Talk of Paul Pierce buyout???

[tkb]

I also think it makes little sense for the Celtics to trade for Gasol in any deal involving either Pierce or Garnett. If they do decide to blow it up and get rid of Pierce and Garnett, I don't think Gasol solves anything for them. They would look for young talent or draft picks IMO.

I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it.

[Slartibartfast]

I also think it makes little sense for the Celtics to trade for Gasol in any deal involving either Pierce or Garnett. If they do decide to blow it up and get rid of Pierce and Garnett, I don't think Gasol solves anything for them. They would look for young talent or draft picks IMO.

I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it.

Warning: C's fan perspective.

I think the C's would be quite interested in Gasol. Danny Ainge has always been exceptionally reluctant to go full bore into a youth movement. One of his first moves as a GM was to try and convince an ancient Karl Malone to join a depressingly mediocre Celtics team. The next year he traded with the Lakers for a 35-year-old Gary Payton. He traded for a 32-year-old, post-double-ankle surgery Ray Allen without any assurances he'd get KG.

Pau Gasol is a classic Ainge target - past his prime star, moderate injury concerns, but still theoretically capable of all-star level contributions for another few years with good health and the right role. Putting Gasol alongside Rondo would be similar to putting Ray Allen alongside Pierce and hoping to land a 3rd cog with remaining trade assets in the near future.

The question is what kind of deal would make sense for both parties. Pierce + KG for Pau + Artest works financially, but it doesn't save either team any money and if the C's are going to lose the trade from an immediate contributor standpoint, they're going to want to win it financially.

Of course if the Celtics end up just buying out Pierce for $5 mil the Lakers can try to get him for "free" with the MMLE, rendering this all moot. But I have a hard time seeing the Celtics doing that. Yes, they are probably eager to get out of the tax with the new punitive rates kicking in this year, but Pierce is coming off a 19-6-5 season with pretty good efficiency. He's also healthy - played over 90% of the last 3 seasons. He hasn't seen his production tank like a Rashard Lewis or Stephen Jackson - it's very rare to see players of his caliber waived.

[DEEP3CL]

For the 1,000th time.......it's common sense, why would the Lakers TRADE for Pierce when it's becoming well established he's going to bought out ?

Again why would they trade for him ?

[EArl]

I also think it makes little sense for the Celtics to trade for Gasol in any deal involving either Pierce or Garnett. If they do decide to blow it up and get rid of Pierce and Garnett, I don't think Gasol solves anything for them. They would look for young talent or draft picks IMO.

I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it.

Warning: C's fan perspective.

I think the C's would be quite interested in Gasol. Danny Ainge has always been exceptionally reluctant to go full bore into a youth movement. One of his first moves as a GM was to try and convince an ancient Karl Malone to join a depressingly mediocre Celtics team. The next year he traded with the Lakers for a 35-year-old Gary Payton. He traded for a 32-year-old, post-double-ankle surgery Ray Allen without any assurances he'd get KG.

Pau Gasol is a classic Ainge target - past his prime star, moderate injury concerns, but still theoretically capable of all-star level contributions for another few years with good health and the right role. Putting Gasol alongside Rondo would be similar to putting Ray Allen alongside Pierce and hoping to land a 3rd cog with remaining trade assets in the near future.

The question is what kind of deal would make sense for both parties. Pierce + KG for Pau + Artest works financially, but it doesn't save either team any money and if the C's are going to lose the trade from an immediate contributor standpoint, they're going to want to win it financially.

Of course if the Celtics end up just buying out Pierce for $5 mil the Lakers can try to get him for "free" with the MMLE, rendering this all moot. But I have a hard time seeing the Celtics doing that. Yes, they are probably eager to get out of the tax with the new punitive rates kicking in this year, but Pierce is coming off a 19-6-5 season with pretty good efficiency. He's also healthy - played over 90% of the last 3 seasons. He hasn't seen his production tank like a Rashard Lewis or Stephen Jackson - it's very rare to see players of his caliber waived.

needing a C's fans perspective.
Are the Celtics willing to build around Rondo or Bradley if they have to choose one?

