The (Quintessential) Trade Thread, 2017 (Part 5.0)

[Captain_Caveman]

OK, but watch the Warriors play sometime.

IT not a top 3 player on that team. They have 4 of the 5 best players on either roster, and our centers are the only players who would start for them.

Not that I ever thought this was a relevant discussion point but IT is playing better right now than Klay and Draymond ever have. I think even you would begrudgingly agree to that eventually since I know you think those two are a bit overrated. =p

Man Durant just messed everything up.

That's why I'm on the same page as you with holding onto those picks. Please keep the picks barring a miracle where we can get both George and Butler without losing IT and Horford.

To clarify, I am saying Curry, KD, Dray > IT but not Klay. Klay still better than any other Celtic besides IT. Only Horford and maybe Olynyk or Amir would start at the 5 for them. None of our players are even close to starting for them at guard or forward.

You can debate Dray > IT, but he is a complete player who is better at playmaking, rebounding and defending. Either way, just illustrating how much more talented they are. Not saying we couldn't give them a run with a big trade or two, but others are framing this as a matter of a Butler team putting us on a "title run", and that's kinda/probably/definitely not true.

IMO, we most likely have a better shot at a future championship if we just stay patient than we do by going all-in trying to beat a historically elite team with multiple MVPs, three of the best shooters ever and a leading DPOY candidate, plus a top 6th man and an elite coach.

[Celtics_Champs]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

twitter going bonkers over this but he's done this before. Tease. no?

[Bar Fight]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

I **** hope not.

[Crossy2008]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

I **** hope not.

Last time Isaiah did this we signed Horford.

[Smog]

Thomas is 28 and is absolutely in his prime. Horford is a bit past it and not getting any younger. These players were key acquisitions and are here, right now, playing at a high level. The problem in waiting is if you wait too long, these two will no longer be a factor, and then if your picks end up being all star level or in IT's case, and MVP contending level, who is going to compliment them?? You'd be right back where you started with IT and Horford, trying to get more people to pair with them to contend.

We have an incredible starting point right now to build a superb team, with IT the MVP candidate, and Horford the all star level big. You have to use the picks to get the pieces to combine with them to form a championship team. You need 3-4 great pieces to get a ring these days, and we don't even have 3. So even if both the BKN 17 and the BKN 18 turn into two key pieces toward a championship run, you then are no longer having the IT and Horford pieces, and the cycle starts over again. We are assuredly in possession of key pieces right now. You need to then turn your "possibilities" (aka the draft picks) into sure things to pair with them. That's the other thing, there is a chance that one or both picks don't turn out, then you've waiting things out, lost IT as he's past his prime, and Horford retires, and then you don't even have 1 of these 3-4 pieces that can get you a title. You're then in an even worse a position than you are now.

We have partial pieces now and turning the picks into the other pieces is a GUARANTEE that you would then end up with the 4 pieces you need to win it all. Whether you can then take those pieces and turn them into a ring is still up in the air and up to the players and coaches to get it done, but you then know exactly what your pieces are, and what they can do to your winning chances. You have no idea what the picks will ever do for your championship chances.

The bottom line is, if you trade the picks for key players/pieces to help aid a title run, you 100% have obtained the pieces needed for that. If you hold onto them and don't cash them in, you will have to try and pick the best potential, hope they develop, and even then it is a very low percentage that these will turn out to be the absolute pieces we need. We have all pieces now between who is on our roster and who the picks could turn into. We need to use them now. These pieces may never assemble like this again if you play the waiting and hoping game. THIS is why you trade the BKN picks.

OK, but watch the Warriors play sometime.

IT not a top 3 player on that team. They have 4 of the 5 best players on either roster, and our centers are the only players who would start for them.

I think this is what people need to come back to, myself included my visions of acquiring both George and Butler.

Golden State is an all-time team. Two top 25 players of all time. 3 top 10 shooters of all time. The most versatile defender on the game who can also playmake and shoot the 3. 4 of the top 20 players in the game. Best bet is to wait out the next three years while building for the future. Lucky for us, we will have 3 top 5 picks who we can groom in a winning environment. Smart, too, who is developing immensely by the game.

