If AD Doesn't Want To Come Here, Then Just Move On

[Phantom255x]

I know what some of the responses here will be, "oh so you don't want to win a championship?", "you think we're getting anywhere with this team as constructed?", "are you a draft pick hoarder?", etc.

But trust me, those same people will be the same ones ripping Ainge if he trades Tatum + many other assets for AD and he bolts in a year, and it will be even worse if he bolts to LA after getting traded here.

This was the same risk with Kawhi, including injuries which AD has had quite a few of himself. Toronto will make the ECF this year, but may also lose in the ECF or Finals to MIL/BOS/GSW, and so if Kawhi then leaves for another team, how would we feel about the Kawhi trade for them in that case? Sure, they had to do it given their circumstances but this could truly be their last chance at anything. What if we had dealt for Kawhi, didn't win it all and were left with what we have after he bolts. It's just way too risky.

Unless AD makes assurances with Ainge and co. he's willing to re-sign here long term, Ainge should monitor the situation but not make an offer, especially not one including Tatum in this particular instance. If you can get creative and offer just Brown and others, you can explore it but I doubt the Pelicans entertain that unless other offers from other teams are also weak.

We're still in a great spot whereas making the trade and losing him a year later would put us in a horrible spot IMHO.

I slept on it and honestly I've just come to the conclusion that we'll just see how it plays out. If he remains a Pelican after this deadline, that's encouraging and gives us hope, but otherwise we'll just continue rooting for this team currently. I also don't understand this, "we're doomed if we don't trade for AD" notion. I'd love AD but if he's just not willing to come here, then what can we do?

Also I do think the Kyrie leaving Boston rumors, while they can't be 100% ignored, still seem really overblown to me. It's Rich Paul, his puppet Haynes, and Windhorst and others just creating a narrative which Kyrie himself put to rest in public when he didn't need to. I'm hoping Kyrie is close with AD and can still lure him here.

[CelticsQuestFor18]

I don't think the Pelicans will deal him before the deadline. They've pretty much echoed that sentiment in their statement and actions since the announcement was made. Only way I see it happening is if they take Nick Wright's proposed offer (Zubac, Ingram, Ball, KCP, Hart, Kuzma, Lance + 2-3 unprotected future picks), but if that's what it took then LAL can have it. That's literally their whole team and they've got zero bench left. Lebron/AD, who is the 3rd star? And what's their bench. In a few years when Lebron becomes 36-37 Lakers will slowly go back to a rebuild. And no, I don't think AD + Lebron alone is enough to win a title as talented as both are. I also don't see KD joining them. Kawhi, Butler or Klay possibly could. The Warriors will still be the Warriors for at least another year after this.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'm already ready to move on. I've never been fully convinced in Davis. He has too many nagging injuries. His teams don't win a lot. His vaunted defense hasn't made the team a good defense. He doesn't seem like he leads the team.

He's a great player. One of the best. But I've always drawn comparisons between this moment for the Cs and the moment when the Warriors could have traded some combination of Thompson, Green, and/or Barnes for Love.

They didn't, and the way those players developed and complimented one another was elite.

I genuinely think Tatum and Brown have All-star upside. I think Williams has fringe all-star upside, and certainly has all-defensive team upside. Irving and Horford are all-stars. And Hayward is at least a really good role player, and might get back to all-star level one day. On top of that, they have all these picks that can be packaged for other players, or might turn into other good role players or high level prospects.

Not sure Davis is worth it. I don't think Davis going to the Lakers shifts the balance of the NBA that much. The Warriors are still better, which means we would still be facing the Warriors at least this year, and maybe in coming years, but in coming years, James will start to decline, and that will affect their window.

The Cs have the best chance to beat the Warriors this year. You don't want to mess with it too much if you are already in contention, and your team is bound to continue to improve.

[PhoSita]

I think it's a swing the Celtics probably have to take, though it would make my stomach churn.

The goal is to compete for titles.  The Celtics might be able to get to the Finals with Kyrie + Tatum + Brown, but if they want a serious chance at winning a title, they need a player like AD to combine with Kyrie.

[CelticsQuestFor18]

I think it's a swing the Celtics probably have to take, though it would make my stomach churn.

The goal is to compete for titles.  The Celtics might be able to get to the Finals with Kyrie + Tatum + Brown, but if they want a serious chance at winning a title, they need a player like AD to combine with Kyrie.

Irving, Smart or Brown, Hayward, Horford, Davis with a bench of Morris or Rozier, Ojeyele, Theis, maybe Williams + hopefully 1 veteran ring-chaser. What a team.

[slamtheking]

would depend on what a conversation between him and Danny would reveal.  if his goal is to have a shot at winning titles, then he should have no reservations about resigning in Boston.  if his goal is to play in LA, then I probably pass and look elsewhere unless Danny can use that 1-year rental to lower the price for Davis.

[RJ87]

As I said in the other thread:

I'd call his bluff and trade for him. You get a full season to pitch him. And I believe he walks away from playing with Irving (his friend) to play with a 35/36 year old Lebron.

[Chief]

I hope the Pelicans make the trade with the Lakers so Danny can refocus. 

There are other things out there.

[Monkhouse]

I'm already ready to move on. I've never been fully convinced in Davis. He has too many nagging injuries. His teams don't win a lot. His vaunted defense hasn't made the team a good defense. He doesn't seem like he leads the team.

He's a great player. One of the best. But I've always drawn comparisons between this moment for the Cs and the moment when the Warriors could have traded some combination of Thompson, Green, and/or Barnes for Love.

