Buyout/Free Agent Thread, 2023-24

[Bill Lumbergh]

From Hollinger on the Atlantic: https://theathletic.com/5254748/2024/02/06/nba-trade-deadline-rumors-2024-hollinger/

Naji Marshall, New Orleans: Shoutout to my podcast partner Nate Duncan for calling this one out. Nobody is talking about him much, but Marshall would be a great pickup for a tax team that needs another piece at the forward spot.
He’s currently on a minimum deal and comes with full Bird rights, meaning that he could fit into the salary structure in a place like Boston or the LA Clippers, then be re-signed in free agency despite the handcuffs that normally face teams above the second tax apron. In New Orleans, Marshall is on the fringes of a deep rotation, and his impact on their luxury tax position makes it seem unlikely that he’d be back after this season. It seems like he’d be worth multiple seconds to a tax team.

Bird rights aren't really that useful for guys you wouldn't sign for more than the minimum anyway.

I really know nothing about his game other than I've seen his name associated as a possible get for us. Does he suck in your view?

[Fierce1]

Grant already available, yikes. Dude was a useful player for a time but looks like he's continued his frustrating play into Dallas

Dallas was a bad fit from the start.

Grant needs to be on a team where the big man can score inside, rebound, and block shots because Grant can't do all 3 and he plays at the PF spot.

[playa-hater]

From Hollinger on the Atlantic: https://theathletic.com/5254748/2024/02/06/nba-trade-deadline-rumors-2024-hollinger/

Naji Marshall, New Orleans: Shoutout to my podcast partner Nate Duncan for calling this one out. Nobody is talking about him much, but Marshall would be a great pickup for a tax team that needs another piece at the forward spot.
He’s currently on a minimum deal and comes with full Bird rights, meaning that he could fit into the salary structure in a place like Boston or the LA Clippers, then be re-signed in free agency despite the handcuffs that normally face teams above the second tax apron. In New Orleans, Marshall is on the fringes of a deep rotation, and his impact on their luxury tax position makes it seem unlikely that he’d be back after this season. It seems like he’d be worth multiple seconds to a tax team.

Bird rights aren't really that useful for guys you wouldn't sign for more than the minimum anyway.

I really know nothing about his game other than I've seen his name associated as a possible get for us. Does he suck in your view?

I think Lonnie Walker would/could be in the playoff rotation. I literally have no idea about Marshall as well.

[fallguy]

Read on Twitter

Is Robb hinting about a Caruso for PP deal?

If Pritchard gets moved in a separate deal for a bigger upgrade in the frontcourt ...

No, don't think so. Just imagining how things might go down.

[BK_2020]

From Hollinger on the Atlantic: https://theathletic.com/5254748/2024/02/06/nba-trade-deadline-rumors-2024-hollinger/

Naji Marshall, New Orleans: Shoutout to my podcast partner Nate Duncan for calling this one out. Nobody is talking about him much, but Marshall would be a great pickup for a tax team that needs another piece at the forward spot.
He’s currently on a minimum deal and comes with full Bird rights, meaning that he could fit into the salary structure in a place like Boston or the LA Clippers, then be re-signed in free agency despite the handcuffs that normally face teams above the second tax apron. In New Orleans, Marshall is on the fringes of a deep rotation, and his impact on their luxury tax position makes it seem unlikely that he’d be back after this season. It seems like he’d be worth multiple seconds to a tax team.

Bird rights aren't really that useful for guys you wouldn't sign for more than the minimum anyway.

I really know nothing about his game other than I've seen his name associated as a possible get for us. Does he suck in your view?

I've not watched enough Pelicans games to have a deep appreciation for his game but he never stood out and his stats suggest he's not really good at any one aspect of the game. A 2-way guy who's out of the rotation. I guess he has good length?

[Bill Lumbergh]

Bird rights aren't really that useful for guys you wouldn't sign for more than the minimum anyway.

I really know nothing about his game other than I've seen his name associated as a possible get for us. Does he suck in your view?

I think Lonnie Walker would/could be in the playoff rotation. I literally have no idea about Marshall as well.

I'd like Walker, too, even if just a rental, but as so many others have noted, Brad likes to get guys who aren't expiring, and it makes perfect sense.

[Fierce1]

The player that will have the most impact, on both ends of the floor, on the Cs is Saric.

Saric can defend the bigs and he's a good shooter from 3.

That's the big that Brad likes, right?

I really believe Saric is now gettable because of the emergence of Kuminga.

If the Cs get Saric, the minutes of Kornet and Brissett will go down even further.

Joe likes to go double big once the starters start coming out after 5 or 6 minutes in the 1st qtr.

Having Saric allows Joe to go double big a lot of times and if Joe wants to go small, he can use Saric as the Center instead of JT.

[Fierce1]

Lonnie Walker is a very good offensive player, but his defense is not good, to say the least.

[Hal14]

Fischer

Elsewhere atop the Eastern Conference, Boston has been weighing various options who could deepen the Celtics’ bench, according to league sources. Boston will likely be limited to adding pieces through its $6.25 million traded-player exception with which the Celtics could bring on a veteran target such as Otto Porter Jr., sources said. Another name on Boston’s radar: Nets guard Lonnie Walker, who’s generated a wealth of interest from playoff teams while playing well on a minimum contract, sources said.

Cool.

I'm fine with either of them.

