The ¿Merry? Christmas game: Celtics vs Sixers

[M2J]

This type of game is why I could never fully embraced the idea of tanking. Maxey is too good & plays too hard to have him suffer on a bottom 5 team.

I worry about his future being tied down to these 2 unpredictables until he gets into his prime. They need to tank for Maxey.

But clearly not their plans

[M2J]

U sure? It looks like it to me he’s light years of head of Maxey during his rookie year

And? Maxey didn't have any playing time his rookie season, he started getting some towards the end of the year, and then go some in the playoffs. McCain got a bunch of minutes to start the season, far more than Maxey ever got initially. Doc Rivers had him on a leash for a long time.

The only think that McCain has on maxe is some shiftiness, and probably a more consistent shooter although Maxey has ironed that out recently, and has 3 years of history showing his an elite shooter. So not sure what you see from McCain that says he's going to be better than Maxey.

Less athletic, now injured with a knee issue, just as shorter, far slower, will struggle to finish amongst the trees.

Don't treat this like Jahlil,Markelle and Noel trade and get something young,good that fits. This team still need more heigh,rebounding and athleticism.

I think they're good there. This is a good roster when healthy. Honestly they have athleticism in Kmart, Oubre, Caleb, and a traditional physical stretch 4/5 in Yabu with sneaky athleticism. Plus crazy enough to say it, but George is still the 3 and D guy they needed. His shot isn't falling right now, but he's been their best defender

Keep Maxey and Jared together unless there's a slab such deal out there. Even with an open mind there is just not a Jared McCain trade that makes sense considering all it would take. There's no other rookie you'd trade him for. The more established players would cost too much and you certainly don't trade him for some role player like Herb who is only hypothetically better for this team than Oubre or Caleb

[mjkvol]

This type of game is why I could never fully embraced the idea of tanking. Maxey is too good & plays too hard to have him suffer on a bottom 5 team.

In the ideal tank we would only be a bottom 5 team this season, and then retooled, healthy and thus improved for 2025-26. That as opposed to being a declining 1st-2nd round team indefinitely. That's the argument, and it's pretty much moot at this point, anyway.

[Murray_17]

Again, the east is too bad to tank and be a 5 worst team while we have Maxey.

[ivysixer2000]

Only way we can even think about a tank is if you want to wish for injuries. Spurs got Tim Duncan cause David was hurt.

There is no Tim Duncan in this draft. Besides, I will never wish for injuries, I will stop watching if that's the case, and end my NBA league pass. Watching hoping to lose isn't what I want to see, and no I didn't watch our years of tanking.

[Jailblazers7]

This type of game is why I could never fully embraced the idea of tanking. Maxey is too good & plays too hard to have him suffer on a bottom 5 team.

In the ideal tank we would only be a bottom 5 team this season, and then retooled, healthy and thus improved for 2025-26. That as opposed to being a declining 1st-2nd round team indefinitely. That's the argument, and it's pretty much moot at this point, anyway.

I totally get the logic I just don’t have the heart for it with Maxey on the team. But sometimes you gotta take your medicine even when it tastes bad.

[Jailblazers7]

We’re currently 6 games under .500 but we have a very easy schedule for the next 8 games. I think we’ll be back to even by mid-Jan and poised for a run at a decent seed post-ASG.

[Negrodamus]

Oubre realizing his shot isn’t dropping after 6 shots and committing to rebounding/defense is one of the best takeaways from this game. I like that he’s able to go off at times, but if it’s not happening, being a very active role player doing the dirty work is the best thing he can be.

[Arsenal]

Oubre realizing his shot isn’t dropping after 6 shots and committing to rebounding/defense is one of the best takeaways from this game. I like that he’s able to go off at times, but if it’s not happening, being a very active role player doing the dirty work is the best thing he can be.

Oubre has been outstanding the last few weeks after a rough start. He slots into his role perfectly when the Big 3, or at least 2 of them are on the court.

[M2J]

Oubre realizing his shot isn’t dropping after 6 shots and committing to rebounding/defense is one of the best takeaways from this game. I like that he’s able to go off at times, but if it’s not happening, being a very active role player doing the dirty work is the best thing he can be.

Oubre has been outstanding the last few weeks after a rough start. He slots into his role perfectly when the Big 3, or at least 2 of them are on the court.

