Stay The Course Ainge. Despite "Media Pressure", No Haste Moves Please!

[Phantom255x]

I know, I know, IT is averaging 29.7 PPG and we don't want to essentially "waste" these prime years of IT, and same with Horford as he ages from 30 and beyond. And I understand the Celtics are now the #2 seed.

BUT.. lots of people (especially national media.. no surprise) WANT the Celtics to cash in and make some "moves" with the picks and assets they have to try and catch Cleveland. But first off, I think the national media and others are really undervaluing the assets the Celtics have.

How often do you see a team trading away a Top-2 draft pick? And what are the kinds of players those picks are traded for? (Definitely not scrubs)

And I think Ainge knows this team isn't winning a championship this season, or next season either.

So what should the ultimate goal for the long term future be?

- Sign a FA this summer (Ibaka/Noel/Millsap) - I think Griffin and Hayward stay put
- Draft Using 2017 Brooklyn Pick + 2018 Brooklyn Pick (Likely both Top-3 picks)
- EXTEND Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart
- Trade Bradley + picks + a young asset (not named Smart/Brown) for a REBOUNDING BIG
- Let young guys like Smart/Brown/etc. develop next few years

Then hopefully as Lebron gets older and once Warriors max Durant/Curry (aka no bench and major cap issues), the Cavaliers and Warriors cool off next 2-3 years. Hopefully if things work out, the Celtics can enter a long term era of contention beginning in the next 2 years.

That still allows you to contend with Horford/IT likely 2-3 years from now, and with the young core growing and more developed.

Now, if a guy like Butler becomes available at the RIGHT price, yes make the deal. But I DOUBT that happens before this summer, at least (price for Butler, Cousins, etc. will be astronomically high this February).

So what do you guys think? Agree with my logic and think the National Media needs to cool it with the unnecessary hype for Boston this year?

[green_bballers13]

I'm with you on the patient approach. Don't trade the picks!

I would love to sign Millsap to a similar deal that Horford gets.

I want to draft Fultz.

I want to eventually resign IT, which prob. means that we have to pass on Bradley. Hopefully Marcus can fill that void.

I like this lineup for next year:

Thomas
Bradley
Crowder
Horford
Millsap

Fultz
Smart
Brown
Mickey/Yabu
Zizic/Bogut/similar veteran big

[Phantom255x]

I'm with you on the patient approach. Don't trade the picks!

I would love to sign Millsap to a similar deal that Horford gets.

I want to draft Fultz.

I want to eventually resign IT, which prob. means that we have to pass on Bradley. Hopefully Marcus can fill that void.

I like this lineup for next year:

Thomas
Bradley
Crowder
Horford
Millsap

Fultz
Smart
Brown
Mickey/Yabu
Zizic/Bogut/similar veteran big

I know I listed Millsap as an option.. but I'm just not feeling like adding Millsap because then we are literally the new ATL Hawks. I know, sort of a random thought, but still...

And I would trade the BKN picks only for a guy like Cousins/Davis, but yeah they are pipe dreams so agree, keep the picks!

[tankcity!]

I'm with you on the patient approach. Don't trade the picks!

I would love to sign Millsap to a similar deal that Horford gets.

I want to draft Fultz.

I want to eventually resign IT, which prob. means that we have to pass on Bradley. Hopefully Marcus can fill that void.

I like this lineup for next year:

Thomas
Bradley
Crowder
Horford
Millsap

Fultz
Smart
Brown
Mickey/Yabu
Zizic/Bogut/similar veteran big

Don't forget the 2018 pick or Rozier. Still unknown what Rozier will turn into.

[bogg]

You play the market as it presents itself to you - the last several #2 picks have been Evan Turner, Derrick Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Vic Oladipo, Jabari Parker, D'Angelo Russell, and Brandon Ingram (the last two of which we haven't really seen enough of to know what they are) so.......mixed bag. It's fun to think that every high draft pick is going to pan out and that Boston will field a team of 3-4 all-stars for a decade, but that's unlikely. The Brooklyn picks are absolutely valuable trade chips (likely the most valuable non-player assets floating around the league right now), but they also shouldn't be totally off-limits if you can get an in-their-prime all-star (and yes, someone like Jimmy Butler counts). If you can make a deal that leaves you with the flexibility to continue building a contender while making you the likely #2 in the East in the meantime? That's something worth looking at.

