The Celtics lost to the Cavs in a series that was mainly uncompetitive and it was proof that the Celtics should continue to add premier talent regardless of position, A. Sherrod Blakely argues. Blakely believes Markelle Fultz is the clear choice for the franchise even with Isaiah Thomas having a remarkable campaign. IT will be a free agent at the end of the next season.
Here’s more from Boston:
- Jeremias Engelmann of ESPN.com believes it wouldn’t be best for the Celtics to give up Jae Crowder in a trade that brings them just one of the Gordon Hayward, Jimmy Butler or Paul George trio. Crowder nearly matches the production of each player individually and he does so at a much lower salary.
- In the same piece, Engelmann argues that the Celtics should prioritize re-signing Amir Johnson over their other free agents. The scribe points to Johnson efficiency as reason for the claim.
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer examines the Celtics‘ franchise and wonders what the team’s best course of action is. Simply adding someone like Hayward wouldn’t necessarily get the team past LeBron James and the Cavs, but O’Connor notes that it’s not smart to try and wait out James’ prime. We’ve never seen an athlete like LBJ produce at this level and there’s no telling when he’s going to stop.
Crowder is a better defender and on a good contract but he does NOT match their production. How many 30 point games did Crowder have this season? He’s a Good solid player who’s gonna leave it all out on the court.
Sign hayward draft fultz trade brown and more for butler
You don’t get players like Butler or George without giving up a lottery pick.
Brown was a lottery pick at 3 and they have the nets pick next yr so they could get it done with out giving up the #1 pick
Brown and the Nets 2018 is too much for George given George’s contract life, and I don’t think it’s worth it for the C’s to make that trade for Butler. I’d rather have Brown and one of the bigs at the top of the 2018 draft.
Me to I was just pointing out that brown was a lottery pick
Trade Brown? In no way would I deal Brown for Butler or George. Sorry but I’m not wanting to give up young talent like that for possible rental guys.
Agreed KCelts. I think it’s time to put an end to the George talk. He’s got 1 year left on his contract (he will opt out), and there’s no way you deal Brown for him.
But here’s the thing: Hayward and Crowder can co-exist. We have seen Crowder play the 4 multiple times this season. Why not move Crowder to the 4 and have Hayward at the 3.
I think we’re in for a real interesting offseason in Boston. I honestly think aside from Horford and Brown, no one is a lock to come back. Thomas and Bradley aren’t guaranteed with their contract situations, Crowder could be trade bait, and Smart and Rozier could be dealt with Fultz coming on board. I’m excited for the offseason, but I think we’re going to see some changes come to Boston for sure.
Anyone who believes that Crowder is at the level of Hayward/Butler/George, or that Johnson should return next season just hasn’t seen the team play that much. Johnson in particular has no lift and appears to have the body of a 50-year-old. Painful to watch. And Crowder is a hard-worker, but really a role player who gets starter minutes.
This guys gets it
Johnson should move on. Terrible on offense and not a consistent rim protector. Reminds me of Kendrick Perkins on offense.
Trade IT, Crowder and the nets 2018 1st round pick for Anthony Davis, draft Fultz, sign Heyward.
Fultz
Bradley
Heyward
Horford
Davis
Gives you your rebounder and post presence, allows Horford to play the 4 where he excels, and you replace ITs scoring with Heyward. Brown and smart first off the bench and your draft and stash guys backing up the bigs.
A lot would ride on what you get out of Fultz, but you might be able to win more than 1 game in a series vs the Cavs.
Thoughts?
Not enough value for NO. That’s a top-5 player in Davis on a long-term deal. He’s worth even more. Plus NO is undoubtedly looking to add to their core, not dismantle it after just acquiring Cousins.
They could always flip Cousins I think he’s more likely to be traded than Davis is
Cousins for Brown and Smart?
That’s too much for Boston to give up for 1 year of cousins
Cousins for Smart, IT, and Olynyk. Davis is Pelican for life.
Not nearly enough for AD. Guys like him don’t get traded, but I posted a scenario recently that might make sense if they could get him.
I don’t think either team would do this, and i havent looked at the Celtics cap to see if it’s possible, but I’m curious to see what people might think. If they have a good idea they can sign Gordon Heyward if they make a big move, like almost guaranteed, I’m curious who’d say no first.
Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Tyler Zeller, Jordan Mickey, 2017 #1 pick, 2018 Nets pick, 2019 Celtics 1st round pick, 2017 Minnesota 2nd round pick for Anthony Davis and 2019 2nd round pick
The Celtics would obviously still have Nader, Yabusele, and Zizic coming over, and could use bird rights to keep Bradley and Smart if they want, and if they’re willing to pay luxury tax. They’d also still have their other draft picks. So obviously a win for them in that scenario.
