Trade Irving for the sake of the team

[Roy H.]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

At that point, we’d have no Kyrie, no shot at Davis, and no cap space to sign a decent free agent (even assuming we let Morris, Baynes and Rozier walk too). 

In other words, it’s not a great plan.

[TheSundanceKid]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

[Chris22]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

Go with what we have until we can sign someone who might win us a championship.

Kyrie does not really make us any better than we were last year. Look at our record.

[RockinRyA]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

Go with what we have until we can sign someone who might win us a championship.

Kyrie does not really make us any better than we were last year. Look at our record.

****. We cannot sign any max player for the foreseeable future even if we do not resign Kyrie. Know how salary cap works please.

[Chris22]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

Go with what we have until we can sign someone who might win us a championship.

Kyrie does not really make us any better than we were last year. Look at our record.

****. We cannot sign any max player for the foreseeable future even if we do not resign Kyrie. Know how salary cap works please.

I know how it works. I am thinking about the future.

Would you rather have three max players none of whom can bring us a championship?

[gouki88]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

Go with what we have until we can sign someone who might win us a championship.

Kyrie does not really make us any better than we were last year. Look at our record.

****. We cannot sign any max player for the foreseeable future even if we do not resign Kyrie. Know how salary cap works please.

I know how it works. I am thinking about the future.

Would you rather have three max players none of whom can bring us a championship?

You mean the future when we're paying JT the max too?

How can you see so clearly into the future?? How do you know we can't win a ring with these guys? I mean, we've only got a significant track record of making the ECF

[The Oracle]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

Go with what we have until we can sign someone who might win us a championship.

Kyrie does not really make us any better than we were last year. Look at our record.

****. We cannot sign any max player for the foreseeable future even if we do not resign Kyrie. Know how salary cap works please.

I know how it works. I am thinking about the future.

Would you rather have three max players none of whom can bring us a championship?

No you clearly don't understand because even if you don't want to pay Kyrie the max 25+ other teams gladly will/would if they could.  If for some reason the C's wanted to move in a different direction they would still sign Kyrie with the intention of trading him at a later date for the players and pieces they did want.  Not resigning Kyrie is a huge asset lost plain and simple as they do not and will not have the cap space to replace him for the foreseeable future.

[Wretch]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, Durant, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been six Finals MVPs 6'4" or under.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

Your basic premise is that bigs are more valuable than guards. 6-4 is an arbitrary height distinction. I list examples of players of similar stature to Kyrie that disprove your point. Guards can be and often are the best players on championship teams. Your logic is the same logic that led Portland to draft Sam Bowie over MJ.

[Green-18]

Let's forgot about Irving for a second.  I'd like to look at last years group (post Irving injury) and try to project their success in this years NBA.  Too many people are using the Conference Finals run as the basis for their argument.  My problem is that the Celtics offensive shortcomings would have killed them in this years NBA.  Do people really believe that last years team could beat Milwaukee, Toronto, or even Philly?  The competition has gotten much stronger. 

We also can't ignore the impact of the underdog role.  Even without Irving, the Celtics wouldn't have been underdogs after last seasons playoff run.  Toronto, Philly, and Milwaukee had plenty of doubters prior to the start of this season.       

[Monkhouse]

We should trade OP for the sake of the blog.

See how ridiculous that sounds?

Irving is one of the best offensive players, and he's now entering his prime. Nets, Knicks, or Grizzlies would drool to have someone like him in their team.

[RJ87]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been three Finals MVPs under 6'4".

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

But what’s the point here?

If it’s that ideally we’d have somebody better than Kyrie to play alongside him, most fans would probably agree.

If it’s that we should dump Kyrie for lesser talent in return while handing the reigns to Terry Rozier, most would see that as a step backward.

The point is play out the season with Kyrie, but don't sign him to a max contract afterward.

And then do what with the zero cap space you free up by letting him go?

Go with what we have until we can sign someone who might win us a championship.

Kyrie does not really make us any better than we were last year. Look at our record.

****. We cannot sign any max player for the foreseeable future even if we do not resign Kyrie. Know how salary cap works please.

I know how it works. I am thinking about the future.

Would you rather have three max players none of whom can bring us a championship?

