The Celtics had two desperate needs going into this off-season: they needed to get smarter and younger. Appropriately their two 1st round picks got them Marcus Smart and James Young. Given that the best player on the current roster (Rajon Rondo) is a PG, not sure why they drafted these two dudes, but oh well, talent is talent. And in the internet-world this signals the impeding trade of Rondo. Maybe. Maybe not.
That said, I'm going to jump right in by suggesting a coupla trades to Danny Ainge. 1) Rondo, Gerald Wallace, Joel Anthony to the Knicks for Amare Stoudemire, Iman Shumpert; and 2) Jeff Green to the Lakers straight up for Steve Nash. The Celtics would give up their best player (Rondo), their most useless player (Anthony), their least desirable contract (Wallace), and their most erratic player (Green) for 1 year of Nash and Stoudemire and the inside track on re-signing Iman Shumpert. The Knicks get out from under their least desirable contract and they'd get a PG that could play with Melo; the Lakers salvage an interesting prospect out of the disastrous Nash era. The Celtics would have a spine of toughness (Bradley, Bogans, Olynyk, Bass), good ball handling (Nash, Smart) and good scoring (Stoudemire, Young, Shumpert, Sullinger) in an equal package of youth and veteran smarts. While I wouldn't take this version of the Celtics to win a championship, they will be fun to watch with plenty of room to grow and maximum flexibility heading into next summer. And they'd forego the unnecessary angst of deciding on Rondo and Green, two guys they clearly have reservations about. Ideally Nash helps the youngsters grow on the court and is a vital cornerstone to the evolution of Brad Stevens; at worst, you got an expiring contract and watched a hall of famer flame out. I know it sounds weird but these two deals make the Celtics more dangerous, more interesting and more flexible.
Well...it'll never happen. But its more fun to speculate on what the Celtics could do than watch what they will do. If they don't trade Rondo now then either they let him walk next year or sign him for more than they want to; if they don't trade Green now, they'll have to endure another year of his mercurial play while getting in the way of Smart, Young and Sullinger. The Wallace deal looks less imposing as time marches on (not good but not a team killer) but he provides so little that he needs to be shipped out. Solving these three problems allows the Celtics to open up and embrace the future. And while they're waiting for the future to happen, why not get one last look at the ol' Nash-Stoudemire express? The true hoop fans of Beantown will respect that even if they know its just a one-year sideshow.
Showing posts with label off-season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label off-season. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
NBA Draft Recap: Phoenix Suns
The Suns used their three 1st round picks on TJ Warren, Tyler Ennis and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Suns roster is already a list of trade bait and I'm guessing these guys are just to add to the list. Ennis in particular was a player a lot of teams were interested in and considering the Suns have Goran Dragic, are about to re-sign Eric Bledsoe, Archie Goodwin in waiting and Ish Smith on a favorable contract, I'm not sure what they need Ennis for; I think interest in him is too high to simply bring him off the bench. Warren, too, is a nice prospect but behind the PJ Tucker, Miles Plumlee and the Morris twins I don't see where Warren's playing time comes from. Bogdanovich, too, is a prospect others might want but in Phoenix he'll be stuck behind Gerald Green and the free-shooting of Bledsoe and Dragic. So let the Suns trade rumors swirl!
I'm guessing the Suns will definitely start next season with Eric Bledsoe. After that I'm not sure. Green and both Morris twins are set to expire next summer and Dragic has a player option, so I guess those guys are potentially trade-able; Alex Len never really got going last year, Miles Plumlee is perhaps at the peak of his value, the mercurial Gerald Green is a roll of the dice for anybody, add in Warren, Ennis and Bogdanovich and it seems certain the Suns will be busy this summer. The Morris twins are a conundrum: they play better together and a platoon of the two of them is intriguing but going forward they'd have to take low-level deals to stay together; if they're willing to do that, I reckon a number of teams would be interested in the tandem. The Pacers apparently want Dragic but unless they lure in a third team (Boston Celtics?), I don't see what they have to offer for him.
