Hal14 wrote:celtxman wrote:sam_I_am wrote:
There were so many posts wondering why we had to include a pick with JR to get him……record setting offensive efficiency is why.
I've debated people on both sides of this being a good trade. To simplify :
21/22 D White - a questionable trade at best. They took on more salary for longer term and he couldn't shoot. Richardson was a good fit and he was cheaper. The team was turning around before he left.
22/23 D White if he plays like he is -no better/no worse - a great trade for the Celtics. He can get somewhat worse at 3 pt % . I said last season he had to regain his San Antonio talent and he has and maybe more.
You do realize that we got to the NBA finals in 21/22, right? How can it be a "questionable trade at best" when we went from a team that was picked to finish 13th in the league preseason, with 19th highest payroll - and were the 7 seed in the east prior to the trade deadline to then acquire white and shoot up to 2 seed in the east and a trip to the NBA finals?
The white trade (which was done in tandem with the theis trade...which got rid of freedom and schroder who were bad fit here..white a better fit than j-rich because white is MUCH quicker at moving the ball and also a better defender).
As a result of getting white and improving the ball movement, we went from near bottom of the league in assists to near the top of the league. Our offensive and defensive ratings improved after the deadline too.
We were the 7 seed prior to the trade deadline. After the deadline, we shot up to the 2 seed, where we finished the season - getting a better seeding was huge for us to make it to the NBA finals.
Yes, we started turning it around before the trade deadline but most of those wins were against teams who were either really bad or were injury-depleted. We clearly kicked it into another gear after the deadline moves.
Plus, j-rich only had 1 more year left on his contract - white had 3 more - that matters. Also, the white and theis trades were done in tandem, basically like 1 big trade - acquiring Theis not only helped us get to the NBA finals since he did a good job filling in for rob at end of reg season and in playoffs but by acquiring theis we were able to then flip him for Brogdon.. you gotta take all this stuff into account - Brad looks at the big picture - and he thinks 2, 3 moves ahead, rather than having tunnel vision and only looking at that 1 deal in a vacuum.
I know the Celtics made it to the Finals with White often being a liability shooting the ball. It matters. 36% from the field and 30% in the playoffs is abysmal. So yes I know the Celtics made the Finals because I remember cringing when Derrick shot it. I saw the potential in the 21 point game. Moving the ball was not enough. It is true that Richardson did not move the ball like White, but he was a far better shooter, just as good on defense, was getting paid less, and is good friends with Tatum. This trade to be considered a success needed White to shoot better, He has done that , with the bonus of the intangibles, ball moving and defense kicking in when he has an off shooting night.
I understand exactly what you are talking about with the trades playing off each other. I've said through this whole thing we needed the San Antonio White, and he has arrived. His play this season makes his contract now look great. He needed to get better over the summer and he has. That's an intangible that may be the most underrated.