[Phantom255x]

You play the market as it presents itself to you - the last several #2 picks have been Evan Turner, Derrick Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Vic Oladipo, Jabari Parker, D'Angelo Russell, and Brandon Ingram (the last two of which we haven't really seen enough of to know what they are) so.......mixed bag. It's fun to think that every high draft pick is going to pan out and that Boston will field a team of 3-4 all-stars for a decade, but that's unlikely. The Brooklyn picks are absolutely valuable trade chips (likely the most valuable non-player assets floating around the league right now), but they also shouldn't be totally off-limits if you can get an in-their-prime all-star (and yes, someone like Jimmy Butler counts). If you can make a deal that leaves you with the flexibility to continue building a contender while making you the likely #2 in the East in the meantime? That's something worth looking at.

I'm one who would trade the 2017 Brooklyn Pick for Butler, but the problem seems to be the Bulls want A TON more back in return.

Like I think they want BOTH Brooklyn Picks, two of Smart/Bradley/Crowder, or ONE of the trio + Jaylen Brown. REALLY HIGH PRICES.

I would consider something like Bradley + Zeller + Mickey + 2017NetsPick + 2018 Boston First + ONE of the 2019 Memphis/LAC First Rounder

OR even Yabusele instead of Mickey and keep the 2019 First.

BUT... Bulls won't do that and they'll want a lot more still... 

[GreenShooter]

It's Felger & Mazz who are slamming us "green teamers" for being so patient with DA and the whole "fireworks" deal they want the C's to make "with all their assets". F them Edited for profanity.  Please do not do it again.s. All they do is try to get a couple of people riled-up and then say "see, everyone wants them to make a move now!". Blah, Blah, Blah!

[bogg]

You play the market as it presents itself to you - the last several #2 picks have been Evan Turner, Derrick Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Vic Oladipo, Jabari Parker, D'Angelo Russell, and Brandon Ingram (the last two of which we haven't really seen enough of to know what they are) so.......mixed bag. It's fun to think that every high draft pick is going to pan out and that Boston will field a team of 3-4 all-stars for a decade, but that's unlikely. The Brooklyn picks are absolutely valuable trade chips (likely the most valuable non-player assets floating around the league right now), but they also shouldn't be totally off-limits if you can get an in-their-prime all-star (and yes, someone like Jimmy Butler counts). If you can make a deal that leaves you with the flexibility to continue building a contender while making you the likely #2 in the East in the meantime? That's something worth looking at.

I'm one who would trade the 2017 Brooklyn Pick for Butler, but the problem seems to be the Bulls want A TON more back in return.

Like I think they want BOTH Brooklyn Picks, two of Smart/Bradley/Crowder, or ONE of the trio + Jaylen Brown. REALLY HIGH PRICES.

I would consider something like Bradley + Zeller + Mickey + 2017NetsPick + 2018 Boston First + ONE of the 2019 Memphis/LAC First Rounder

OR even Yabusele instead of Mickey and keep the 2019 First.

BUT... Bulls won't do that and they'll want a lot more still... 

Yea, I'm kind of in the same boat as you, where I'd move the Nets pick for Butler if you can keep the 2018 pick in reserve for a second trade, but if they want what amounts to everything Boston has you can't really make the trade. There needs to be an identifiable road to contending, and with Butler and one more piece I think there is, but Butler alone doesn't likely get you there.

(normally this is where I'd make my "Butler plus Melo on the cheap" pitch, but I'm gonna take a pass this time)

[Phantom255x]

It's Felger & Mazz who are slamming us "green teamers" for being so patient with DA and the whole "fireworks" deal they want the C's to make "with all their assets". F them ****s. All they do is try to get a couple of people riled-up and then say "see, everyone wants them to make a move now!". Blah, Blah, Blah!

Those guys are the biggest clowns in Boston media.

BUT.. it's also somewhat shows like First Take on ESPN, and Inside the NBA on TNT, saying the C's should cash their chips on guys like Anthony or Butler or others to try and catch Cleveland.