If New Orleans can keep Jrue Holiday, they’d still be in better position than they were this year, even though they’d unfortunately have to move a potential all time great like Anthony Davis. This would be the best roster Demarcus Cousins would have had around him as well, so they should theoretically compete for the playoffs. Holliday, Moore, Crowder, Solomon Hill, Cousins with Frazier, Jaylen Brown, Markelle Fultz, Cunnigham, Diallo, Crawford, Cook, Asik. That also gives them some cap space when they cut Zeller plus the early 2nd round picks this year. And then they could hope to land Michael Porter in next year’s draft. All of the sudden, they look better than they have in a long time, assuming they can keep Holliday and Cousins in that scenario
Obviously, that’s a lot, but it’s not too much for an all time great, at his age, with 4 years left on his contract. As others mentioned, as did I, players like him don’t get traded. He’s a top 3-4 player in the NBA right now. The Celtics would still have a lot of assets, btw, as I outlined. I did say I don’t think either team would do it, but I personally think the Celtics would if they knew they were also getting Gordon Heyward 100%
Personally…I’d just keep the assets, for the most part, and either try to add a 4 or a 5 without using anything of much importance. Milsap would be a really good fit
If I was New Orleans I would definitely take that deal. Jaylen Brown is already a solid defender and is only 20 years old I believe. Crowder is a starting caliber forward who has a solid all around game. Im not sure of Holiday is a free agent this year or not. Ideally he still has a year left on his contract so they could look to move him this summer or sometime next season. Despite NO having basically no good perimeter players I would pass on resigning Holiday and go with a fultz/jaylen brown/moore/frazier/crawford backcourt and try and sign a relatively cheap 3 pt shooter this summer. So youd have
Fultz/frazier
Brown/crawford/moore
Hill
Crowder
Cousins
NO would still have their 2018 1st round pick as well as the Nets 2018 1st round pick, Celtics 2019 pick AND an extra 2nd round pick…on top of already adding 1 proven relatively cheap nba starter, two young top 3 picks with amazing upside to add to the starting lineup WITH Cousins…without much of an increase on their team payroll. I find it hard to believe that NO could pass up an offer like that especially given Anthony Davis is always missing random games with small nagging injuries. Hes just not durable enough to give up that much for…but if I were the NO gm we would have a deal.
That team that I listed would likely struggle to make the playoffs next year mainly due to the youth of the key players on the roster, especially with the Western Conference being as strong as it is. But the 2018 Nets pick has a great chance to be a top 3 pick and NO pick would likely be a lottery pick potentially in the top 10. If could somehow dump Solomon Hill’s contract they go after a max deal free-agent that summer and would have a stacked core of young players for the future. Ainge would never offer up that much for AD but it’d be fun to see how the futures of both franchises turned out after a blockbuster of that magnitude.
I don’t think you could not keep Holliday if you’re going to still try to win. If anything, you’d move Cousins too at that point. The nucleus I mentioned is a great start to build around with some young veterans and more youth to grow around a potentially competitive environment. You’d also have some cap space to ado another piece, and the draft picks we both mentioned.
Sign Hayward. Trade the #1 and crowder for Porzingis
No bad wouldn’t happen but I like it
Not*
Nah the pick and Mickey or a 2nd rounder.
Don’t resign Amir Johnson please
I think they should draft Fultz and trade Bradley for a top 13 pick and take Zack Collins or Jarrett Allen to play the 5 for the Celtics. Fultz might not be 100% ready to start but the Celtics can have Smart and Brown play the 2 until he is ready and I think they should focus on getting a 5 because it will allow Horford to move back to the 4 where he is more comfortable and then play Collins or Allen at the 5, they too might not be ready to start but they can play Olynyk or Zeller until then. This gives them more hight and rebounding ability which was one of the things they struggled with last year. I think a lineup of IT, Smart(until Fultz is ready) Crowder(unless they sign Heyward) Horford, Olynyk(until Collins or Allen is ready.
If they do sign Heyward they could trade Crowder for a 3/4 that can come of the bench and produce and get some form of draft pick as well.
What do you guys think?
I actually agree, and I’d try and see if we could flip Bradley to move in and grab Markkenen.
Some of you are delusional in here saying Fultz is not ready, like are ya serious? He’s a 6’4 guard who has every skill as a guard and some of you think he’ll start on the bench behind who? Rozier and Smart? GTFOH!
Behind Thomas and Bradley it’s not rocket science
Fultz aint gonna be on the bench dude, you dont draft number 1 and put him on the bench.
PLEASE Danny DO NOT re-sign Amir Johnson, he is awful
Ibaka is a better option than johnson if the price is right.
Ibaka will get $15-20 annually on probably a 3 year deal.
Million annually whoops
They need to get Fultz at #1. Trade back into the mid 1st round and get Bam Adebayo who can play a Tristan Thompson role but is bigger. And do everything possible to get Hayward. With a Thomas, Bradley, Heyward, Horford, Adebayo Starting 5 and a bench of Fultz, Brown, etc that’s pretty solid
Thats not getting you past the Cavs dude