Ainge talked to Ray Allen (2/2/10, pg. 14)

[dawhizz]

Tyrus Thomas is not, and will never be a SF.

Why? Everyone who is saying this seriously. Sure plenty of guys who play the position are essentially SG's but why can't Ty Thomas play SF. He rebounds the hell out of the ball and has the size strength and quickness to guard anyone who plays the position. He isn't a 3 pt shooter to this point but that isn't a necessity at the position if you get it at other positions.

You put him out on the floor with Kendrick Perkins instead of Brad Miller his man to man defense is going to improve, this kid can defend.

He hasn't played SF in CHI they have Deng they want this kid to be a PF, I think that is a mistake. It limits his advantages as he is going against guys who are the same size or longer and stronger than him and all he has is his quickness. Play him at the 3 and now he is longer and stronger with the same quickness. I just want him to finish off Rondo's feeds and knock down open jump shots, play defense and rebound, rebound, rebound.

We get tortured by 6'8" and longer SF's the entire ATL roster, Lewis, Granger, Jamison, Deng for that matter, Bargnani, we have a 6'7" Paul Pierce and a bunch of guys 6'5" and under to play the position.

This isn't even about the trade we just need this guy or someone like him bad.

See my previous post for why he isn't a SF. He may have the size/strength/speed to defend other SFs, but he doesn't. Since he's in love with his shotblocking (and rightfully so) he chronically bites on pump fakes and any decent SF takes advantage.

It's not like he's never lined up at SF for the Bulls. They've put him there several times in-game, depending on matchups and I feel like he may have even started at SF once (though I might be misremembering). He commits fouls out on the floor if he's asked to stay with SFs. Can he finish off Rondo's feeds? Absolutely? Can he rebound? Absolutely. But he doesn't knock down open shots with any consistency and his strengths as a defender are in the post, not out in space.

[cool007]

Actually, Tyrus HAVE played some SF for us and he is not bad at all. He has pretty good handles for a big man and can run a fastbreak himself. He also plays pretty good defense against SFs (he has guarded LeBron and gave lot of problems with his length, quickness and athleticism) Tyrus is indeed really versatile.

The problem is Chicago is not going to keep him 1 way or another so they are playing Gibson in the starting lineup and wants him to develop. Tyrus is pretty much out the door as Bulls are really going to go after 1 of Bosh/Amare/Boozer/Lee. This is why even when Tyrus has a pretty good game, he still can't get many minutes here.

Tyrus is also one of the best Shot blocker you will find in the NBA. He is usually one of the top 3-5 player in the NBA at his position with Steals and Blocks. His jumper is nicely developing and lately working on his post moves. I personally would like to keep him but since we are going after 1 of those big free agents, it's not possible to keep Tyrus without losing his bird rights and making him an unrestricted free agent - thus the trade.

Just my 2 cents.

[Piston Pete]

From an outsider (Pistons fan), Thomas IS NOT a SF.

He's exclusively a PF.

[sully00]

Look for the people coming here telling us that Ty Thomas isn't a SF understand clearly what I am talking about currently the Celtics end up having to use Ray and Tony Allen and Marquis Daniels to play SF when we have to use Pierce on say VInce Carter or Joe Johnson, now tell me who is going to do a better job checking Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Rashard Lewis, that trio or Ty Thomas?

[Collinto]

I was seduced by his athleticism only to be dissapointed, back when he was named Stomile Swift.

Fool me once...

[eitanr]

Sully and other Ty Thomas SF Believers,

Fact is maybe Ty Thomas can play the 3 in stints....maybe....but that in no way makes him a full-fledged starting caliubur, 25+ MPG small forward.

This deal is just terrible for Boston. Their current team is worse and Chicago's gets better, could even beat us in a 1st rd matchup post deal.

If that's the best Ray Allen deal out there, it just makes sense to keep him. Personally I still like looking at Philly and GSW in a 3 way to try and acquire Monta Ellis. I say Ellis or noting. If Management is willing to absorb Elton Brand's contract, then getting Monta via the 3 way IS the best option here.

[Captain_Caveman]

He doesn't need to be a SF. Positions really only matter defensively.

As stated, can Tyrus come off the bench and defend the type of forwards that we would need to line him up against (Shard, Marvin Williams/Smith, Odom)?

YES. Our bench's inability to cover guys like that has been killing us for a couple of years now.

I never ever ever ever need to see Baby or Scal on Shard again. The end.

[eitanr]

I defintley believe Ty Thomas can be beneficial to Boston. I do agree that he can come out and defend Shard, Smith, Odom and all of the quick PFs you mention. I don't agree that he and Hinrich are worth Ray Allen.