[Slartibartfast]

I also think it makes little sense for the Celtics to trade for Gasol in any deal involving either Pierce or Garnett. If they do decide to blow it up and get rid of Pierce and Garnett, I don't think Gasol solves anything for them. They would look for young talent or draft picks IMO.

I could be wrong, but that's the way I see it.

Warning: C's fan perspective.

I think the C's would be quite interested in Gasol. Danny Ainge has always been exceptionally reluctant to go full bore into a youth movement. One of his first moves as a GM was to try and convince an ancient Karl Malone to join a depressingly mediocre Celtics team. The next year he traded with the Lakers for a 35-year-old Gary Payton. He traded for a 32-year-old, post-double-ankle surgery Ray Allen without any assurances he'd get KG.

Pau Gasol is a classic Ainge target - past his prime star, moderate injury concerns, but still theoretically capable of all-star level contributions for another few years with good health and the right role. Putting Gasol alongside Rondo would be similar to putting Ray Allen alongside Pierce and hoping to land a 3rd cog with remaining trade assets in the near future.

The question is what kind of deal would make sense for both parties. Pierce + KG for Pau + Artest works financially, but it doesn't save either team any money and if the C's are going to lose the trade from an immediate contributor standpoint, they're going to want to win it financially.

Of course if the Celtics end up just buying out Pierce for $5 mil the Lakers can try to get him for "free" with the MMLE, rendering this all moot. But I have a hard time seeing the Celtics doing that. Yes, they are probably eager to get out of the tax with the new punitive rates kicking in this year, but Pierce is coming off a 19-6-5 season with pretty good efficiency. He's also healthy - played over 90% of the last 3 seasons. He hasn't seen his production tank like a Rashard Lewis or Stephen Jackson - it's very rare to see players of his caliber waived.

needing a C's fans perspective.
Are the Celtics willing to build around Rondo or Bradley if they have to choose one?

Building around Bradley's like building around Tony Allen or Derrick Fisher- nobody would ever do it. He's a fantastic on-ball defender with severe offensive limitations (a solid spot-up shooter and great cutter, but a weak ball-handler with absolutely no slashing game and no ability to create for himself or others). He's valuable to the Celtics as a TA-type and because he probably train-wrecked his trade value with the offensive disaster he submitted this season so I doubt he'd be traded, but he's not a build around guy. Not even close.

[Slava]

Yeah that makes sense. The Celtics won't just go full rebuild mode and try to tank for a pick even though if you were to tank a season, the coming one seems the best bet. Gasol/Bass/Green/Lee/Rondo with a bench of Bradley/Terry can make the playoffs in the East pretty comfortably and if a chance comes to pass for making a trade, Gasol's 19 mil expiring comes in very handy.

[EArl]

So Star I propose a Gasol for KG/Bradley combo.

[Dr Aki]

For the 1,000th time.......it's common sense, why would the Lakers TRADE for Pierce when it's becoming well established he's going to bought out ?

Again why would they trade for him ?

i think it seems as if this is the play.

the celtics don't owe a great deal to PP due to his partial guaranteed final year, and would save arguably more money than trading an equivalent player for him from the lakers.

unless they really want hill or blake, there's no real need to trade PP along with KG unless the Cs were asking for howard

the only person who'd want a trade is PP, who would end up being guaranteed his entire 2013/14 salary

[Slartibartfast]

So Star I propose a Gasol for KG/Bradley combo.

I don't think the C's would throw in Bradley in any Pau deal. Just because they wouldn't build around him doesn't mean they view him as a throw-in. Especially a deal that will add $5-$6 mil to their payroll and another $10 mil or so in luxury tax bills.

A Pau for KG deal would require the Lakers to take back Bass or Lee or Terry to balance the financial side of the deal, and from what I understand from y'all, the Lakers don't want any salaries going beyond next year.