In short, beyond re-signing Bledsoe (the one untouchable on this roster), I have no idea what the Suns are going to do in the next few weeks. They've got enough cap space to think they could get a meeting with Lebron or Melo but I don't see either of those deals coming together; they were rumored to have interest in Pau Gasol last year, does that continue? Beyond those guys its hard to see who the Suns would want, they've got talent and depth at every position, what they need is a big time veteran to swagger around. Perhaps the upcoming summer league will give an indication of the Suns' plans: how Ennis, Warren, Goodwin, Bogdanovich and Len play could determine how much interest they get from the league...and their own team!
I'm guessing the Suns will definitely start next season with Eric Bledsoe. After that I'm not sure. Green and both Morris twins are set to expire next summer and Dragic has a player option, so I guess those guys are potentially trade-able; Alex Len never really got going last year, Miles Plumlee is perhaps at the peak of his value, the mercurial Gerald Green is a roll of the dice for anybody, add in Warren, Ennis and Bogdanovich and it seems certain the Suns will be busy this summer. The Morris twins are a conundrum: they play better together and a platoon of the two of them is intriguing but going forward they'd have to take low-level deals to stay together; if they're willing to do that, I reckon a number of teams would be interested in the tandem. The Pacers apparently want Dragic but unless they lure in a third team (Boston Celtics?), I don't see what they have to offer for him.
In short, beyond re-signing Bledsoe (the one untouchable on this roster), I have no idea what the Suns are going to do in the next few weeks. They've got enough cap space to think they could get a meeting with Lebron or Melo but I don't see either of those deals coming together; they were rumored to have interest in Pau Gasol last year, does that continue? Beyond those guys its hard to see who the Suns would want, they've got talent and depth at every position, what they need is a big time veteran to swagger around. Perhaps the upcoming summer league will give an indication of the Suns' plans: how Ennis, Warren, Goodwin, Bogdanovich and Len play could determine how much interest they get from the league...and their own team!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
NBA Transactions (rumored and otherwise)
Since the action has already begun, thought it would be a good idea to check in on the announced moves so far.
The NETS traded Coach Jason Kidd for two 2nd round draft picks (2015, 2019) and hired Lionel Hollins today. Just between you and me, I'm not even sure what it is an NBA coach actually does; football, baseball, even NCAA basketball are coach's games, lots of hands-on stuff. But the NBA? I dunno, fiery speeches, heart-to-heart talks, some x' and o's (the on-court and ego-love kind)? Yeah, that doesn't really seem like so much. And, well, I guess the Nets valued Jason Kidd's contribution to two 2nd round draft picks, so I guess they agree with me. But gotta love the fact that this whole brouhaha supposedly arose because Kidd was jealous of the big money deal for first time coaches Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher and the Nets just gave Kidd's replacement waaaaaaay more than they were paying him. Ha! I betcha dollar the Nets trade both those picks for 'cash considerations'.
WIZARDS re-signed Morcin Gortat to 5 yr/$60m. I like Gortat, he fit nicely with the Wizards last year, a team that didn't get going til the end of the year. I didn't think they'd be able to afford Gortat and Ariza, I thought Gortat the more irreplaceable of the two, so I think they did well for themselves here. Does Gortat have 5 years left in him? Maybe. But $12m per is a reasonable figure. (Word is maybe they can have Ariza too, so do you bring them both back to see if this lineup can grow together or do you mix it up just for the sheer sake of mixing?)
PACERS sign CJ Miles for 4yrs/$18m (or thereabouts). Miles is fine for them, a nice piece of the bench. Supposedly they've offered Lance Stephenson 5yrs/$44m, which is more than I thought they'd be willing to spend. But adding Miles suggests they've got more than I realized. They also added Damjan Rudez, a European prospect (no idea who he is, sorry). The problem with the Pacers is they're just not as good as the Heat and they have very little roster flexibility. So they've got to hope that whatever Miami does it creates some weird mismatch the Pacers can exploit. I'm not guessing that's gonna happen but unless the Pacers pull off a trade (I don't see it) then adding Miles off the bench is as much upgrading as the Pacers can achieve. Well, if the Bulls can't make a move at least the Pacers should be runner-up in the East again.
