Danny Ainge comments on roster needs, Golden State, Jame Young, etc.

[Beat LA]

Roster situation: 4 roster spots will be fought between Sullinger, Zeller, Young, Hunter, Bentil, and Jackson.

What's the optimum we can hope for (aside from trades & other FA targets I don't know about)?

Both Sullinger & Zeller on one year deals. Retain Young and Hunter, and Bentil & Jackson agree to a contract in the NBA DL or Europe.

That keeps our rights for everyone and produces what should be our best NBA ready talent for our roster.

We'll see how it plays out.

Those spots should go to Hunter, Bentil, and Jackson, imo.  Let Sully and Zeller walk and waive Young.

[D Dub]

Roster situation: 4 roster spots will be fought between Sullinger, Zeller, Young, Hunter, Bentil, and Jackson.

What's the optimum we can hope for (aside from trades & other FA targets I don't know about)?

Both Sullinger & Zeller on one year deals. Retain Young and Hunter, and Bentil & Jackson agree to a contract in the NBA DL or Europe.

That keeps our rights for everyone and produces what should be our best NBA ready talent for our roster.

We'll see how it plays out.

Those spots should go to Hunter, Bentil, and Jackson, imo.  Let Sully and Zeller walk and waive Young.

I'd keep Zeller over the rookie 2nd round point guard.   We are thin up front and Zeller is a pretty versatile 15mpg big.   We are so thin up front, not sure it makes sense to keep Jackson around purely as a practice player.   

[Scintan]

Roster situation: 4 roster spots will be fought between Sullinger, Zeller, Young, Hunter, Bentil, and Jackson.

What's the optimum we can hope for (aside from trades & other FA targets I don't know about)?

Both Sullinger & Zeller on one year deals. Retain Young and Hunter, and Bentil & Jackson agree to a contract in the NBA DL or Europe.

That keeps our rights for everyone and produces what should be our best NBA ready talent for our roster.

We'll see how it plays out.

Those spots should go to Hunter, Bentil, and Jackson, imo.  Let Sully and Zeller walk and waive Young.

Danny implies that it's time for Young to crap or get off the pot.  I see nothing that indicates whether that means by the end of training camp, by the end of the season, or some other time, though.

[BitterJim]

Talk is cheap and the talk is getting old.

Make a move! Horford or no Horford it's purgatory

You do realize he's being asked pointed questions?  He can't just go all Oli North and plead the 5th.

If he did plead the fifth and choose not to answer, people would read into it and say that it meant that he had a deal in place.  He literally can't win

[Smartacus]

Still really want Butler on the team. I think he'd take us to the next level and give us a really good chance of coming out of the East. Cousins would be great, too, and though there are some questions to the fit alongside Horford, he'd be an excellent role model for Cousins.

With all due respect JPotter, do you really even consider Butler an option anymore? Beween him D Wade, and Rondo, they could still be a top 3 team in the East if that core jells together. I don't see Butler as anymore availible than Paul George or Giannis.

[jpotter33]

A stronger center? That means Horford is the starting 4. Sully played the 5 last year so stronger than Sully.

Danny doesn't think he is done with the roster.

Add these up and what do you get?

A Cousins or Okafor trade because Wyc today said they were working on a difficult player?

Sounds about right.

Back up plan?

Probably retaining Sully and signing one more rookie?

I wonder if that was part of the condition for HORFORD signing here - that he plays the 4. There certainly does seem to be a lot of smoke around a Cousins or Okafor deal. I think Cousins makes much more sense given where we're at in the process.

[jpotter33]

Still really want Butler on the team. I think he'd take us to the next level and give us a really good chance of coming out of the East. Cousins would be great, too, and though there are some questions to the fit alongside Horford, he'd be an excellent role model for Cousins.

With all due respect JPotter, do you really even consider Butler an option anymore? Beween him D Wade, and Rondo, they could still be a top 3 team in the East if that core jells together. I don't see Butler as anymore availible than Paul George or Giannis.

I do. I think that team is set up for major failure and chemistry issues, which could very well lead to him wanting out by the deadline. That trio just does not have a promising look to it with its issues with fit.

[slamtheking]

A stronger center? That means Horford is the starting 4. Sully played the 5 last year so stronger than Sully.

Danny doesn't think he is done with the roster.

Add these up and what do you get?

A Cousins or Okafor trade because Wyc today said they were working on a difficult player?

Sounds about right.

Back up plan?

Probably retaining Sully and signing one more rookie?

