OT Celtics Aggressively Shopping 3rd Overall Pick

[BonesJones]

That's pretty steep. I think they could get #3, #16, and Smart.

I think Aminu/Vonleh/Plumlee + 3 Future 1sts is as good as #3, #16, and Smart in terms of offers.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Aminu/Vonleh/Plumlee + 3 Future 1sts is as good as #3, #16, and Smart in terms of offers.

Problem is, the dominoes have to fall in the right order, and we could be left holding the bag if we deal a bunch of dudes and they end up signing elsewhere. That's what happened to Houston with Bosh.

 

[Boob-No-More]

There won't be a "rest of the Celtics young" because they'd have to gut the team. We had this discussion a few weeks back. To get Durant/Horford they have to renounce all their restricted and unrestricted guys. That leaves just a handful of players on the roster. Then, to make the trade work for Butler, they'd have to match something like 17 million. They won't have a roster. It will be Thomas/Butler/Durant/Horford and nobody else.

They currently have NINE players under guaranteed contracts AND $53 million in cap space if they renounce everyone else. The rumored trade that started the previous discussion was #3, Amir Johnson and Marcus Smart for Butler. That's almost $15.6 million in outgoing salary to match Butler's incoming $16.4 million salary (within about $800K) and would still leave with a ton of money to sign Durant and Horford. And that would still leave them with Thomas, Bradley, Crowder, Olynyk, etc. The only significant pieces they'd need to renounce would be Sullinger, Evan Turner and Tyler Zeller. And, if you can land Durant, Horford and Butler, you don't really miss those guys too much.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

They currently have NINE players under guaranteed contracts AND $53 million in cap space if they renounce everyone else. The rumored trade that started the previous discussion was #3, Amir Johnson and Marcus Smart for Butler. That's almost $15.6 million in outgoing salary to match Butler's incoming $16.4 million salary (within about $800K) and would still leave with a ton of money to sign Durant and Horford. And that would still leave them with Thomas, Bradley, Crowder, Olynyk, etc. The only significant pieces they'd need to renounce would be Sullinger, Evan Turner and Tyler Zeller. And, if you can land Durant, Horford and Butler, you don't really miss those guys too much.

BNM

Did you not see my post directly below that one?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Did you not see my post directly below that one?

Not at the time I made my post. I was responding to your comment that the Celtics would have to gut their roster to possibly land Butler, Durant and Horford. Obviously, they won't have to, which is why they immediately become contenders if they can add Durant, Butler and Horford to their already solid young core. Of course, it's yet to be seen of Ainge can pry away Butler from Chicago, let alone convince Durant and Horford to sign with BOS. The possibility exists, but making it happen is anything but a given.

BNM

 

[BonesJones]

Problem is, the dominoes have to fall in the right order, and we could be left holding the bag if we deal a bunch of dudes and they end up signing elsewhere. That's what happened to Houston with Bosh.

We would trade for Butler, we wouldn't have to sign him?

 

[Natebishop3]

We would trade for Butler, we wouldn't have to sign him?

You were just talking about getting Durant/Horford. I was commenting on that.

 

[BonesJones]

You were just talking about getting Durant/Horford. I was commenting on that.

You don't renounce or trade guys until they commit. For 1 toy wouldn't have to renounce anyone. For the other you would, but don't until it's certain.. The moratorium is shorter so hopefully you wouldn't end up with Hedo / DJ / Bosh crap

 

[BonesJones]

Boston trades #3 and Jae Crowder to Los Angeles for #2, #32

Would either team do this?

 

[Natebishop3]

You don't renounce or trade guys until they commit. For 1 toy wouldn't have to renounce anyone. For the other you would, but don't until it's certain.. The moratorium is shorter so hopefully you wouldn't end up with Hedo / DJ / Bosh crap

To sign both Durant AND Horford you'd have to clear more space. That's $50 million in cap space that you'd need.

 

[ripcityboy]

Boston doesn't want Buddy Hield?! Dude is a stud. Well. Whatever. They only have ten thousand picks left....

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Ainge continues to be a great GM.

The Bastard.[/QUOTE
It's taken more than a few years for me to come around to this opinion but I'm pretty much there. Of course it helps when ownership has complete faith and patience in you, along with snagging an outstanding coach who gave every other suitor the back of his hand....but then that's exactly what makes Ainge such a great GM. Everybody buys what he's selling....

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Bender is YEARS away. He's a major boom or bust prospect.

If they can land Butler they are contenders. They have the luxury of having virtual clones in Bradley and Smart. Both have a lot of value.

