The Trade-Mill - Trade Thread Part Infinity

[Edug27]

In what sense of "ready to win" are there significantly better alternatives than Boston?

Warriors.

Of course. But they also have drawbacks precisely because they're that good without him.

Who other than the Warriors (or Spurs)?

Clippers. Warriors. Wiz. OKC.

Can't see any other possibility

[klemen4]

Smart+pick yes...smart+ab+pick overpay, but...we would be left with

IT/Butler/Crowder/ + 2 opet spots for big man

[SmartWentCrazy]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like the goal of Butler would be to pair him with Crowder. The guys are great friends and would really help to overcome any chemistry issues a trade might bring.

I do feel that Marcus will likely be packaged this off season with the pick. He and Bradley are duplicative with Butler, and, given his age/contract/years under control, I feel he would probably command more than Bradley in a trade (especially with a rebuilding bulls team).

[Green89]

I don't like this "knee strain" that Butler has. The Bulls aren't really giving a lot of details about it other than calling it that.

[Fencer reregistered]

Warriors.

Of course. But they also have drawbacks precisely because they're that good without him.

Who other than the Warriors (or Spurs)?

Clippers. Warriors. Wiz. OKC.

Can't see any other possibility

The Durantless Celtics are better than the Durantless Wiz. I think they'd be better than the Durantless Thunder as well, and certainly better than the Thunder with neither Durant nor Westbrook.

The Clippers are more of an issue, but how many stars can they pay, and where does the number of stars they can afford leave them?

[Edug27]

Of course. But they also have drawbacks precisely because they're that good without him.

Who other than the Warriors (or Spurs)?

Clippers. Warriors. Wiz. OKC.

Can't see any other possibility

The Durantless Celtics are better than the Durantless Wiz. I think they'd be better than the Durantless Thunder as well, and certainly better than the Thunder with neither Durant nor Westbrook.

That's all fine and dandy .. But the Wiz still have a better shot at KD than we do no matter how you slice it. But we'll see what happens in the offseason.

[Afam]

A poster on Celticsblog is claiming that target was Jimmy Butler. He is trying to use Butler to lure Durant to sign here . Take this for what it's worth .

[Celts17Pride]

A poster on Celticsblog is claiming that target was Jimmy Butler. He is trying to use Butler to lure Durant to sign here . Take this for what is worth .

Just forum noise.

[Afam]

A poster on Celticsblog is claiming that target was Jimmy Butler. He is trying to use Butler to lure Durant to sign here . Take this for what is worth .

Just forum noise.

Probably . That's why I didn't bother posting the quote here.

[ddb]

IT-Butler- Durant-Olynyk-Horford.....ahhhh yup, sign me up.
I would overspend on picks over sending Crowder, though.

Ainge has a lot of scenarios he can pursue this draft & offseason. Fireworks will finally be set off. But i would strongly urge this board to focus & enjoy the current team...this group is going to fight hard and earn alot of respect

[Cornbread]

Clippers. Warriors. Wiz. OKC.

Can't see any other possibility

The Durantless Celtics are better than the Durantless Wiz. I think they'd be better than the Durantless Thunder as well, and certainly better than the Thunder with neither Durant nor Westbrook.

That's all fine and dandy .. But the Wiz still have a better shot at KD than we do no matter how you slice it. But we'll see what happens in the offseason.

You have no idea if this is true. You're just saying it because it fits into your overly pessimistic narrative.

[Edug27]

The Durantless Celtics are better than the Durantless Wiz. I think they'd be better than the Durantless Thunder as well, and certainly better than the Thunder with neither Durant nor Westbrook.

That's all fine and dandy .. But the Wiz still have a better shot at KD than we do no matter how you slice it. But we'll see what happens in the offseason.

You have no idea if this is true. You're just saying it because it fits into your overly pessimistic narrative.

You're right. I don't. But what you call an "overly pessimistic narrative", I call a "basic understanding of how free agency works in todays league".

It's not very difficult to predict places where these mega stars want to play. Especially those that hit free agency. Were you ever suprised by a place where an elite player ended up in free agency? Like, going to a team without another star, or his home town, or a market like LA? It's not the same league as it once was.

[Cornbread]

That's all fine and dandy .. But the Wiz still have a better shot at KD than we do no matter how you slice it. But we'll see what happens in the offseason.

You have no idea if this is true. You're just saying it because it fits into your overly pessimistic narrative.

You're right. I don't. But what you call an "overly pessimistic narrative", I call a "basic understanding of how free agency works in todays league".

It's not very difficult to predict places where these mega stars want to play. Especially those that hit free agency. Were you ever suprised by a place where an elite player ended up in free agency? Like, going to a team without another star, or his home town, or a market like LA? It's not the same league as it once was.

Except it isn't nearly as easy - nor absolute - as you like to represent it being. Plus, if you really think he is more likely to sign in DC than Boston then I think you are under rating his desire to play for a winner.

