Package Morris and our First to Move Up

[footey]

We will have an excess of forwards next year. Morris has already expressed concern about his returning role. Jaylen and Jayson aren’t going to be happy to have their minutes reduced. Morris’ trade value will never be higher.

Package Morris and our 1st round pick to move up. Probably won’t get us that much higher, but with a pick in teens my bet is that there is someone intriguing in this draft. I remain an advocate of drafting Mitchell Robinson, and fear he will be gone before our current pick is realized. Just feel Morris is very expendable.

Robinson would be a 2-4 year project, but the upside is through the roof, especially when Al’s contract expires. 

I’m also assuming we re-sign Smart and keep Rozier.

Let me know about your thoughts of packaging Morris to move up a little and who you would target if we did. (Maybe you feel Robinson is too much a risk, or he likely will be available when we pick currently).

Be realistic about how much we could move up. Morris’ attractive contract certainly makes him an asset, but I doubt he and our pick get us into the lottery. Not even the tail end of it.

Just Think now is perfect time to trade him, given our returning roster depth.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'll bite.

Minny at 20 might be a good possibility. They are in win-now mode and could use some toughness and shot creation.

I don't really want Robinson in that case, but I think Minny at 20 is our best chance to move up.

[saltlover]

Here are the playoff-level teams who could take on Morris pretty easily without sending back salary, and have non-lottery picks ahead of us:

Indiana (cap room) — #23
Minnesota (would have to find a third team to take on Cole Aldrich’s $2 million guaranteed for next season by 6/20, but that’s probably doable) — #20
Portland (Crabbe trade exception) — #24
Utah (Sefalosha non-guaranteed, but I’m admittedly not 100% positive how trading a contract that’s non-guaranteed next year works if you trade it in June — I think it’s legit, but could be wrong) — #21

I don’t think I’d be willing to give up Morris just to move up to Indiana or Portland’s spot.  I could be talked into #20 or #21, but even that feels like poor value, and I’d probably want a 2nd back as well.

If we got up to #20, I’d love to get Keita Bates-Diop if he’s still available.  He seems like someone ready to be a Day 1 contributor.  He also took a huge step forward in his game this year after a coaching change Ohio State, which makes me think there could be an above-average amount of growth left in his game for a 4-year college player.  I think in year 2 he’d be about ready to give us near what we got from Morris this year and expect from him next year.  At 6’8” with a 7’3” wingspan he can play multiple positions in the frontcourt.  Not a starter on the Celtics, but we need cheap reserves to afford a Kyrie-Hayward-Brown-Tatum-Horford core for the next several years, and Bates-Diop could give us multiple years of that.

[droopdog7]

Morris and 27 won’t get you in the teens.  Not even close.

[gouki88]

Here are the playoff-level teams who could take on Morris pretty easily without sending back salary, and have non-lottery picks ahead of us:

Indiana (cap room) — #23
Minnesota (would have to find a third team to take on Cole Aldrich’s $2 million guaranteed for next season by 6/20, but that’s probably doable) — #20
Portland (Crabbe trade exception) — #24
Utah (Sefalosha non-guaranteed, but I’m admittedly not 100% positive how trading a contract that’s non-guaranteed next year works if you trade it in June — I think it’s legit, but could be wrong) — #21

I don’t think I’d be willing to give up Morris just to move up to Indiana or Portland’s spot.  I could be talked into #20 or #21, but even that feels like poor value, and I’d probably want a 2nd back as well.

If we got up to #20, I’d love to get Keita Bates-Diop if he’s still available.  He seems like someone ready to be a Day 1 contributor.  He also took a huge step forward in his game this year after a coaching change Ohio State, which makes me think there could be an above-average amount of growth left in his game for a 4-year college player.  I think in year 2 he’d be about ready to give us near what we got from Morris this year and expect from him next year.  At 6’8” with a 7’3” wingspan he can play multiple positions in the frontcourt.  Not a starter on the Celtics, but we need cheap reserves to afford a Kyrie-Hayward-Brown-Tatum-Horford core for the next several years, and Bates-Diop could give us multiple years of that.

Agree with all this. Snagging Bates-Diop would be an awesome pickup for us, especially in the wake of losing Morris. Not sure how many teams would be willing to absorb Morris though

[wiley]

In attaining pick 20 for Morris is there anyone who'd rather keep pick 27 and give Minny the Clippers pick instead?  The Clippers pick will be higher (better), but likely in a less deep draft.  Would Minny accept that?  Thibs would love having Morris...Minny needs what he brings.

At 20 I'd be happy with Keita Bates Diop as a few others...plus at pick 27 either Khyri Thomas, Divicenzo, Mo Wagner, Brunson, Okogie, Spellman, or if he falls maybe even Mitchell Robinson...though he seems like a guy who might be so unique that he'll need some extra care until he matures...perfect for Stevens.. 
and I could be wrong he could be a no-extra-care late round gem 

[Eddie20]

Morris and 27 won’t get you in the teens.  Not even close.

