What could we get in return for IT?

[LGC88]

1st round exit, 2nd round exit, ecf exit. Honestly, who cares?
What matters in Boston is championships.
Danny has to build a contender team.
He already has one top player and many role players that can be on a contender caliber team.
Now he only has to find another star and a good big.
Then you compete for championship as long as your top players have legs.

We are not the Magics that keep shuffling their roster with no long term plan.

Stop talking about trading IT... that doesn't make any sense.
People don't realize how hard (or lucky) is to get a mvp caliber player.

At last, I'd like to mention that IT embrace the culture. He want to win here. He has recognition from Iverson, Brady, ... Almost everyboy in the arena has its jersey.
Now tell me in which scenario the owner can explain to move such player without damaging the reputation of this franchise ?

[Alleyoopster]

Right off the bat, please note that I'm in no rush to trade IT. However, let's say the following scenario unfolds:

- We're unable or unwilling to make any big deals before the trade deadline.

- Despite having all key pieces healthy, this team underachieves in the playoffs and loses in the first round.

- IT continues to play at an extremely high level.

- We win the draft lottery.

Given this scenario, Ainge could determine that we're still another 2-3 years away from being a legit contender, meaning there isn't enough that we can do this offseason in order to add to the current roster and make it an instant contender. Additionally, at some point, IT won't be able to continue playing at this level. That may not happen for another five years, but it could happen before we're able to surround him with a contending roster. With that in mind, does Ainge consider selling extremely high on IT?

While adding a potentially elite rookie to this roster, signing a max-level free agent and/or making a big trade over the summer are all viable options, what do you think we could get in return for IT? What would you demand in return to even consider moving him?

Trading Thomas would likely be a step back in 2017-18, but his value in this hypo may be as high as it'll ever be, and if he could net us another top-5 pick in the 2017 draft and an up-and-coming star, then that could be intriguing considering the roster we'd be adding those players to.

I'm in no rush to move IT, but if that above scenario plays out over the next few months and we get a great offer for him, I think Ainge at least considers it. What do you guys think?

Trading him now might bring the greatest return because the team who signs him would have him at a discounted salary for a couple of more years. Plus, he's healthy.

Teams that have often injured or currently injured players might be interested....Beal might be a stretch, possible?  Lowry?, Chris Paul, Conley, Dwaine Wade, Bogut, Winslow, Parker, Rudy Gay, Evan Turner. Of course, since the these players are injured and/or they are aging Danny would unlikely trade for them. 

IT also provides a lot of entertainment value...not sure the owners would want to see him go. Then again, winning Championships is entertaining too. 

[kraidstar]

The Wolves need a PG. And they are likely tired of losing. IT instantly elevates them to a playoff team.

And they have the  pieces to send in a trade.

They could offer Lavine + Dunn + 2017 first rounder (#6 as of now).

Works in the trade machine too.

Not saying we should do it, but it would be interesting.

[crimson_stallion]

IT4 right now is not going anywhere

However lets say on draft night Dallas offers a top 5 pick

And Celts have a chance to draft Jackson and Fultz or Monk

You would have to think hard about this trade off

You have got to be kidding me...

We couldn't get crud in return for our #3 pick last year, why in god's name would we trade the best PG in the Eastern conference (and NBA's second leading scorer) for a top 5 pick. 

That is just completely lunacy. 

[crimson_stallion]

If we want to win now
IT and Amir(or Zeller) for Butler

If we want to take a step backwards
IT for Myles Turner

That first trade doesn't make any sense to me.  It makes us no better as a team right now, and Butler is pretty much the same age as Isaiah, and is making double the money.   

It's a sideways move that would make zero sense.

[crimson_stallion]

The Wolves need a PG. And they are likely tired of losing. IT instantly elevates them to a playoff team.

And they have the  pieces to send in a trade.

They could offer Lavine + Dunn + 2017 first rounder (#6 as of now).

Works in the trade machine too.

Not saying we should do it, but it would be interesting.

1. Lavine is no better defensively then IT and nowhere near him offensively.
2. Dunn has potential, but has struggled to even earn a rotation role so far
3. The past few years of Celtics drafts should tell us quite clearly how much value a #6 pick has.

That's a terrible trade for Boston.  The Timberwolves would be laughing all the way to the bank.

[Celtics4ever]

They could offer Lavine + Dunn + 2017 first rounder (#6 as of now).

Some of these trades read like they were constructs of a TWolves fan, not a Celtics fan.

Please, don't quit your day job and go work for the Celtics.

[Moranis]

This would be a massive panic move and a move that screams of a move David Kahn or Billy King would make. Ainge would trade the picks he has and add more established talent around IT before he would even consider moving IT for another teenager. Ainge is a competitor. Being this close to being a contender means Ainge would make moves to advance the team forward now, not to reset and hope the young guys can advance the team to contend 6 or 7 years from now.

Again, I'm not necessarily advocating we do this, but I do think there's a certain price where Ainge would consider it. What if he determines that we're further from contender status than many of us hope and have too few willing trade partners, and someone comes in with what Ainge sees as a great offer for IT? I don't see that as a panic move as long as he gets good value for IT.

I honestly don't have time to watch other teams besides the Celtics, so I'm by no means an expert on specific players that could be included in a deal. But let's say the team that gets the second or third pick in this year's lottery (assuming we get the first) offers that pick and a young player that Ainge likes in exchange for IT? I don't think Ainge immediately hangs up the phone. Are we contending in 2017-18? Of course not. But that could set us up to contend for 8-10 years with a core of Smart, Brown and those two picks.

