The Official Off-Season Thread, part I of many

[165bows]

Yeah, reading through this thread: I take it back. I'm going to assume we get Horford and JJ Hickson just so my dreams aren't crushed. Not that I ever thought we would get Durant but reading some of the "optimistic" trades in here is making me realize the huge potential for disappointment.

People are too afraid of disappointment lol.

[truth18]

Imagine if the celtics slowly and intentionally brainwashed Sully into becoming an ineffective jump shooting fatbody on limited minutes with the sole intent of crushing his value so they could re-up him mega cheap and then 180 degrees whip him into alpha perennial all-star shape this offseason? that would be pretty cool.

Manchewian Candidate?

[SichtingLives]

Still think we're in a better spot to lure Durant if he goes back to OKC for a year and we make another year of improvements with a stronger roster and more solidified assets than we have today. We'll have a whole year to assess and make trades between now and then and Danny can still build this thing how he sees fit this offseason. Picture a scenario where Smart has a bit of a breakout campaign (for him, not saying he'll be all-star level) and we get Ingram or Simmons who instantly turns into a home run. This is aside from the 1 or 2 all-star caliber players we can add this offseason thru FA or trade + 2nd/3rd tier support for the frontcourt + shooting. And for two more years, those BK picks are still gold to run it back with and potentially attach to any deal.

Just feels premature for us with Durant and if he does longterm commit somewhere this offseason, it would be very hard to see him pass over either the team he's with, SA or GS. A 55 win Celtic team that plugs up it's flaws and challenges Cleveland in the ECF this year is a strong draw. It's optimistic, but realistic. Hoping KD makes a decision on mostly blind intuition and love for Coach Stevens feels like praying for lottery balls.

Summary: We should be in a better spot to sign him next year and I think we lose our shot if he hits the market this offseason.

[truth18]

Yeah, reading through this thread: I take it back. I'm going to assume we get Horford and JJ Hickson just so my dreams aren't crushed. Not that I ever thought we would get Durant but reading some of the "optimistic" trades in here is making me realize the huge potential for disappointment.

People are too afraid of disappointment lol.

Haha, I feel you man, but there is good reason to be afraid in the NBA. Things tend to not work out in this league.

I'll still be here discussing Blake and Butler, etc, but I'm starting to think neither will end up here (Blake seems more likely), I don't want Cousins, and I never believed we have a chance at Durant.

Thus my mentality is just at a point where I will take whatever thelse minimum is (Horford).

That said, the insiders here and various troll new articles are sure to get me excited at somepoint. I'm just going to take a cautious approach this summer.

[Darth Celtic]

Whiteside and Durant would be amazing.

Then you take the picks, players, etc. and trade for a third Superstar....such as Butler.

Isaiah/Butler/Durant/Whoever/Whiteside

No one is stopping that team, IMO. No one, not Golden State, not San Antonio and certainly not Cleveland.

Whiteside will probably cost you 4 years, 90million. We'd have to trade or drop everyone else if we go KD too. I only say whiteside if we don't get KD. Trade for cousins with him maybe.

[ddb]

Whiteside and Durant would be amazing.

Then you take the picks, players, etc. and trade for a third Superstar....such as Butler.

Isaiah/Butler/Durant/Whoever/Whiteside

No one is stopping that team, IMO. No one, not Golden State, not San Antonio and certainly not Cleveland.

Whiteside will probably cost you 4 years, 90million. We'd have to trade or drop everyone else if we go KD too. I only say whiteside if we don't get KD. Trade for cousins with him maybe.[/quote

Butler isn't a superstar. He's a peaked All-star

[SmartWentCrazy]

Just read the Bulls forum on any trade. Most seem to be of the opinion that it needs to be top 2 pick+Smart+Crowder+BKN17.

Now I get that fans are homers (us included), but if that's anywhere near the price then forget that. You don't overpay for second bananas.

If KD says he's Boston bound if we get Jimmy, then obviously we pay through the nose. If not, forget him.

[SichtingLives]

Just read the Bulls forum on any trade. Most seem to be of the opinion that it needs to be top 2 pick+Smart+Crowder+BKN17.

Now I get that fans are homers (us included), but if that's anywhere near the price then forget that. You don't overpay for second bananas.

If KD says he's Boston bound if we get Jimmy, then obviously we pay through the nose. If not, forget him.

