A report from ESPN’s Chad Ford this weekend details just how far player agents will go to keep their clients from being drafted into what they perceive to be less than ideal conditions. Specifically, Ford writes, that agents have been actively avoiding the Kings and the Celtics for two very different reasons.
Ford writes that this year, just as last year, agents are keeping their players away from Sacramento’s front office, refusing workouts and, in the case of Wade Baldwin IV, even declining to share medical records. The hiring of reputable Scott Perry as the organization’s new general manager, has had little impact in that regard.
“It would be malpractice to let my clients play for them,” one longtime agent told Ford. “I’ve had clients there. It’s still the most dysfunctional front office in the league, by a mile. How can you trust those guys with one of your players? It’s going to take a long time to build that trust.”
A similar movement is afoot with regard to the Celtics. According to Ford, the agents of top prospects are reluctant to approve their players working out for the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, citing concern over future playing time.
Agents fear that their clients, like Jaylen Brown in this year’s rookie class, may be faced with a loaded depth chart to navigate through before earning any consistent starter’s minutes.
“I have deep respect for the Celtics,” another agent said. “They may have the best GM and head coach in the league. But I’d have to understand what the plan would be for my client before I let them come. They are loaded at every position. There’s a real danger that they take a player and either he plays a limited role off the bench, or he becomes an asset to be traded to a situation that we’re uncomfortable with. It’s tough.“
Are you friggin’ kidding me??!!
Well Demarcus Cousins remained loyal to Sacramento but it wasn’t working, now they have Buddy Hield a motivated player who wants to get better and wants to prove he can lead. Jaylen Brown might not be in the Celtics’s plans they could probably use him as a trade chip.
Jaylen Brown could be trade bait but Celtics should keep him for at least one more year. Trade or release Jerebko, Zeller, Young, Rozier and Mickey to make room for last year’s draft picks and this year’s #1 pick.
The first 3 players u put a free agents ( zeller nq) and they will do something with one of the other 2
Ainge turned down trade offers for Rozier, because apparently I’ve missed something, and he’s really good at basketball.
Haha I would’ve traded him for a big. Him for Taj Gibson would’ve looked good but I’m content with him as the backup PG if they want to shop Smart, the Nets pick, and some other pieces for a star.
The Celtics have no business drafting in the lottery (4 PGs projected in the first five or six rounds). They should trade the pick for another All-Star who can play alongside Thomas.
Who do you have them taking in the 5th round? Going to be some solid juco players available that late
Or you trade Thomas and the 2018 Brooklyn Pick for someone like Butler and just draft Fultz to keep some future cap flexibility since IT will be getting paid next offseason.
This leaves them with $20MM in cap space after including Olynyk’s cap hold.
They could even target Ibaka to start at PF.
Fultz, Rozier
Bradley, Smart
Butler, Brown
Ibaka, Crowder
Horford, Olynyk
This team could easily compete for a championship next season.
How on Earth does Boston have a loaded depth chart? I just don’t understand that assessment (which seems to be quite popular). They have Isaiah Thomas and a bunch of solid role players.
Sure there is plenty of talent between Smart, Brown, Horford, etc but none of those guys is really life-changing. A top flight rookie should be able to overtake anybody in that lineup outside of Isaiah.
In today’s NBA (as long as the Warriors and Cavs rosters remain constructed as they have been), this roster template is not going to win a championship for the Celtics. They need stars, not a large quantity of good role players.
The kind of player who doesn’t want to compete for playing time isn’t one that Ainge wants anyway. If they don’t get the first pick (Fulz) look for them to pick Zack Collins who would be a great fit as a versatile big man, for their rotation and bypass selfish players like Ball and some of the other pampered stars. This is a deep draft.
I was thinking Josh Jackson. Or if LAL was at 3 Boston leverages having 2 and forces the Lakers to kick in an asset and basically hold Ball hostage with no intention of taking him. Maybe it’s just a future second rounder or something but I think Ainge cashes in on all his cruddy picks next year for guys at the deadline. PJ Tucker went for a hodgepodge of second rounders so I see him making a few of those moves during the season.
“Selfish players like Ball” who is a pure assist guy. Come on man, don’t fall captive to a narrative. Have you seen the way he plays?