 

[BonesJones]

To sign both Durant AND Horford you'd have to clear more space. That's $50 million in cap space that you'd need.

We already have $25M in cap (Because we all know Roberts isn't coming back) Renouncing Meyers+Harkless gives us $40M.
Vonleh+Aminu would give us another $10M.

 

[BonesJones]

Bender is YEARS away. He's a major boom or bust prospect.

That's what they said about Porzingas

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

That's pretty much exactly what he did to get Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. He traded picks and young talent. I don't remember all the players involved, but Minny got a young Al Jefferson for KG, and Seattle got Jeff Green for Ray Allen.

He also traded Minnesota's pick back to them. He had been eyeing KG before that and backed Minnesota into a corner.

He still traded what ended up being Brandon Roy for Sebastian Telfair. He ain't that good

Don't forget that he gained a year of flexibility swapping Raef's contract for Theo's. Made the trade with Minnesota alot easier. We ended up with Roy, who gave us four good years but we paid the max for it longer. I am guessing there was no one happier to see Roy's downfall and us having to amnesty him than Ainge.

Also, Kevin McHale basically gifted him Garnett. He hasn't really done anything earth shattering since that summer. Getting Thomas from Phoenix was pretty hilarious though. God the Suns are awful.

He has the league evaluating the rules for trading draft rights after his robbery of the Nets and got huge value out of Rondo and Jeff Green. Not sure what else you are expecting out of an GM.

As for shopping the #3, I think now is a really bad time to be doing so. Think they would be better off making the pick as well as the Nets pick next year. Conserve cap space till next year when the free agent crop is better.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He also traded Minnesota's pick back to them. He had been eyeing KG before that and backed Minnesota into a corner.



Don't forget that he gained a year of flexibility swapping Raef's contract for Theo's. Made the trade with Minnesota alot easier. We ended up with Roy, who gave us four good years but we paid the max for it longer. I am guessing there was no one happier to see Roy's downfall and us having to amnesty him than Ainge.



He has the league evaluating the rules for trading draft rights after his robbery of the Nets and got huge value out of Rondo and Jeff Green. Not sure what else you are expecting out of an GM.

As for shopping the #3, I think now is a really bad time to be doing so. Think they would be better off making the pick as well as the Nets pick next year. Conserve cap space till next year when the free agent crop is better.

If they can make deals that will convince Durant to sign with them, there is no possible better time to trade the pick and spend their cap space.

 

[dviss1]

As much as I've enjoyed the West being the superior conference, it would be nice to see a team from the East that can give the best teams in the West a competitive finals series.

Plus I'm all for anything that weakens OKC. The sooner the better, especially, if it doesn't strengthen another team in the West (other than the Blazers) in the process.

But, I think it's most likely Durant signs a 2-year deal with OKC, with the second year as a player option. That makes good financial sense for him gives him a chance to try to win one more time with Westbrook, but still test the FA waters again next summer after OKC chokes again in the playoffs. Then, him and Westbrook will both leave at the same time and go their separate ways.

BNM

Then the Thunder will go the way of early Clipperdom.

 

[dviss1]

Ainge continues to be a great GM.

The Bastard.

Wait, don't we love Danny? He's an Oregon boy!

 

[BBert]

Wait, don't we love Danny? He's an Oregon boy!

Yeah, North Eugene High School, multi-sport high school all American, major league level baseball player, NBA champion. The only thing that matters though is he had a short stint with the Blazers. So I'll give him a pass.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

If they can make deals that will convince Durant to sign with them, there is no possible better time to trade the pick and spend their cap space.

A big if.

 

[Sarni]

I can easily see this ending with either Butler or Okafor/Noel trade. They'll have to add one of Smart or Bradley to the Butler deal.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I can easily see this ending with either Butler or Okafor/Noel trade. They'll have to add one of Smart or Bradley to the Butler deal.

The rumor that's been floating around the past two weeks is #3 + Amir Johnson + Marcus Smart for Butler. By landing Butler, Smart becomes expendable and they now have Bradley, Butler and Jae Crowder, three of the best perimeter defenders in the league. If I'm CHI, I hold out for more, but if Ainge pulls this off and lands one of Durant or Horford, BOS will be pretty fucking good, If he can somehow land all three of Durant, Butler and Horford, they are legitimate title contenders that match up very well against GSW.

