BOS-CHI: Caruso and Drummond to C's

[cl2117]

BOS: Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond and Torrey Craig

CHI: BOS '24 1st, BOS '26 1st, CHI '24 2nd, Payton Pritchard, Dalano Banton, Svi Mykhailiuk and Lamar Stevens

Why for Boston: Upgrade to Caruso from Pritchard.

Caruso gives them another high-end rotation piece that's a tier above Pritchard/Hauser and gives them a rock solid top 7 for the playoffs.

Drummond and Craig get taken into the Grant Williams TPE to balance off the roster after sending out 4 guys to match salary on Caruso. Drummond could potentially earn minutes ahead of Kornet while Craig is bench fodder.

Why for Chicago: Cash in on Caruso for draft capital.

Definitely not the high end in terms of value they'd like to have extracted from Caruso, but it's not terrible value with two very late firsts ('26 would be unprotected) and control back over their own 2nd in '24.

Pritchard isn't a high ceiling guy but his extension is reasonable and he's a solid NBA bench piece. Obviously doesn't fill the hole left by Caruso, but can back up Coby White and lead the 2nd unit. The rest of the guys are expiring filler (Banton a team option if they like what they see after kicking the tires).

[ScrantonBulls]

I think the Bulls could easily get more from the Knicks in a similar deal. Knicks have much better draft capital.

[cl2117]

I think the Bulls could easily get more from the Knicks in a similar deal. Knicks have much better draft capital.

Let's say the Knicks don't throw their hat into the ring for whatever reason though, would this be something you'd consider at the deadline?

I don't doubt for a minute that other teams could beat the offer, I think the larger question is if those teams decide not to enter the race, would this be enough for Chicago to still pull the trigger. If it's a standing offer from Stevens and it's coming down to the wire on deadline day, is it enough for AKME to trade AC rather than holding onto him.

[ChettheJet]

I like the picks. I don't like including Torrey Craig and here's why

you have the Bulls trading 1 guard and getting 3 in return, Lavine has been out and they haven't had enough playing time for their 2 way and bench guys now, they don't need MORE that are just contract filler
you are leaving them with NO backup center, no one over 6-9 on the team
you are leaving them with rookie Julian Phillips as their only healthy PF until Patrick Williams returns

but they'd have 8 guards on the roster not counting Lonzo Ball

No Go

[cl2117]

I like the picks. I don't like including Torrey Craig and here's why

you have the Bulls trading 1 guard and getting 3 in return, Lavine has been out and they haven't had enough playing time for their 2 way and bench guys now, they don't need MORE that are just contract filler
you are leaving them with NO backup center, no one over 6-9 on the team
you are leaving them with rookie Julian Phillips as their only healthy PF until Patrick Williams returns

but they'd have 8 guards on the roster not counting Lonzo Ball

No Go

Svi and Stevens are wings. Banton is effectively a ball-handling wing at 6'9. So it's really swapping Pritchard for Caruso in terms of guards and then 3 for 1 swap on wings.

Craig is by no means a dealbreaker, he's just there to balance the trade so it's not 4 for 2. Would take back any other player that fits into the remaining portion of the Grant Williams TPE instead.

The same is true for Drummond really (although I had part of the CHI 2nd effectively paying for him). But again just need bodies coming back for Boston and also to create roster space for Chicago to accept the number of players we need to send to aggregate up to Caruso's contract.

Basically have $6.2m to play with, so any players you can fit into that to balance the trade, I'd be fine with.

If you had a two-way to swap, C's could send Neemias Queta, who has been on track to get converted to a full deal if we don't make any other frontcourt moves. Could also send Kornet, but not ideally since I think they'd prefer him in spot minutes to Drummond (but again wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me).

[HartfordWhalers]

I feel like this is very solid in value.

[jayjaysee]

Yeah, I love this trade for Boston.

And I like the value for Chicago. An unprotected pick two years out is interesting. Tatum could walk next year (I don’t think there’s much of a chance he does, but he could..)

I don’t think Craig would be a hold up, but if he is you could probably find a team with a roster spot to do a 2 for one here..

[Texas Chuck]

I think its slightly light. But that's with me viewing Pritchard's long term deal as not a positive. If Chicago thinks he represents fair value on that deal then sure this seems fine. But its a good target and is close enough value wise to close.

Craig and Drummond mean nothing here in terms of value. If Boston wants them, Chicago should throw them in.

[brackdan70]

I think its slightly light. But that's with me viewing Pritchard's long term deal as not a positive. If Chicago thinks he represents fair value on that deal then sure this seems fine. But its a good target and is close enough value wise to close.

Craig and Drummond mean nothing here in terms of value. If Boston wants them, Chicago should throw them in.

Good point on Pritchard…it’s a pretty team friendly contract but he is a 3rd guard and doesn’t project to really ever be a starter. I view that as a far contract but his value in a trade probably varies from team to team considerably. He needs to be in the trade to make the money work but not sure what the value difference is. I wonder if swapping in Kornet for Svi would change anything…that way Chicago gets a playable big back (assuming Drummond is included). Could use a pick further out than 26 instead to add value if needed.

[brackdan70]

Other ways to add value if needed from the Celtics would be include Hauser instead of Banton, Kornet instead of Svi, or include Jordan Walsh.

I would assume the Cs would do what in takes within reason if they had a shot at Caruso.

[cl2117]

Other ways to add value if needed from the Celtics would be include Hauser instead of Banton, Kornet instead of Svi, or include Jordan Walsh.

I would assume the Cs would do what in takes within reason if they had a shot at Caruso.

Hauser is a bridge too far for me, but I'd swap in Kornet and/or Walsh if that got the deal closed.