We should not trade for Butler or George at the deadline, even if offered.

[oldtype]

Disagree. You know for a fact that the current team + one more star cannot beat Golden State.  Choose any star that could be available in the next two years.  Even if you added Anthony Davis, we wouldn't be at that level.  Why do something that you know will probably not lead to a title and will take away our ability to improve?  Once you commit the Brooklyn picks to Butler or George, the only way to improve further is to go through the entire rebuilding process all over again.

There is a chance that in three or four years, whoever's left from the current team plus our developed prospects will be better than Golden State, or that Golden State will simply break up at some point before that.  That's our window.

Completely and thoroughly disagree.

The idea that you could add Jimmy Butler to this team and beat Golden State in a seven-game series is borderline delusional.  I doubt you'd even be a favorite against full-strength Cleveland.

do you concede that they would enter Cleveland's tier with a roughly 50% chance to make the finals (especially when considering that Love's inury probably give the Cs the 1 seed)?

I think we might have a coin-flip against Cleveland, yeah.

[Clench123]

So just because, in your estimation, we wouldn't be able to compete with GW even if we trade for those guys, we shouldn't trade for them even if they are available.  That is dumb as sh!t.  The people who's been making this ridiculous suggestion I wonder what planet they live on.

Just because it wouldn't make me a millionaire, I shouldn't accept a gift of 250 thousand my gradfather left me.  You see how dumb that sound?

If your goal is to become a millionaire, and you know that the 250 thousand would remove your ability to make any additional money, you would not accept that gift.

ARRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

Sit down.  Grab a cup of juice or something.  Take a deep breathe.  And read what you just said again.  In what world....nvm #palmface.

[Phantom255x]

I've sort of echoed the same sentiment as the OP on this issue (and received my fair share of criticism as well).

I think the BIG ISSUE people are missing here is that the prices for PG13 or Butler are just downright ridiculous. First off, I think PG13 is untouchable. They are the 6 seed in the East (yeah, maybe it's mediocre), but Bird hasn't even offered the slightest hint he will shop PG13. You can try in the summer, but won't happen by February 23.

As for Butler, the Bulls say they plan to keep him but will trade him for a godfather package if offered.

So let me ask you all, would you make this trade?

2017 Nets Pick, Zeller (For Salary), a random Second Rounder, then choose 3 of the following: Smart, Brown, Bradley, Crowder, 2018 Nets Pick.

Is he worth that? And even if he is, are you truly improving this team to the point where they are better than CLE or GSW?

Yeah, Butler is better than anyone mentioned, but would he really improve the team that much if Crowder and Bradley leave, or Smart and Bradley? I doubt it.

Try again in the summer and hope the Bulls lower their asking price a bit, sort of like how in baseball, Chris Sale looked untouchable, then the White Sox chose a direction, and Boston got him for a surprisingly fair price.

[Donoghus]

As with most things, it comes down to "it depends". 

It depends on how much you're gutting the current roster and/or assets to get Jimmy Butler or Paul George.   A large enough gutting of depth and its definitely not worth it.  You might actually make the team worse today and to the detriment of tomorrow by sacrificing future assets.

However, if you can go out and get a star on the relative cheap where its not going to gut the team and it does makes them a legit title contender right here & now, you absolutely have to pull the trigger on it. 

My problem is that I fear that most options out there will most likely lead to the former & not the latter.

[Roy H.]

Disagree. You know for a fact that the current team + one more star cannot beat Golden State.  Choose any star that could be available in the next two years.  Even if you added Anthony Davis, we wouldn't be at that level.  Why do something that you know will probably not lead to a title and will take away our ability to improve?  Once you commit the Brooklyn picks to Butler or George, the only way to improve further is to go through the entire rebuilding process all over again.

There is a chance that in three or four years, whoever's left from the current team plus our developed prospects will be better than Golden State, or that Golden State will simply break up at some point before that.  That's our window.

Completely and thoroughly disagree.

The idea that you could add Jimmy Butler to this team and beat Golden State in a seven-game series is borderline delusional.  I doubt you'd even be a favorite against full-strength Cleveland.

do you concede that they would enter Cleveland's tier with a roughly 50% chance to make the finals (especially when considering that Love's inury probably give the Cs the 1 seed)?

I think we might have a coin-flip against Cleveland, yeah.

If we'd have a 50% chance to get by Cleveland, I'd definitely make the hypothetical trade. You never know when your team will get hot, or the other team will go cold / have injuries. Upsets in the Finals are relatively rare, but they happen.

[oldtype]

Disagree. You know for a fact that the current team + one more star cannot beat Golden State.  Choose any star that could be available in the next two years.  Even if you added Anthony Davis, we wouldn't be at that level.  Why do something that you know will probably not lead to a title and will take away our ability to improve?  Once you commit the Brooklyn picks to Butler or George, the only way to improve further is to go through the entire rebuilding process all over again.

There is a chance that in three or four years, whoever's left from the current team plus our developed prospects will be better than Golden State, or that Golden State will simply break up at some point before that.  That's our window.

Completely and thoroughly disagree.

The idea that you could add Jimmy Butler to this team and beat Golden State in a seven-game series is borderline delusional.  I doubt you'd even be a favorite against full-strength Cleveland.

do you concede that they would enter Cleveland's tier with a roughly 50% chance to make the finals (especially when considering that Love's inury probably give the Cs the 1 seed)?