That's the kind of offer I might make for Paul George, but I'm not surprised if people think Butler is worth all that (clearly he isn't). I swear this offseason is going to leave me hating this dude.

[Berkcelt]

Butler isn't worth that, but it's going to be interesting to see what teams like the Lakers or Sixers do. They could pay out the nose for someone. Bucks, Kings, Nuggets, and probably some others I'm not thinking of might want to overspend for an All Star. I guess it's hard to gauge but it seems nuts when Love for Wiggins just happened. Hopefully Danny can work the back room politics and get a favorable outcome. Butler having years on his contract makes this more difficult because the Bulls don't really have to worry about where he wants to go. Could be a crazy offseason.

[Murta]

Is anyone else starting to get worried Griffin might just have **** ty legs like Rose?

Yup, the scare is real. He isn't even palatable defensively now that he's a top 3 athlete, his shooting is meh, is there any elite trait Griffin has other than playmaking that can withstand the test of age&injuries?

Just read the Bulls forum on any trade. Most seem to be of the opinion that it needs to be top 2 pick+Smart+Crowder+BKN17.

Now I get that fans are homers (us included), but if that's anywhere near the price then forget that. You don't overpay for second bananas.

If KD says he's Boston bound if we get Jimmy, then obviously we pay through the nose. If not, forget him.

That's the kind of offer I might make for Paul George, but I'm not surprised if people think Butler is worth all that (clearly he isn't). I swear this offseason is going to leave me hating this dude.

What do those guys know about trades? Have Bulls made a single trade since trading LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas?

With you on PG, although that's a LOT.
NB: Pacers aren't a championship or bust team so it's hard to believe Bird would trade George for anything than an elite offer.

[BfB]

Just read the Bulls forum on any trade. Most seem to be of the opinion that it needs to be top 2 pick+Smart+Crowder+BKN17.

Now I get that fans are homers (us included), but if that's anywhere near the price then forget that. You don't overpay for second bananas.

If KD says he's Boston bound if we get Jimmy, then obviously we pay through the nose. If not, forget him.

That's the kind of offer I might make for Paul George, but I'm not surprised if people think Butler is worth all that (clearly he isn't). I swear this offseason is going to leave me hating this dude.

Bulls fans can say whatever they want. Butler doesn't have that kind of value

[greenroom31]

Butler isn't worth that, but it's going to be interesting to see what teams like the Lakers or Sixers do.

Agreed. You look back at a deal like Boston's trade with Seattle in 2007 for Ray Allen and I think something closer to that is reasonable. We traded Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the #5 (Jeff Green) for Ray Allen and the #37 pick.

If you take that as a baseline, that would be like Crowder, Smart and the Brooklyn #1 for Butler. Adding the 2017 pick is just wishful thinking in my opinion.

[Afam]

A trade between two non playoff teams can be made/announced now right ? ,Just as long they wait until the playoffs to announce it .

[Andrew McCeltic]

Imagine if the celtics slowly and intentionally brainwashed Sully into becoming an ineffective jump shooting fatbody on limited minutes with the sole intent of crushing his value so they could re-up him mega cheap and then 180 degrees whip him into alpha perennial all-star shape this offseason? that would be pretty cool.

Manchewian Candidate?

Hate to say it, but I think we tanked Zeller's season on purpose so we'd be able to re-up him at a discount.

Sullinger's going to get paid because someone else will bet they can yell him into losing weight.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Just read the Bulls forum on any trade. Most seem to be of the opinion that it needs to be top 2 pick+Smart+Crowder+BKN17.

Now I get that fans are homers (us included), but if that's anywhere near the price then forget that. You don't overpay for second bananas.

If KD says he's Boston bound if we get Jimmy, then obviously we pay through the nose. If not, forget him.

That's the kind of offer I might make for Paul George, but I'm not surprised if people think Butler is worth all that (clearly he isn't). I swear this offseason is going to leave me hating this dude.

Bulls fans can say whatever they want. Butler doesn't have that kind of value

3/16/Smart is an overpay, too.. We'll see what happens, but Butler's stock is going to be inflated right now because he's pretty much the only two-way all-star shooting guard on the market. Maybe Klay is better.. But Derozan is worse, Oladipo and Wiggins are still trending upward but aren't on that elite level now, Harden plays no D, Wade is old, McCollum doesn't have the size to play great D.

