Prediction ... Deadline Surprise

[Who]

Rationale for my prediction:
•   Danny Ainge is a sell high type of guy, to a fault (see K Perkins trade)
•   The current “…thinking is that there are lots of teams with assets looking to ‘buy’”
•   Danny Ainge focuses on finding opportunities to develop existing players, especially ones with the potential to step up considerably like Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier (again, to a fault)
•   I can image that Danny Ainge sees Isaiah Thomas as a scorer of the bench, but with the All-Star berth, that is no longer a viable option for the foreseeable future
•   Isaiah Thomas’ value is likely as high as it will ever be
•   Isaiah Thomas is an asset that many teams would value for a playoff run
•   Many of Danny’s trades emerge without trade chatter

My prediction: Danny trade’s Isaiah at the deadline and claims he received an offer he couldn’t refuse

NOTE: I am not recommending ... this is just my prediction

Good time to trade Isaiah.

[TheSundanceKid]

I'm gonna go back to an idea I had a couple months back --

Sullinger, Jerebko, and a non-lotto 1st for Zach Randolph.

Bold! Eats into next year's cap space by $10m. you just couldn't say no if that was on the table though... Not sure Memphis is ready to do that though, they need to convince Conley that they will stay competitive for him to re-sign

[slamtheking]

Rationale for my prediction:
•   Danny Ainge is a sell high type of guy, to a fault (see K Perkins trade)
•   The current “…thinking is that there are lots of teams with assets looking to ‘buy’”
•   Danny Ainge focuses on finding opportunities to develop existing players, especially ones with the potential to step up considerably like Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier (again, to a fault)
•   I can image that Danny Ainge sees Isaiah Thomas as a scorer of the bench, but with the All-Star berth, that is no longer a viable option for the foreseeable future
•   Isaiah Thomas’ value is likely as high as it will ever be
•   Isaiah Thomas is an asset that many teams would value for a playoff run
•   Many of Danny’s trades emerge without trade chatter

My prediction: Danny trade’s Isaiah at the deadline and claims he received an offer he couldn’t refuse

NOTE: I am not recommending ... this is just my prediction

Good time to trade Isaiah.

agree - can't see his value getting any higher and I don't see him as more than a scorer off the bench -- regardless of his all-star selection.

thing is, unless Danny brings in a scorer and/or PG that's better at running an offense, C's will drop in the standings and I'm not sure Danny wants to do that.  I'm not a big fan of IT but the our offense often falters when he's not on the court because we're lacking consistent shooters other than him. 

[ssspence]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

[ssspence]

My prediction: Danny trade’s Isaiah at the deadline and claims he received an offer he couldn’t refuse

That is a bold prediction. It's not a good one.... but it's bold.

Rationale for my prediction:
•   Danny Ainge is a sell high type of guy, to a fault (see K Perkins trade)

Perkins was traded due to pending Free Agency, and feared cost at that time / not wanting to pay him because he was overrated.

Isaiah has two years left on his contract after this season -- one of the best deals in the NBA.

[Lucky17]

My prediction for a deadline surprise: Ainge orders a pizza, instead of eating at Chipotle.

[Who]

I think Ainge will trade Isaiah at next year's trade deadline once Rozier has shown himself ready to take over as the main backup guard and Smart has taken over at starting PG. That said, I am open to Ainge trading Isaiah earlier. Now or this summer. But I think next year's trade deadline is the most likely period for Isaiah to be traded.

[LarBrd33]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

I'd definitely do that. 

Thomas is fun, but I don't think he's the starting PG on a contender.

Big picture... turning a #28 pick (that I'm pretty sure we got for free by using a trade exception) for Nerlens Noel... That'd be pretty amazing. 

If it gets us a killer prospect like Noel, I'm totally fine with sending Baby Iverson to Philly.

[loco_91]

My prediction is that we make a small move for a bench player with little guaranteed money. Swap Jerebko or Zeller and a 2nd rounder or 2 for for someone who provides depth at the 3.

[PhoSita]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

I'd definitely do that. 

Thomas is fun, but I don't think he's the starting PG on a contender.

Big picture... turning a #28 pick (that I'm pretty sure we got for free by using a trade exception) for Nerlens Noel... That'd be pretty amazing. 

If it gets us a killer prospect like Noel, I'm totally fine with sending Baby Iverson to Philly.

I can't imagine why Philly would do it for Thomas.  Even if they are interested in making winning moves, Isaiah will be almost at the door of retirement by the time the rest of the team is ready to make the playoffs.


More likely, they'd ask for Smart and a couple of picks including a Brooklyn pick.  Would you do that for Noel?

I still think it's more likely they trade Okafor on draft day than Noel at the deadline.

[ssspence]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

I'd definitely do that. 