Rumor is the WARRIORS have signed Shaun Livingston to the mid-level exception, which I think would be around $5m per year; haven't seen the details yet so I don't know the length. Is this a move to replace some production lost if Klay Thompson gets shipped out? It certainly seems like more than an adequate improvement on Steve Blake coming off the bench, but Blake didn't actually play much so what will Livingston do? I like Livingston and I think he fits the vibe of Golden State but with Klay and Harrison Barnes still around what is Livingston's role? I think I've hinted enough at the answer: Klay and Barnes are getting traded. In that case I think Steph Curry and Livingston can play together, a pair of combo guards available for kick-outs. But none of that other stuff has happened....yet. With Love and without Thompson and Barnes, I think I really like the addition of Livingston and whatever the years are the price is affordable. (Maybe a series of option years built in? I don't think there's a limit on years for an MLE but the price is a strictly graduated affair with no room for bonuses)
CAVS signed Kyrie Irving to a 5-year extension because...well, I mean....what else were they gonna do? They're not gonna trade him, he wouldn't sign for less money, so there you have it. Good move, Irving is not perfect but he's a baller and he's played his options well. You gots to pay him because he's in his gots-to-get-paid year. (The truly talented ones understand how this stuff works)
The MAGIC sign Ben Gordon to 2 yrs/$9m after waiving Jameer Nelson and Doron Lamb. I can see shipping out Afflalo for Evan Fournier on draft night, I can see letting go of Nelson after drafting Elfrid Peyton, I thought Lamb was cheap enough to keep but they've got enough good youth to develop. But Gordon? Man, this guy was overrated in his prime--and that was years ago! I don't get this one at all. I just don't see what Gordon provides. The money's not huge, fine, he's affordable but I think even at that price point they could've done better then Gordon. I just don't see what he provides: he's not gonna start or play big minutes, he's a notorious crabby locker room guy, he's been MIA that last coupla years on the court. I don't get it.
RAPTORS traded John Salmons and a 2015 2nd round pick to the HAWKS for Lou Williams and the rights to Lucas Nogueira. A minimal deal, they just swapped an expiring contract and a so-so prospect, the upside is entirely within the organization. Maybe Salmons gives the Hawks a little more size, maybe Williams gives the Raptors a a reliable backup or maybe they see something in Nogueira that the Hawks thought could be replaced by the #50 pick in next summer's draft. I dunno. None of these guys mean enough to me at this point to see their impact though I suspect Williams gets more playing time than Salmons (and don't be surprised to see the Raptors trade Nogueira down the line).
PISTONS declined the option of Chauncey Billups. Yeah they did. Why they gave him a 2year deal in the first place was bonkers--and they actually tried to play him at the beginning of last year! Dios mio. I liked the Pistons bringing in Josh Smith but I thought trading Knight for Jennings was a mistake and I thought bringing back Billups as anything other than an assistant coach was just silly. Well, apparently Stan Van didn't even want Chauncey as an asst.
SPURS sign Patty Mills to (something like) 3yrs/$12m. Good for the Spurs. I thought the Spurs would bring back Boris Diaw but let Mills go, just figured he was up for a bigger raise than they'd be willing to pay and he'd be off. Now the buzz is they're after Pau but they still gotta bring back Diaw. They already stomped everyone, but pay off the little guys and add Pau Gasol? Throw in a potato and you got yourself a stew!
CELTICS bring back Avery Bradley for 4yrs/$32m. I gotta admit: I didn't watch the Celtics much this year--only so much Khris Humphries a man can take. So this deal surprises me. My gut feeling is that $8m per is too much for Bradley, especially since they just drafted Young and Smart. Do they really need four more years of Bradley if they have those prospects waiting? I'm guessing they'd love to trade Rondo but who wants him?
