What could we get in return for IT?

[the TRUTH]

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?

[Dannys Chipotle Guy]

Not worth thinking about until we lost in the first round (unlikely) and we win the lottery (also unlikely).

[action781]

Here's the first question to consider:  What teams are an IT at point guard away from contending? 

Because you'd need a buyer and I don't see any.  The top 3 teams in the East outside of Boston (Cavs, Wiz, Raptors) already have great starting point guards.  The contenders of the West in my opinion are GS, SA, LAC, Houston.  GS, LAC, Houston all have point guards already.  Would SA want to acquire IT?  I think not, but if they did, what would they have to give up for him that we'd want?  Memphis wouldn't want him with a $30 mil Conley in place.  OKC neither.  The only team, outside of SA, that I see as a remote chance is Utah.  Does IT put Utah into the contender ranks?  Indiana?

[the TRUTH]

Here's the first question to consider:  What teams are an IT at point guard away from contending? 

Because you'd need a buyer and I don't see any.  The top 3 teams in the East outside of Boston (Cavs, Wiz, Raptors) already have great starting point guards.  The contenders of the West in my opinion are GS, SA, LAC, Houston.  GS, LAC, Houston all have point guards already.  Would SA want to acquire IT?  I think not, but if they did, what would they have to give up for him that we'd want?  Memphis wouldn't want him with a $30 mil Conley in place.  OKC neither.  The only team, outside of SA, that I see as a remote chance is Utah.  Does IT put Utah into the contender ranks?  Indiana?

Good question, and as you alluded to, those teams probably wouldn't have the assets that they're willing to part with to make that happen. I was actually thinking more along the lines of a lottery team that's looking for a player to instantly turn them into a playoff team (not necessarily a contender). Those teams may have some enticing draft picks to offer, and if there's a young player that we like who's also included in the package, it could be an option.

[trickybilly]

Here's the first question to consider:  What teams are an IT at point guard away from contending? 

Because you'd need a buyer and I don't see any.  The top 3 teams in the East outside of Boston (Cavs, Wiz, Raptors) already have great starting point guards.  The contenders of the West in my opinion are GS, SA, LAC, Houston.  GS, LAC, Houston all have point guards already.  Would SA want to acquire IT?  I think not, but if they did, what would they have to give up for him that we'd want?  Memphis wouldn't want him with a $30 mil Conley in place.  OKC neither.  The only team, outside of SA, that I see as a remote chance is Utah.  Does IT put Utah into the contender ranks?  Indiana?

Utah and Indiana seem to be the only theoretically possible destinations.

IT, Jaylen for Paul George and Teague
IT for Hayward straight swap

I don't like either of those deal though.. I think we just have to roll the dice, pay him, and hope he carries the franchise.

Curious to know if he would be willing to accept a small discount to give us more flexibility. That's what wins championships these days I think (Manu, Duncan taking 7mill and 10 mill respectively in a championship winning year). I mean like 22%-24% of the cap. Also, I think that really assists for team solidarity... those Heat teams had to deal with a ton of noise, and they always kept it together, even after getting devastated by Dallas, I wonder how much that solidarity between Bosh Wade and LeBron helped them to bounce back stronger the following year.

[nickagneta]

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.

[Jvalin]

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

[Tr1boy]

Here's the first question to consider:  What teams are an IT at point guard away from contending? 

Because you'd need a buyer and I don't see any.  The top 3 teams in the East outside of Boston (Cavs, Wiz, Raptors) already have great starting point guards.  The contenders of the West in my opinion are GS, SA, LAC, Houston.  GS, LAC, Houston all have point guards already.  Would SA want to acquire IT?  I think not, but if they did, what would they have to give up for him that we'd want?  Memphis wouldn't want him with a $30 mil Conley in place.  OKC neither.  The only team, outside of SA, that I see as a remote chance is Utah.  Does IT put Utah into the contender ranks?  Indiana?

Utah and Indiana seem to be the only theoretically possible destinations.

IT, Jaylen for Paul George and Teague
IT for Hayward straight swap

I don't like either of those deal though.. I think we just have to roll the dice, pay him, and hope he carries the franchise.

Curious to know if he would be willing to accept a small discount to give us more flexibility. That's what wins championships these days I think (Manu, Duncan taking 7mill and 10 mill respectively in a championship winning year). I mean like 22%-24% of the cap. Also, I think that really assists for team solidarity... those Heat teams had to deal with a ton of noise, and they always kept it together, even after getting devastated by Dallas, I wonder how much that solidarity between Bosh Wade and LeBron helped them to bounce back stronger the following year.

You forgot to list dallas, new orleans

[Tr1boy]

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

[the TRUTH]

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.

[the TRUTH]

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

That's exactly what I'm saying, and especially so if that other team throws in a young player that Ainge is high on.

[trickybilly]

Would be interesting to see how this team did over a 15-game span without IT to see what happens..

[SparzWizard]

Would be interesting to see how this team did over a 15-game span without IT to see what happens..

Probably a 5-10 record

[BDeCosta26]

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

If we want to win now, we don't trade our MVP candidate.

[nickagneta]

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