I wonder if that was part of the condition for HORFORD signing here - that he plays the 4. There certainly does seem to be a lot of smoke around a Cousins or Okafor deal. I think Cousins makes much more sense given where we're at in the process.

perhaps.  I doubt a Cousins deal will happen but an Okafor deal could thin the backcourt a little.  Wouldn't trade a Nets pick for Okafor but maybe the C's 2018 or Memphis pick with maybe Rozier and Hunter/Jackson.  Philly needs guards and they've looked good this summer.  If he moves Smart instead of Rozier, I'd see less going to Philly with him.

[jpotter33]

A stronger center? That means Horford is the starting 4. Sully played the 5 last year so stronger than Sully.

Danny doesn't think he is done with the roster.

Add these up and what do you get?

A Cousins or Okafor trade because Wyc today said they were working on a difficult player?

Sounds about right.

Back up plan?

Probably retaining Sully and signing one more rookie?

I wonder if that was part of the condition for HORFORD signing here - that he plays the 4. There certainly does seem to be a lot of smoke around a Cousins or Okafor deal. I think Cousins makes much more sense given where we're at in the process.

perhaps.  I doubt a Cousins deal will happen but an Okafor deal could thin the backcourt a little.  Wouldn't trade a Nets pick for Okafor but maybe the C's 2018 or Memphis pick with maybe Rozier and Hunter/Jackson.  Philly needs guards and they've looked good this summer.  If he moves Smart instead of Rozier, I'd see less going to Philly with him.

I'm still iffy about an Okafor trade, especially with Horford. I'm much more comfortable with him at the 5 spot than the 4 spot, but I'd be willing to chance the fit with a talent like Cousins more than Okafor, who doesn't spread the floor anything like Boogie.

[Atzar]

Regarding James Young:  he doesn't appear coordinated to me.  Never balanced, poor handle, poor reflexes.  High center of gravity doesn't help.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that's something you can teach or train effectively.

[Smartacus]

Still really want Butler on the team. I think he'd take us to the next level and give us a really good chance of coming out of the East. Cousins would be great, too, and though there are some questions to the fit alongside Horford, he'd be an excellent role model for Cousins.

With all due respect JPotter, do you really even consider Butler an option anymore? Beween him D Wade, and Rondo, they could still be a top 3 team in the East if that core jells together. I don't see Butler as anymore availible than Paul George or Giannis.

I do. I think that team is set up for major failure and chemistry issues, which could very well lead to him wanting out by the deadline. That trio just does not have a promising look to it with its issues with fit.

Fair, maybe by that time it'll be viewed as D Wade's team and our roster will have the assets needed to balence them out. Strangly enough Rondo and D Wade probably have more epic moments in Chicago than Butler.

[rochrist]

Still really want Butler on the team. I think he'd take us to the next level and give us a really good chance of coming out of the East. Cousins would be great, too, and though there are some questions to the fit alongside Horford, he'd be an excellent role model for Cousins.

With all due respect JPotter, do you really even consider Butler an option anymore? Beween him D Wade, and Rondo, they could still be a top 3 team in the East if that core jells together. I don't see Butler as anymore availible than Paul George or Giannis.

The chances of that strike me as about 1 in hell freezes over. I can't imagine three players less suited to play with each other. What does it say when Rondo is your best 3pt shooter.

[meangreenmachine]

Very glad that Gershon might make the club this year.

Putting a couple tidbits together, he is saying that Zeller and Sullinger are not strong enough centers.

Or maybe he is saying that Sully is coming back.

UGH! Don't want to pay fatso - not when someone else is willing to work harder for less, and actually put in the work

Fatso on a one year qualifying offer is not bad.

[Celtic_Pride777]

Very glad that Gershon might make the club this year.

Putting a couple tidbits together, he is saying that Zeller and Sullinger are not strong enough centers.

Or maybe he is saying that Sully is coming back.

UGH! Don't want to pay fatso - not when someone else is willing to work harder for less, and actually put in the work

Fatso on a one year qualifying offer is not bad.

Perhaps so, but I don't like how he fell apart down the stretch during the playoffs. He let his weight get outta control, and it affected his on-the-court performance. If we're serious about being ECF contenders, we should find better (if not more affordable) options.

Besides, I don't know how motivated he'll be to put in another year with us. He's sub-tweeting on Twitter about leaving elsewhere, and brought down his Celtics cover pic.  I think Sully's ready to move on, and hopefully so are we

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I've liked Cousins for a while, and I think a Horford-Cousins frontcourt could be great.