RAPTORS re-sign Kyle Lowry for 4yrs/$48m. The sinking feeling that all the free agent talk is just some bluster before nothing happens is even sharper now since I assumed Lowry was out of there. I thought Lowry was probably the biggest piece out there in the free agent world but if he's heading back to Toronto then most of the pieces on the chessboard are probably staying put.
Rumors du jour: Cavs to max Gordon Hayward (I think Jazz would match), Pau to OKC (not bad, but Pau to the Spurs would be even juicier), Cavs/Nets are talking of a Jarret Jack for Marcus Thornton swap (the Nets are just trying to look busy and the Cavs are off-loading salary), Twitter-verse is calling the amnesty of Carlos Boozer a 'done deal' (and the internet is ALWAYS right!), Clippers are courting Ed Davis (eh, not the star power move they're probably looking for but I dunno, I guess he fits for them), Wizards are after Sefelosha (Sef did not look good in the playoffs last year, not sure what the Wizards are seeing in him), Josh Howard on the Pelicans summer league roster (wow, forgot about that guy, isn't he too old for the summer league?).
The NETS traded Coach Jason Kidd for two 2nd round draft picks (2015, 2019) and hired Lionel Hollins today. Just between you and me, I'm not even sure what it is an NBA coach actually does; football, baseball, even NCAA basketball are coach's games, lots of hands-on stuff. But the NBA? I dunno, fiery speeches, heart-to-heart talks, some x' and o's (the on-court and ego-love kind)? Yeah, that doesn't really seem like so much. And, well, I guess the Nets valued Jason Kidd's contribution to two 2nd round draft picks, so I guess they agree with me. But gotta love the fact that this whole brouhaha supposedly arose because Kidd was jealous of the big money deal for first time coaches Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher and the Nets just gave Kidd's replacement waaaaaaay more than they were paying him. Ha! I betcha dollar the Nets trade both those picks for 'cash considerations'.
WIZARDS re-signed Morcin Gortat to 5 yr/$60m. I like Gortat, he fit nicely with the Wizards last year, a team that didn't get going til the end of the year. I didn't think they'd be able to afford Gortat and Ariza, I thought Gortat the more irreplaceable of the two, so I think they did well for themselves here. Does Gortat have 5 years left in him? Maybe. But $12m per is a reasonable figure. (Word is maybe they can have Ariza too, so do you bring them both back to see if this lineup can grow together or do you mix it up just for the sheer sake of mixing?)
PACERS sign CJ Miles for 4yrs/$18m (or thereabouts). Miles is fine for them, a nice piece of the bench. Supposedly they've offered Lance Stephenson 5yrs/$44m, which is more than I thought they'd be willing to spend. But adding Miles suggests they've got more than I realized. They also added Damjan Rudez, a European prospect (no idea who he is, sorry). The problem with the Pacers is they're just not as good as the Heat and they have very little roster flexibility. So they've got to hope that whatever Miami does it creates some weird mismatch the Pacers can exploit. I'm not guessing that's gonna happen but unless the Pacers pull off a trade (I don't see it) then adding Miles off the bench is as much upgrading as the Pacers can achieve. Well, if the Bulls can't make a move at least the Pacers should be runner-up in the East again.