We need to stay the course. It sucks to admit we're not winning in the next three years. But if we make a panic trade we won't win in the next decade. It's a mistake we can't afford to make.

Agree with this. The reality of the Warriors (and Cavs, to a lesser degree) means the Cs only chance is to fully maximize all their assets. That means they can't be turning Jaylen Brown and a top-4 pick into one 28 year-old who might not even start on Golden State. They need Brown and that pick to pan out, along with next year's pick, and Smart, and Zizic, and a FA this summer, and so on.

The only move that makes sense is to consolidate redundant assets or package a player theyre going to lose anyway, like Bradley, along with a pick. Otherwise, just keep adding and coaching people up. It'd be a huge mistake to make a panic move just because Thomas is improved. That's a reason to put more faith in internal development, not less.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

twitter going bonkers over this but he's done this before. Tease. no?

IMO, I think he's just reacting to the report that suggested he was partially responsible for the Cs not trading for Cousins.

[Celts17Pride]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

twitter going bonkers over this but he's done this before. Tease. no?

IMO, I think he's just reacting to the report that suggested he was partially responsible for the Cs not trading for Cousins.

Again as someone mentioned IT did this just before Twitter announced the Horford signing. Just saying

[Bar Fight]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

I **** hope not.

Last time Isaiah did this we signed Horford.

So last time he did this we signed a role player to 30 million a year for 4 years, and this time we're about to give away our future to lose in 7 to Lebron for the next 3 years? In that case I'm hoping for as little social media activity from IT as possible going forward.

[bucknersrevenge]

SIAP, but latest Bulpett. Claims IT did not recommend Boogie, among other things.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2017/02/bulpett_as_nba_trade_market_settles_celtics_still_seeking_major_talent

Pretty much what I thought. Cousins wearing Celtic green was completely dependent on IT's opinion, IMO. Been saying that for a year..anyway, yeah, if IT had good things to say about him, Cousins would have been worth the moon with that skill set, but he's not here. I'm officially on the Cousins is just straight up bad news bandwagon.

Will be interesting to see how NOP plays out, though. Even if he is crazy, that's the most talented front court the NBA has seen in almost two decades.

Thomas is 28 and is absolutely in his prime. Horford is a bit past it and not getting any younger. These players were key acquisitions and are here, right now, playing at a high level. The problem in waiting is if you wait too long, these two will no longer be a factor, and then if your picks end up being all star level or in IT's case, and MVP contending level, who is going to compliment them?? You'd be right back where you started with IT and Horford, trying to get more people to pair with them to contend.

We have an incredible starting point right now to build a superb team, with IT the MVP candidate, and Horford the all star level big. You have to use the picks to get the pieces to combine with them to form a championship team. You need 3-4 great pieces to get a ring these days, and we don't even have 3. So even if both the BKN 17 and the BKN 18 turn into two key pieces toward a championship run, you then are no longer having the IT and Horford pieces, and the cycle starts over again. We are assuredly in possession of key pieces right now. You need to then turn your "possibilities" (aka the draft picks) into sure things to pair with them. That's the other thing, there is a chance that one or both picks don't turn out, then you've waiting things out, lost IT as he's past his prime, and Horford retires, and then you don't even have 1 of these 3-4 pieces that can get you a title. You're then in an even worse a position than you are now.

We have partial pieces now and turning the picks into the other pieces is a GUARANTEE that you would then end up with the 4 pieces you need to win it all. Whether you can then take those pieces and turn them into a ring is still up in the air and up to the players and coaches to get it done, but you then know exactly what your pieces are, and what they can do to your winning chances. You have no idea what the picks will ever do for your championship chances.

The bottom line is, if you trade the picks for key players/pieces to help aid a title run, you 100% have obtained the pieces needed for that. If you hold onto them and don't cash them in, you will have to try and pick the best potential, hope they develop, and even then it is a very low percentage that these will turn out to be the absolute pieces we need. We have all pieces now between who is on our roster and who the picks could turn into. We need to use them now. These pieces may never assemble like this again if you play the waiting and hoping game. THIS is why you trade the BKN picks.

OK, but watch the Warriors play sometime.

