The Official Off-Season Thread, part I of many

[Darthlukey]

"WOW! According to Bleacher Report, the Boston Celtics have proposed a trade to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler.

Boston Receives: SG Jimmy Butler
Chicago Receives: SG Avery Bradley, F/C Jonas Jerebko, PG Terry Rozier, No. 3 pick, No. 16 pick.

Should the front office pull the trigger on this deal?"

Im not a huge fan out this move, what do you guys think?

[Falstaff]

I'm thankful that I don't believe a word Bleacher Report writes.

[Darthlukey]

I'm thankful that I don't believe a word Bleacher Report writes.

I kinda figured that might be the case, I think this may be the first thing I have ever read from Bleacher lol

[Ed Pinkney]

Say Bender or Brown or whoever the Celtics might draft at 3 ends up meeting some sort of minimum expectation of a player drafted that high (quality starter, borderline All Star perhaps), is Butler that much better than Avery to warrant a move like this?

I am doubtful.

[ConstableGeneva]

This is NOT a rumor/report. It's a hypothetical proposal that's now being spun into a rumor. It's not substantiated by anything other than a blogger's imagination.
Here's the original B/R article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2643644-potential-2016-offseason-blockbusters-that-could-alter-the-nba-landscape

Grab your imagination hats. It's time to hypothetically, and significantly, tinker with the NBA's competitive landscape.

Trades and free-agency signings will be our tools for this mission. We're proposing, then analyzing, deals and signings that would change the way we view certain teams, rebuilds and championship races.

These scenarios are not real or necessarily rumored. And they are deliberately ambitious. So open your minds and abandon your biases, because we're about to get weird.

Kindly lock, mods. Thanks. We can discuss all hypothetical trades in the free trade thread.

[Leprechaun18]

Avery Bradley is close to Butler. Bad trade. Danny needs to wait on Chicago. They had Butler and didnt make the playoffs. They start losing next season, they will be more desperate to rebuild. Danny needs to low ball them.

[Bohemian]

That rumor is complete bullocks.

A realistic trade would be centered around the #3 pick and probably Smart and a big

[Bluewhale]

Don't believe anything Bleacher Report wrote. They didn't report any rumor correctly so far, as I know.

[fallguy]

Good lord. It's not a rumor. It's fiction. Read it before you post it.

[SichtingLives]

If we're getting completely ridiculous, why not throw KO and another Brooklyn pick in there too

Whoever dreams these things up doesn't seem to understand the difference between Butler and a Paul George echelon player. Butler is in the Hayward tier. Just because Gar wants the Jordan package, doesn't make his value so. Maybe you trade Bradley + Rozier and 16. Or 3 + 16 and Rozier. Or Smart, a pick and a pair of gym shorts, so on and so forth. Don't forget which organizations are in the compromised position in these deals. It's not us. Chicago is running up on an ugly scene pretty soon. Let them sit on it, Butler is an awesome get and a moderate improvement over AB or Crowder but he's no world-changer. We need a frontcourt and for sure some more depth at the wing. Our backcourt either needs Smart to improve shooting 3's or one more shooter and it's gravy for the next few years. We're not in a spot (yet) where we have to even begin thinking about desperation heaves. If we do deal for Butler it surely won't be on this level of rapery.

[Kolkmania]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonathanTjarks/status/740214791143227392[/tweet]...wherein Tjarks suggests a Melo-Love swap.

I like the idea of Love to Minnesota for the 5th pick Jamal Murray or Hield would be a nice partner for Irving.

A Kyrie Irving, Jamal Murray backcourt is in the same tier as Ish Smith, Nik Stauskas defensively. That would hurt them even more than keeping Love on the court.

I do believe that Kevin Love's time at Cleveland is over if they get swept by the Warriors, don't like the fit with the Celtics though. Have to overhaul the entire defense because he can't switch a single P&R.

[165bows]

Anyone who listened care to summarize the highlights beyond the epic quest for CHL's heart that will follow between RA and KO?

Lol.

Browsed through quickly. Ryan Anderson stuff is around 25 minutes, at the very end Deveney says something like 'it makes so much think I think he ultimately ends up in Boston.'

Apparently Jared Dudley listened to it and got as big a laugh out of it as you did.

Jared Dudley ‏@JaredDudley619 Jun 6
Jared Dudley Retweeted CLNS Celtics Pregame
I love my Boston people but that 1 yr 5 mil not goin to get it done lolJared Dudley added,
CLNS Celtics Pregame @CelticsPregame
#celticsnation Which backup wing would you like #celtics to pursue? Matt Barnes? Jared Dudley? #greenrunsdeep http://bit.ly/1r5WTaV

How about one year, $12M, with another year at $12M unguaranteed?

Your Boston Celtics 2016 off season: Jared Dudley, Ryan Anderson, Cole Aldrich and Jaylen Brown everybody!