Remember, BOS handed GSW their first home loss of the season and took them to overtime in BOS earlier in the year. They played GSW well with their current roster due to their tough perimeter defense. They add the 6'7" Butler (3 time 2nd team all defense) and Horford (great pick and roll defender and solid post defender) to the mix, plus a go to scorer in Durant. It gives BOS the versatility to go either big, or small. Their big lineup of Bradley, Butler, Crowder, Durant and Horford would be insane defensively and not lack for scoring, either.

Assuming, we're not in the running for Durant, I'd love to see him go east. WAS would be my first choice but I'd be fine with him going to BOS, but I'm still holding out hope Olshey can convince Horford we're the best fit for him.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

We already have $25M in cap (Because we all know Roberts isn't coming back) Renouncing Meyers+Harkless gives us $40M.
Vonleh+Aminu would give us another $10M.

And that's my point. You'd have to dump Vonleh+Aminu just to have enough space, which is what Houston did to clear enough space to sign Bosh. They thought they had him locked up and then he backed out at the last minute.

 

[Boob-No-More]

And that's my point. You'd have to dump Vonleh+Aminu just to have enough space, which is what Houston did to clear enough space to sign Bosh. They thought they had him locked up and then he backed out at the last minute.

Which really made my day. Morey swung for the fences and gutted his roster only to have Bosh say "No thanks Daryl, I may be from Texas, but I don't want to have anything to do with your shitty, disfunctional team".

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

Which really made my day. Morey swung for the fences and gutted his roster only to have Bosh say "No thanks Daryl, I may be from Texas, but I don't want to have anything to do with your shitty, disfunctional team".

BNM

We have the ability to make some moves without losing anyone, and deciding to renounce based on commitments, but trading guys to create cap space definitely makes me nervous. It's a pretty big risk.

 

[Boob-No-More]

We have the ability to make some moves without losing anyone, and deciding to renounce based on commitments, but trading guys to create cap space definitely makes me nervous. It's a pretty big risk.

Yeah, Morey foolishly jettisoned key members of his rotation for nothing and then was left standing at the altar with his pants down and his dick in his hand. Not sure how that guy still has his job, but I'm glad he does.

Thankfully, Neil isn't dumb enough to leave himself exposed like that.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, Morey foolishly jettisoned key members of his rotation for nothing and then was left standing at the altar with his pants down and his dick in his hand. Not sure how that guy still has his job, but I'm glad he does.

Thankfully, Neil isn't dumb enough to leave himself exposed like that.

BNM

Which further cements my opinion that the Spurs knew that LMA was coming, and that the whole thing was just some dog and pony show. They traded away a few key guys in order to make the space before he even committed officially.

 

[Sarni]

The rumor that's been floating around the past two weeks is #3 + Amir Johnson + Marcus Smart for Butler. By landing Butler, Smart becomes expendable and they now have Bradley, Butler and Jae Crowder, three of the best perimeter defenders in the league. If I'm CHI, I hold out for more, but if Ainge pulls this off and lands one of Durant or Horford, BOS will be pretty fucking good, If he can somehow land all three of Durant, Butler and Horford, they are legitimate title contenders that match up very well against GSW.

Remember, BOS handed GSW their first home loss of the season and took them to overtime in BOS earlier in the year. They played GSW well with their current roster due to their tough perimeter defense. They add the 6'7" Butler (3 time 2nd team all defense) and Horford (great pick and roll defender and solid post defender) to the mix, plus a go to scorer in Durant. It gives BOS the versatility to go either big, or small. Their big lineup of Bradley, Butler, Crowder, Durant and Horford would be insane defensively and not lack for scoring, either.

Assuming, we're not in the running for Durant, I'd love to see him go east. WAS would be my first choice but I'd be fine with him going to BOS, but I'm still holding out hope Olshey can convince Horford we're the best fit for him.

BNM

I don't think it's doable from cap perspective unless they renounce everyone and are left with about 4 players. I agree this would possibly be the best team in the league but it's a complete pipedream.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I don't think it's doable from cap perspective unless they renounce everyone and are left with about 4 players. I agree this would possibly be the best team in the league but it's a complete pipedream.

They can't renounce any of the 9 players that have guaranteed contracts, but they can trade them. Which is why they are looking to package a deal for Butler, that includes the draft pick and at least two other players. It is a pipe dream, but on paper, they have the ability and assets to make it happen, but that would require cooperation from one, or more, other teams, plus Durant and Horford would both need to walk away from larger contracts from their current teams and choose the Celtics over all other potential suitors. So yeah, it's a huge long shot.

Even if they only get Butler, he's a huge upgrade. And, assuming the trade isn't too lopsided salary wise, they could still have the cap space to go after some big free agents next summer.

BNM