Ainge on Toucher and Rich: "Consolidating quantity for quality"

[obnoxiousmime]

I know this isn't breaking news, but I thought it was nice to get an update nonetheless.

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/ainge-celtics-looking-consolidate-quantity-quality-trade?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo

Host: Now Danny we've talked a lot about this, and with the trade deadline getting closer and closer, I believe the thing that we kind of agreed on, and you've told us before, is that the one thing this team obviously needs, especially in a game like last night, is that Paul Pierce type of guy at the end. I know that Jae Crowder, and Isaiah Thomas, and we want them to be those guys, but right now as it is, there still isn't a proven closer on this team.

Is that your priority when you're looking for someone possibly at the trade deadline? Or are you just looking for a good deal on a good player?

Ainge: Both. I'm always looking for closers. Of course you're always looking for elite players in the league that can help you finish games because those are the hardest players to find. So yeah, at the same time, if those things aren't available, and they aren't always, but we're looking to just upgrade. And to make it easier, consolidating quantity for quality right now, is sort of something that we're looking to do. But, we like all our players. We don't HAVE to do anything at the trade deadline but we're certainly busy trying to find something to upgrade our team. When guys become available we are in a position, we do have flexibility, we have picks, we have good players, so we're in a good position.

Honestly, everybody in the NBA is trying to deal quantity for quality so I'm not sure how realistic that idea is. If he's including the Brooklyn pick, Thomas, Crowder, or to a lesser extent Bradley I could see a deal happening more easily.

[Csfan1984]

I agree no one wants quantity anymore. They want a big three then fill in roster with minor players or drafted players that develop. We don't even have a big one let alone two or three. Sad state for a NBA team. We don't get to watch great talent just hustle and that is supposed to be acceptable? This is the Boston Celtics!

[ssspence]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

[spikelovetheCelts]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

Desperate. I would not go that far. We are improving everyday. We have cap space and picks plus a coach players want to play for too.

[PhoSita]

I agree with the above, you'll have a hard time finding many teams that are looking to trade quality for quantity. 

Teams usually only do that when:

(a) they've hit a dead end with their current team and they want to rebuild (in which case the guy you're trading for is typically on the older side),

(b) they gave a guy a bad contract and what out (so you have to take on a bad contract), or

(c) somebody they've got signed to a multi-year deal is causing problems in the locker room (meaning you're trading for a headcase).


Probably the best time to trade quantity for quality is on draft night.  Find a team that's really lacking in young rotation talent and try to convince them to trade a lottery pick outside of the top 5 for a handful of lesser picks.

Even then, it's pretty hard to make happen.  Danny made a godfather offer for the #9 pick this past draft, as we well know, and was turned down.

[Donoghus]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

I would tend to agree.  This current roster is begging it to happen.  Too many logjams at too many spots. 

[PhoSita]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

I would tend to agree.  This current roster is begging it to happen.  Too many logjams at too many spots.

It's true, but I guess you have to ask yourself, since we're so willing to get rid of some of these guys, what would make another team really excited to trade for them?

The Celts have a lot of guys who can play.  Guys like Lee, Turner, Zeller, Sullinger, Jerebko, Johnson -- they could carve a significant role on most teams in the league if given the chance.

But how much would other teams be willing to give up for them?  My guess is that in most cases you're probably talking about expiring contracts and low 1sts / high 2nds.  In other words, more of the same kind of assets we already have.


To really upgrade the roster, you'd probably have to put guys on the table that are a core part of the success the team is having right now, or part of the team's vision for the future:  Thomas, Crowder, Bradley, Smart, Olynyk, or one of the Brooklyn picks.

I think it would have to be a really substantial upgrade to make it worth trading one or more of those pieces.

[Csfan1984]

Tp Phosita, doing good work in this thread.

[pearljammer10]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

Desperate. I would not go that far. We are improving everyday. We have cap space and picks plus a coach players want to play for too.

Its fairly desperate if we want to cash in our assets. We are improving everyday yes, but this teams ceiling isn't a top notch contender. Plus we've already got a 15 man roster and we have something like what, 7-8 first and second round picks over the next two years? We dont have room for all of that.

We aren't desperate to make a move as we can afford to be patient with our assets, but we do desperately need a number one option if we want to start improving towards contention.

[Donoghus]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

I would tend to agree.  This current roster is begging it to happen.  Too many logjams at too many spots.

It's true, but I guess you have to ask yourself, since we're so willing to get rid of some of these guys, what would make another team really excited to trade for them?

The Celts have a lot of guys who can play.  Guys like Lee, Turner, Zeller, Sullinger, Jerebko, Johnson -- they could carve a significant role on most teams in the league if given the chance.

But how much would other teams be willing to give up for them?  My guess is that in most cases you're probably talking about expiring contracts and low 1sts / high 2nds.  In other words, more of the same kind of assets we already have.


