Trade/Free Agency Thread 2023-24, part 10 and Counting . . .

bigfoot_cryptozoology · Post #1561 » by **bigfoot_cryptozoology** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 12:54 pm

Read on Twitter

Hal14 · Post #1562 » by **Hal14** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 2:02 pm

bigfoot_cryptozoology wrote:

Read on Twitter

warriors took Kuminga over Franz. And they also took Wiseman over both Haliburton and Lamelo :noway:

Dogen · Post #1563 » by **Dogen** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 3:29 pm

With Griffin unsure and Garuba back to Spain, Wenyen Gabriel is moving up the charts for that 4th/5th big spot (shout out to Hal14 for bringing him up here).

The Lakers have Vanderbilt (and now Wood); those moves made Gabriel expendable. Maybe he's not as good defensively as Vanderbilt, or offensively as Wood, but he looks like an active, slightly undersized 5 with good court awareness and BB IQ. Could be the perfect Al/Rob backup. He seems to have a positive attitude from the Lakers exit interview. A 26 years-old, mature man who would likely embrace the role of backup energy guy for the Celtics. And **** the Lakers, btw.

Watch on YouTube

Dogen · Post #1564 » by **Dogen** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 3:51 pm

For those bench roster spots, I'm really keen on not just talent, but also the narrative behind what motivates them. What is it about a free agent -- whether they are young with untapped potential, an injured vet reclamation project, a misunderstood talent that made some poor choices -- that motivates them to come to a contender and refocus on contributing in whatever way is needed toward the goal of NBA champion?

Wenyen Gabriel checks of a lot of boxes. He seems like an overall awesome person and a generous soul. He has roots in South Sudan of course, but was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire so has the local ties to New England too.

Watch on YouTube

bigfoot_cryptozoology · Post #1565 » by **bigfoot_cryptozoology** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 5:58 pm

Boston bound obviously... or Toronto.

Read on Twitter

Dogen · Post #1566 » by **Dogen** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 9:13 pm

We Got the Funk!

Watch on YouTube

neno · Post #1567 » by **neno** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 9:24 pm

Dogen wrote:We Got the Funk!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

But is it funky enough?

Watch on YouTube

neno · Post #1568 » by **neno** » Sat Sep 9, 2023 9:26 pm

Dogen wrote:We Got the Funk!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Unfortunately for T Funk others do it better

bigfoot_cryptozoology · Post #1569 » by **bigfoot_cryptozoology** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 1:43 am

https://www.masslive.com/staff/brobb/posts.html

Hello Brian. What did you think about the Tatum interview Thursday? Is there anyone you think the celtics are eyeing with the fifteenth spot once roster cuts around the league happen? What is your preferred starting line up and bench line up, & how deep should it go regular season? — Eddy

I thought Tatum talking about wanting to make an All-Defensive team was an interesting wrinkle. It will be intriguing to see how much Porzingis’ offense will take pressure off him and allow him to expend more energy on D.

Tough to gauge what guys around the league will be cut with so many guaranteed contracts out there but I could definitely see the C’s jumping on a big they like. I’d bring Horford off the bench and start Rob ideally. Play Brogdon, Pritchard and Hauser when everyone is healthy with mixing in chances for Brissett to keep minutes down for the bigs.

Why not Kelly Oubre? — Josh P

The Celtics would surely take him for the minimum but he’s likely holding out for a bigger role elsewhere for type of money. We already saw one shoe drop in free agency with Christian Wood who was hoping a big chance opened up for him in Miami potentially after a Lillard deal. With no deal imminent there, he opted for the Lakers instead. Oubre may take a similar path but it’s a little crazy to see a guy who averaged 20 points per game last year have to settle for the minimum. Then again doing it for a tanking team while shooting 31 percent from 3 doesn’t earn you many accolades.

flintsky21 · Post #1570 » by **flintsky21** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 4:53 pm

Dogen wrote:We Got the Funk!

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Looks like a 6'9" Tyler Herro. I'm sold!