I understand wanting a star, and a championship window, but I'd be really cautious about overpaying for Butler. Fast forward two years (remember how quickly time flew by in the GPA era) and Butler's 29, maybe injured, playing against Klay, a better Derozan, better Vic, better Wiggins, better Hezonja, KCP, McCollum, maybe Beal finally gets to elite level.

Bradley/Young/16/23/Amir seems like plenty of value for me. We're not in a position, and the Bulls aren't, to really pay with two blue chips (Smart, 3), IMO, but we'll see. Butler's a hell of a player and all-stars don't become available that often.

[JBroderick]

I'm not too high on Butler I wouldn't give up that pick unless it lands at 5 or higher for him, and Horford isn't coming here unless somehow we get Durant to come here first, Jimmy won't cut it because he's not that level of superstar that paired with Horford is going to have us that much better than Atlanta, might as well stay with Millsap in Atlanta, plus Jimmy was battling with teammates not just Rose but Noah as well I heard they almost came to blows, and he gets hurt a lot, I'll pass on Jimmy

[JBroderick]

I'm not even considering Durant until it picks up steam on its own, it's not impossible but I still think it's a long shot so I'm only going to talk about other more realistic alternatives, to me this would be a great offseason since I'm a believer in Buddy Hield

Draft-Buddy Hield with the Nets pick and Sabonis' kid with Dallas' pick

Free agents-*Whiteside* (that's the prize), Teletovic

Trade-Wilson Chandler

I say Wilson because we can probably buy low with him coming off an injury and we need a wing that can defend other lengthy wings and shoot, plus Brad can work a lot of small ball with him, Teletovic self explanatory "we need shooters", Whiteside to me is the prize and I think he's leaving Miami in a heartbeat, whether he wants to come here or if they even want him I don't know, Buddy Hield is a star and no one can tell me different, we can figure out rotations and who is staying or going after because I know we are flooded in the backcourt but I don't care I want that guy, and Sabonis' kid got potential

[Afam]

Boston Celtics are going to eventually get a star player . They must if they have a hope of every winning a championship . Having a team full of Isaiah Thomas , Avery Bradley , Jae Crowder is fun for a while , but they're not going to win you a championship or even take you deep into the playoffs . Heck Isaiah at the end of the playoffs mentioned that the team needs help ,and he can't do it on his own .

I ,and others talk about the Celtics getting a star player because that's really the only way you win a championship in the NBA. You either develop your draft prospects/players, or you trade for an Established player . You don't win with rookies and above players . The Celtics have to either go Big or go home. The Celtics and Danny Ainge are dreaming big and looking go get a star player and I like that . There is no room for pessimism attitude because that gets you nowhere . The Celtics are going to get a star player whether it's this offseason or next . It's going to happen . Danny Ainge knows you need stars to win champions. He has said so on numerous occasions .

Look at the teams still playing . Every team has at least one star on the team .

Golden State Steph Curry , Klay Thompson

Miami Heat Dwayne Wade

Spurs Kawhi Leonard, Lamarcus Aldridge

Indiana Pacers Paul George

OKC Thunder Kevin Durant, Westbrook etc.

You need star players to win the NBA ,and the Celtics are never going to be a championship team unless they either draft a star player , trade for one ,or sign one through free agency . To become a championship team , and not just some team that's going to make the playoffs, and get bounced in the playoffs in the first round every year , the Boston Celtics have to get a star player . What getting a player does is that it makes every one's job easier . Everyone has an assigned role, and are not forced to do what they're not capable of doing . It's very important to the future of the Franchise to get a star player either this offseason or next .

[Fidel Sarcasmo]

Whiteside and Durant would be amazing.

Then you take the picks, players, etc. and trade for a third Superstar....such as Butler.

Isaiah/Butler/Durant/Whoever/Whiteside

No one is stopping that team, IMO. No one, not Golden State, not San Antonio and certainly not Cleveland.

Whiteside will probably cost you 4 years, 90million. We'd have to trade or drop everyone else if we go KD too. I only say whiteside if we don't get KD. Trade for cousins with him maybe.[/quote

Butler isn't a superstar. He's a peaked All-star

How in the world has a guy who is 25 in the NBA peeked when conventional wisdom says an NBA player should hit there prime between 27-32 years old?

[Afam]

Why trade Paul Pierce ,and Kevin Garnett if you can't even land a single star player . I would rather have kept them both if that was the case . Furthermore, Why accumulate all those First round picks if you can't use it to sign a star player . I thought that was the reason to have them in the first place . Use them to sign an established player . A star .