The Official Off-Season Thread, part I of many

[NuggetsWY]

Doubtful Phx trades #4 & #13 for #3 --- Their choices at #4 are almost as good as at #3 - there are several players that would fit for them

[Writebloc]

If my recollection is correct the reason the Celtics we're trading for a second banana was to entice the Durantula to come to Boston, I believe that dream unfortunately died the minute OKC eliminated San Antonio from the playoffs. Ainge should keep #3 and take Bender and then work to try to acquire shooters. The landscape in the NBA shifts too fast, Ainge has the leeway to gamble a bit here, if Ainge has some real cajones he'll make the pick at 3 and build around the team in place using his other assets.

[CelticsPride18]

If we draft Bender signing Howard on 1+1 deal could be a smart option.

[campybatman]

Trade Amir Johnson and the third, sixteenth and twenty-third picks to Milwaukee in exchange for Jabari Parker and John Henson and the tenth pick. Then draft Deyonta Davis with the tenth pick.

Boston moves Parker to small forward to be the primary scorer allowing Jae Crowder to be your backup and sixth man. Moreover, Henson replaces Johnson at center.

This is addition by subtraction for Milwaukee. That is, you get out of Henson's contract and move up in the draft from ten to three. With the third pick, they can target either a point guard (Kris Dunn) or a stretch power forward (Dragan Bender).

[Murta]

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens: "Danny and I appreciate the same qualities in players, so there haven't been a lot of disagreements where we've moved forward."

This is pretty obvious but still nice to hear.

EDIT:

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens on Ainge: "He doesn't look at guys as finished products at 25 or 26 because the media or former coach/org has labeled them not good"

[165bows]

Doubtful Phx trades #4 & #13 for #3 --- Their choices at #4 are almost as good as at #3 - there are several players that would fit for them

There are?

They have the same issue as Boston as most of the guys after the top 2 are guards, except they have second choice.

It's basically Bender who is a major project and Brown who might not be that good.

[NuggetsWY]

Doubtful Phx trades #4 & #13 for #3 --- Their choices at #4 are almost as good as at #3 - there are several players that would fit for them

There are?

They have the same issue as Boston as most of the guys after the top 2 are guards, except they have second choice.

It's basically Bender who is a major project and Brown who might not be that good.

I understand that but Phoenix needs bigs and there is some doubt Boston will take Bender. But even if Boston does take Bender, by many people's opinions, there are a great many players of roughly similar value. ESPN's insider Chad Ford has Bender going with #5 and Ellenson & Chriss going #7 & #8. Either one of those would be available at #4 and they have good potential. One thing we all know is that every draft pick is a gamble. There have been #1 picks that were busts. Phoenix with #4 & #13 seems to stand a better chance at a good PF-C than Phoenix at #3 - that's all I'm saying.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens: "Danny and I appreciate the same qualities in players, so there haven't been a lot of disagreements where we've moved forward."

This is pretty obvious but still nice to hear.

EDIT:

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens on Ainge: "He doesn't look at guys as finished products at 25 or 26 because the media or former coach/org has labeled them not good"

Would be interesting to think about what 'qualities' they tend to appreciate.. 'Chip on the shoulder', defense, work ethic...

Also wonder what the '25 or 26' quote would mean for guys on the free agent market this summer.

[ConstableGeneva]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AdamMKaufman/status/733655504145244160[/tweet]Open another thread for it if you please. Haven't listened to it yet.

“Whatever Danny and the front office decides, we’ll have vetted out and communicated all of our options, but I really trust them,” said Stevens. “My job is to coach whoever is here, and if that’s means you’re in enhancement mode with young players and helping them get them better, that’s what it means. If that means your roster is full of veterans and people have figured out their niche in the league, and have smaller improvements to make but are established players, then that’s what it is.”

[165bows]

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens: "Danny and I appreciate the same qualities in players, so there haven't been a lot of disagreements where we've moved forward."

This is pretty obvious but still nice to hear.

EDIT:

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens on Ainge: "He doesn't look at guys as finished products at 25 or 26 because the media or former coach/org has labeled them not good"

Cole Aldrich and Andrew Nicholson, Come on Down!

[Andrew McCeltic]

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens: "Danny and I appreciate the same qualities in players, so there haven't been a lot of disagreements where we've moved forward."

This is pretty obvious but still nice to hear.

EDIT:

Adam Kaufman @AdamMKaufman
Stevens on Ainge: "He doesn't look at guys as finished products at 25 or 26 because the media or former coach/org has labeled them not good"

Cole Aldrich and Andrew Nicholson, Come on Down!

Ha, is Nicholson a free agent? He's got some potential, still.

I just looked through a list of free agents on NBA.com, some candidates for this bargain bin:

Quincy Acy
Biyombo
Tarik Black
Allen Crabbe
PJ Hairston
Terrence Jones
Sergey Karasev (still only 22)
Meyers Leonard (RFA)
Thomas Robinson

I'd rather pay Robinson 3-4 million than Sullinger 9-10. Terrence Jones jumps out at me as someone currently undervalued. And I'd rather pay Meyers Leonard than Tyler Zeller.

OT, but Demar Derozan is still only 26. And Harrison Barnes might be someone facing a finished product/label dead end who actually has a little more to his game.

[dlamb8888888]

Doubtful Phx trades #4 & #13 for #3 --- Their choices at #4 are almost as good as at #3 - there are several players that would fit for them

There are?

They have the same issue as Boston as most of the guys after the top 2 are guards, except they have second choice.

It's basically Bender who is a major project and Brown who might not be that good.

