The trade deadline and the standings

[CelticPride2016]

For all the fingernail biting and groans, the Celtics are now in fifth place only two games behind Chicago and Atlanta. We are only three games above .500. I think for now this makes sense. Cleveland is Cleveland. Atlanta and Chicago have pride built over a number of years. The true threat to LeBron is probably the Raptors.

Toronto is our older brother. Washington was too last year but have fallen off the winner map. We have owned the Wizards this year and tonight's game should be another barometer for where the Celtics lie in the Eastern Conference power rankings.

We are finding out in real time whether the Celtics are able or not to pile up wins. We are a proven .500 team. This has been a very quick rebuild. Fans should be very happy. I know I am.

Danny will do some tinkering, imho, if he is unable to acquire fireworks. The difference this year is he's finally wheeling and dealing from a position of strength, not always having to unload players.

All the question mark Celtics players have contracts running out. And all this is occurring while we are seeded #5. Last year we were 14 games under .500. If our current team can keep it together until the roster is set, I predict we will get that 50 win season as originally advertised.

[CelticPride2016]

Watch these guys. Look at them as human beings with all your basketball knowledge. I bet the ones with guaranteed futures are breathing a lot easier and providing the best output. Isaiah. Bradley. Crowder. Olynyk. Those guys seem a lot more relaxed than the others. I think Amir is relaxed. He has nothing to prove. With Amir, it is only a question of health and stamina. He is not the problem.

Rookies are rookies.

[hpantazo]

We definitely have a solid, mid-tier playoff team in place as is. The question is, do you cash in the picks and prospects stash on a vet star or two to win now, at the trade deadline if the opportunity comes up, or do you keep the picks and see if we land Simmons or Ingram in a few months? I go for the second option.

[Evantime34]

The east has really been much worse after Christmas than it was before with only Toronto and Cleveland having a post Christmas over 500 record.

This is the east I expected there is no reason we can't finish in the 3-6 seed range if the other East teams continue like this.

As to the deadline, I am not expecting a lot of moves, I'm sure they will try to deal Lee and end up cutting him if they can't. I think Zeller is also likely to be dealt, but other than those two I doubt a lot happens.

I'm expecting the bigger moves to be done in the offseason.

[Nerf DPOY]

I could see a small move involving one or more of the Philly or Minny 2nd, Young or Hunter being dealt to pick up a big more preferable to Zeller and Lee to round out our rotation. After that not much else strikes me as likely. The only players I'd see Ainge trading the Brooklyn pick for are unattainable currently not knowing where the pick will land.

[spikelovetheCelts]

The east has really been much worse after Christmas than it was before with only Toronto and Cleveland having a post Christmas over 500 record.

This is the east I expected there is no reason we can't finish in the 3-6 seed range if the other East teams continue like this.

As to the deadline, I am not expecting a lot of moves, I'm sure they will try to deal Lee and end up cutting him if they can't. I think Zeller is also likely to be dealt, but other than those two I doubt a lot happens.

I'm expecting the bigger moves to be done in the offseason.

I would add Turner to the List as well. Smart needs to ball in his hands to grow and Turners stops that growth. I hope we can get Hibbert for the rest of the year. In the Playoff being slower he can help on key stops.

[PhoSita]

I take issue with this "it's been a quick rebuild" thing.

If "rebuild" means "get back to competing for a playoff spot," then yes, by all means.

My criteria is a little more stringent though.  I won't consider the team "rebuilt" until they're relevant in any discussion of the post-season.  Which, to me, means that, though they might not be considered an actual contender, they are regarded as a team with a chance of knocking off a contender, i.e. the sort of team a contender would not like to face on their way to the Finals (example would be the Grizzlies of the last few years, the Pacers a couple years back, and those Chicago teams that unfortunately could never stay healthy).

When they do finally reach that point, I'll only be truly satisfied with it if there seems to be a plausible avenue for taking yet another step toward genuine contention, and sustaining that level of success for the foreseeable future.

Yes, I have high standards.  I'm OK with that.

I think the Celts are still a great distance from being "rebuilt," given all of that.  It's a scrappy team that's been up and down due to deficiencies in talent and size, but they're well coached and deep.  Nevertheless, I don't think they have a prayer in the post-season.  This team is not built for playoff basketball. 

All of which is fine.  This rebuild only just began a couple years ago.


Anyway, I think this will be a quiet deadline, and the names most likely to move -- Ryan Anderson and Markieff Morris top the list for me -- don't seem like they'd help the Celts all that much.