To really upgrade the roster, you'd probably have to put guys on the table that are a core part of the success the team is having right now, or part of the team's vision for the future:  Thomas, Crowder, Bradley, Smart, Olynyk, or one of the Brooklyn picks.

I think it would have to be a really substantial upgrade to make it worth trading one or more of those pieces.

Who says the Celtics are so willing to part with these guys?

Its more of a practical matter than anything.  You have a glut of depth/bodies at certain positions & limited playing time.  Some of these guys become more valuable as trade assets than as players, simply because the time isn't there for them.   I don't think Danny is necessarily willing to force guys out the door but the current roster kind've dictates it.

[Moranis]

I agree with the above, you'll have a hard time finding many teams that are looking to trade quality for quantity. 

Teams usually only do that when:

(a) they've hit a dead end with their current team and they want to rebuild (in which case the guy you're trading for is typically on the older side),

(b) they gave a guy a bad contract and what out (so you have to take on a bad contract), or

(c) somebody they've got signed to a multi-year deal is causing problems in the locker room (meaning you're trading for a headcase).


Probably the best time to trade quantity for quality is on draft night.  Find a team that's really lacking in young rotation talent and try to convince them to trade a lottery pick outside of the top 5 for a handful of lesser picks.

Even then, it's pretty hard to make happen.  Danny made a godfather offer for the #9 pick this past draft, as we well know, and was turned down.

(d) a team going all in that wants some veterans and that would trade a young player not quite ready to help for a title run (see OKC)

(e) a team that has a logjam of its own at a position (see Orlando)

[Moranis]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

I would tend to agree.  This current roster is begging it to happen.  Too many logjams at too many spots.

It's true, but I guess you have to ask yourself, since we're so willing to get rid of some of these guys, what would make another team really excited to trade for them?

The Celts have a lot of guys who can play.  Guys like Lee, Turner, Zeller, Sullinger, Jerebko, Johnson -- they could carve a significant role on most teams in the league if given the chance.

But how much would other teams be willing to give up for them?  My guess is that in most cases you're probably talking about expiring contracts and low 1sts / high 2nds.  In other words, more of the same kind of assets we already have.


To really upgrade the roster, you'd probably have to put guys on the table that are a core part of the success the team is having right now, or part of the team's vision for the future:  Thomas, Crowder, Bradley, Smart, Olynyk, or one of the Brooklyn picks.

I think it would have to be a really substantial upgrade to make it worth trading one or more of those pieces.

Who says the Celtics are so willing to part with these guys?

Its more of a practical matter than anything.  You have a glut of depth/bodies at certain positions & limited playing time.  Some of these guys become more valuable as trade assets than as players, simply because the time isn't there for them.   I don't think Danny is necessarily willing to force guys out the door but the current roster kind've dictates it.

right because Ainge has never forced people out the door.

[PhoSita]

Who says the Celtics are so willing to part with these guys?

Well, they probably aren't. 

What we've seen from Ainge in the past is that he's unwilling to trade guys for anything less than what he perceives as really good value for them, even if the team doesn't really need them or they don't fit into the future plans.

Despite Sullinger's struggles, I'm sure Ainge would drive a bargain for him as if he were still averaging 13 and 8 and regularly putting up 20-10 games.

[Csfan1984]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

I would tend to agree.  This current roster is begging it to happen.  Too many logjams at too many spots.

It's true, but I guess you have to ask yourself, since we're so willing to get rid of some of these guys, what would make another team really excited to trade for them?

The Celts have a lot of guys who can play.  Guys like Lee, Turner, Zeller, Sullinger, Jerebko, Johnson -- they could carve a significant role on most teams in the league if given the chance.

But how much would other teams be willing to give up for them?  My guess is that in most cases you're probably talking about expiring contracts and low 1sts / high 2nds.  In other words, more of the same kind of assets we already have.


To really upgrade the roster, you'd probably have to put guys on the table that are a core part of the success the team is having right now, or part of the team's vision for the future:  Thomas, Crowder, Bradley, Smart, Olynyk, or one of the Brooklyn picks.

I think it would have to be a really substantial upgrade to make it worth trading one or more of those pieces.

Who says the Celtics are so willing to part with these guys?

Its more of a practical matter than anything.  You have a glut of depth/bodies at certain positions & limited playing time.  Some of these guys become more valuable as trade assets than as players, simply because the time isn't there for them.   I don't think Danny is necessarily willing to force guys out the door but the current roster kind've dictates it.

I didn't get "willing" from his post. I got reluctance to trade are good players.

[fairweatherfan]

Kinda interesting to hear Danny admit it, even though it's the worst kept secret in the NBA. The Cs pretty desperately need to package up a few players and or picks before the 2016 draft.

In fairness we have until the 2016 roster deadline, but yeah, that more or less means we have to move between now and the trade deadline and again pre- or immediately post-draft.