Its a panic move because its a move in which Ainge determines that everything he has building towards for years isn't going to work, even if he trades draft pick assets for established stars to put next to IT, Horford, Crowder, Smart, Brown and Brown. Instead of just adding a player or two to become a contender, in your scenario Ainge is blowing up this team by trading away an MVP candidate for an unproven teenager. In doing so Ainge would be consciously set back this franchise for probably at least a half a decade, maybe more. That's a move based on fear of trying to compete now. Its not a move that a highly competitive man like Ainge would make.

I seriously don't get the affinity that posters have on this board with unproven teenage kids. Teams with cores of players who's average age is below 24 don't win you championships. They tend to suck for long periods of time and usually most players don't reach their full potential and get traded away.

Ainge knows this. He has already crammed a 6 year rebuild into a 3 year time frame. He has an MVP type scoring star. He signed a tremendous playoff hardened veteran star. He has cost controlled, high quality role players on this team and a stream of picks and stashes to develop to supplement the core. Trading IT for yet another high draft undoes everything he has already accomplished. Its a move based on insecurity, a move based on panic. Its a moved he wouldn't even consider

You keep saying this about Ainge, but Ainge has shown he will trade away the face of the franchise to rebuild if he doesn't think the team is a realistic contender.  He has done it multiple times already.  If the Celtics flame out in the first round of the playoffs, I think there is a very good chance, Ainge will start selling off veterans and go into full bore rebuilding around Brown, BKN 17, BKN 18.  That is a very Ainge esque move.

[Eddie20]

They could offer Lavine + Dunn + 2017 first rounder (#6 as of now).

Some of these trades read like they were constructs of a TWolves fan, not a Celtics fan.

Please, don't quit your day job and go work for the Celtics.

That's actually a pretty good trade if Lavine were healthy. Dunn and Lavine are still on their rookie contracts, and adding the #6 pick would basically assure us of landing either Smith, Tatum, Issac, or Markkenan. So not only do we not pay an undersized PG that's nearing 30 max-money, but we do so while protecting ourselves with the eventual upcoming contracts of Bradley, Smart, and Olynyk.

As for the Thomas contract, yes, it does scare me despite how amazing he is currently playing. For a player that relies so much on his quickness to get passed defenders and leaping ability to explode at the rim, it's hard to get too excited about paying him max money for seasons where he will be playing at the following ages, 30, 31, 32, 33, and possibly 34.

This is a pretty decent article on the statistical effect of aging:
http://www.nbaminer.com/golden-ages-of-basketball-players/

[Who]

IT for Jimmy Butler

Swap a star PG for a star wing. Chicago do it because they are uncomfortable with Butler and want to hit the reset button.

[Moranis]

They could offer Lavine + Dunn + 2017 first rounder (#6 as of now).

Some of these trades read like they were constructs of a TWolves fan, not a Celtics fan.

Please, don't quit your day job and go work for the Celtics.

That's actually a pretty good trade if Lavine were healthy. Dunn and Lavine are still on their rookie contracts, and adding the #6 pick would basically assure us of landing either Smith, Tatum, Issac, or Markkenan. So not only do we not pay an undersized PG that's nearing 30 max-money, but we do so while protecting ourselves with the eventual upcoming contracts of Bradley, Smart, and Olynyk.

As for the Thomas contract, yes, it does scare me despite how amazing he is currently playing. For a player that relies so much on his quickness to get passed defenders and leaping ability to explode at the rim, it's hard to get too excited about paying him max money for seasons where he will be playing at the following ages, 30, 31, 32, 33, and possibly 34.

This is a pretty decent article on the statistical effect of aging:
http://www.nbaminer.com/golden-ages-of-basketball-players/

I don't see the Wolves doing that trade. 

[PhoSita]

A much less interesting and competitive team, plus bad karma.

[Big333223]

If we want to win now
IT and Amir(or Zeller) for Butler

If we want to take a step backwards
IT for Myles Turner

I love what IT is doing and we should all feel very lucky to have him here in Boston.

If a trade was going to happen, though, I think this is the type of trade I'd like to see. Bring back someone like Turner or Porzingis. A young, franchise big man who you can build a team around along with Jaylen and a PG from this upcoming draft.

[chambers]

IT4 right now is not going anywhere

However lets say on draft night Dallas offers a top 5 pick

And Celts have a chance to draft Jackson and Fultz or Monk

You would have to think hard about this trade off

lol at age 26 and a top 3 scorer in the NBA there is absolutely, positively, ZERO chance that we would trade IT for Jackson or Monk.
IT is scoring 30 points a game in the NBA and we are 2nd in the East. He's not leaving unless we get a true All Star in return.
IT will probably be a starting All Star next year if he keeps playing like this, he ain't getting traded for Monk or Jackson. Both great players, but you don't trade guys like IT for them unless you are blowin' it up and slightly desperate.

[Vermont Green]

This thread illustrates what I have said in others.  It is hard to trade IT.  The only scenario I see is if he is part of a big trade with lots of part for someone like Davis, Cousins, etc.  I think this type of big trade is very unlikely.  IT is worth more to us over the next two seasons than what we would be able to get back for him in my opinion. 

We can contend for this season and next with the team we will have (especially if we get Ibaka or Monroe or someone like that).  The owners will make money and their equity will appreciate but we won't win any titles or even see the finals.  After that, I predict that IT signs elsewhere and we trade Horford and build around Smart, Brown, Zizic, and the next couple of BKN picks and the good young players we get for Horford.

It sux to not get anything for IT but I think that is how it will play out.