Jimmy Butler or Paul George?

[soxfan2003]

Probably too early to make this thread but I figured to make it while Paul George's playoff performances where still in people's minds and the Celtics were in the midst of this playoff series with Chicago/Butler....Maybe a different thread for Hayward or Blake or some other players later but I am wondering if Ainge trades the exact type of assets which player do fans prefer?

The only assumptions are IT/(Smart and/or Bradley) and Horford kept for at least next year. Among these two players, who do you want on the team if the obstacles to a championship are expected to be Cleveland and Golden State.

Basically my question is given the Celtics expected personnel and the expected opposition, who do you want among those players. If you are willing to have Ainge give up significantly more for one player than the other, say so.

For the right price, I wouldn't be surprised if both are available if Chicago loses in round 1.

I mean it really boils down to who would play better defense with the Celtics personnel against Cavs/GS and who helps out Celtics offense more to defeat those two teams.

Contracts and stuff like injury history and age and how well a player might age might matter as well. I see some of those factors favoring George and other factors favoring Butler. History of how well a player does in the playoffs counts for something in my opinion as well.

[truth18]

I like Jimmy more (voted for him) but George is probably the player to go after as he's younger. Jimmy will be 28 next season.

[AlCelticFan]

How's George's defense?

PG seems better on offense, but I don't know him well enough to sy, but suspect he's not as good defensively.

[zronv7]

Paul George seems too soft and has bad chemistry /ego issues, would take Butler

[Captain_Caveman]

Jimmy is cheaper, more attainable, will cost us less to trade for, is more likely to resign here and more efficient.

George better, but not by much, and a huge flight risk in free agency during 2018.

[Darth Celtic]

Butler relies on free throws which he won't get as many here.

[Maple Green]

Butler by miles

[reload141]

George. He can stroke the 3 ball and really shows up for the playoffs.

With GarPax in charge I think they will ask for the whole Celtics roster and all picks for Butler... then again you have to deal with Larry on the other side... surely if they offer him an extension this offseason and he refuses they will trade him.

[Afam]

Paul George although my number one preference would be Kevin Durant. If not him then Paul George.

[Darth Celtic]

Paul George although my number one preference would be Kevin Durant. If not him then Paul George.

Sign KD. Trade Crowder, nets 18, clippers 19, celtics 18 for PG13. Draft Fultz.

IT/Fultz
Bradley/Smart
PG13/J. Brown
KD/Yabu
Horford/Zizic

[Kalela]

Paul George easily for me. Butler disappears for long periods in the game. George is a lot more consistent and shoots better from the 3.

[ivnabru]

How's George's defense?

PG seems better on offense, but I don't know him well enough to sy, but suspect he's not as good defensively.

Before his injury a lot of people said George was the best defender in the league. He was kind of Leonard/Green before they were. And advanced metrics backed that up. Since the injury he has fallen a lot and is very comparable to Butler defensively (again by advanced ratings). That might be partly due to his team though. If you put him on a team which is defensively focused and doesn't force him to carry the load on offense he might go back to the guy he was. That's not the Celtics of course, so I think here he'd be similar to Butler defensively. But put him on the Bucks or Raptors and he might shoot back up to top defender in the league discussion.

[DarkAzcura]

Every time I watch Butler, I see a player that looks difficult to work into a true winning system. His coach doesn't seem great, though, so eh. George has always been impressive to me. He can ISO when you need him too, but mostly stays off the ball and does it really well. Easier to work with, but his cost may be too high...though the Bulls are notorious for not asking for fair value so I dunno.

Butler's competitive drive is more appealing to me, though. George seems lackadaisical at times.

[threrf23]

I'd go George.

I have some question marks regarding his attitude and what not. But in that sense I feel he is similar to a 26 y/o Paul Pierce. For the most part, he's a good dude, a clutch dude, and a stud, a little bit more maturity and...

Butler is more of a sure thing from a "winning" standpoint, but he is slightly older, is not a sure thing knee-wise, and he just isn't of the same caliber in terms of talent.

[165bows]

Jimmy is cheaper, more attainable, will cost us less to trade for, is more likely to resign here and more efficient.

George better, but not by much, and a huge flight risk in free agency during 2018.

Interesting. I like Jimmy a lot but would still say George in a vacuum as he's younger, bigger and generally a better long range shooter.

But the trade costs, salary and FA status are all huge here. Trading for George and seeing him walk would be a nightmare, team-building wise.

[TheMartian]

PG13 without a doubt. I wouldn't worry about him leaving for LA once the C's show him what it's like winning in Boston.

[sully00]

Butler is the better player George is the better talent. Unless the price comes way down I am neither. Jae Crowder can go out there and get punked by Lebron too.

[SuperDeluxe]

Both very poor leaders in my opinion. Great players, though.

[shackles10]

Both are great players, and as you mentioned each has benefits over the other. I would value them in terms of how they address issues on this team. Most are weaknesses of the current roster (secondary scorer, rebounding, defensive improvement), but some like their fit with future pieces/blending in with other players to redice redundancy are more about fit. I'd rate George a little more ideal for us. The biggest factors though are things we can't evaluate, i.e. assets given up, who's left on the roster, and if Brad keeps a similar offense or changes it to fit new pieces.

That's a lot of typing for me to basically say I'll default to Ainge. If he takes Butler I'll assume Indy wanted more and Brad won't make him take too many 3's and Jaylen can play the other 2/3 position if we keep him. If we take George I say Bulls wanted too much, he's a better 3 point shooter and our small ball end of game lineups won't be exposed as bad now on the glass.

[rochrist]

Fultz!