[Dr Aki]

So Star I propose a Gasol for KG/Bradley combo.

I don't think the C's would throw in Bradley in any Pau deal. Just because they wouldn't build around him doesn't mean they view him as a throw-in. Especially a deal that will add $5-$6 mil to their payroll and another $10 mil or so in luxury tax bills.

A Pau for KG deal would require the Lakers to take back Bass or Lee or Terry to balance the financial side of the deal, and from what I understand from y'all, the Lakers don't want any salaries going beyond next year.

yep, that would mean taking back bass or lee or terry would be off the table

that or we'd need a third team to facilitate willing to trade an expiring for a two year contract

[DEEP3CL]

Looks like what I said 12 days ago is getting closer to reality based on this report.....

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-o ... free-agent

[Kilroy]

I think PP would be more likely to go to the Clips than the Lakers at this point especially with what we have to offer... Unless we could sweeten the pot.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not sure we even want PP and if there are better options in trade (Since we really only have the Vet Min and MMLE to offer otherwise) we should do that instead:

But if we really want PP and KG, what about Pau/Hill/Duhon for PP/KG? This get's PP at his current salary which won't run into the 2014 plan, which should make us happy and keeps Boston from having to buy him out which should make them more interested in dealing with us.
KG would run into the 2014 plan at close to 12M but Hill's cap hold would be around 6M anyway so it's closer to the equivalent of a MLE player.
Duhon's next season isn't guaranteed so Boston could just waive him.
Hill would hurt to give up but we'd probably have a hard time keeping him in 2014 anyway and he'd be a good hustle bench big for Boston.

Just a mental exercise for me... I'm completely ambivalent about acquiring PP and KG... I'm hoping we can get some youth for Pau or just keep him... But if there are no better options out there...

[DEEP3CL]

I'm good with getting Paul, seeing as the Celtics are basically going to throw him on the street he may be willing to take vet min just to spite Boston. Also there is no need to trade for KG, with Paul on the outs KG would most likely ask for his release or buyout also.

Them taking buyouts is much better for any teams looking to add them, trading makes no sense at all if you're watching your cap figures.

Skip the age thing, as we all see with the playoffs it still slows down to a methodical game which suits vets better. Going out the way Paul and KG ( maybe ) are, they're coming back with something to prove.

Bottom line I'd check it out if I'm Mitch.

[The Skyhook]

Wow I didn't realize how old Pierce already was. Even at his age I think I'd still rather have him over MWP. Given that he can stay healthy he would be a solid second option to Kobe on the perimeter.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

pass on pierce and his arm spasms

[lakersin4]

If Pierce gets bought out, no question he should be our #1 FA target. Not only for what he brings, but for the leverage it gets us in a potential KG deal. If KG is saying "trade me to play with PP or I'll just retire", what are they going to say? We have to demand Bradley in any KG/Pau swap. His youth & defense is needed to balance out our already old roster (along with dumping MWP). I think something like Pau, Duhon, Hill for KG, Bradley, Bass, Lee works for both teams. Pau for KG swap with us taking on Bass & Lee's contracts to make it work, & Boston trading their Guard with potential for a big with potential in Hill. Hopefully since Pierce is already getting paid, he'd take the minimum & allow us to offer Corey Brewer the mini mle.

Nash/Blake
24/Bradley
Pierce/Brewer
KG/Clark
D12/Bass

We'd probably see Bradley getting minutes at PG & KG getting the backup minutes at C. I know that's a LOT of old guys & we'd be gambling big on health, but if it worked out we'd be impossible to beat. Bradley/Brewer/Clark/Bass is a good core of young roleplayers to limit the old guys minutes/step in for them when we suffer injuries.

[makaveli_99]

Wow I didn't realize how old Pierce already was. Even at his age I think I'd still rather have him over MWP. Given that he can stay healthy he would be a solid second option to Kobe on the perimeter.

i'd get on my knees and thank god if we can have PP instead of Metta.