Trade/Free Agency Thread, whose NINE is it anyways?? 2023-24

[Slax]

My sources are telling me that if we send Jaylen to our allies the Egyptians they will trade us the technology of iron working and go to war against the Spaniards on our behalf.

[jordb2k7]

Reload calling the KP thing done a week ahead of time in the most understated manner is one of the most under rated story lines of the board this summer.

Link? He’s always been great. I just missed the one

[31to6]

My sources are telling me that if we send Jaylen to our allies the Egyptians they will trade us the technology of iron working and go to war against the Spaniards on our behalf.

All the talking heads are just parroting this same line day after day, man..

I say we try to get the Phoenicians involved in a 3-empire deal

[Hal14]

Perk does have some dumb takes sometimes. But this take doesn't seem so crazy. Like I said, Smart made a few comments late in the season/in the playoffs that indicate he did not respect Mazzulla as a coach (if you need me to post them I will but they're easy to find by searching "Marcus Smart Joe Mazzulla" on twitter)

Marcus being traded soon after the season ended also makes me think Perk might have a point here..

I worry that Mazzulla may be in over this head, and that Brad's doubling down on this guy. He's surely a smart guy, but also awfully young to be a head coach.

He's probably better suited coaching a lottery team and not the most talented team in the league.

Smart was the fall guy for a bum coach who’s way under qualified and in over his head! Listen to Gabe Vincent’s interview today about the Celts. Our team with Ime was a defensive juggernaut. Mazzula screwed up a good thing, never should have been given the HC position. Hope the Zinger trade works out or it’s bye bye Joey !

Not really..

https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-did-celtics-choose-mazzulla-mannix-and-forsberg-weigh-in/268005/

"Joe Mazzulla is an exceptional basketball mind. Brad Stevens recognized that in him early on. He knows the offense, he knows the defense, he knows the roster and he's going to be backstopped by Brad Stevens and supported by him. As our Chris Forsberg mentions, the C's have relied heavily on Mazzulla to handle things on the defensive end. Boston ranked No. 2 in the league in defensive rating last season.

"Derrick White, when he got traded here, they sat him down and said, 'Look, if you need to know anything about this defense, go talk to Joe Mazzulla," Forsberg said. "Part of that is Ime's got other stuff going on, but they trust Joe Mazzulla enough with the defense that he can lead him through whatever he needed to know. All the new schemes and systems. And so I think they really trust his acumen on that side of the ball and his ability to build relationships and all that.

The defensive issues were probably because of Smart being butthurt about the way things went down with Ime, Smart never got over it and never respected Mazzulla - plus he was probably pissy about having to sacrifice so much with the addition of Brogdon (plus White's addition just a few months prior).

And Grant was pissy about his contract situation and declining playing time.

Also remember that Ime had these assistants for a *full* season:
-Hardy
-Mazzulla
-Stoudemire
-Sullivan
-Miles

That's FIVE really good assistants for the entire season, which goes a long way when you're a 1st time head coach. Out of those 5 guys, 4 of them are Ime's guys, who he knows from way back. 3 of them are now head coaches, and Sullivan will likely be a HC soon.

Mazzulla only had 3 of those guys as assistants. All 3 of them (Stoudemire, Sullivan and Miles) were Ime's guys, not Joe's guys. Joe only had 2 of them (Sullivan, Miles) for the full season, as Stoudemire left to take a college job right before the playoffs.

That's a BIG difference.

[jordb2k7]

I worry that Mazzulla may be in over this head, and that Brad's doubling down on this guy. He's surely a smart guy, but also awfully young to be a head coach.

He's probably better suited coaching a lottery team and not the most talented team in the league.

Smart was the fall guy for a bum coach who’s way under qualified and in over his head! Listen to Gabe Vincent’s interview today about the Celts. Our team with Ime was a defensive juggernaut. Mazzula screwed up a good thing, never should have been given the HC position. Hope the Zinger trade works out or it’s bye bye Joey !

