Get the Celtics a frontcourt.

[nickagneta]

Okay so I figured we are all knowledgable fans and we all know the Celtics need a starting power forward and frontcourt depth. Here is my scenario:

- The Celtics draft Makelle Fultz.

- The Celtics renounce Amir Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Jonas Jerebko, James Young.

- The Celtics do not pick up option on Tyler Zeller and Jordan Mickey.

- The Celtics sign Gordon Hayward

- The Celtics bring in Ante Zizic

Your mission through trades or signings is fill out the Celtics frontcourt. Remember, the Cs will only have the room exception(about $4 million per year) and veteran minimum contracts to offer.

How would you do it? Be specific. Make trades work under the CBA.

[jpotter33]

Kenneth Faried should be a target. I think AB for Faried straight up should work, but we might have to add in a bit more salary. He also gives us the rebounding and athleticism that we lack in the first unit.

I could also see a Gibson sign-and-trade from OKC for AB. I love AB's fit in OKC next to Russ, but I also remember certain restrictions with sign-and-trades (like a hard cap?) that we might not want. Also not sure how expensive Gibson would be.


But that's one of the issues with signing Hayward: we still need a starting PF, and it's not obvious how we'd get a decent one outside of those options listed, which is why I prefer Griffin to him if possible. There's also the possibility of going smaller with IT, Brown, Hayward, Crowder, and Al, but I think that should only be a last resort option. (Granted, that lineup is actually a pretty good matchup with GS.)

[KGBirdBias]

Yes, I would rather have Faried or Gibson over Griffin.

[td450]

I posted this to another thread, but...

Sign Hayward, and trade 2017 #1, Crowder and Smart to New York for Porzingas and filler. Its a major overpay, but this works for the C's on many levels.

[max215]

I posted this to another thread, but...

Sign Hayward, and trade 2017 #1, Crowder and Smart to New York for Porzingas and filler. Its a major overpay, but this works for the C's on many levels.

Except if the Celtics have any plans on winning a title within the next 15 years.

[nickagneta]

I like the Taj Gibson trade idea. Say Gibson to Boston for Crowder and Smart. Hayward takes over the starting SF position. Fultz gets Smart's minutes along with Brown taking some of them. Say Brown and Fultz Both get about 23 MPG.

Then I would give the room exception to Jerebko and a vet min to Amir.

IT/Fultz/Rozier
Bradley/Brown/Fultz
Hayward/Brown/Nader
Gibson/Jerebko
Horford/Amir/Zizic

[green_bballers13]

I posted this to another thread, but...

Sign Hayward, and trade 2017 #1, Crowder and Smart to New York for Porzingas and filler. Its a major overpay, but this works for the C's on many levels.

I'd rather have Fultz than Porzingis.

I have no issue waiting on Yabusele and Zizic. Until then, pick up journeymen PFs who want to play on a top 5 team. Every year there are David West types available.

I'm not too concerned about waiting. Given the roadblock that is GS/Cleveland, I think it's foolish to make trades for the short term.

[green_bballers13]

I like the Taj Gibson trade idea. Say Gibson to Boston for Crowder and Smart. Hayward takes over the starting SF position. Fultz gets Smart's minutes along with Brown taking some of them. Say Brown and Fultz Both get about 23 MPG.

Then I would give the room exception to Jerebko and a vet min to Amir.

IT/Fultz/Rozier
Bradley/Brown/Fultz
Hayward/Brown/Nader
Gibson/Jerebko
Horford/Amir/Zizic

I take it that you're not a Marcus Smart fan? Crowder AND Smart for Gibson?

In my opinion, Smart has a higher ceiling than Gibson.

[RodyTur10]

Okay, first of all I wouldn't let it come to that. Renouncing Olynyk and then using all the cap space for Gordon Hayward. In fact, I would like to keep Olynyk and use the cap space to sign a PF.

However, in your scenario I would trade Crowder (+ 1st LA Clippers '19 if necessary) for a lottery draft pick. With that pick I would select a PF with high potential in Isaac. If not available anymore I would go for another underrated player in Anunoby or Leaf. I like all three very much. I don't have much faith in Yabusele.

We then have great prospects at PG (Fultz), SF (Brown), PF (Isaac/Anunoby/Leaf) and C (Zizic). I would try to get Jerebko back for the room exception (and would Gerald Green come back for the vet min?). With one of the 2nd round draft picks I would take on a project center (Pasecniks/Bryant).

My last move would be to trade either Thomas or Smart (very difficult decision), because of the log jam in minutes for the back court, for future pick(s) and a back-up center. Possibly to the Knicks (O'Quinn + picks).

