Poll: OK or Not Okay 3 Years 75 million for Thomas

[celticsclay]

Someone will give it to him and with the current rates that might be fair. However it's too much for me. He's a fantastic scorer and it is quite an amazing joy to watch him play. But that's too much money tied up into a player who is very one dimensional.

Again, he is great, but if he's your team's best or second best player overall then you won't be doing much contending. We need to find the number one banana to play to to Horford's number two and ITs number 3. But when thats the case our third best player shouldn't be receiving 25 mil a year.

TP. Where I'm at. Seeing these numbers being thrown around for IT and AB are scary, let alone what Smart might get.

These are truly fascinating times we live in.

[PhoSita]

One thing to keep in mind for people -- as long as the team has Stevens and Horford around, making the playoffs and going as far as possible is likely to be the explicit goal in any given season.

With that in mind, understand that the team is going to spend money to compete.  If it's not Olynyk, Isaiah, AB, or Smart, it'll probably be somebody else.

So the question shouldn't be: "Is this player worth ____?"

Instead, the question should be:

 "In light of our other options for spending $$ to keep the team competitive, is this player worth ____?"

[TrueFan]

One thing to keep in mind for people -- as long as the team has Stevens and Horford around, making the playoffs and going as far as possible is likely to be the explicit goal in any given season.

With that in mind, understand that the team is going to spend money to compete.  If it's not Olynyk, Isaiah, AB, or Smart, it'll probably be somebody else.

So the question shouldn't be: "Is this player worth ____?"

Instead, the question should be:

 "In light of our other options for spending $$ to keep the team competitive, is this player worth ____?"

I would say as long as Ainge is the GM we will take whichever path is the best.

IT is the teams best option for the next two years but after that it could be debatable considering his age and if we draft a stud point guard.

[Rosco917]

Someone will give it to him and with the current rates that might be fair. However it's too much for me. He's a fantastic scorer and it is quite an amazing joy to watch him play. But that's too much money tied up into a player who is very one dimensional.

Again, he is great, but if he's your team's best or second best player overall then you won't be doing much contending. We need to find the number one banana to play to to Horford's number two and ITs number 3. But when thats the case our third best player shouldn't be receiving 25 mil a year.

Bingo^^^

[Chris22]

Trade him for a good big.

[Phantom255x]

Trade him for a good big.

Name me a big.

[Phantom255x]

No one will ever be satisfied until we have a Westbrook or Lilliard on this team.

IT is scoring 26+ PPG, and the team is clearly failing to score late in games which has cost us some wins without him.

So you can let him go for nothing... OR trade him. But with IT's contract situation (1.5 years left), no one is trading another stud or high draft pick for him. So yeah... that's why I'm annoyed when I see people say "let's trade IT for a good big or a good shooter"

[Chris22]

Trade him for a good big.

Name me a big.

Noel.

[Phantom255x]

Trade him for a good big.

Name me a big.

Noel.

Boy am I glad you aren't the GM.

IT for Noel??? Wow.

[jambr380]

I said this in the other IT thread, but if the plan is to remain competitive and we are able to acquire another all-star level player, then re-signing IT is a no-brainer. We will be over the cap (or very close to it) with said all-star, Horford, and Smart/AB being re-signed and letting IT go would only allow us to sign a low salary player to replace him. That player is very unlikely to be as impactful as IT.

The question, "Is IT worth $25M/yr?" isn't specific enough. If we are trying to be competitive, then of course he is (we aren't paying the luxury tax, Wyc is); if we are just a middling team and are unable to acquire any all-star level talent, then it might be time to not only sell off IT, but most of our veteran talent.

It really depends on what Danny is able to do via trade and free agency. My guess is he will make a strong run at making the team as good as possible.

[trickybilly]

Only reason I say no is his low 3pt%, his supposed defensive deficiencies are overstated. Not sure about that "one-dimensional" comment: yah, that is crazy talk

[Chris22]

Trade him for a good big.

Name me a big.

Noel.

Boy am I glad you aren't the GM.

IT for Noel??? Wow.

Sorry, bigs are more valuable than little guys who disappear in the playoffs.
Plus, it would help Philly have a better record than Brooklyn, and we would get a better draft pick.

[SuddenFame]

In a perfect world, IT would be the C's Vinny Johnson coming off the bench. The "Microwave" for this team.

[Moranis]

Trade him for a good big.

Name me a big.

Noel.

Boy am I glad you aren't the GM.

IT for Noel??? Wow.

Sorry, bigs are more valuable than little guys who disappear in the playoffs.
Plus, it would help Philly have a better record than Brooklyn, and we would get a better draft pick.

sure bigs are more valuable than littles, but not when there is such a vast discrepancy in talent.  Thomas is a way better player than Noel. 

Now sure, Boston could probably craft a Thomas to Philly trade, but it would be so many pieces and might require a 3rd team to really work well because with Horford Boston needs to be in win now mode, which is the exact opposite of trading Thomas.  I did a 3 team the other day with Washington and Denver, the same type of concept could work with Philly.

[CelticGuardian]

If Smart was even competent at the 1 when he first got here, we wouldn't be in this dilemma with  the 5'9" guy having All-NBA ambitions which puts us in a weird predicament since around the league people view the C's as his team. Now we know in a championship team he'll be the 6th man, I just don't see how we can bench him now, and expect everything to be peachy. Thomas is going command something north of 100 Million, you can bet on that. Look at what Evan **** Turner got, for Christ sake.