Not really..

https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-did-celtics-choose-mazzulla-mannix-and-forsberg-weigh-in/268005/

"Joe Mazzulla is an exceptional basketball mind. Brad Stevens recognized that in him early on. He knows the offense, he knows the defense, he knows the roster and he's going to be backstopped by Brad Stevens and supported by him. As our Chris Forsberg mentions, the C's have relied heavily on Mazzulla to handle things on the defensive end. Boston ranked No. 2 in the league in defensive rating last season.

"Derrick White, when he got traded here, they sat him down and said, 'Look, if you need to know anything about this defense, go talk to Joe Mazzulla," Forsberg said. "Part of that is Ime's got other stuff going on, but they trust Joe Mazzulla enough with the defense that he can lead him through whatever he needed to know. All the new schemes and systems. And so I think they really trust his acumen on that side of the ball and his ability to build relationships and all that.

Kinda wonder if Smart sealed his fate when he mentioned Joe being criticized in the media “and rightfully so”

[Hal14]

Smart was the fall guy for a bum coach who’s way under qualified and in over his head! Listen to Gabe Vincent’s interview today about the Celts. Our team with Ime was a defensive juggernaut. Mazzula screwed up a good thing, never should have been given the HC position. Hope the Zinger trade works out or it’s bye bye Joey !

Not really..

https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-did-celtics-choose-mazzulla-mannix-and-forsberg-weigh-in/268005/

"Joe Mazzulla is an exceptional basketball mind. Brad Stevens recognized that in him early on. He knows the offense, he knows the defense, he knows the roster and he's going to be backstopped by Brad Stevens and supported by him. As our Chris Forsberg mentions, the C's have relied heavily on Mazzulla to handle things on the defensive end. Boston ranked No. 2 in the league in defensive rating last season.

"Derrick White, when he got traded here, they sat him down and said, 'Look, if you need to know anything about this defense, go talk to Joe Mazzulla," Forsberg said. "Part of that is Ime's got other stuff going on, but they trust Joe Mazzulla enough with the defense that he can lead him through whatever he needed to know. All the new schemes and systems. And so I think they really trust his acumen on that side of the ball and his ability to build relationships and all that.

Kinda wonder if Smart sealed his fate when he mentioned Joe being criticized in the media “and rightfully so”

That was a head scratcher comment by him. But there was 2 other comments I saw from Smart in the media where he kind of undermined Joe.

Even still, we tried to trade Brogdon instead of Marcus. But when trading Brogdon couldn't happen by KP's deadline, Marcus was gone.

I think it was partly because it was simply an upgrade (in terms of talent and better roster balance) by going from Smart to Porzingis. But also, Smart's comments about Joe certainly made it easier for us to ship him out..

[165bows]

Reload calling the KP thing done a week ahead of time in the most understated manner is one of the most under rated story lines of the board this summer.

Link? He’s always been great. I just missed the one

Oh man it’s back there just have to find it.

[darrendaye]

Not really..

https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-did-celtics-choose-mazzulla-mannix-and-forsberg-weigh-in/268005/

Kinda wonder if Smart sealed his fate when he mentioned Joe being criticized in the media “and rightfully so”

That was a head scratcher comment by him. But there was 2 other comments I saw from Smart in the media where he kind of undermined Joe.

Even still, we tried to trade Brogdon instead of Marcus. But when trading Brogdon couldn't happen by KP's deadline, Marcus was gone.

I think it was partly because it was simply an upgrade (in terms of talent and better roster balance) by going from Smart to Porzingis. But also, Smart's comments about Joe certainly made it easier for us to ship him out..

Yep. Only way this narrative jibes is if we believe Smart was going to Memphis regardless. Which, could be true, but, we'll likely never know.

[BK_2020]

Brad's final season and Ime's one season were both COVID-affected seasons. Brad's team was bad largely because we went deep in the playoffs in the bubble and had no off-season. Same thing as happened to the Lakers, Nuggets, and the Heat. Then after another short off-season Ime got to take over a team that didn't go deep in the playoffs. The past season was the first real NBA season in a long time. Ime did a good job in his one season here but I don't think we got a good sense of how impactful he was.