I understand that but Phoenix needs bigs and there is some doubt Boston will take Bender. But even if Boston does take Bender, by many people's opinions, there are a great many players of roughly similar value. ESPN's insider Chad Ford has Bender going with #5 and Ellenson & Chriss going #7 & #8. Either one of those would be available at #4 and they have good potential. One thing we all know is that every draft pick is a gamble. There have been #1 picks that were busts. Phoenix with #4 & #13 seems to stand a better chance at a good PF-C than Phoenix at #3 - that's all I'm saying.

If Boston trades with Phil, then Phoenix gets their man at 4, knowing that Phil won't draft Bender.

[NuggetsWY]

All I can really know for certain is that Boston has a lot of valuable pieces and can make a lot of different choices and they have several paths open that can lead to success and Ainge has shown himself to be shrewd at all facets of his job - in other words, the Celtics look to be climbing back to being serious contenders. How long? How they get there? No idea, but it'll be fun to watch.

[Andrew McCeltic]

There are?

They have the same issue as Boston as most of the guys after the top 2 are guards, except they have second choice.

It's basically Bender who is a major project and Brown who might not be that good.

I understand that but Phoenix needs bigs and there is some doubt Boston will take Bender. But even if Boston does take Bender, by many people's opinions, there are a great many players of roughly similar value. ESPN's insider Chad Ford has Bender going with #5 and Ellenson & Chriss going #7 & #8. Either one of those would be available at #4 and they have good potential. One thing we all know is that every draft pick is a gamble. There have been #1 picks that were busts. Phoenix with #4 & #13 seems to stand a better chance at a good PF-C than Phoenix at #3 - that's all I'm saying.

If Boston trades with Phil, then Phoenix gets their man at 4, knowing that Phil won't draft Bender.

Ideally we'd take Bender for Phoenix at 3, they take Dunn for Philly at 4, we get 13 and Okafor.

[Pacino62]

This is pretty obvious but still nice to hear.

EDIT:

Cole Aldrich and Andrew Nicholson, Come on Down!

Ha, is Nicholson a free agent? He's got some potential, still.

I just looked through a list of free agents on NBA.com, some candidates for this bargain bin:

Quincy Acy
Biyombo
Tarik Black
Allen Crabbe
PJ Hairston
Terrence Jones
Sergey Karasev (still only 22)
Meyers Leonard (RFA)
Thomas Robinson

I'd rather pay Robinson 3-4 million than Sullinger 9-10. Terrence Jones jumps out at me as someone currently undervalued. And I'd rather pay Meyers Leonard than Tyler Zeller.

OT, but Demar Derozan is still only 26. And Harrison Barnes might be someone facing a finished product/label dead end who actually has a little more to his game.

IMO you're going to have to PAY for Biyombo and Crabbe.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I looked up Biyombo highlights on YouTube and got this one

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5w8YJBc4fM[/youtube]

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

In the end, you all are going to be bending it like Bender...

[skywalker33]

There are?

They have the same issue as Boston as most of the guys after the top 2 are guards, except they have second choice.

It's basically Bender who is a major project and Brown who might not be that good.

I understand that but Phoenix needs bigs and there is some doubt Boston will take Bender. But even if Boston does take Bender, by many people's opinions, there are a great many players of roughly similar value. ESPN's insider Chad Ford has Bender going with #5 and Ellenson & Chriss going #7 & #8. Either one of those would be available at #4 and they have good potential. One thing we all know is that every draft pick is a gamble. There have been #1 picks that were busts. Phoenix with #4 & #13 seems to stand a better chance at a good PF-C than Phoenix at #3 - that's all I'm saying.

If Boston trades with Phil, then Phoenix gets their man at 4, knowing that Phil won't draft Bender.

> .05% of that happening IMO.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I understand that but Phoenix needs bigs and there is some doubt Boston will take Bender. But even if Boston does take Bender, by many people's opinions, there are a great many players of roughly similar value. ESPN's insider Chad Ford has Bender going with #5 and Ellenson & Chriss going #7 & #8. Either one of those would be available at #4 and they have good potential. One thing we all know is that every draft pick is a gamble. There have been #1 picks that were busts. Phoenix with #4 & #13 seems to stand a better chance at a good PF-C than Phoenix at #3 - that's all I'm saying.

If Boston trades with Phil, then Phoenix gets their man at 4, knowing that Phil won't draft Bender.

> .05% of that happening IMO.

So you think there's a greater than 1 in 2000 shot that we trade with Philadelphia? How profound.

[gaspar]

Doubtful Phx trades #4 & #13 for #3 --- Their choices at #4 are almost as good as at #3 - there are several players that would fit for them

There are?

They have the same issue as Boston as most of the guys after the top 2 are guards, except they have second choice.

It's basically Bender who is a major project and Brown who might not be that good.

I understand that but Phoenix needs bigs and there is some doubt Boston will take Bender. But even if Boston does take Bender, by many people's opinions, there are a great many players of roughly similar value. ESPN's insider Chad Ford has Bender going with #5 and Ellenson & Chriss going #7 & #8. Either one of those would be available at #4 and they have good potential. One thing we all know is that every draft pick is a gamble. There have been #1 picks that were busts. Phoenix with #4 & #13 seems to stand a better chance at a good PF-C than Phoenix at #3 - that's all I'm saying.

McDonough doesn't care about positions. He's a BPA kind of guy.

A bevy of guards with guaranteed contracts for next season (Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker and Archie Goodwin) and the possibility of 2014 draft pick Bogdan Bogdanovic, a guard, joining the backcourt this year apparently will not deter the Suns from weighing that top guard prospect group.

“Our philosophy, my philosophy, has always been, 'Just take the best players in the draft and then figure the rest of it out down the road,' ” McDonough said.