That's where I'm at, and I don't want to trade him away to move up about 5 spots. I'm not the biggest Morris fan around, but his role next year should be perfect for the team, albeit not so much for Team Morris. If he has it going you give him a good amount of run. However, on the day he's off, we will have the depth to give him a quick hook and not have him shoot us out of the game.

[Celtics4ever]

Who is going to be our bench scorer then?   I say no and I think he does not get far up the draft.

[Vermont Green]

Morris is a useful player on a good contract.  So we should trade him to move up a few slots in the draft to take a player that may not end up being any better than the player we could have picked in the first place?

I don't see it.

[saltlover]

Morris is a useful player on a good contract.  So we should trade him to move up a few slots in the draft to take a player that may not end up being any better than the player we could have picked in the first place?

I don't see it.

A couple of rationales.

1) He has hinted at displeasure with his role next year, which happens to be his walk year.  That could create tension, and with a Morris, potential dysfunction.

2) If you want to keep Smart, as the Celtics probably do, then a little extra room beneath the tax will help scare off teams from giving him an offer sheet, which gives the team more leverage in contract negotiations.  Sending off an expiring Morris could essentially give the team a much better chance of keeping Smart for 4-5 seasons.  If you’re someone who wants Smart gone no matter what, the. You’ll hate that, but that’s not likely the prevailing view in the Celtics’ front office, nor most any front office in the league.

3) To get to 23-24 I agree with you.  To get to #20, however, brings you to a higher tier of player in this draft.  That’s useful on its own — it’s also useful in creating a package to move still higher in the draft.  My fingers will be crossed for a Morris trade to Minnesota before Aldrich’s contract guarantees and makes such a deal no longer doable.

[tazzmaniac]

Morris is a useful player on a good contract.  So we should trade him to move up a few slots in the draft to take a player that may not end up being any better than the player we could have picked in the first place?

I don't see it.

A couple of rationales.

1) He has hinted at displeasure with his role next year, which happens to be his walk year.  That could create tension, and with a Morris, potential dysfunction.

2) If you want to keep Smart, as the Celtics probably do, then a little extra room beneath the tax will help scare off teams from giving him an offer sheet, which gives the team more leverage in contract negotiations.  Sending off an expiring Morris could essentially give the team a much better chance of keeping Smart for 4-5 seasons.  If you’re someone who wants Smart gone no matter what, the. You’ll hate that, but that’s not likely the prevailing view in the Celtics’ front office, nor most any front office in the league.

3) To get to 23-24 I agree with you.  To get to #20, however, brings you to a higher tier of player in this draft.  That’s useful on its own — it’s also useful in creating a package to move still higher in the draft.  My fingers will be crossed for a Morris trade to Minnesota before Aldrich’s contract guarantees and makes such a deal no longer doable.

Looks like Aldrich has to be waived by the day before the draft so I doubt Minny would do the trade.  Morris isn't good enough to miss out on the possibility of someone dropping down or a trade up. 

[clevelandceltic]

I dont see a value in Morris being moved unless you believe Tatum will be strong enough to  take on more physical players when Hayward doesnt have the assignment. I say its worth keeping him.

[colincb]

Morris and 27 is a start of a salary dump. Add Yabu and Nader and you trade it into BKN cap space.

[saltlover]

Morris is a useful player on a good contract.  So we should trade him to move up a few slots in the draft to take a player that may not end up being any better than the player we could have picked in the first place?

I don't see it.

A couple of rationales.

1) He has hinted at displeasure with his role next year, which happens to be his walk year.  That could create tension, and with a Morris, potential dysfunction.

2) If you want to keep Smart, as the Celtics probably do, then a little extra room beneath the tax will help scare off teams from giving him an offer sheet, which gives the team more leverage in contract negotiations.  Sending off an expiring Morris could essentially give the team a much better chance of keeping Smart for 4-5 seasons.  If you’re someone who wants Smart gone no matter what, the. You’ll hate that, but that’s not likely the prevailing view in the Celtics’ front office, nor most any front office in the league.

3) To get to 23-24 I agree with you.  To get to #20, however, brings you to a higher tier of player in this draft.  That’s useful on its own — it’s also useful in creating a package to move still higher in the draft.  My fingers will be crossed for a Morris trade to Minnesota before Aldrich’s contract guarantees and makes such a deal no longer doable.

Looks like Aldrich has to be waived by the day before the draft so I doubt Minny would do the trade.  Morris isn't good enough to miss out on the possibility of someone dropping down or a trade up.

Yes, although Minny could try to move Aldrich by 6/20 just for the purpose a trade exception — be that ultimately used on Morris or someone else, it’s something they might like to have.  It’s the most difficult of the four that I suggest are possible, but it’s a reasonable spot in terms of answering the OP’s question.

[saltlover]

Morris and 27 is a start of a salary dump. Add Yabu and Nader and you trade it into BKN cap space.

Harsh views on Morris and Yabusele...