we need a takeover guy BUT I'd only do a trade for a superstar.  I like our chances against any team in the nba in a series.  Our teams depth is pretty amazing.