Ty Thomas will be an unrestricted FA this off-season. You don't deal Allen for a nice combo guard, but ultimatley not a long term solution at the 2, and a rental on Ty Thomas...that's just too low value for such an enormous expiring contract in a deadline where so many teams are looking for expiring deals.

[Avalanche]

I defintley believe Ty Thomas can be beneficial to Boston. I do agree that he can come out and defend Shard, Smith, Odom and all of the quick PFs you mention. I don't agree that he and Hinrich are worth Ray Allen.

Ty Thomas will be an unrestricted FA this off-season. You don't deal Allen for a nice combo guard, but ultimatley not a long term solution at the 2, and a rental on Ty Thomas...that's just too low value for such an enormous expiring contract in a deadline where so many teams are looking for expiring deals.

absolutely.. i totally agree

i like hinrich as a player, i have no issues bringing the guy on board.. and Ty would be a great player to have here long term, and to have learn from KG as much as possible as he has the potential to defend in a similar style...

however that isnt enough of an impact trade to actually make us a better team now, and especially long term if we can retain Thomas

[Leto]

I agree that the Bulls won't trade Kirk without some value coming back outside of expirings such as a future first. Adding Tyrus is a non-starter.

You can have our first that is far from deal breaker, but Ty Thomas is. The Bulls can't clear a max salary under the cap without renouncing Thomas he will have a max contract cap hold of 12.5 mil, even if Salmons opts out the Bulls are looking at 47 mil in salary including cap holds with a cap at between 51-53 mil. So it is Thomas or FA.

If the Bulls make this deal they can give Ray HInrich's money. If they include Salmons they don't have to deal with whether or not he opts out his numbers are gone and they get their 16-18 mil in cap space. On top of that they still have the 19 mil in expiring contracts to get Amare or Bosh at the deadline.

Rose
Ray Allen
Luol Deng
Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh
Noah

That would be the real deal, finally for CHI.

Thats factually incorrect. The cap hold ceases to exist if the Bulls renounce him, he signs with us or he signs with another team.

[Leto]

I do agree with most of Boston fans that even a Kirk and Tyrus for Ray wouldn't be something the Celtics should do. You cant really afford to give up Ray or any of your core players if you want to make a run. What you need to do is add to the bench. To do that, you'll need some of your lesser expirings and sweetners.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Thomas is intriguing. It would be a huge gamble for Ainge to take though. Should be interesting to see how this unfolds.

[e in boulder]

I'm cool with having ray here. He's going to get out of this slump.

The one trade that really intrigued me was the Martin one, everything else - meh.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I'm cool with having ray here. He's going to get out of this slump.

The one trade that really intrigued me was the Martin one, everything else - meh.

Agreed

[sully00]

I agree that the Bulls won't trade Kirk without some value coming back outside of expirings such as a future first. Adding Tyrus is a non-starter.

You can have our first that is far from deal breaker, but Ty Thomas is. The Bulls can't clear a max salary under the cap without renouncing Thomas he will have a max contract cap hold of 12.5 mil, even if Salmons opts out the Bulls are looking at 47 mil in salary including cap holds with a cap at between 51-53 mil. So it is Thomas or FA.

If the Bulls make this deal they can give Ray HInrich's money. If they include Salmons they don't have to deal with whether or not he opts out his numbers are gone and they get their 16-18 mil in cap space. On top of that they still have the 19 mil in expiring contracts to get Amare or Bosh at the deadline.

Rose
Ray Allen
Luol Deng
Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh
Noah

That would be the real deal, finally for CHI.

Thats factually incorrect. The cap hold ceases to exist if the Bulls renounce him, he signs with us or he signs with another team.

What part of what I said is factually incorrect? It is either Thomas or a FA not both, even if he signed for his QO, which isn't going to happen in July the Bulls are 43 mil you may get to 8-10 mil under the cap but not 13-16mil.

[Zin5]

No way in hell do I consider Ray for Hinrich/Thomas. Why would you trade Ray for a player who's not exactly young (29, iirc) and is a major downgrade from him? Kirk plays better D, but he can't even put up 40% shooting. Ray's still at least very capable of putting points on the board, getting to the rim, and even when he's in a slump, his history commands defenses to stretch to him, making it easier for everyone else to get to the rim.

As for Thomas, no thanks.

[SportsWorld]

Tyrus Thomas is not a quality NBA player. He's a guy that can give you a few good minutes off the bench but be prepared for a shipload of turnovers and a lot of missed shots. This has probably been his worst year in the NBA since his rookie season. He's struggling to finish near the rim more than ever this season. He does block shots and dunk the ball pretty well. Please take him