Rumor is the WARRIORS have signed Shaun Livingston to the mid-level exception, which I think would be around $5m per year; haven't seen the details yet so I don't know the length. Is this a move to replace some production lost if Klay Thompson gets shipped out? It certainly seems like more than an adequate improvement on Steve Blake coming off the bench, but Blake didn't actually play much so what will Livingston do? I like Livingston and I think he fits the vibe of Golden State but with Klay and Harrison Barnes still around what is Livingston's role? I think I've hinted enough at the answer: Klay and Barnes are getting traded. In that case I think Steph Curry and Livingston can play together, a pair of combo guards available for kick-outs. But none of that other stuff has happened....yet. With Love and without Thompson and Barnes, I think I really like the addition of Livingston and whatever the years are the price is affordable. (Maybe a series of option years built in? I don't think there's a limit on years for an MLE but the price is a strictly graduated affair with no room for bonuses)
CAVS signed Kyrie Irving to a 5-year extension because...well, I mean....what else were they gonna do? They're not gonna trade him, he wouldn't sign for less money, so there you have it. Good move, Irving is not perfect but he's a baller and he's played his options well. You gots to pay him because he's in his gots-to-get-paid year. (The truly talented ones understand how this stuff works)
The MAGIC sign Ben Gordon to 2 yrs/$9m after waiving Jameer Nelson and Doron Lamb. I can see shipping out Afflalo for Evan Fournier on draft night, I can see letting go of Nelson after drafting Elfrid Peyton, I thought Lamb was cheap enough to keep but they've got enough good youth to develop. But Gordon? Man, this guy was overrated in his prime--and that was years ago! I don't get this one at all. I just don't see what Gordon provides. The money's not huge, fine, he's affordable but I think even at that price point they could've done better then Gordon. I just don't see what he provides: he's not gonna start or play big minutes, he's a notorious crabby locker room guy, he's been MIA that last coupla years on the court. I don't get it.
RAPTORS traded John Salmons and a 2015 2nd round pick to the HAWKS for Lou Williams and the rights to Lucas Nogueira. A minimal deal, they just swapped an expiring contract and a so-so prospect, the upside is entirely within the organization. Maybe Salmons gives the Hawks a little more size, maybe Williams gives the Raptors a a reliable backup or maybe they see something in Nogueira that the Hawks thought could be replaced by the #50 pick in next summer's draft. I dunno. None of these guys mean enough to me at this point to see their impact though I suspect Williams gets more playing time than Salmons (and don't be surprised to see the Raptors trade Nogueira down the line).
PISTONS declined the option of Chauncey Billups. Yeah they did. Why they gave him a 2year deal in the first place was bonkers--and they actually tried to play him at the beginning of last year! Dios mio. I liked the Pistons bringing in Josh Smith but I thought trading Knight for Jennings was a mistake and I thought bringing back Billups as anything other than an assistant coach was just silly. Well, apparently Stan Van didn't even want Chauncey as an asst.
SPURS sign Patty Mills to (something like) 3yrs/$12m. Good for the Spurs. I thought the Spurs would bring back Boris Diaw but let Mills go, just figured he was up for a bigger raise than they'd be willing to pay and he'd be off. Now the buzz is they're after Pau but they still gotta bring back Diaw. They already stomped everyone, but pay off the little guys and add Pau Gasol? Throw in a potato and you got yourself a stew!
CELTICS bring back Avery Bradley for 4yrs/$32m. I gotta admit: I didn't watch the Celtics much this year--only so much Khris Humphries a man can take. So this deal surprises me. My gut feeling is that $8m per is too much for Bradley, especially since they just drafted Young and Smart. Do they really need four more years of Bradley if they have those prospects waiting? I'm guessing they'd love to trade Rondo but who wants him?
RAPTORS re-sign Kyle Lowry for 4yrs/$48m. The sinking feeling that all the free agent talk is just some bluster before nothing happens is even sharper now since I assumed Lowry was out of there. I thought Lowry was probably the biggest piece out there in the free agent world but if he's heading back to Toronto then most of the pieces on the chessboard are probably staying put.
Rumors du jour: Cavs to max Gordon Hayward (I think Jazz would match), Pau to OKC (not bad, but Pau to the Spurs would be even juicier), Cavs/Nets are talking of a Jarret Jack for Marcus Thornton swap (the Nets are just trying to look busy and the Cavs are off-loading salary), Twitter-verse is calling the amnesty of Carlos Boozer a 'done deal' (and the internet is ALWAYS right!), Clippers are courting Ed Davis (eh, not the star power move they're probably looking for but I dunno, I guess he fits for them), Wizards are after Sefelosha (Sef did not look good in the playoffs last year, not sure what the Wizards are seeing in him), Josh Howard on the Pelicans summer league roster (wow, forgot about that guy, isn't he too old for the summer league?).
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