Lonnie would be a nice scoring weapon off the bench. Dude is shooting like 45% from 3 this season and 23 points per 36 mins. To put that in perspective, that number would rank tied for 3rd on the Celtics (with KP), only behind Tatum and Brown. Pritchard and Hauser are both at 13 points per 36 mins.

However, Lonnie just re-injured his hamstring in their last game, he's out tonight with hamstring injury..same injury that sidelined him for 17 games earlier in the season.

OPJ is also an intriguing option. He's got shooting and size. He's a veteran with plenty of NBA experience, playoff experience. Won a ring with the warriors in 2022..shot like 55% from 3 against us in the NBA finals. And while he has injury concerns, he is only 30 yrs old so should still have some gas left in the tank..perhaps enough to help us get a title. Hasn't played much this season in Toronto but from what I've seen on film, his mobility isn't great but still is able to hold his own on D pretty well..and can still shoot.

OPJ is a stretch 4 who can play some at the 3. Gives us another option at the 3/4 spots besides Hauser and Brissett. Much more of a shooting threat than Brissett. Stronger physically, better defender than Hauser. And way more NBA experience, playoff experience and even finals experience than both of them.

But is OPJ healthy? Hasn't played in a game since 12/30. But perhaps he's fine and Toronto is just holding him out while they look for a team that will take him in a trade..

Either OPJ or LW4 could certainly help bolster our bench. Both would be cheap..we wouldn't have to give up much to get them. However, both are on expiring contracts..so not sure if Brad will actually pull the trigger, considering he has traded for 8 guys now as POBO and none of them were half season rentals..

[SLCceltic]

That’s because Bud ramped his minutes up the next season when they won the chip …

Jesus Christ it feels like I’m talking to a brick wall

So you are saying that is the reason The bu ks won the title because bud ramped up the minutes Not because they were actually the best team??

Normally I would say this has to be a joke.. But then again..i have seen yiur other posts.

Can you two Not start the mudslinging?
Keep it about the Subject.

~ Parl

how old are you Parl ha ha
ya muckraking mudslinger ❤️

[SLCceltic]

I think we need to keep it simple, bring in Drummond, he only makes 3.2 on 2yr deal and then get another dependable vet on buyout market

Drummond is as good as it gets for rebounding, injury insurance (can be trusted in PO games) and more amo for Joker Embiid

Then pick up an aging vet, with a little left in tank on the buyout market

I def do not want to move PP

[Celts17Pride]

But perhaps he's fine and Toronto is just holding him out while they look for a team that will take him in a trade.

Toronto is holding OPJ out until they find a sucker to take him. Big No on OPJ. Dude hasn't played since 12/30 and has played 23 games the last 2 years. Would be a huge disappointment if this is what Brad Stevens ends up doing.

OPJ = Michael Finley 2.0

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

[playa-hater]

My peoples here in Miami says PJ Tucker is heading back to Miami. Don't know how.. But.. there ya go!

[Celts17Pride]

My peoples here in Miami says PJ Tucker is heading back to Miami. Don't know how.. But.. there ya go!

Someone has to take Haslem's spot

[brackdan70]

Grant already available, yikes. Dude was a useful player for a time but looks like he's continued his frustrating play into Dallas

Dallas was a bad fit from the start.

Grant needs to be on a team where the big man can score inside, rebound, and block shots because Grant can't do all 3 and he plays at the PF spot.

He is good 7th or 8th guy. Not a starter.

[Hal14]

But perhaps he's fine and Toronto is just holding him out while they look for a team that will take him in a trade.

Toronto is holding OPJ out until they find a sucker to take him. Big No on OPJ. Dude hasn't played since 12/30 and has played 23 games the last 2 years. Would be a huge disappointment if this is what Brad Stevens ends up doing.

Eh, I'm not too worried about it. Obviously Brad is gonna do his due diligence and get a full medical report and everything like that on OPJ. If he does his research and gets all those reports back and stuff and thinks OPJ is damaged goods, he won't make the move.

He's only gonna pull the trigger if he feels good about OPJ's knee.

Keep in mind, Klay and Steph both missed like a season and a half with injuries, then came back, load managed a bunch and won the 2022 title. And OPJ is a few years younger than those guys were..and will be asked to play like half the minutes those guys were.

Jamal Murray missed the entire 21-22 season. MPJ only played in 9 games that season. But they came back in 22-23, load managed a bunch and then won the 2023 NBA title. Again, OPJ will be asked to play way less mins in Boston than those guys had to play in Denver.

We'd load manage OPJ, sit him on back to backs, slowly get him up to speed with our systems, schemes and sets. And slowly ramp him up so he's ready come playoff time and able to shoot 56% from 3 in the NBA finals (while playing solid D) like he did in 2022. Even if he isn't quite that good, he could be a solid 7th/8th man for us..he'd give us another proven playoff performer.

[jfs1000d]

My peoples here in Miami says PJ Tucker is heading back to Miami. Don't know how.. But.. there ya go!

What is the reaction to this we are supposed to have?

[jfs1000d]

The most logical move is Andre Drummond. When KP or Al is out, Drummond gets those minutes. It also helps a=our rebounding, that hasn’t been great lately.

[Triple7]

Guys here are massively overrating Caruso lol. I’d rather get olynyk. First off, he won’t get the mins here. He’s starting and finishing for the bulls. He would rather go to the bucks, where he could probably start, or the lakers. Just stop it with the caruso love fest. Meanwhile Drummond is holding his own against gobert and towns. Up to 15rebs and 4 blocks. Something that both Kornet and Queta couldn’t do against decent bigs.