[Phantom255x]

You play the market as it presents itself to you - the last several #2 picks have been Evan Turner, Derrick Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Vic Oladipo, Jabari Parker, D'Angelo Russell, and Brandon Ingram (the last two of which we haven't really seen enough of to know what they are) so.......mixed bag. It's fun to think that every high draft pick is going to pan out and that Boston will field a team of 3-4 all-stars for a decade, but that's unlikely. The Brooklyn picks are absolutely valuable trade chips (likely the most valuable non-player assets floating around the league right now), but they also shouldn't be totally off-limits if you can get an in-their-prime all-star (and yes, someone like Jimmy Butler counts). If you can make a deal that leaves you with the flexibility to continue building a contender while making you the likely #2 in the East in the meantime? That's something worth looking at.

I'm one who would trade the 2017 Brooklyn Pick for Butler, but the problem seems to be the Bulls want A TON more back in return.

Like I think they want BOTH Brooklyn Picks, two of Smart/Bradley/Crowder, or ONE of the trio + Jaylen Brown. REALLY HIGH PRICES.

I would consider something like Bradley + Zeller + Mickey + 2017NetsPick + 2018 Boston First + ONE of the 2019 Memphis/LAC First Rounder

OR even Yabusele instead of Mickey and keep the 2019 First.

BUT... Bulls won't do that and they'll want a lot more still... 

Yea, I'm kind of in the same boat as you, where I'd move the Nets pick for Butler if you can keep the 2018 pick in reserve for a second trade, but if they want what amounts to everything Boston has you can't really make the trade. There needs to be an identifiable road to contending, and with Butler and one more piece I think there is, but Butler alone doesn't likely get you there.

(normally this is where I'd make my "Butler plus Melo on the cheap" pitch, but I'm gonna take a pass this time)

The Bolded Part - LOL I just asked about that on the "Melo to Boston" Woj thread.

[TheTruthFot18]

It's Felger & Mazz who are slamming us "green teamers" for being so patient with DA and the whole "fireworks" deal they want the C's to make "with all their assets". F them ****s. All they do is try to get a couple of people riled-up and then say "see, everyone wants them to make a move now!". Blah, Blah, Blah!

Those guys are the biggest clowns in Boston media.

BUT.. it's also somewhat shows like First Take on ESPN, and Inside the NBA on TNT, saying the C's should cash their chips on guys like Anthony or Butler or others to try and catch Cleveland.

I enjoy listening to them but I don't take them seriously. They never talk about the celtics and if they do its nonsense like that.

[droopdog7]

Okay, so nobody wants to trade anything.  Picks and prospects are lottery tickets. Could turn into gold, could turn into nothing.  More than likely, the outcome will be somewhere in the middle. 

So what DA needs to do is assign a proper value and see if a trade makes sense.  As they say, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  There is a value to getting a known quantity.

Of course, the big problem is that the picks themselves are much too variable.  There is a big difference between the 1st pick and 4th pick. 

[Rosco917]

Keep the draft picks unless you have the opportunity of signing Cousins or Davis.

Sign Noel if possible, he's young, aggressive, and can defend multiple positions 3, 4, and 5's, even with Horford, (who isn't really athletic) we need more athleticism in that front court to deal with the pressures created the playoffs.

Try to trade for or sign a veteran 2 or a 3 that can come off the bench, and find his shot off the dribble. While the young players taken in the draft develop.

I'm hoping we can get Fultz in this years draft, that would be major, and we're due for some ping pong ball luck.

[Phantom255x]

Keep the draft picks unless you have the opportunity of signing Cousins or Davis.

Sign Noel if possible, he's young, aggressive, and can defend multiple positions 3, 4, and 5's, even with Horford, (who isn't really athletic) we need more athleticism in that front court to deal with the pressures created the playoffs.

Try to trade for or sign a veteran 2 or a 3 that can come off the bench, and find his shot off the dribble. While the young players taken in the draft develop.

I'm hoping we can get Fultz in this years draft, that would be major, and we're due for some ping pong ball luck.

I think Noel stays in Philly.

He's been balling lately. Philly has cap space as well.

Noel+Embiid is working. They could instead flip Okafor + picks for a great shooter.

[CelticGuardian]

So we give them 3 chances at a B+(maybe A) level player for their own, sole B+ player and call that a championship roster?