Exactly... Oubre filling in as a 3rd option and asking for his scoring typically means his defense struggles. He's not a score that does it easily. He has physical drives and it takes something out of his defense. You could even see it in the playoffs. He shut down Brunson, until the strategy shifted to make him option 3 and Brunson went off.

[LeonJordanJr24]

Load up on dynamic long 3 and Ds that can score. Mccain,Drummond,kj and eg for another young Forward

[zaz102]

Load up on dynamic long 3 and Ds that can score. Mccain,Drummond,kj and eg for another young Forward

Like who?

[stormi]

So who exactly is Morey queueing those picks up for?

Rockets aren't moving any of their guys. God FORBID he dumps assets on Kuminga.

Santi Aldama or Herb Jones for his attempt at a Derrick White trade?

[stormi]

Maybe Keegan Murray?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/78112/keegan-murray

Sactown looks to be heading into another spiral, who could have guessed after signing Derozan.

24 year old 6'8 wing that loves to shoot the ball and can fit into our defensive scheme with PG/Oubre/Caleb/Maxey/Embiid

Up for an extension at the end of '25-'26.

Read on Twitter

[zaz102]

Maybe Keegan Murray?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/78112/keegan-murray

Sactown looks to be heading into another spiral, who could have guessed after signing Derozan.

24 year old 6'8 wing that loves to shoot the ball and can fit into our defensive scheme with PG/Oubre/Caleb/Maxey/Embiid

Up for an extension at the end of '25-'26.

Read on Twitter

Keegan Murray would be great but considering he signed for another year, he should be the last guy they want to trade.

My hope is they trade KJ and one or two firsts for Aldama or Jones (or someone in that vein), sign Fultz, and McCain comes back and everyone healthy.

PO Rotation

Embiid / Aldama, Yabusele, Drummond
George & Martin / Aldama, Yabusele, Oubre
Maxey & Oubre / McCain, Fultz, Martin

[eyeatoma]

Maybe Keegan Murray?

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/78112/keegan-murray

Sactown looks to be heading into another spiral, who could have guessed after signing Derozan.

24 year old 6'8 wing that loves to shoot the ball and can fit into our defensive scheme with PG/Oubre/Caleb/Maxey/Embiid

Up for an extension at the end of '25-'26.

Read on Twitter

Terrible shooter, his numbers have been **** this season. Dude is cold all the damn time.

[ivysixer2000]

My hope is they trade KJ and one or two firsts for Aldama or Jones (or someone in that vein), sign Fultz, and McCain comes back and everyone healthy.

PO Rotation

Embiid / Aldama, Yabusele, Drummond
George & Martin / Aldama, Yabusele, Oubre
Maxey & Oubre / McCain, Fultz, Martin

Just wondering where this came from about McCain, from all accounts, he's out for the season.

Fultz, well we do need a backup PG under 80, but I figure he would be scared to show up.

[76ciology]

So who exactly is Morey queueing those picks up for?

Rockets aren't moving any of their guys. God FORBID he dumps assets on Kuminga.

Santi Aldama or Herb Jones for his attempt at a Derrick White trade?

I see most of those picks as extra lifelines, providing insurance in case one of the stars fall off. It’s similar to when Harden unexpectedly requested a trade—having cap space as an extra lifeline that allowed us to secure Paul George as a replacement.

But the low tier picks like the 2016 OKC first can be used as an upgrade for role players.

If I had to guess, any potential trade would target players like Grayson Allen or Shake Milton—guys who can hit 5-7 threes when left open while holding their own defensively.

We might also look at someone like Nick Richards or Jay Huff if the goal is to upgrade our frontcourt depth.

Someone like DFS is way more likely than Keegan.

[Arsenal]

I think Keegan would cost way too much, even though he seems like a "buy-low" candidate. A low price for him would still be pretty high considering he is KANGZ only major young talent.

I'd love Aldama but why would the Grizz trade him when he's balling and they're rolling?

The most likely options are guys from bottom-feeder teams.

[76ciology]

I see McCain as the type of bench player that some times can end games and play with our starters, who can take 10 threes and knock down 4, similar to guys like Payton Pritchard, Isaiah Joe, or AJ Green.

Frankly, we need a player like that on our roster—unless we’re banking on Caleb Martin developing into a consistent knockdown shooter moving forward.