They didn't, and the way those players developed and complimented one another was elite.

I genuinely think Tatum and Brown have All-star upside. I think Williams has fringe all-star upside, and certainly has all-defensive team upside. Irving and Horford are all-stars. And Hayward is at least a really good role player, and might get back to all-star level one day. On top of that, they have all these picks that can be packaged for other players, or might turn into other good role players or high level prospects.

Not sure Davis is worth it. I don't think Davis going to the Lakers shifts the balance of the NBA that much. The Warriors are still better, which means we would still be facing the Warriors at least this year, and maybe in coming years, but in coming years, James will start to decline, and that will affect their window.

The Cs have the best chance to beat the Warriors this year. You don't want to mess with it too much if you are already in contention, and your team is bound to continue to improve.

I tend to agree with most of your posts, but my only issue with two are: If you're going to bring up nagging injuries, Kyrie should also be grouped the same. I believe defensive metrics are hard to measure, especially since other than Jrue Holiday, who else is really a great defender on that team? Their wings are all crippled and unable to switch in today's NBA, so it is hard to judge Davis especially since his team is already a defensive liability, and forcing him to be the main anchor + offensive scorer is exhausting and tiring. He won't have to exert as much as energy on both ends with Kyrie, Horford, Hayward or whoever is left over.

[RJ87]

He's a great player. One of the best. But I've always drawn comparisons between this moment for the Cs and the moment when the Warriors could have traded some combination of Thompson, Green, and/or Barnes for Love.

They didn't, and the way those players developed and complimented one another was elite.

Kevin Love doesn't hold a candle to Anthony Davis, though. We're talking about a legitimate MVP candidate who effects the game on both ends.

There's some serious underrating of Anthony Davis going on right now.

[Chief]

He's a great player. One of the best. But I've always drawn comparisons between this moment for the Cs and the moment when the Warriors could have traded some combination of Thompson, Green, and/or Barnes for Love.

They didn't, and the way those players developed and complimented one another was elite.

Kevin Love doesn't hold a candle to Anthony Davis, though. We're talking about a legitimate MVP candidate who effects the game on both ends.

There's some serious underrating of Anthony Davis going on right now.

AD is great. I'd love to have him. But I dont want to do a Joe Johnson for Rodney Roger's trade either.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

He's a great player. One of the best. But I've always drawn comparisons between this moment for the Cs and the moment when the Warriors could have traded some combination of Thompson, Green, and/or Barnes for Love.

They didn't, and the way those players developed and complimented one another was elite.

Kevin Love doesn't hold a candle to Anthony Davis, though. We're talking about a legitimate MVP candidate who effects the game on both ends.

There's some serious underrating of Anthony Davis going on right now.

Love was averaging 26-13-4 on 46/38/82 shooting splits, on a team that had roughly the same winning percentage as the Pelicans have had with Anthony Davis. You could argue Love's team was worst than Davis', comparing Pekovic, Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer, and rookie Ricky Rubio with Holiday, Moore, Randle, and Mirotic.

I'm well aware that Anthony Davis is better than Love, but don't revise history. People were considering Love one of the best players in the league that year. Many thought that they would definitely do Thompson and Green for Love back then.

I definitely think there are parallels, even if Davis is better.

[Phantom255x]

He's a great player. One of the best. But I've always drawn comparisons between this moment for the Cs and the moment when the Warriors could have traded some combination of Thompson, Green, and/or Barnes for Love.

They didn't, and the way those players developed and complimented one another was elite.

Kevin Love doesn't hold a candle to Anthony Davis, though. We're talking about a legitimate MVP candidate who effects the game on both ends.

There's some serious underrating of Anthony Davis going on right now.

Love was averaging 26-13-4 on 46/38/82 shooting splits, on a team that had roughly the same winning percentage as the Pelicans have had with Anthony Davis. You could argue Love's team was worst than Davis', comparing Pekovic, Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer, and rookie Ricky Rubio with Holiday, Moore, Randle, and Mirotic.

I'm well aware that Anthony Davis is better than Love, but don't revise history. People were considering Love one of the best players in the league that year. Many thought that they would definitely do Thompson and Green for Love back then.

I definitely think there are parallels, even if Davis is better.

Yeah I was going to say, while AD > Love, it's not like Love was just some scrub like it looked like when he was the third wheel on Lebron's team. When he was the alpha the guy was also putting up tremendous numbers and was the only reason MIN was relevant for a while. In a way you could also maybe worry.. how does AD transition being a potential 2nd or 3rd option on another team. Does his numbers/stats also go down like Love's did?

Unfortunately for Love especially as of recent, injuries have really killed him, and he's suffered quite a few of them in different areas too.

[celticinorlando]

If Davis is sent to LA then that is a pretty nice signal of what Boston does next: Draft young players to go with the young guys you got. Resign Kyrie. Build within and wait out the Warriors. You would have half a roster full of guys 4 years or less in the NBA.

Would be set for quite some time and would only get better. Become the new NBA model.

[Phantom255x]

If Davis is sent to LA then that is a pretty nice signal of what Boston does next: Draft young players to go with the young guys you got. Resign Kyrie. Build within and wait out the Warriors. You would have half a roster full of guys 4 years or less in the NBA.

Would be set for quite some time and would only get better. Become the new NBA model.

Yeah I'd love Davis but to say we're doomed if we don't add him and he goes to the Lakers is also ridiculous. We're still set up pretty well as long as Kyrie re-signs (and the chances of that look real great as well). For one, our worries should first be getting to the Finals and dealing with the East, not the Lakers now.