[Green89]

Woj says Danny didn't want to give up a lot for Horford at the trade deadline, because he feels C's have a chance at landing him in free agency. Celtics talk is at about the 2:00 mark of the video.

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/woj-report-billy-donovan-blended-195626631.html

[Fencer reregistered]

It's not very difficult to predict places where these mega stars want to play. Especially those that hit free agency. Were you ever suprised by a place where an elite player ended up in free agency? Like, going to a team without another star, or his home town, or a market like LA? It's not the same league as it once was.

What was your prediction for Aldridge, and why?

What was your prediction for Pau Gasol, and why?

What was your prediction for DeAndre Jordan, and why?

[Edug27]

It's not very difficult to predict places where these mega stars want to play. Especially those that hit free agency. Were you ever suprised by a place where an elite player ended up in free agency? Like, going to a team without another star, or his home town, or a market like LA? It's not the same league as it once was.

What was your prediction for Aldridge, and why?

What was your prediction for Pau Gasol, and why?

What was your prediction for DeAndre Jordan, and why?

Again. Like I said, elite players sign to play with other stars, their hometown team, or they just take the money and resign where they are.

LMA and Deandre are both from Texas. When LMA signed he quickly tweeted that he was happy to be going home. You can even argue Khawi is a star if you wanted to. But whatever.

And Gasol? He's not elite. He falls into the Horford category. Those are attainable players for Danny.

[Cornbread]

It's not very difficult to predict places where these mega stars want to play. Especially those that hit free agency. Were you ever suprised by a place where an elite player ended up in free agency? Like, going to a team without another star, or his home town, or a market like LA? It's not the same league as it once was.

What was your prediction for Aldridge, and why?

What was your prediction for Pau Gasol, and why?

What was your prediction for DeAndre Jordan, and why?

Again. Like I said, elite players sign to play with other stars, their hometown team, or they just take the money and resign where they are.

LMA and Deandre are both from Texas. When LMA signed he quickly tweeted that he was happy to be going home. You can even argue Khawi is a star if you wanted to. But whatever.

And Gasol? He's not elite. He falls into the Horford category. Those are attainable players for Danny.

You know far less about people's motivations than you think you do.

Yes, playing close to home is a perk, but what is "home". Aldridge was born 275 miles from San Antonio... Not exactly up the road. Deandre Jordan is from Houston, about 240 miles from Dallas. Generally speaking, playing in the home city is little more than a tie breaker. A more common preference is to be on the same coast or same general part of the country to make travel easier.

Playing with stars also matters... Because players want to win. The motivation to join other great players isn't for some mysterious utility that can't be explained. Players join other stars because that is usually their best chance to win.

Players also make decisions on where to play based on the role they will play on the team. I think that was part of the appeal initially for Deandre with Dallas.

So Aldridge chose a team that would compete for a championship, in a part of the country that makes travel home reasonably easy, in a system and with a coach that is appealing.

If Durant leaves OKC, those boxes could all be checked in Boston. Maybe not, but you consistently post with an absolutist negativity about this that is grating.

Sure, by far the most likely scenario is that Durant stays in OKC on a one and one, but if he doesn't the Celtics have a very real shot.

[Edug27]

You know far less about people's motivations than you think you do.

Possibly. But would disagree.

Yes, playing close to home is a perk, but what is "home". Aldridge was born 275 miles from San Antonio... Not exactly up the road. Deandre Jordan is from Houston, about 240 miles from Dallas. Generally speaking, playing in the home city is little more than a tie breaker. A more common preference is to be on the same coast or same general part of the country to make travel easier.

He's from Texas. He called it home. So it's home.

Playing with stars also matters... Because players want to win. The motivation to join other great players isn't for some mysterious utility that can't be explained. Players join other stars because that is usually their best chance to win.

Common sense right?

If Durant leaves OKC, those boxes could all be checked in Boston. Maybe not, but you consistently post with an absolutist negativity about this that is grating.

Those boxes will not be checked. But my apologies if you see if as annoying or negative. I was just trying to elighten everyone with the logic I tend to go by. I'll stop. We can revisit this summer when KD makes his recruiting trips.

[165bows]

IMO it helps to look at the big picture. Durant chose Roc Nation as an agency ostensibly since he thinks that's who can best represent his interests, ie, get him what he wants.

They have a history of making big, surprising moves that don't always match up with cliched FA talking points. Eg moving Robinson Cano out of NY to the Seattle Mariners.

It's also worth considering the Celtics have been attached to most of Roc Nations' basketball clients up to this point, including James Young, Justise Winslow and their rumored interest in Willie Cauley-Stein in 2014.

So to me it boils down to whether they want to pick a team that can be looked at as 'his team' or if they'd rather a splashy team-up scenario. The on-court money is very similar either way so it's really about what is the best off-court avenue for them to take.

[ConstableGeneva]

Do you guys think Durant caught any of the Warriors game earlier?
One way to lure Durant to the Celtics would be to beat the Warriors in this year's Finals. Try it!