Post #1571 » by **165bows** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 5:21 pm

Dogen wrote:With Griffin unsure and Garuba back to Spain, Wenyen Gabriel is moving up the charts for that 4th/5th big spot (shout out to Hal14 for bringing him up here).

The Lakers have Vanderbilt (and now Wood); those moves made Gabriel expendable. Maybe he's not as good defensively as Vanderbilt, or offensively as Wood, but he looks like an active, slightly undersized 5 with good court awareness and BB IQ. Could be the perfect Al/Rob backup. He seems to have a positive attitude from the Lakers exit interview. A 26 years-old, mature man who would likely embrace the role of backup energy guy for the Celtics. And **** the Lakers, btw.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Yeah sign me up for that, would be totally fine for him as the last spot. Not sure how he’d fit as a dunker-4 spot next to Al or KP, but a kind of small ball C or 4/5 guy seems like a good piece to have based on the current roster, that’s kind of a missing guy there.

Agree love the way he carries himself and has some great energy guy vibes.

They may want more of a pure 4 guy like Warren but if not that and if Blake Griffin retires I’d take this guy as deep big depth for sure.

Hal14 · Post #1572 » by **Hal14** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 5:50 pm

Yeah you can't really go wrong with Gabriel. You watch film on him and the biggest thing that stands out is the energy and how hard he plays - that's something you like to see for any player but especially a deep bench guy.

He is a guy who can play the 5, has decent enough size. At 26, he's right in his prime, he's not too old. He's not injury prone. Unselfish, team-first guy.

Signing him would make sense for a lot of reasons. The fact that he's a local kid is the cherry on top.

I bet he signs somewhere soon. He was probably hoping to go back to the Lakers, since he was there last season and got decent minutes and would have probably got decent minutes again - especially with AD continuing to whine about wanting to play more mins at the 4.

But now that Wood signed with the Lakers the other day, that pretty much guarantees that Gabriel will not be back on the Lakers. Wenyen knows that the amount of open roster spots that teams have are dwindling by the day..so I think he's gonna sign somewhere soon..

Post #1573 » by **165bows** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:11 pm

Hal14 wrote:Yeah you can't really go wrong with Gabriel. You watch film on him and the biggest thing that stands out is the energy and how hard he plays - that's something you like to see for any player but especially a deep bench guy.

But he is a guy who can play the 5, has decent enough size. At 26, he's right in his prim, he's not too old. He's not injury prone. Unselfish, team-first guy.

Signing him would make sense for a lot of reasons. The fact that he's a local kid is the cherry on top.

I bet he signs somewhere soon. He was probably hoping to go back to the Lakers, since he was there last season and got decent minutes and would have probably got decent minutes again - especially with AD continuing to whine about wanting to play more mins at the 4.

But now that Wood signed with the Lakers the other day, that pretty much guarantees that Gabriel will not be back on the Lakers. Wenyen knows that the amount of open roster spots that teams have are dwindling by the day..

Maybe they want a buddy for Zinger, this Zagars guy:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/272914/Arturs-Zagars-On-NBA-Radar-After-World-Cup

Looks like his agent is Zingers’ brother lol.

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Arturs-Zagars/Summary/94659
https://www.futuresportsgroup.com/about/janis-porzingis

Hal14 · Post #1574 » by **Hal14** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:19 pm

165bows wrote:
Hal14 wrote:Yeah you can't really go wrong with Gabriel. You watch film on him and the biggest thing that stands out is the energy and how hard he plays - that's something you like to see for any player but especially a deep bench guy.

But he is a guy who can play the 5, has decent enough size. At 26, he's right in his prim, he's not too old. He's not injury prone. Unselfish, team-first guy.

Signing him would make sense for a lot of reasons. The fact that he's a local kid is the cherry on top.

I bet he signs somewhere soon. He was probably hoping to go back to the Lakers, since he was there last season and got decent minutes and would have probably got decent minutes again - especially with AD continuing to whine about wanting to play more mins at the 4.

But now that Wood signed with the Lakers the other day, that pretty much guarantees that Gabriel will not be back on the Lakers. Wenyen knows that the amount of open roster spots that teams have are dwindling by the day..

