What would you pay IT4 for his next contract?

[iadera]

Trade him for Wall. Nothing less.

[Bobshot]

I don't think they can afford him. He's a max player, and they need the cap space to fill major weaknesses up front to improve the team balance. Better to trade him and improve the front line. The backcourt is pretty deep without him.

[jambr380]

Is there any reason anybody wouldn't want to sign IT for whatever if we have a contending core in place? I am still seeing conflicting posts about paying IT too much - is it is a moral dilemma?

I mean, if we somehow had a team with George, Cousins, Horford, and IT and other decent role player veterans/young players, why wouldn't you want to keep IT? We either sign him and compete or watch him walk for nothing, while replacing him with a vet minimum guy.

If we are still a middling team when IT's contract is up, I can understand the perspective of not tying up anymore long-term money on an 'aging' non-superstar, but we will need all the talent we can get in trying to compete with CLE and GSW and luxury tax money isn't our money.

[Fireworks_Boom!]

Jambr, if money was no object, then IT is a nice piece. Given salary caps and that money is an object which impedes our ability to invest in other areas of the team, I see IT as a player with deficiencies. Mostly his height and the liability this causes from a defensive perspective, But also because his style of offensive play is isolation.

Because of this, I would rather we sell high on him now, prepare ourselves to invest this in either the player returning via trade or a free agent.

We still need:

1. A PG/Ball Handler
2. A Shooter
3. A Rim Protector
4. A Superstar

1 player can scratch off 2 needs noted above. PG is Shooter/Superstar. Boogie is Rim Protector/Superstar.

[jambr380]

Jambr, if money was no object, then IT is a nice piece. Given salary caps and that money is an object which impedes our ability to invest in other areas of the team, I see IT as a player with deficiencies. Mostly his height and the liability this causes from a defensive perspective, But also because his style of offensive play is isolation.

Because of this, I would rather we sell high on him now, prepare ourselves to invest this in either the player returning via trade or a free agent.

We still need:

1. A PG/Ball Handler
2. A Shooter
3. A Rim Protector
4. A Superstar

1 player can scratch off 2 needs noted above. PG is Shooter/Superstar. Boogie is Rim Protector/Superstar.

Well, sure, if you think we can get relatively equal value for IT at a bigger position of need, then I can see the argument. But, getting relatively equal value for IT seems to be the problem. Because of his height, we were able to acquire him for a very late first. I realize his value has since increased (he was also very good on Sac and Phx), but I don't see Sac trading Cousins for him, straight up. There are even people who think that we couldn't even get Nurkic or Jokic for him.

Given the assumption that teams probably don't want to sell the farm for a 5'9" PG, we are probably better off trying to add talent around him before his contract is up (along with Smart and AB). At that point, money literally is no object (at least to us fans) - there is no hard cap. Who cares how much money Wyc wants to spend to field a contending team? We should just be happy that the owners are willing to spend money.

But, as I said, if we are unable to dramatically increase the talent on this team, then it may be better to begin building around Brown, Smart, Rozier, and the two BKN picks, along with whatever we can get for our fantastic veterans...this is not my preference.

[GRADYCOLNON]

Anyone who thinks this is premature discussion needs to know that the Celtics future is tied to IT's next contract.  I get we need to focus on issues that currently ail us but those never get fixed on time.  I'd rather get the most important issue solved sooner rather than too late.  IT is great but not worth $30 million each years for 5 years.  We'll be paying him until he is 34.  Many don't think his excellence is gonna last for another 7 years let alone 3 years.  It's the main reason why Celtics fans don't want him to be the centerpiece because if he breaks down, we are stuck in mud going nowhere.  Unless we can get a favorable contract that allows the team to transition IT onto the bench where he can help maximize the team's talent, he will always be in trade rumors.  It is really crappy but that's where the team is heading.  That's why this recent blow up about IT not being essential to the team's success.  Fans want to find the centerpiece (garnett, pierce, bird, russell, havlicek) essential to winning a title, they can love for years to come. Not a player that could be traded or isn't bringing them a title. 

[Tr1boy]

The twist in all of this is what AB gets paid IT camp will want the same or if not more

[tankcity!]

We need to trade him. I actually like Smart at PG funny enough. He can post up. And he is way more unselfish. If IT can fetch us a good big, we should take it.

[GRADYCOLNON]

We need to trade him. I actually like Smart at PG funny enough. He can post up. And he is way more unselfish. If IT can fetch us a good big, we should take it.

an IT trade can get us that scoring big man (cough Cousins) that fits next to horford.