[Onslaught]

We definitely have a solid, mid-tier playoff team in place as is. The question is, do you cash in the picks and prospects stash on a vet star or two to win now, at the trade deadline if the opportunity comes up, or do you keep the picks and see if we land Simmons or Ingram in a few months? I go for the second option.

That's what I'd like seeing that I don't see anyone we can get that will make us contenders right now.

[Eddie20]

David Lee and 2 of our 2nd rd picks this year (Miami's and Dallas' currently 49 and 51) for Eric Gordon.


Gordon can spread the floor and would provide a strong scoring punch off the bench. This is the kind of move that doesn't look that big, but could pay major dividends in the playoffs with Gordon's ability to get hot. 

David Lee could be a decent fit alongside Davis and they also get two 2nd rd picks (albeit latter ones) for a player that will likely bolt during free agency.

[mctyson]

We have to make a trade though.  The team has too many draft picks to keep this year's roster plus everyone we draft for next year, even if we take 4 Euros and leave them overseas.

It could be that this trade happens in the offseason, which would be fine with me.  But a trade MUST happen, because we don't have enough roster spots for all our players.

[spikelovetheCelts]

We have to make a trade though.  The team has too many draft picks to keep this year's roster plus everyone we draft for next year, even if we take 4 Euros and leave them overseas.

It could be that this trade happens in the offseason, which would be fine with me.  But a trade MUST happen, because we don't have enough roster spots for all our players.

We do too Lee Turner for sure come of books. Plus Zeller Sully we can let leave Jerebko and Johnson have Team options I believe so they can be gone too. Worst case but it can happen.

[PhoSita]

David Lee and 2 of our 2nd rd picks this year (Miami's and Dallas' currently 49 and 51) for Eric Gordon.


Gordon can spread the floor and would provide a strong scoring punch off the bench. This is the kind of move that doesn't look that big, but could pay major dividends in the playoffs with Gordon's ability to get hot. 

Gordon's currently out with a broken finger and I wouldn't trust him to stay healthy for a playoff run.

[Eddie20]

David Lee and 2 of our 2nd rd picks this year (Miami's and Dallas' currently 49 and 51) for Eric Gordon.


Gordon can spread the floor and would provide a strong scoring punch off the bench. This is the kind of move that doesn't look that big, but could pay major dividends in the playoffs with Gordon's ability to get hot. 

Gordon's currently out with a broken finger and I wouldn't trust him to stay healthy for a playoff run.

I know, but he is supposed to be back right before the deadline.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I take issue with this "it's been a quick rebuild" thing.

If "rebuild" means "get back to competing for a playoff spot," then yes, by all means.

My criteria is a little more stringent though.  I won't consider the team "rebuilt" until they're relevant in any discussion of the post-season.  Which, to me, means that, though they might not be considered an actual contender, they are regarded as a team with a chance of knocking off a contender, i.e. the sort of team a contender would not like to face on their way to the Finals (example would be the Grizzlies of the last few years, the Pacers a couple years back, and those Chicago teams that unfortunately could never stay healthy).

When they do finally reach that point, I'll only be truly satisfied with it if there seems to be a plausible avenue for taking yet another step toward genuine contention, and sustaining that level of success for the foreseeable future.

Yes, I have high standards.  I'm OK with that.

I think the Celts are still a great distance from being "rebuilt," given all of that.  It's a scrappy team that's been up and down due to deficiencies in talent and size, but they're well coached and deep.  Nevertheless, I don't think they have a prayer in the post-season.  This team is not built for playoff basketball. 

All of which is fine.  This rebuild only just began a couple years ago.


Anyway, I think this will be a quiet deadline, and the names most likely to move -- Ryan Anderson and Markieff Morris top the list for me -- don't seem like they'd help the Celts all that much.

I agree and also share very high standards for this team. The Lakers are 1 title away from us and that is something we need to think about.

What bothers me are the people that think 2 championships in 30 years is pretty good. We are the Celtics and championships really only matter, especially since we have the most.

[Ilikesports17]

David Lee and 2 of our 2nd rd picks this year (Miami's and Dallas' currently 49 and 51) for Eric Gordon.


Gordon can spread the floor and would provide a strong scoring punch off the bench. This is the kind of move that doesn't look that big, but could pay major dividends in the playoffs with Gordon's ability to get hot. 

Gordon's currently out with a broken finger and I wouldn't trust him to stay healthy for a playoff run.

I wouldn't either but keep in mind we took Marcus Thornton at 45.

I'd trade David Lee and 2 Marcus Thorntons for a guy with Eric Gordon's potential any day of the week and twice on sundays