Although the Celtics are reportedly still hoping to pull off a trade for Paul George after the new league year begins, Boston considers the Pacers‘ current demand for George unrealistic, per Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald (Twitter links). Murphy notes that the C’s are currently waiting to hear back from Indiana president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard.
According to Murphy, the Pacers’ most recent demand in talks with the Celtics included the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick and the Lakers’ protected 2018 pick, plus at least one starting player. As we noted earlier today, Boston is willing to put multiple picks and players in an offer for George, but wants to retain its most valuable draft assets, such as those two aforementioned picks.
Let’s round up a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA…
- Jabari Parker‘s latest ACL injury has complicated the Bucks‘ ability to potentially improve their roster this offseason, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, who says that Milwaukee had been considering including Parker in trades at the deadline in February. “His name definitely came up, and it was obvious they’d have a steep price, but they were willing to talk about him,” one league executive tells Deveney.
- The Cavaliers have been eyeing Patrick Beverley for “quite some time,” but a source familiar with the team’s thinking tells Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com that the veteran point guard probably isn’t going anywhere now that he’s a member of the Clippers. According to McMenamin, L.A. likes Beverley and might not be willing to deal him after landing him in Wednesday’s Chris Paul blockbuster, even if Cleveland could offer a solid package.
- One challenge the Timberwolves‘ front office faces if it wants to move Ricky Rubio comes in the form of owner Glen Taylor, per Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Wolfson tweets that every Wolves trade goes through Taylor, who “loves” Rubio.
- Executives around the NBA have questions about the way the Paul deal between the Rockets and Clippers went down, though an Eastern Conference exec says that no one’s going to “rat anybody out” when it comes to tampering. Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times has the details and the quotes.
Do not trade either the Brooklyn or lakers pick. They are in a position of weakness. Offer them several first round picks they can package to move up. Clippers Memphis future celtics first round picks and whatever role players they want. I would not offer both brown and Tatum but one should put our package over the top. All this contingent on the extension of course, but no team should be able to match our offer. If we want to really compete with the west, the celtics needs both George and another star. Ainge is cheap but he has made all the right decisions thus far. George is transcendent though so it’s time to put your assets to work.
I would move at most the Lakers pick, the Memphis pick, Crowder, Smart, a couple 2nds, and matching salary for George. A high lottery pick, a couple of good cheap rotation players, another first and a couple 2nds is a good deal for everyone.
I would not move Smart in that very good package; replace with Demetrius Jackson or possibly Rozier. Excellent package for George but contingent on him first signing a 3 year contract.
They can’t afford to resign Smart anyways, and he’s the least valuable out of him, Bradley, and Thomas, and he has a larger salary than Rozier or Jackson making matching easier. It just makes sense since they would have to move him this year to get any value at some point anyways. I love him, but I’d rather have Bradley and Thomas.
the only untouchable asset IMO is the Nets #1 next yr….not that Ainge will do anything game changing with it…but still.
No ‘asset’ is untouchable. Gretzky got traded.
Stand pat Danny! Do not give up those picks!
Let George stay in IN. See how happy he is next season. If he goes to the Lakers, so be it. Transcendent: incomparable, matchless, peerless, unrivaled, inimitable, beyond compare/comparison, unparalleled, unequaled, without equal, second to none, unsurpassed, unsurpassable, nonpareil. PG is a terrific player. I don’t think that he really meets the criteria for “transcendent”.
He’s one of the best players in the world. He’s somebody every team should be trying to acquire.
He’s really not. And he only has 1 year left in his contract. I wouldn’t pay that price for him either.
There are rumors about a 3 year deal with him being in place in the event a deal goes through.
I keep reading about a so called 3 year extension. Did the Celtics talk to him about this, which would be tampering, or is this something they believe they can get done?
Nah it wouldn’t be tampering because the Pacers could ask him themselves if he’d do it.
That changes everything. If he gives a firm commitment then the price is worth it.
What makes you say he isn’t one of the best players in the world? He’s efficient, defends well, has length. He’s a fit on every NBA Roster.
“Let George stay in IN. See how happy he is next season. ”
You make it sound as if George has any control on what the Pacers deem to be acceptable to trade him. He doesn’t control the situation.
I agree. If getting him made them the favorites over Golden State, sure, give up everything. But it doesn’t. It may give them the east, (possibly) but there is no point giving away the future for a likely 2nd place finish. Potentially having 2 top 5 picks next season is too good to give away and could set up the Celtics for domination for years
It’s entirely likely Paul George is a significantly better player than either top 5 pick the Celtics could choose.
Yeah but Michael Porter Jr appears to be a can’t miss guy at this point in time. That might be worth it.
Skal Labissiere looked like a can’t miss player before he got to UK. Tons of players look like generational talents. Few are. Paul George is arguably one of them.
That’s true. I am still for trading one of the picks but owning both seems like they could have the best of both worlds considering the other assets they can send out.
Today, yes, but not 3 years from now.
If the plan is re-signing Thomas and bringing in Hayward and George then just let Jaylen and Jayson head elsewhere because they don’t deserve to come off the bench next season.
Tatum is a rookie and you want him to start in place of which current starter?
Crowder, he’s better and more versatile offensively.
Tatum is not going to start as a rookie. Brown could start with Crowder coming off the bench.
You “think” he’s better but he hasn’t proven anything yet. Fans are so in love with prospects.
let PG-13 stay we’re here is and still put sum players around him he can compete with instead of ah bunch of rookies and c if stays by the end of the season… if not… so wat… it’s ah 1,000 players in the NBA… he’s just one… give him way he’s been asking 4 the last 2 years… he wants to compete
Someone complaining about the Paul trade? That smells like Mark Cuban.
I hope pacers make them pay a ton! The Celtics got KG cheap and for the moon back when the nets were dumb. All these assets happened because they would only move KG and PP for big move. Make them pay the same if they want the star.
You can’t have it both way… not move players unless big return then expect a star to be given away.
Make Celtics move the nets pick and another first and smart or crowder. If they won’t keep shipping him for that from other teams. Pacers need to move him but they hold the star everyone wants so don’t panic
They almost got more for KG than they paid for him lol
The Celtics got KG Cheap?! They had to give up like 8 players and a pick or 2. How the hell is that cheap?!!!!!! Whatever you’re smoking, pass that crap over, it must be AMAZING!!!!!
I just don’t get what the pacers are doing. They aren’t going to get fair value you for him especially because of the position he has put them in by telling everybody he is leaving. Waiting to see if the offers get better is dumb because the offers aren’t going to get better. Take the picks and players Boston is giving you, or work something out with the cavs and a 3rd team to get something in return. George’s stock isn’t going to get better by waiting so get the distraction over with and move on from him.
Pacers still have time but they must be careful that interested teams don’t acquire other players that satisfy their needs and ties up cap space they were holding for George. There can be some cookey trades this summer.