The Vertical: C's have had preliminary talks for several big man trades

[jpotter33]

Speaking of big man trades, Ibaka had 28 pts, 8 rebounds, and 1 block tonight in a loss to Houston.

[Geo123]

Holmes would be great here

They aren't trading Holmes.  There's been a couple articles written that mentioned him as being the perfect backup big for the 76ers, especially with Embiid not playing back to backs and either Okafor or Noel probably being traded.

[hwangjini_1]

Why do I get this funny feeling that the trades Danny has been having discussions on are actually not for the common names being tossed about. Danny's teades tend to come out of nowhere and not involve leaked names.

I could see Danny trading for a more under-the-radar type like Jeff Withey or Richaun Holmes.

Is Jeff Withey still playing? I remember when a lot of people wanted to draft him.

Withey's an advanced metrics darling who's never really gotten steady minutes. I haven't watched him play enough to understand why.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/witheje01.html

This year it could just be a numbers game, Withey's competing for minutes with Favors, Gobert, Diaw and Lyles, and just Gobert accounts for 34mpg at the center slot. If the Jazz go small for the rest of those minutes, he's out of luck.

Actually, given how ainge acquired IT, crowder, and jerebko, this might be on target.  Lately ainge has done well at spotting hidden potential on other benches.

[Denis998]

Holmes would be great here

Richaun Holmes doesn't move the needle much but he's only 23 I think?

yeah, he has the potential to become a decent rebounder. He's a bit inconsistent currently

[saltlover]

Why do I get this funny feeling that the trades Danny has been having discussions on are actually not for the common names being tossed about. Danny's teades tend to come out of nowhere and not involve leaked names.

I could see Danny trading for a more under-the-radar type like Jeff Withey or Richaun Holmes.

Is Jeff Withey still playing? I remember when a lot of people wanted to draft him.

Withey's an advanced metrics darling who's never really gotten steady minutes. I haven't watched him play enough to understand why.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/witheje01.html

This year it could just be a numbers game, Withey's competing for minutes with Favors, Gobert, Diaw and Lyles, and just Gobert accounts for 34mpg at the center slot. If the Jazz go small for the rest of those minutes, he's out of luck.

Actually, given how ainge acquired IT, crowder, and jerebko, this might be on target.  Lately ainge has done well at spotting hidden potential on other benches.

Withey is a bit different than the aforementioned.  Withey has now spent four seasons across two teams not getting off the bench.  IT had played about 7500 minutes in 3.5 seasons before he came here -- Withey has played 1800.  Crowder had fallen out of favor in Dallas, but his first two seasons he played 78 games each year, and totaled 2600 minutes.  Jerebko has pretty much been the exact same player playing about the same minutes in Boston as he was in Detroit.

IT has blossomed in a way that Ainge never expected -- if he had, he'd have acquired Thomas in free agency in 2013.  Jerebko wasn't really a find.  He's been useful, and a good pickup, but he wasn't some underutilized mystery player.  Crowder was a nice pickup. Again, I'm sure he's exceeded expectations, but I do give Ainge credit for recognizing the value in the Mavs roster trash.

But Withey, again, is someone who's consistently performed in a way that advance stats laud, and yet can't get on the court.  I'm guessing his coaches have had their reasons.

[colincb]

Why do I get this funny feeling that the trades Danny has been having discussions on are actually not for the common names being tossed about. Danny's teades tend to come out of nowhere and not involve leaked names.

I could see Danny trading for a more under-the-radar type like Jeff Withey or Richaun Holmes.

Is Jeff Withey still playing? I remember when a lot of people wanted to draft him.

Withey's an advanced metrics darling who's never really gotten steady minutes. I haven't watched him play enough to understand why.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/witheje01.html

This year it could just be a numbers game, Withey's competing for minutes with Favors, Gobert, Diaw and Lyles, and just Gobert accounts for 34mpg at the center slot. If the Jazz go small for the rest of those minutes, he's out of luck.

Actually, given how ainge acquired IT, crowder, and jerebko, this might be on target.  Lately ainge has done well at spotting hidden potential on other benches.

Withey is a bit different than the aforementioned.  Withey has now spent four seasons across two teams not getting off the bench.  IT had played about 7500 minutes in 3.5 seasons before he came here -- Withey has played 1800.  Crowder had fallen out of favor in Dallas, but his first two seasons he played 78 games each year, and totaled 2600 minutes.  Jerebko has pretty much been the exact same player playing about the same minutes in Boston as he was in Detroit.

IT has blossomed in a way that Ainge never expected -- if he had, he'd have acquired Thomas in free agency in 2013.  Jerebko wasn't really a find.  He's been useful, and a good pickup, but he wasn't some underutilized mystery player.  Crowder was a nice pickup. Again, I'm sure he's exceeded expectations, but I do give Ainge credit for recognizing the value in the Mavs roster trash.

But Withey, again, is someone who's consistently performed in a way that advance stats laud, and yet can't get on the court.  I'm guessing his coaches have had their reasons.

He came into the NBA at age 23 and played on a NOP team that had a lot of depth at center and at UTA behind Gobert. Stats are ok offensively and advanced defensive stats are good. On a minimum one year salary and he's pretty much it as far as a backup 5, so I doubt UTA's looking to move him.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Holmes would be great here

They aren't trading Holmes.  There's been a couple articles written that mentioned him as being the perfect backup big for the 76ers, especially with Embiid not playing back to backs and either Okafor or Noel probably being traded.

Agreed.  He's young, athletic, plays big, has put up #s in limited mins, and will get his time soon.  I'd definitely trade for Holmes on the cheap.

[KGs Knee]

Why do I get this funny feeling that the trades Danny has been having discussions on are actually not for the common names being tossed about. Danny's teades tend to come out of nowhere and not involve leaked names.

I was thinking the same thing, Nick.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Why do I get this funny feeling that the trades Danny has been having discussions on are actually not for the common names being tossed about. Danny's teades tend to come out of nowhere and not involve leaked names.

I was thinking the same thing, Nick.

The best moves to make.  I'd bet his goal, in each trade is to a) Find a team that undervalues player X, and b) Get him for less than he'd generally be willing to give.

[sirnastee]

What do you guys think of D. Favors?  He seems to have fallen off this year...With Gobert playing the 5 and the league going small, I can see the Jazz trading him to make room for Lyles.  I think Lyles is a better fit with Gobert as he is more perimeter oriented than Favors.  Favors is on a pretty good contract and once he is over his injuries, I think Stevens can bring out the best in him. 

[LilRip]

We need a rebounder but he needs to be high IQ so that the offense and defense won't bog down. I have a hard time imagining low awareness players (like Biyombo) flourishing in CBS' system. I wouldn't be surprised if Ainge makes a move for an unknown.

[sirnastee]

We should just go out and get Reggie Evans back out of retirement or wherever he is.  He is a baller. 

[cltc5]

I prefer another pg

[Surferdad]

I love how posters' predictions of what Ainge will do range from as little as getting a Zeller-type to as much as "only a superstar".  Basically, it means that nobody knows or can predict.

Except me:  It will be Ibaka.   

[Bobshot]

It looks like Okafor is going to be traded. That can't mean they are keeping Noel--they'll never re-sign him next year. So he'll be traded, too. The Celtics should still be in the hunt for Noel. My guess is they are waiting until the price is right. They know they can sign him next year--he wants to play for them.