I think we might have a coin-flip against Cleveland, yeah.

If we'd have a 50% chance to get by Cleveland, I'd definitely make the hypothetical trade. You never know when your team will get hot, or the other team will go cold / have injuries. Upsets in the Finals are relatively rare, but they happen.

How much of a chance do you think we'd have of beating Golden State in the finals (accounting for injuries and the like.)  I'd say it's lower than 10%, given that Golden State would still be favorites even if Durant or Curry went down for the entire series.

[RJ87]

Disagree. You know for a fact that the current team + one more star cannot beat Golden State.  Choose any star that could be available in the next two years.  Even if you added Anthony Davis, we wouldn't be at that level.  Why do something that you know will probably not lead to a title and will take away our ability to improve?  Once you commit the Brooklyn picks to Butler or George, the only way to improve further is to go through the entire rebuilding process all over again.

There is a chance that in three or four years, whoever's left from the current team plus our developed prospects will be better than Golden State, or that Golden State will simply break up at some point before that.  That's our window.

So what happens when there's another "super team" in three or four years? Should we defer again? And then six or eight years after?

The idea that we should we just wait isn't viable. So many things can happen in that window of time. KG-Pierce-Allen was supposed to dominate and KG's knee had other plans. Lebron/Wade/Bosh was supposed to dominate right out of the gate, then Dallas upset them. GSW won 73 games last year and fell to Cleveland.

Build the best team possible, play hard, be opportunistic.

[Celtics4ever]

Flexibility is our greatest strength - no other team in the NBA can have its cake and eat it too like we can.  We shouldn't waste this flexibility on an impatient, ill-advised trade for a star.

And it won't help us win a playoffs series.  Flexibility is nice but at some point you have to commit and go all in.   A lot of teams never get to spend that much vaulted flexibility.   What your magical thinking does not account for is that draft picks can miss.   They can be busts and it happens all the time.   Then you have an asset that no one wants and you missed your window.

I don't think Butler or George could will themselves to win a series, neither has it in him.   They both would fold but I think that flexibility is not going win a title.   It can get you prepared but a lot of things have to go right and face it they don't always.

[oldtype]

Disagree. You know for a fact that the current team + one more star cannot beat Golden State.  Choose any star that could be available in the next two years.  Even if you added Anthony Davis, we wouldn't be at that level.  Why do something that you know will probably not lead to a title and will take away our ability to improve?  Once you commit the Brooklyn picks to Butler or George, the only way to improve further is to go through the entire rebuilding process all over again.

There is a chance that in three or four years, whoever's left from the current team plus our developed prospects will be better than Golden State, or that Golden State will simply break up at some point before that.  That's our window.

So what happens when there's another "super team" in three or four years? Should we defer again? And then six or eight years after?

The idea that we should we just isn't viable. So many things can happen in that window of time. KG-Pierce-Allen was supposed to dominate and KG's knee had other plans. Lebron/Wade/Bosh was supposed to dominate right out of the gate, then Dallas upset them. GSW won 73 games last year and fell to Cleveland.

Build the best team possible, play hard, be opportunistic.

Salary cap rules will likely prevent a team like Golden State from being formed ever again.  They're a bug, not a feature.  We wait for the bug to fix itself.

[oldtype]

Flexibility is our greatest strength - no other team in the NBA can have its cake and eat it too like we can.  We shouldn't waste this flexibility on an impatient, ill-advised trade for a star.

What your magical thinking does not account for is that draft picks can miss.   

Draft picks can miss.  Mortgaging our future to add one more star that won't put us over the top will miss.

[elcotte]

How many teams have followed the "add prime draft picks and we'll be contenders" strategy? How many teams has it worked out for?

The chances of our draft pick ever being as good as Cousins (who won't be available, unfortunately) is extremely small.  I wouldn't move one of the picks for Carmelo, but for the other guys on your list, it's a reasonable decision. My hope is that Hayward is sending signals that he'd sign here, but if not, there's a ton of appeal to George or Butler.

I'm not going to rehash Ainge's draft record, except to say I agree entirely with Roy's post.

I haven't really expected a big deadline move, but if Ainge doesn't add a rebounder at lower cost, he's sending a clear message that this season does not matter - to the people who buy tickets and to the locker room.

This summer, Ainge needs to turn this team into a championship contender. Period.,

You just don't get it that it depends on the cost.
Bo don't know.

[ayer]

I believe this thread wants the answer of yes or no. which in reality both can work if you can predict the future.

[oldtype]

I believe this thread wants the answer of yes or no. which in reality both can work if you can predict the future.

People have to make educated guesses about the future based on current information all the time.  This is my guess.

[Phantom255x]

I believe this thread wants the answer of yes or no. which in reality both can work if you can predict the future.

People have to make educated guesses about the future based on current information all the time.  This is my guess.

Thing is a majority of this fan base wants this team to content really soon, which is why many would be willing to overpay in a deal if needed.

I mean I'd love to see us contend for Banner 18 (who wouldn't), but making an expensive, ill-advised trade and not getting a championship out of it could hurt us more long term.

[ayer]

I believe this thread wants the answer of yes or no. which in reality both can work if you can predict the future.

People have to make educated guesses about the future based on current information all the time.  This is my guess.

Agreed!!! everyone can have their point.