Celtics roster 2017/2018:

Fultz/Smart/Jackson
Bradley/Rozier/Green
Hayward/Brown/Nader
Horford/Isaac/Jerebko
Zizic/O'Quinn/Pasecniks.

[nickagneta]

I like the Taj Gibson trade idea. Say Gibson to Boston for Crowder and Smart. Hayward takes over the starting SF position. Fultz gets Smart's minutes along with Brown taking some of them. Say Brown and Fultz Both get about 23 MPG.

Then I would give the room exception to Jerebko and a vet min to Amir.

IT/Fultz/Rozier
Bradley/Brown/Fultz
Hayward/Brown/Nader
Gibson/Jerebko
Horford/Amir/Zizic

I take it that you're not a Marcus Smart fan? Crowder AND Smart for Gibson?

In my opinion, Smart has a higher ceiling than Gibson.

I like Smart but he is the first man out in the trioka of contracts needing to be re-signed in 2018. I also think we ridiculously over value Smart on this board and that he isn't as valuable across the league as we make him out to be. I think he is probably a career bench player/6th man type, something OKC needs. If you think its a lot sub in Rozier but remember that means Fultz gets limited minutes.

I like Gibson a lot. I think he would give you everything a healthy Amir would give you. His per 36 numbers are 15 and 9 with a block and steal per game. Also, his sign and trade would end when Horford's does.

[CELTICSofBOSTON]

Would we get the room exception or the full mid-level exception (~8 million)?

If it's the latter... Willie Reed to start alongside Al Horford.

[nickagneta]

Okay, first of all I wouldn't let it come to that. Renouncing Olynyk and then using all the cap space for Gordon Hayward. In fact, I would like to keep Olynyk and use the cap space to sign a PF.

However, in your scenario I would trade Crowder (+ 1st LA Clippers '19 if necessary) for a lottery draft pick. With that pick I would select a PF with high potential in Isaac. If not available anymore I would go for another underrated player in Anunoby or Leaf. I like all three very much. I don't have much faith in Yabusele.

We then have great prospects at PG (Fultz), SF (Brown), PF (Isaac/Anunoby/Leaf) and C (Zizic). I would try to get Jerebko back for the room exception (and would Gerald Green come back for the vet min?). With one of the 2nd round draft picks I would take on a project center (Pasecniks/Bryant).

My last move would be to trade either Thomas or Smart (very difficult decision), because of the log jam in minutes for the back court, for future pick(s) and a back-up center. Possibly to the Knicks (O'Quinn + picks).

Celtics roster 2017/2018:

Fultz/Smart/Jackson
Bradley/Rozier/Green
Hayward/Brown/Nader
Horford/Isaac/Jerebko
Zizic/O'Quinn/Pasecniks.

You don't get Horford if you trade IT. Also, we take a major leap backwards. These moves probably knock us down to a near lottery level team, if not in the lottery.

[Rosco917]

Faried also adds a physicality we soooo lack. I like the idea, over signing Griffin. If we're able to get Hayward.

[nickagneta]

Would we get the room exception or the full mid-level exception (~8 million)?

If it's the latter... Willie Reed to start alongside Al Horford.

Just the room exception. If you use cap space to sign a player you don't get the mid level or bi-annual exceptions that year.

[td450]

I posted this to another thread, but...

Sign Hayward, and trade 2017 #1, Crowder and Smart to New York for Porzingas and filler. Its a major overpay, but this works for the C's on many levels.

Except if the Celtics have any plans on winning a title within the next 15 years.

There are two windows. Now, and 5 years out.

You are not going to beat the Warriors and the Cavs in the Now window unless you can exploit the only weak points they have. You must have bigs that they cannot match up against or exploit. Both GS and Cleveland have smaller, quicker big men that kill us now.

You can count on one hand the number of big men in the league who can do that. Porzingas is simply too big and too skilled for Draymond Green and Tristan Thompson, especially when teamed up with Horford.

We wouldn't have to pay Porzingas major money until Horford's contract is up. This means we can keep Avery Bradley, who is essential for competing against Kyrie Irving and Curry.

Porzingas gives you elite rim protection, and he moves his feet well enough to hedge and recover. He also can shoot and make plays that fit our offensive philosophy.

I see no reason why we can't compete for a title by adding Hayward and Porzingas to the team we have now. Our smaller, but much quicker guards have been difficult for GS, and if we combine that with adding Hayward and an improved Jaylen Brown, plus a huge, very skilled frontcourt, we have a real chance.

For the 5 year out window, we also still would have Brown, the Brooklyn 2018 pick, and all our other younger assets, and Porzingas would still be only 26 years old.