This poll is interesting, from all the thread topic names I got the sense that everyone hated it, but the poll results trend towards the opposite. Here is why I love it.
1. I expected the trade to be a lot worse: Every team knew we had to deal one of Smart, Crowder or Bradley which had to have hurt Danny's leverage. I was fearing that we would need to do a straight salary dump, or give up an asset to move one of our guys due to Ainge's position. This is much better than what I had hoped for.
2. Of the 3, Bradley made the most sense to trade: Crowder has an excellent contract and at the time of the trade was the only player on the roster who could defend 4's in crunch time. Crowder's contract makes him more valuable than Bradley right now. I wanted to keep Smart because I love the way he plays and think his winning effort plays have a ton of value on a contending team. More importantly Smart is going to make a lot less than Bradley next year. I'd rather have Smart at 10-13 MM a year than Bradley at 20 MM. Bradley's contract was expiring and I was not interested in supporting the team that gave him his next huge contract. Bradley's current salary being the highest of the 3 also meant that we could take back a big that we sorely needed and still have room to add Yabu who I really like.
3. Morris is a good player, but a great fit: The NBA is moving towards positionless basketball. With guys like Steph Curry and Damian Lillard being able to hit 3's using a ball screen, switching the pick and roll has become the best way to defend it. Due to this offensive trend, players who can defend multiple positions in a switch are more valuable than ever. Morris is a guy who can defend multiple positions when switching screens. He can drive closeouts and shoot the 3. Essentially he is the perfect compliment to IT and Hayward on offense and fits the switch everything scheme the Celtics (as well as the NBA) is moving towards.
4. Contracts are valuable: Guys like Crowder and Morris are on some of the best contracts in the league. If Anthony Davis becomes available contracts like those two are enticing assets to a rebuilding team that doesn't want to take on large contracts.
People need to turn their frowns upside down and realize the team is going to be great next year (i wouldn't be surprised if they were close to 60 wins), and excellent in the long term. The Celtics are going to play a great brand of basketball that is currently the most effective style in the NBA.
Poll
Topic: Poll: Love or hate Bradley trade (Read 13665 times)