Celtics in on Butler negotiations (Via CBS)

[jambr380]

Steve Kyler ‏@stevekylerNBA 10h10 hours ago

I am close with Butler - Bulls spoke to him prior to lottery and he's not the guy they are looking to trade.

Yeah, Bradley may not be the guy the Cs are looking to trade, but that doesn't mean he won't be.

Actively shopping a guy and making a tough trade based on what you think is best for the future of your franchise are two totally different things.

[otherdave]

I would really hate to trade AB, JC, MS or TR period.  Gotta keep defensive core and than add to it.  I would rather trade IT to Chicago for Butler.

[passesofftodj]

I am ok with AB plus the #3.  Adding in Smart or Crowder is too much.  I am also keeping Rozier.  If pushed I may add #23, a couple 2nds, or Young and Hunter.

Then I full on go after KD, draft the best big I can at 16 (or package picks to move up a few slots and get an even better big), plus draft and stash other bigs.

Bye bye Sully and probably Turner.  Future BK /Mem picks are off the table as those drafts look stacked.

This way we have a few years of borderline contention, absolute contention if ANY of the young picks become stars, then we'll be adding a few even younger picks the next few years to have a 2nd wave of contention downline.

[Bobshot]

Butler is a terrific player, but he is big money and plays a position they are already pretty strong in. So why waste resources on a strength?

No matter which guard you trade for Butler, you're going to have chemistry problems. Rose-Butler competed for shots. IT-Butler will compete for shots.

I don't know if I would trade Bradley. He has a great contract, is an elite player defensively, and seems to improve offensively every year. The one negative I have against him is he's been injured twice in the playoffs, which has cost them. They had the Heat beat in the finals a few years back when his shoulder gave out. And then this year, his leg injury killed them against Atlanta. He and Smart are their defensive backbone, along with Crowder. Keep them intact.

I'd be happier if they put their money in an offensive stud up front. And maybe another big who can rebound and block shots.

[flybono]

If the #3 and ? Gets you Butler.

Would the future brooklyn picks and the remaining #1 picks this year and ? Get u Cousins?

[Chris22]

Keep the pick.

[bigal534]

For those that don't want Butler, just watch this video and tell me he isn't a "Celtic" style player:

http://youtu.be/Xz5LhrjnbDs

[steve]

I think people are going to be surprised when it's, bradley, smart, 3, 16 for Butler. People will be upset like when we traded big al and gerald green.

But he is special. He plays possessed. If he lands you durant and horford you could win a championship next year.

[MattyIce]

I think people are going to be surprised when it's, bradley, smart, 3, 16 for Butler. People will be upset like when we traded big al and gerald green.

But he is special. He plays possessed. If he lands you durant and horford you could win a championship next year.

yes if we get Durant and hortford it would be worth it, the issue is giving up that much to get him, If the best offer out there is minny's 5th and anyone not named Wiggins (and obviously kat) then we would and should be upset.  if Chicago is rebuilding and wants Dunn as speculated, then a package of 3, 16 and either Bradley OR smart should beat out minny and I doubt Phoenix is making a deal nor is the 1 or 2 getting traded for him imo.  IF they blow it up we will beat out minny

[CFAN38]

I'm very skeptical that the Bulls will move butler given the current state of their roster. However he could represent the 1st of many moves for the Cs. Durant was rumored to have a list of players he would want to leave OKC for and I would think the list would likely include butler then maybe horford and or conely. Getting butler and signing horford would likely make the Cs a distant 2nd behind OKC to sign durant.

[PAOBoston]

Butler is a terrific player, but he is big money and plays a position they are already pretty strong in. So why waste resources on a strength?

No matter which guard you trade for Butler, you're going to have chemistry problems. Rose-Butler competed for shots. IT-Butler will compete for shots.

I don't know if I would trade Bradley. He has a great contract, is an elite player defensively, and seems to improve offensively every year. The one negative I have against him is he's been injured twice in the playoffs, which has cost them. They had the Heat beat in the finals a few years back when his shoulder gave out. And then this year, his leg injury killed them against Atlanta. He and Smart are their defensive backbone, along with Crowder. Keep them intact.

I'd be happier if they put their money in an offensive stud up front. And maybe another big who can rebound and block shots.

I understand your points but it isn't like Butler is a bad defender. So I don't think you lose thaaat much defensively. He's also a better offensive player that someone like AB. He can get his own shot if need be, something AB (and everyone on this team minus IT/Turner) cannot do. Losing AB sucks since he's been here forever and has grown greatly as a player since being here but sometimes you need to give up something good to get something good.

[Smokeeye123]

#3, Bradley, and another first outside of next years nets pick seems like a more than fair offer. If they want more than that I hope Ainge doesnt give it to them.

[Bobshot]

Butler is a terrific player, but he is big money and plays a position they are already pretty strong in. So why waste resources on a strength?

No matter which guard you trade for Butler, you're going to have chemistry problems. Rose-Butler competed for shots. IT-Butler will compete for shots.

I don't know if I would trade Bradley. He has a great contract, is an elite player defensively, and seems to improve offensively every year. The one negative I have against him is he's been injured twice in the playoffs, which has cost them. They had the Heat beat in the finals a few years back when his shoulder gave out. And then this year, his leg injury killed them against Atlanta. He and Smart are their defensive backbone, along with Crowder. Keep them intact.

I'd be happier if they put their money in an offensive stud up front. And maybe another big who can rebound and block shots.

I understand your points but it isn't like Butler is a bad defender. So I don't think you lose thaaat much defensively. He's also a better offensive player that someone like AB. He can get his own shot if need be, something AB (and everyone on this team minus IT/Turner) cannot do. Losing AB sucks since he's been here forever and has grown greatly as a player since being here but sometimes you need to give up something good to get something good.

Butler is an excellent 2-way player, but I don't know if you gain that much adding and subtracting from the backcourt. And taking on a lot more salary.

I think it's better to focus on upgrading up front. A Gasol short term or Okafor would boost the offense. and provide some rebounding.  Even a Dieng would help, and he should be expendable. And Bender could surprise.

I don't know if they can do anything in the backcourt to significantly improve the team, unless they upgrade the 4-5.

I'd like to see them parlay the 3,16 and 23 picks into a big and a scorer who can help now.

[Kuberski33]

I like Butler and think he's a nice fit next to IT....my only hesitation is the cost.

My guess is if we get Butler we are going all out for KD.

If you got Butler you wouldn't need KD to compete for a title.  You would just have to upgrade the 4/5 and replace whatever players you have to give up to make the deal for Butler.

[trickybilly]

I am ok with AB plus the #3.  Adding in Smart or Crowder is too much.  I am also keeping Rozier.  If pushed I may add #23, a couple 2nds, or Young and Hunter.

Then I full on go after KD, draft the best big I can at 16 (or package picks to move up a few slots and get an even better big), plus draft and stash other bigs.

Bye bye Sully and probably Turner.  Future BK /Mem picks are off the table as those drafts look stacked.

This way we have a few years of borderline contention, absolute contention if ANY of the young picks become stars, then we'll be adding a few even younger picks the next few years to have a 2nd wave of contention downline.

Love that bullishness. I absolutely love Turner, but I think we should let him walk and give Terry the reins for the second unit. Butler can play a lot at the 3, but if Avery is included in the deal we will have virtually no shooting. That might not be as fatal as it sounds, with Kelly having a career year this year, and signing some FA shooting. Need Teletovic, Dudley, or even JR Smith.