Would you give up Smart for Millsap? I would (Poll)

[CelticsBR]

How can we forget so easily that our defensive guards were able to give us opportunities to beat GS last season?

[saltlover]

I'd do it as fast as possible so Atlanta doesn't have time to reconsider... Defensive guards with no offense are the least valuable commodity in the current NBA and can be drafted every single year.

Name 5 better defensive guards than Smart in the past 5 years.

I'll wait.

Show me proof their better, and I'll give you 5 TP's.

I mean he hasn't even made an All NBA Defense team yet. Eye test he does look great though. His peers don't seem to think so thus far.

Saying that after only 2 seasons is meaningless. When was the last time someone made an all-defensive team in their rookie or sophomore seasons?

He also did receive All-Defense votes, including two first-place votes.  He was the only second year player to receive any All-defense votes. He also received a couple second place votes as a rookie.  Has a guard ever made All-Defense in his first two seasons?  Rondo made it his third season, but that's the earliest I found.

[BitterJim]

I'd do it as fast as possible so Atlanta doesn't have time to reconsider... Defensive guards with no offense are the least valuable commodity in the current NBA and can be drafted every single year.

Name 5 better defensive guards than Smart in the past 5 years.

I'll wait.

Show me proof their better, and I'll give you 5 TP's.

I mean he hasn't even made an All NBA Defense team yet. Eye test he does look great though. His peers don't seem to think so thus far.

Saying that after only 2 seasons is meaningless. When was the last time someone made an all-defensive team in their rookie or sophomore seasons?

He also did receive All-Defense votes, including two first-place votes.  He was the only second year player to receive any All-defense votes. He also received a couple second place votes as a rookie.  Has a guard ever made All-Defense in his first two seasons?  Rondo made it his third season, but that's the earliest I found.

Dwyane Wade made it in his sophomore season (2004-2005) as one of 6 second team members (he tied with Jason Kidd), that's the most recent as far as I could tell

[nickagneta]

Why in the world would Danny trade for Milsap or even Hayward when neither makes the Celtics true contenders this year when they could sign either in the off season while giving up nothing? Cleveland and GS are going to be in the Finals this year. Unless the Cs trade for another top 10-15 player in the league, they have zero chance of truly contending this year. Wait until the offseason, keep IT, Bradley, Smart, Brown, Crowder, Horford, and Rozier this offseason and add from there. Thats the best formula rather than giving up core players for rentals that could walk away after the season.

[Evantime34]

If Atlanta wants Smart, then I would take my chances on Millsap in free agency.

With Millsap's impending free agency, he's not worth Smart. I would give Atlanta the Memphis first, Olynyk, Rozier and Zeller.

[BitterJim]

It wouldn't be that Smart (see what I did there) to trade Marcus for a 6 month rental. I'd rather wait until free agency.

and then you don't land Millsap because you wouldn't trade a bench player.  This thread is truly astonishing

Or you trade your only good bench player for a 3 or 4 month rental of a 32 year old player that isn't good enough to make you a contender, and have to either sign him to a big contract or lose him for nothing

This isn't Boogie or Blake Griffin we're talking about, it's Paul Millsap (a good player, but not good enough to vault us into contention)

[Bobshot]

It wouldn't be that Smart (see what I did there) to trade Marcus for a 6 month rental. I'd rather wait until free agency.

and then you don't land Millsap because you wouldn't trade a bench player.  This thread is truly astonishing

Or you trade your only good bench player for a 3 or 4 month rental of a 32 year old player that isn't good enough to make you a contender, and have to either sign him to a big contract or lose him for nothing

This isn't Boogie or Blake Griffin we're talking about, it's Paul Millsap (a good player, but not good enough to vault us into contention)

Millsap is regarded as better all around 4 than Griffin.  There is an age difference, but Griffin is not as durable. Cousins would be rated higher, but he's a 5.

[Eja117]

I'm not the hugest Smart fan but I said no

[Bobshot]

If Atlanta wants Smart, then I would take my chances on Millsap in free agency.

With Millsap's impending free agency, he's not worth Smart. I would give Atlanta the Memphis first, Olynyk, Rozier and Zeller.

There has to be a premium on getting him this year. He would vault them past Toronto, so that they won't have to face the Cavs again in the first round. What price that's worth is up to Ainge.

In that Starters show last night on NBA network, the kid from Toronto mentioned the Raptors as a suitor for Millsap. I don't know if Toronto is a serious suitor, but the Celtics have more weapons to get him, and Horford might be a draw.

[CFAN38]

In a bubble where the only goal is to win this season then a trade for Milsap build around Smart and picks makes sense. Figuring in age and contracts Smart should not be included in a Milsap trade. 

[Evantime34]

If Atlanta wants Smart, then I would take my chances on Millsap in free agency.

With Millsap's impending free agency, he's not worth Smart. I would give Atlanta the Memphis first, Olynyk, Rozier and Zeller.

There has to be a premium on getting him this year. He would vault them past Toronto, so that they won't have to face the Cavs again in the first round. What price that's worth is up to Ainge.

In that Starters show last night on NBA network, the kid from Toronto mentioned the Raptors as a suitor for Millsap. I don't know if Toronto is a serious suitor, but the Celtics have more weapons to get him, and Horford might be a draw.

You are probably right on the premium to get him here now, but I do think it's offset by having to pay him the max next year or losing him.

If Toronto is our main competition, can they really beat Rozier, Olynyk, Zeller, the Memphis first and the Clippers first?

[wdleehi]

No.


If the Celtics trade Smart (which I am ok with), it needs to be for a long term improvement.


Millsap is not.  He is a rental player most likely.


Wait.  See what else shakes out .

[oldtype]

It's mostly moot anyway because if we trade for Milsap now, there's no path to adding a second star in free agency.

If we sign Hayward or Milsap in free agency, a second star can be added by trade.

[BitterJim]

It wouldn't be that Smart (see what I did there) to trade Marcus for a 6 month rental. I'd rather wait until free agency.

and then you don't land Millsap because you wouldn't trade a bench player.  This thread is truly astonishing

Or you trade your only good bench player for a 3 or 4 month rental of a 32 year old player that isn't good enough to make you a contender, and have to either sign him to a big contract or lose him for nothing

This isn't Boogie or Blake Griffin we're talking about, it's Paul Millsap (a good player, but not good enough to vault us into contention)

Millsap is regarded as better all around 4 than Griffin.  There is an age difference, but Griffin is not as durable. Cousins would be rated higher, but he's a 5.

Better all around, sure, but Griffin would help more with our 2 biggest weaknesses: rebounding and the lack of another go-to scorer.  Add to that the fact that he turns 28 in March vs Millsap turning 32 in February and Griffin is worth more long-term, even with his injury history

As for Cousins, he plays some 4 for the Kings, but here he'd just be the other big with Horford, which would be fine considering that Horford could play the 4 (and has been all year)

[saltlover]

If Atlanta wants Smart, then I would take my chances on Millsap in free agency.

With Millsap's impending free agency, he's not worth Smart. I would give Atlanta the Memphis first, Olynyk, Rozier and Zeller.

I just want to mention that people's trade ideas need to send out a shade over $15 million in salary with nor more than three players, and two is probably more ideal.  Millsap makes just over $20 million.  The Hawks have 1-2 guys on the roster they could cut to make things work (Ryan Kelly and maybe Mike Scott), but everyone beyond that is useful and/or signed to guaranteed money next season.  You're a little over $2 million short with this idea.  I think it will very difficult to get to the required salaries without sending Amir.