[SmartWentCrazy]

Say Bender or Brown or whoever the Celtics might draft at 3 ends up meeting some sort of minimum expectation of a player drafted that high (quality starter, borderline All Star perhaps), is Butler that much better than Avery to warrant a move like this?

I am doubtful.

What if Bender or Brown turn into Darko or Bennett, is it worth it then?

There is a wide range of expected outcomes for all players projected at 3. They could bust. They could be HoF'ers. Or they could be average starters. It's unfair to frame the pick as a fringe all-star because we have no idea.

Right now, I would trade 3/16/Bradley for Jimmy Butler. Pretty easily, too. This team needs offense. Jimmy has shown the propensity to defend like Bradley while also scoring at an excellent clip. Put simply, his overall impact on the game far exceeds Bradley's.

He's also a legit star in this league who would have more sway in attracting others to join us. The externalities of acquiring Butler are also huge.

[SmartWentCrazy]

FWIW, I haven't heard any rumors of Chicago working out any top prospects. For that reason alone, I'm highly skeptical he gets dealt for picks this off-season-- the Bulls just aren't looking to do so directionally.

[TheRev72]

LeBron,

If you are tired of going it alone in Cleveland, put your money where your mouth is and come sign with the Celtics next year. There is a point forward spot just waiting for you. There's a coach - who knows what he's doing - ready to diagram sets that play to your strengths. There is a brilliant GM who makes great moves. And, most importantly, there are some tough m*****f***ers to surround you with who won't wilt or hide under the pressure. It's time to fulfill your destiny and finish out your career with the greatest TEAM franchise in the NBA.

http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/lebron-james-alone-in-finals-again/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GMIB%206/8/2016&utm_term=NBA%20National%20Newsletter

[Ed Pinkney]

Say Bender or Brown or whoever the Celtics might draft at 3 ends up meeting some sort of minimum expectation of a player drafted that high (quality starter, borderline All Star perhaps), is Butler that much better than Avery to warrant a move like this?

I am doubtful.

What if Bender or Brown turn into Darko or Bennett, is it worth it then?

There is a wide range of expected outcomes for all players projected at 3. They could bust. They could be HoF'ers. Or they could be average starters. It's unfair to frame the pick as a fringe all-star because we have no idea.

Right now, I would trade 3/16/Bradley for Jimmy Butler. Pretty easily, too. This team needs offense. Jimmy has shown the propensity to defend like Bradley while also scoring at an excellent clip. Put simply, his overall impact on the game far exceeds Bradley's.

He's also a legit star in this league who would have more sway in attracting others to join us. The externalities of acquiring Butler are also huge.

I know where you're coming from, but Bradley is a pretty good player. Any draft pick could be a bust, I just question whether Butler is that much of an upgrade over Bradley to risk giving up on a potential star player when there are so many other assets that could be used instead.

[Murta]

I just realized Chicago Bulls have max cap space with Gasol declining his player option. That probably means Butler would be off the table considering their front office's future is kinda tied with Hoiberg. They need immediate improvement and they will probably find one decent enough not to trade Butler.

I don't see why in this situation Bulls would trade Butler before the free agency.

[2Mas]

Chicago has a bunch of question marks.

It seems that they have 2 wanna be alphas (DRose needs a reality check).
Got classic bigs, but wanna go small ball (hoiberg).
Got some young pieces, but are in a win now mode.
Coming off a really really no excuse bad year (regardless of injuries).

I think they need to pick a damn direction. IMO - They should rebuild. They been trying this core for 5+ years & it reached its peak.

Sayyyy we give up 3, 16, Rozier, (amir) for Jimmy. Don't see why they would want Bradley & Jonas? Just have Amir on an exp deal.

Build around McDermott, Mirotic, Portis, Snell, Felicio. Draft Dunn #3 for sure. Go for Murray & Davis with the 14 & 16.

Dunn - Rozier
Snell - Murray
McDermott - Holiday
Mirotic - Davis
Portis - Felicio

Go young, let the Pups play. That's without getting any return for Gibson & Rose.

[Murta]

I don't think GarPax survives more than 2 seasons of rebuilding with Thibs in Minnesota at least contending for playoffs. IMHO, it could get very ugly there, like Bryan Colangelo trading for Rudy Gay to save his job type of ugly.

[Banks2Pierce]

FWIW, I haven't heard any rumors of Chicago working out any top prospects. For that reason alone, I'm highly skeptical he gets dealt for picks this off-season-- the Bulls just aren't looking to do so directionally.

I'm not sure that says anything about the Bulls and their direction and probably more to do with agents. A trade could be 99% done, but an agent is not going to send Marquese Chriss to work out with Chicago because of a fear of tanking stock(as Chicago has a pick in the teens).