Okay. So what would be your target time to have enough cap to sign an impact free agent? Keep in mind caps holds + new contracts for Al/Morris/Baynes/Possibly Theis + pending extensions for Jaylen and Jayson.

[rollie mass]

When the banner hangs and they retire Kyries number 11 in the rafters.And Ainge has it rank up there with one of his great heists--there will still be downers.Trade Kyie at 26 just entering his prime and finally not playing in pain-to keep Rozier.

We got a top 10 player for an injured IT, Zizic  ,Crowder, and the number 9 draft choice..Nobody on this squad has a resume like Kyrie except maybe potential Jason Tatum.
Kyrie will be in Hall of Fame with his unique maybe best ever skill set.AND you want to trade Kyrie.

[Tr1boy]

When the banner hangs and they retire Kyries number 11 in the rafters.And Ainge has it rank up there with one of his great heists--then will still be downers.Trade Kyie at 26 just entering his prime and finally not playing in pain-to keep Rozier.

We got a top 10 player for an injured IT, Zizic  ,Crowder, and the number 9 draft choice..Nobody on this squad has a resume like Kyrie except maybe potential Jason Tatum.
Kyrie will be in Hall of Fame with his unique maybe best ever skill set.AND you want to trade Kyrie.

Let me ask you... does Carmelo Anthony get into the HOF?

Does Westbrook?

I really dont care about ONE player. This is not 3 on 3 or street ball

It is a team game at the end of the day. Great players like Magic, Bird never made it about themselves ... only selfish azz that nobody can say about anything are Jordan and Kobe

And if Kyrie (1) = underutilization of (4)Brown, Tatum, Rozier, Hayward

Well guess what...

[Chris22]

Smaller guys like Kyrie and IT get injured more often. That is why I would not resign him.

There is absolutely zero proof, zero facts, zero studies that this is true in any professional sport. Injuries happen to big players and small players alike in all sports. If what you said was true, small people simply would not be playing sports because professional sports GMs would have that data and never sign small players.

Zero proof? Kyrie? IT? Both missed the playoffs due to injury.

Plus, how many championships have been won by teams whose best player was under 6'4"?

Bill Walton and Yao Ming were bigs that had injury shortened careers, what's your point.

Off the top of my head, Detroit with Thomas, and GS with Curry jump to mind. Its arguable whether Lew Alcindor or Oscar Robertson was the best player for the bucks. MJ was listed at 6-6 who was a non-big, that was the best player on championship teams, Kobe also.  Edit: I also forgot DJ for the Sonics

Thanks for proving my point.

Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, Bird, Magic, Jabbar, Wilt, Russell, Willis Reed, Bill Walton, Olajuwon, Nowitzki, Durant, etc...the vast majority of NBA championships have been won by teams where the best player was over 6'4".

In fact, in the last forty years there have only been six Finals MVPs 6'4" or under.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/

Your basic premise is that bigs are more valuable than guards. 6-4 is an arbitrary height distinction. I list examples of players of similar stature to Kyrie that disprove your point. Guards can be and often are the best players on championship teams. Your logic is the same logic that led Portland to draft Sam Bowie over MJ.

In the last forty years there have only been six Finals MVPs 6'4" or under.

Apology accepted, Captain Needa.

[Monkhouse]

When the banner hangs and they retire Kyries number 11 in the rafters.And Ainge has it rank up there with one of his great heists--then will still be downers.Trade Kyie at 26 just entering his prime and finally not playing in pain-to keep Rozier.

We got a top 10 player for an injured IT, Zizic  ,Crowder, and the number 9 draft choice..Nobody on this squad has a resume like Kyrie except maybe potential Jason Tatum.
Kyrie will be in Hall of Fame with his unique maybe best ever skill set.AND you want to trade Kyrie.

Let me ask you... does Carmelo Anthony get into the HOF?

Does Westbrook?

I really dont care about ONE player. This is not 3 on 3 or street ball

It is a team game at the end of the day. Great players like Magic, Bird never made it about themselves ... only selfish azz that nobody can say about anything are Jordan and Kobe

And if Kyrie (1) = underutilization of (4)Brown, Tatum, Rozier, Hayward

Well guess what...

Your point doesn't make any sense, because Carmelo/Westbrook is HoF bound..