Not to be a Homer... but *CAN'T* Trade Bradley, Smart or Crowder!

[jmen788]

While a trade of say Marcus Smart for Jahlil Okafor would be tantalizing, I think that due to the NBA going small (and the subsequent offensive juggernauts like Golden State happening partially as a result), that we cannot afford to trade Bradley, Smart or Crowder as they play ferocious defense and we own their bird rights... We saw Bradley shut down Curry, I could see Marcus Smart doing work on Klay Thompson, Crowder doing as much as one can do against Durant, etc.

As a result I think we need to get a star via draft or free agency (keep the 2017 BKN pick swap at all costs), unless you can get Cousins (who I continue to absolutely covet) without giving up one of Bradley, Crowder and Smart (which is pretty much impossible unless we wait it out another year till Cousins is an expiring).

Just my 2 cents.

[LGC88]

Our only chance to beat superteam is on the defense event.
We need to keep our core while adding some scoring potential.
Horford is a nice step towards this goal.
We need another big and another swing to complete our contender team.

[jmen788]

Our only chance to beat superteam is on the defense event.
We need to keep our core while adding some scoring potential.
Horford is a nice step towards this goal.
We need another big and another swing to complete our contender team.

Agreed! I like the Horford deal, as long as it doesn't stop us from getting 1 or 2 max players in the next couple years... and I think we can get the swing and big through the draft.

[Celtic_Pride777]

"No way! Danny Ainge can't trade away Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo!"

This sounds familiar, doesn't it?

[jmen788]

"No way! Danny Ainge can't trade away Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo!"

This sounds familiar, doesn't it?

I get what you're saying but they were old and/or over the hill. If we want to win a title in the next episode years we need those guys.

[IDreamCeltics]

"No way! Danny Ainge can't trade away Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo!"

This sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Right but the question is really, what are you trading for? Perimeter defense is the strength of this team. If you trade any of those guys away you're breaking up the one truly special thing this team does.

[crimson_stallion]

I would be extremely resistant to giving up Bradley or Crowder - the only way I would do it is if I was getting back a clear-cut All-star at the same position.  For example, Jimmy Butler - I would give up Bradley or Crowder (not both) for Butler.

Smart I'm not really that fussed about.  I like him a lot, I think he's really fantastic as defensive role player and energy guy off the bench.  I'm still extremely uncertain as to whether he is good enough to start on a team that makes it past the first round - at this point I think it is an emphatic "no".  In the future that may change.

I don't think he is ever going to be an "irreplacable" player.

I think Bradley offers a unique ability that is pretty much irreplaceable with his defensive pressure.

I don't think Crowder offers anything that is irreplaceable YET, but if he continues to develop offensively then his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court may well be close to irreplaceable.

I don't really think there's anything Smart does that puts him on that "irreplacable" level.  I think he's a really good, and really tough defender.  I don't honestly believe he is an elite defender - not yet at least.  But he's a really good one, and more importantly a very versatile one.  I don't think that's enough to makeup for his offensive limitations at this point in time.

If Smart can develop his offensive game to the point where he can consistently contribute around 13 points on at least 43% / 33% / 73% shooting, then I think that's solid enough offensively to the point where his defensive versatility could make him an incredibly valuable player and a very tough guy to replace.   Maybe he does that this year - I don't know. He hasn't taken a huge leap yet, but he's still still only ~22 years old he is far from a finished product.

[Celtics4ever]

I do think we have an untradeable guy except Brown this year.

[trickybilly]

I do think we have an untradeable guy except Brown this year.

Presume you mean *don't

Horford is untradeable.

[CoachBo]

I have no heartburn about trading Marcus Smart whatsoever. Not offensively skilled enough to worry about trading. We'll be fine defensively.

[budMovin]

Okafor probably shoots a better 3 than Smart. Smart isn't a small ball type player because he makes Rondo look like Ray Allen on that front.

I don't want to trade Crowder or Bradley.

[LilRip]

I love these 3 players but I think eventually we need to trade one of these guys in a package deal if we want to make a significant step forward. But that's fine. I think as long as we keep 2 out of 3, our D will be fine. The person I would be most okay trading away?

Probably Crowder.

[Dedalus]

TP, these dudes are the reason to watch games.

[Sketch5]

I have no heartburn about trading Marcus Smart whatsoever. Not offensively skilled enough to worry about trading. We'll be fine defensively.

Stevens wants guys that can switch in pick n rolls with out giving up much of an advantage. He hasn't had that ability to do that yet because of players like Sully and KO that can't guard anything faster than a sloth.

Smarts been able to guard 1-5 with some success. While AB can shoot better than Smart he can only really guard 1's and 2's. And IT, 1's. Smart has done a lot on the defensive end that makes up for his lack off offense. If he can become an average offensive player, which wouldn't take too much, he has a slight advantage over AB.

And I'm not saying Smart should be a starter, I don't think AB is really a starter, not on a contender. Butler fills that roll much more, but I'd rather have Smart and AB backing up IT and a Butler than get rid of one of them.

Unfortunately AB has the most value when it comes to D and the ability to shoot the 3 ball under that contract. If you're swapping one for Butler, AB would be the one that goes because you have to give up one less asset to make it work in a trade.  And if you keep AB, he's going to demand a huge pay raise in a could years.

Smart will be more cost effective and you don't give up much.

[jambr380]

I am hoping Rozier can take a step forward this year and make Bradley tradable. I know this is a lot to ask, but we have to pay Bradley a lot of money in a couple of years and we still haven't added a superstar.

This is already assuming that Smart is ready to take on an increased role in the offense. As long as we have one lockdown 1 on 1 perimeter defender, then I prefer the rest of our wings' (Crowder, Smart, Brown) defensive versatility.