Maybe they want a buddy for Zinger, this Zagars guy:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/272914/Arturs-Zagars-On-NBA-Radar-After-World-Cup

Looks like his agent is Zingers’ brother lol.

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Arturs-Zagars/Summary/94659
https://www.futuresportsgroup.com/about/janis-porzingis

I know you're joking but I doubt we sign that guy. He's a 6'3" guard. We don't really need more guards and Brad has shown a strong preference this offseason for adding guys with more size than that.

I guess it doesn't hurt to at least give him a camp deal, though..it's pretty nuts that he had 17 assists and 0 turnovers in a world cup game the other day. Just 23 yrs old too and I believe he is not signed with anyone right now - not even an overseas team.

I figure he'll probably sign somewhere soon - either with an overseas team or with an NBA team on a non-guaranteed / exhibit 10 type of deal..

Dogen · Post #1575 » by **Dogen** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:31 pm

Hal14 wrote:Yeah you can't really go wrong with Gabriel. You watch film on him and the biggest thing that stands out is the energy and how hard he plays - that's something you like to see for any player but especially a deep bench guy.

He is a guy who can play the 5, has decent enough size. At 26, he's right in his prime, he's not too old. He's not injury prone. Unselfish, team-first guy.

Signing him would make sense for a lot of reasons. The fact that he's a local kid is the cherry on top.

I bet he signs somewhere soon. He was probably hoping to go back to the Lakers, since he was there last season and got decent minutes and would have probably got decent minutes again - especially with AD continuing to whine about wanting to play more mins at the 4.

But now that Wood signed with the Lakers the other day, that pretty much guarantees that Gabriel will not be back on the Lakers. Wenyen knows that the amount of open roster spots that teams have are dwindling by the day..

Wood might have been a nice pickup for the Celtics, but maybe overall it was better for us if Lakers picking up Wood means that Gabriel is now available. I think Wood would have been a tough fit in Boston. Now in LA with Davis, Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, and Tristan Thompson, he can be the guy to come in and provide offense. The Lakers have enough depth with the addition of Vandy and Wood. Frankly, if Davis doesn't want top play center at all, they are going to have problems. That is his best position with their lineup, imo. (Lakers also added our summer dude Vincent Valerio-Bodon).

The Celtics need someone to back up Rob and Al, more focused on defense. Gabriel should find a home in the NBA, maybe LA will keep him. I have not heard any connection with him and Celtics. At this stage of free agency and training, there may be a lot of emphasis in keeping player's agents happy, making some signings that cash in on favors from the past, etc. Or maybe Brad just wants to keep a spot open and see what materializes latter. To me, Gabriel looks like a solid bet, and is a guy who can contribute some meaningful minutes off the bench.

Post #1576 » by **165bows** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:36 pm

Hal14 wrote:
165bows wrote:
Hal14 wrote:Yeah you can't really go wrong with Gabriel. You watch film on him and the biggest thing that stands out is the energy and how hard he plays - that's something you like to see for any player but especially a deep bench guy.

But he is a guy who can play the 5, has decent enough size. At 26, he's right in his prim, he's not too old. He's not injury prone. Unselfish, team-first guy.

Signing him would make sense for a lot of reasons. The fact that he's a local kid is the cherry on top.

I bet he signs somewhere soon. He was probably hoping to go back to the Lakers, since he was there last season and got decent minutes and would have probably got decent minutes again - especially with AD continuing to whine about wanting to play more mins at the 4.

But now that Wood signed with the Lakers the other day, that pretty much guarantees that Gabriel will not be back on the Lakers. Wenyen knows that the amount of open roster spots that teams have are dwindling by the day..

Maybe they want a buddy for Zinger, this Zagars guy:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/272914/Arturs-Zagars-On-NBA-Radar-After-World-Cup

Looks like his agent is Zingers’ brother lol.

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Arturs-Zagars/Summary/94659
https://www.futuresportsgroup.com/about/janis-porzingis

I know you're joking but I doubt we sign that guy. He's a 6'3" guard. We don't really need more guards and Brad has shown a strong preference this offseason for adding guys with more size than that.