IT not a top 3 player on that team. They have 4 of the 5 best players on either roster, and our centers are the only players who would start for them.

Not that I ever thought this was a relevant discussion point but IT is playing better right now than Klay and Draymond ever have. I think even you would begrudgingly agree to that eventually since I know you think those two are a bit overrated. =p

Man Durant just messed everything up.

That's why I'm on the same page as you with holding onto those picks. Please keep the picks barring a miracle where we can get both George and Butler without losing IT and Horford.

Not that I would ever put words in Caveman's mouth but I suspect he will STILL disagree with you DA. As amazing as IT's 4th quarter and overall scoring exploits have been, he is nothing short of abysmal at the other end. And that's not his fault that he's 5'9. He doesn't quit for the most part. But he sticks like Velcro to picks and players shoot over him like he's not there. That's just how it is. Klay is the 2nd best shooter in the game right now and he plays solid defense. Without a doubt, the best at his position currently overall. Draymond, is ALL-World defensively. He's a bigger Marcus Smart with a better shot. Without a doubt, on another team he would be averaging 20 ppg to go with this defense instead, he's just the glue guy. I honestly thought/hoped that GSW would suffer on defense without Bogut back there. Instead, their defense is even better than it was last year and some of that is Durant but it's mostly him.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

twitter going bonkers over this but he's done this before. Tease. no?

IMO, I think he's just reacting to the report that suggested he was partially responsible for the Cs not trading for Cousins.

Again as someone mentioned IT did this just before Twitter announced the Horford signing. Just saying

I guess we'll find out in the next 24 hours.

[Crossy2008]

Anyone got a really good player that the Celtics could add who nobody has considered.

[bbd24]

I **** hope not.

Last time Isaiah did this we signed Horford.

So last time he did this we signed a role player to 30 million a year for 4 years, and this time we're about to give away our future to lose in 7 to Lebron for the next 3 years? In that case I'm hoping for as little social media activity from IT as possible going forward.

I think you're lost. You accidentally clicked the Celtics forum. The Knicks forum is a couple clicks below.

[VeryMuchWoke]

Apparently, there was never an offer. No trade talks.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2017/02/20/celtics-were-never-interested-demarcus-cousins/7Cgggokz7CPKgfjN2CakWM/story.html

Depends on which source you choose to believe. Bontemps I don't think is plugged into the organization more than Himmelsbach.

Bontemps said that meaning the Celtics weren't interested even in trading a low level prospect for Cousins. They're functionally saying the same thing.

I have to listen to the pod again but the way he said it, it seemed that talks occurred and that Rozier was involved. Another Lakers reporter said we tried to swoop in late.

I think we pulled Rozier from a potential Okafor deal, and Bontemps confused the two because 1) he's a moron and 2) the Pels offered the same package for Cousins as they did for Okafor.

[ajones9219]

I **** hope not.

Last time Isaiah did this we signed Horford.

So last time he did this we signed a role player to 30 million a year for 4 years, and this time we're about to give away our future to lose in 7 to Lebron for the next 3 years? In that case I'm hoping for as little social media activity from IT as possible going forward.

If you consider Horford a role player then I don't know what to reasonably tell you

[bbd24]

Anyone got a really good player that the Celtics could add who nobody has considered.

DeAndre Jordan.

[chrisab123]

I **** hope not.

Last time Isaiah did this we signed Horford.

So last time he did this we signed a role player to 30 million a year for 4 years, and this time we're about to give away our future to lose in 7 to Lebron for the next 3 years? In that case I'm hoping for as little social media activity from IT as possible going forward.

If you think Horford is a role player then you clearly had a different opinion of what Al Horford was bringing to Boston.

[ajones9219]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

Lol Isaiah is Ainge's current mouthpiece I think

[prov1ml]

Well, there goes my night (as if I wasn't going to be glued to this thread and twitter anyway)!

For the love of God, IT, please don't be trollin'.

[Celts17Pride]

Anyone got a really good player that the Celtics could add who nobody has considered.

My guess is not Butler but Paul George

[fallguy]

It's clearly happening...

Read on Twitter

I **** hope not.

Last time Isaiah did this we signed Horford.

IT'S TYSON CHANDLER TIME