[CelticFaninLBC]

Kinda wonder if Smart sealed his fate when he mentioned Joe being criticized in the media “and rightfully so”

That was a head scratcher comment by him. But there was 2 other comments I saw from Smart in the media where he kind of undermined Joe.

Even still, we tried to trade Brogdon instead of Marcus. But when trading Brogdon couldn't happen by KP's deadline, Marcus was gone.

I think it was partly because it was simply an upgrade (in terms of talent and better roster balance) by going from Smart to Porzingis. But also, Smart's comments about Joe certainly made it easier for us to ship him out..

Yep. Only way this narrative jives is if we believe Smart was going to Memphis regardless. Which, could be true, but, we'll likely never know.

I have a feeling the plan was to move Smart and let Grant sign elsewhere and remove the 2 guys who were constantly complaining to the refs.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

This wait is all worth it lol.

[Fierce1]

Before the Cs made that incredible run all the way to the finals in 2022, I said the Cs would never win a chip with Smart as the starting PG and the 3rd option of the team.

The Cs came close in 2022 when they had a 2-1 lead in the finals and could've stretched it to 3-1 in Boston.
But the Cs choked in Game 4 and GSW ended up winning 3 straight games.

Marcus Smart makes winning plays, but he can't make winning shots.
And that right there is the Achilles heel of the Celts when Smart was a Celtic.

Opposing teams always let Smart shoot.
Leaving him open was part of the opposing team's strategy.

Remember, Game 7 of the 2022 east finals?

Before Butler threw up that 3-pointer that missed, Smart was the one who took the shot and missed and got the ball back and missed again with more or less 20 seconds left in the game and the Cs only leading by 2.

A lot of times Smart is great, but there are times where Smart is out of control.

Stability is the key!

[zoyathedestroya]

Now that Smart is gone, we're sure to win the title now. So excited for banner 18!

[Fierce1]

Now that Smart is gone, we're sure to win the title now. So excited for banner 18!

Yup!

If not in 2024 then in 2025.

[jordb2k7]

Kinda wonder if Smart sealed his fate when he mentioned Joe being criticized in the media “and rightfully so”

That was a head scratcher comment by him. But there was 2 other comments I saw from Smart in the media where he kind of undermined Joe.

Even still, we tried to trade Brogdon instead of Marcus. But when trading Brogdon couldn't happen by KP's deadline, Marcus was gone.

I think it was partly because it was simply an upgrade (in terms of talent and better roster balance) by going from Smart to Porzingis. But also, Smart's comments about Joe certainly made it easier for us to ship him out..

Yep. Only way this narrative jibes is if we believe Smart was going to Memphis regardless. Which, could be true, but, we'll likely never know.

Just my opinion but no way they magically put that deal together within less than an hour. It had been out there. Doesn’t mean they were doing it regardless I suppose. I personally think they would have and taken Jones and done the Brog for KP deal

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

[zoyathedestroya]

Now that Smart is gone, we're sure to win the title now. So excited for banner 18!

Yup!

If not in 2024 then in 2025.

We blame Joe in 2024 if no title still. Then Horford in 2025. Deal?

[Fierce1]

Now that Smart is gone, we're sure to win the title now. So excited for banner 18!

Yup!

If not in 2024 then in 2025.

We blame Joe in 2024 if no title still. Then Horford in 2025. Deal?

[ajones9219]

I literally said 2 weeks ago Portland didn't want to trade with Miami and was irritated by Dame's behavior and got clowned on.

[Fierce1]

This is Joe Mazzulla's moment of truth.

Last season the Celts were very predictable on offense because the point of attack was always the same the whole game.

Now that the Cs have a legit low post threat in KP, the Celtic offense should thrive.

But if the Cs will still not have more diversity on offense then it just proves that Joe is really the problem.