Should DA revisit Nikola Vucevic?

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While we all have high hopes for our 3-headed rookie class of bigs including Ante Zizic, Semi Ojeleye and Guerschon Yabusele, acquiring Vucevic could help in a number of ways:

1) It provides a path to not force developmental minutes to Zizic. One could argue the need for minutes to develop but IMO a better path to developing young talent is to limit minutes and to have them earn the minutes vs. being granted them.
2) It allows Al Horford to play min at both big spots.
3) He could become a highly valuable trade chip given he is under control for another year at $12.75m.

Orlando was interested in Marcus Smart before the draft, enough that they brought him in for a 2nd workout. I'd rather not trade Smart but if you're of the mindset of Smart or Bradley, then either could be the centerpiece of a trade for Vucevic.

Trade Package
Avery Bradley + Jordan Mickey + Future 1st

[hwangjini_1]

would the celtics would have to move out more salary to make him fit? he is due $12.25 million next year and $12.75 million after that.

[PhoSita]

In a word: No.

[Fireworks_Boom!]

In a word: No.

Phosita: thank you for blessing us with this deep level analysis. LOL And your reasoning behind this take? I make an argument for and would love to hear your argument against.

[jay]

Assuming you want more playing time for Tatum and Brown, I could see Bradley/Crowder moved for Vucevic or Favors.

It would also cut about $3 mil in salaries which would help add a max free agent.

[colincb]

No

[RodyTur10]

I like Vucevic for that salary and he's a fit in the system that Stevens likes to play. But we already have Horford, so not much sense in bringing in Vucevic as well.

[Evantime34]

In a word: No.

Since I agree with him, i'll give my explanation and he can tell me if I hit on why he's a no.

In today's league big men need to be able to do some combination of 1. Shoot the 3, 2. Protect the rim 3. Defend the perimeter on switches.

Vuc does none of those things.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

We should NOT give a first round pick to the Magic just to clear atleast another year of Nikola Vucevic from their books. If anything it has to be the other way around.

[Ogaju]

Not only should he do it, I suspect that this may be part of his overall plan. If Hayward signs I will not be surprised to see Ainge make a play for Vucevic. You can stick him beside Horford and you have you starting Center.

[Fireworks_Boom!]

In a word: No.

Since I agree with him, i'll give my explanation and he can tell me if I hit on why he's a no.

In today's league big men need to be able to do some combination of 1. Shoot the 3, 2. Protect the rim 3. Defend the perimeter on switches.

Vuc does none of those things.

We've already got Horford who can stretch out to beyond the 3 and showed marked improvement in this area. Why do we need 2 guys who can do that?

IMO, Vucevic developed his range to 20 feet this year which would work great in the pick and pop.

[jambr380]

Assuming you want more playing time for Tatum and Brown, I could see Bradley/Crowder moved for Vucevic or Favors.

It would also cut about $3 mil in salaries which would help add a max free agent.

TP - this.

Vucevic might not be a perfect fit in today's NBA, but he is a productive player at a position of need for us. If we are to sign Hayward to a full max, one of Smart/AB/Crowder needs to go no matter what. Splitting the difference on AB's one year and Crowder's three years seems reasonable.

Personally, I would rather trade AB for a big on a rookie contract with multiple years remaining - somebody like WCS, Skal, Chriss, even Okafor, etc. As I type out this list, I can already feel the disbelief/horror emanating through my computer screen. I am sure there are better options - just listing a couple of non-expiring rookie contract bigs.

[moiso]

In a word: No.

Since I agree with him, i'll give my explanation and he can tell me if I hit on why he's a no.

In today's league big men need to be able to do some combination of 1. Shoot the 3, 2. Protect the rim 3. Defend the perimeter on switches.

Vuc does none of those things.

TP.

[PhoSita]

My reasons for "No":

- Vucevic and Horford is not a tenable defensive pairing in the modern NBA ... neither is a great rim protector and neither is somebody you want trying to defend in space against quicker forwards or guards on a switch / in the pick and roll.

- With that in mind, Vucevic would not be more than a 20 mpg player on the Celts


I think he'd help, but he's not worth making him a target for a trade.

[jbp126]

I like the idea of trading for a veteran big like Vucevic or Monroe.  It would make more sense to go for one of these type players if we don't sign Hayward so we could bring either contract into cap space.

I like Zizic as a prospect but we're going to need to replace Amir's minutes with a veteran.  Vucevic could be a good mentor for Zizic and provide us with immediate interior offense and rebounding.