Thomas is fun, but I don't think he's the starting PG on a contender.

Big picture... turning a #28 pick (that I'm pretty sure we got for free by using a trade exception) for Nerlens Noel... That'd be pretty amazing. 

If it gets us a killer prospect like Noel, I'm totally fine with sending Baby Iverson to Philly.

Think you misread. IP said Smart and change, not Thomas and change.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

I'd definitely do that. 

Thomas is fun, but I don't think he's the starting PG on a contender.

Big picture... turning a #28 pick (that I'm pretty sure we got for free by using a trade exception) for Nerlens Noel... That'd be pretty amazing. 

If it gets us a killer prospect like Noel, I'm totally fine with sending Baby Iverson to Philly.

I can't imagine why Philly would do it for Thomas.  Even if they are interested in making winning moves, Isaiah will be almost at the door of retirement by the time the rest of the team is ready to make the playoffs.


More likely, they'd ask for Smart and a couple of picks including a Brooklyn pick.  Would you do that for Noel?

I still think it's more likely they trade Okafor on draft day than Noel at the deadline.

He's only 26, that's got to be at least 5 years and maybe 7+ if he holds up. He does rely on athleticism and he takes a pounding every game, you could be right.

 
Not commenting on trade, just that he is youngish.

[LarBrd33]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

I'd definitely do that. 

Thomas is fun, but I don't think he's the starting PG on a contender.

Big picture... turning a #28 pick (that I'm pretty sure we got for free by using a trade exception) for Nerlens Noel... That'd be pretty amazing. 

If it gets us a killer prospect like Noel, I'm totally fine with sending Baby Iverson to Philly.

I can't imagine why Philly would do it for Thomas.  Even if they are interested in making winning moves, Isaiah will be almost at the door of retirement by the time the rest of the team is ready to make the playoffs.


More likely, they'd ask for Smart and a couple of picks including a Brooklyn pick.  Would you do that for Noel?

I still think it's more likely they trade Okafor on draft day than Noel at the deadline.

I agree that at this point I think Okafor is the one they'd trade.  Noel can be a DPOY candidate every year for that team once he reaches his prime.

Smart has shown real progress recently, but I'd still move him for Noel.  If it required including Brooklyn picks, I'm not sure if I'd do it.  I really like Noel and I'm continuing to temper my expectations with those Brooklyn picks, but there's still a chance they end up pretty important.  If we're talking about our 2016 1st or the Dallas pick, it would be easier to stomach since I think both are late lotto at best.

[ssspence]

My prediction: Danny Ainge makes a win-now-ish move for a somewhat established up and coming player involving Smart and possibly the non-Nets pick this year as well as future picks.

That's my bold prediction.

That oughta be quite a player coming back our way.  Could you give an example?

Nerlens Noel

I'd definitely do that. 

Thomas is fun, but I don't think he's the starting PG on a contender.

Big picture... turning a #28 pick (that I'm pretty sure we got for free by using a trade exception) for Nerlens Noel... That'd be pretty amazing. 

If it gets us a killer prospect like Noel, I'm totally fine with sending Baby Iverson to Philly.

I can't imagine why Philly would do it for Thomas.  Even if they are interested in making winning moves, Isaiah will be almost at the door of retirement by the time the rest of the team is ready to make the playoffs.


More likely, they'd ask for Smart and a couple of picks including a Brooklyn pick.  Would you do that for Noel?

I still think it's more likely they trade Okafor on draft day than Noel at the deadline.

I agree that at this point I think Okafor is the one they'd trade.  Noel can be a DPOY candidate every year for that team once he reaches his prime.

Smart has shown real progress recently, but I'd still move him for Noel.  If it required including Brooklyn picks, I'm not sure if I'd do it.  I really like Noel and I'm continuing to temper my expectations with those Brooklyn picks, but there's still a chance they end up pretty important.  If we're talking about our 2016 1st or the Dallas pick, it would be easier to stomach since I think both are late lotto at best.

Agreed. Smart and the 2016 BKLN pick is too much. But I'm not sure Philly really wants picks. I think you'd see something more like: Smart, Young, and Sully for Noel.

They need more average NBA players on their team. And we need less average NBA players on our team.

[PhoSita]

He's only 26, that's got to be at least 5 years and maybe 7+ if he holds up. He does rely on athleticism and he takes a pounding every game, you could be right.

 
Not commenting on trade, just that he is youngish.

Isaiah turns 27 this season (actually, he turns 27 on Sunday).

If you look into the annals of NBA history, you'll be hard pressed to find a tiny score-first guard like Isaiah who lasted beyond his 31st birthday.

I'd say, best case scenario, Isaiah has four seasons after this one playing anywhere near his current level.  If he's still in the league at age 31/32, that will be a significant accomplishment.