I guess it doesn't hurt to at least give him a camp deal, though..it's pretty nuts that he had 17 assists and 0 turnovers in a world cup game the other day. Just 23 yrs old too and I believe he is not signed with anyone right now - not even an overseas team.

I figure he'll probably sign somewhere soon - either with an overseas team or with an NBA team on a non-guaranteed / exhibit 10 type of deal..

I mean, best part is Zinger’s bro is out there looking just like him wheeling and dealing book deals, corporate sponsorships and living the good life. Hope he shows at some games this year lol.

At any rate, I actually like the team doesn’t do that move where they sign some hangers on just for the sort of ingratiating factor. At least that we know of lol.

Hal14 · Post #1577 » by **Hal14** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:55 pm

Dogen wrote:
Hal14 wrote:Yeah you can't really go wrong with Gabriel. You watch film on him and the biggest thing that stands out is the energy and how hard he plays - that's something you like to see for any player but especially a deep bench guy.

He is a guy who can play the 5, has decent enough size. At 26, he's right in his prime, he's not too old. He's not injury prone. Unselfish, team-first guy.

Signing him would make sense for a lot of reasons. The fact that he's a local kid is the cherry on top.

I bet he signs somewhere soon. He was probably hoping to go back to the Lakers, since he was there last season and got decent minutes and would have probably got decent minutes again - especially with AD continuing to whine about wanting to play more mins at the 4.

But now that Wood signed with the Lakers the other day, that pretty much guarantees that Gabriel will not be back on the Lakers. Wenyen knows that the amount of open roster spots that teams have are dwindling by the day..

Wood might have been a nice pickup for the Celtics, but maybe overall it was better for us if Lakers picking up Wood means that Gabriel is now available. I think Wood would have been a tough fit in Boston. Now in LA with Davis, Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, and Tristan Thompson, he can be the guy to come in and provide offense. The Lakers have enough depth with the addition of Vandy and Wood. Frankly, if Davis doesn't want top play center at all, they are going to have problems. That is his best position with their lineup, imo. (Lakers also added our summer dude Vincent Valerio-Bodon).

The Celtics need someone to back up Rob and Al, more focused on defense. Gabriel should find a home in the NBA, maybe LA will keep him. I have not heard any connection with him and Celtics. At this stage of free agency and training, there may be a lot of emphasis in keeping player's agents happy, making some signings that cash in on favors from the past, etc. Or maybe Brad just wants to keep a spot open and see what materializes latter. To me, Gabriel looks like a solid bet, and is a guy who can contribute some meaningful minutes off the bench.

Agreed with pretty much all of this but keep in mind, Brad often times operates in. silence - he's stealth. Some of his moves have come out of nowhere. So just because there haven't been any rumors/reports of us being interested in Gabriel, it wouldn't shock me if it still happens..

bigfoot_cryptozoology · Post #1578 » by **bigfoot_cryptozoology** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 7:00 pm

I firmly believe he's keeping that 15th Spot open, unless one of the overstocked teams releases someone good,
who could make a difference, now or in the future.

Hal14 · Post #1579 » by **Hal14** » Sun Sep 10, 2023 7:11 pm

Darkhorse pick to snag our last 2-way spot, with a chance at possibly even getting the 15th roster spot...

Michael Foster Jr.

Still only 20 yrs old but has 2 seasons under his belt in the g league. Built strong at 6'9" and about 250 lbs with decent enough mobility and some decent ball skills.

Why not at least bring him in to camp and see what he's got? Was a 5 star recruit coming out of HS 2 yrs ago..

31to6 · Post #1580 » by **31to6** » Mon Sep 11, 2023 12:36 am

My 10 minutes of reading and watching YouTube on Gabriel has convinced me that the Cs should bring him to camp -- despite his relatively light build, and 1:3 A:TO ratio -- and if he looks good enough there, and they don't want to keep 15, consider giving him either Banton or Svi's spot. Or would make a great two-way addition if he's eligible for that (which I doubt, given that he's four years into his NBA career).