Trade Landscape/Trade Ideas

[Andrew McCeltic]

Notice the thread title- I'm not suggesting these as trades we SHOULD do, but as possibilities we might have available, potential options. One thing is clear with this front office: they don't decide on a set plan like trading Rondo or Pierce, but instead constantly evaluate the deals that bubble up and see if any are so good they make it worth trading Rondo (or whoever).

So a few thoughts have occurred to me based on pre-season signs:

1) Milwaukee should be in the playoff hunt, and they won't do any major shake-ups or give up on Giannis, but they could be a team to target for unloading Bass or Lee- they could try to make a few tweaks around the edges of their roster. Lee for Ridnour would give us a cap break and give them a valuable roleplayer.

2) Greg Monroe is available. We don't want him, definitely not for Rondo, but Monroe's way behind Drummond now in hype/potential, he doesn't seem to have fixed any of the holes in his offensive game, and he's due for a big extension. Only worth monitoring because he could shake loose a good player from another team and open up a 3-team trade. Maybe you trade Avery Bradley for him, simply because he's 6'11.

Probable suitors: DAL, LAL, OKC, MEM, SAS

3) Chicago still needs scoring, as always. Could they pry away Brook Lopez? Not much we can do to get involved, except send them Marshon Brooks (who's superfluous on this team) at the deadline for a second-rounder.

4) GERALD WALLACE

Guy's been great so far, and his trade value will go up. Can be a good presence on a rebuilding team, but that's a lot of money for a veteran mentor. Unless they pick him over Green, he gets moved at the first decent opportunity.

Possible suitors: DAL, MIN, UTA, WAS

The Mavs can't get anyone to sign on, except by overpaying mid-range veterans. Wallace fits. Minnesota has always needed wing help, and Martin and Budinger will be solid, but if their schemes have room for a player like Wallace, they could deal Derrick Williams and Corey Brewer and leave the top of their rotation untouched. Utah's got a ton of expiring contracts and might want Wallace as a stopgap defender to go with Favors. And Washington is going to be competitive, if Wall's healthy, but Otto Porter hasn't shown anything yet, and we would probably sign off on Wallace-for-Okafor for salary reasons alone.

5) RONDO

I will go on record that he doesn't get traded unless he revolts against Stevens or another team blows us away with an offer. Detroit's off the table, Milwaukee and Utah are slim possibilities, and we know the Lakers covet him, but they have nothing to offer unless they get a high lotto pick this summer. Then Rondo for Jabari Parker sounds great.

The ONLY possible suitor I can imagine, who could both make an incredible offer and stay competitive doing it, is the Charlotte Bobcats. They've been awful, they have bad management, and bad management, as we saw with Pitino, can get very impatient with losing. Rondo is the sort of star they might chase, and they've got Jefferson in the fold, Zeller showing promise, and a ton of useless expiring contracts.

Rondo, Lee-or-Bass, Green-or-Wallace to CHA. Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions (both expiring), Kemba Walker, and Kidd-Gilchrist to BOS. Ideally we can coax a future first or two out of them, although I think they owe Chicago their very next pick. We clear an enormous amount of salary and get two cheap players with upside, one of which still gets major hype as a 20 year old who hasn't peaked and could be special. And we sink to the bottom of the lotto.

Charlotte gets to roll out Rondo, Henderson, Green, Zeller and Jefferson. Not a contender, but they make the playoffs and make money. Again, not likely, and not a great trade for either team, but the only Rondo scenario I can envision right now.

EDIT - Sorry, andy. I'm co-opting the thread title to give people a place to post their trade ideas - Slart

[Andrew McCeltic]

Most important thing I didn't mention: NO STARS itching for trades. Aldridge and Love could get unhappy fast, but Olshey can probably talk LMA into being patient, and I don't think we want him, anyway. Love will probably give the new roster in MIN time to gel, and they've got so many decent pieces that they can probably sell him on that flexibility..

[2Mas]

2) Greg Monroe is available. We don't want him, definitely not for Rondo, but Monroe's way behind Drummond now in hype/potential, he doesn't seem to have fixed any of the holes in his offensive game, and he's due for a big extension. Only worth monitoring because he could shake loose a good player from another team and open up a 3-team trade. Maybe you trade Avery Bradley for him, simply because he's 6'11.

Woah. Buddy. Why don't we want him? 16-10-4 for a 6'11 23 year old?

Dude. Monroe is a beast. If we could i'd nab him in a heart beat.

Bradley, Bass, BKN 1st for starters. What major holes does he have in his game? He can shoot the mid range, strong in the post. I'm not saying he has Hakeem posts moves but he's an old school big. I love the kid. I think he'd be a bad fit next to Sully, we would need to get a more athletic big.

a Rondo, Green, Monroe, Sully, Top 5 pick core is great. If this Embiid dude on Kansas is a beast draft him next to Monroe! Crazy lol. Flip Sully or KO for a stud shooting guard. He'd have a sick team.

Okay im ranting, just don't know why your not high on Monroe?

[Andrew McCeltic]

Shooting percentage has gone from 55 to 52 to 48 over his first three seasons. I remember seeing some big holes when I looked at his more advanced stats, too- my gut says that defenses have figured him out and that he hasn't adjusted. But it's possible DET is using him wrong, too, or forcing him to take more possessions in the midrange because of Drummond. Shot .277 last year on jump shots (http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ting/2013/)

He's a good player, I just don't think you deal Rondo for him and I think he's going to get overpaid. He's young enough that he can be coached, but I think his midrange game is really overrated.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Look at the splits for Bass and Garnett on our team last year to get a sense of how much worse Monroe was.. You can live with Monroe next to better shooters like Sullinger or Olynyk, but on defense, he's also not a shotblocker..

[Ed Pinkney]

Not that interested in Monroe when we have Sullinger and Olynyk who both have the potential to be better than him. We could do with shooting and a centre.

If Wallace plays well this year he becomes moveable next off season as two years at $20 mil is much more attractive than three years at $30 mil for a player who may or may not be done (I am leaning more towards him still having some good years left).

I have posted this in other threads despite really liking Brandon Bass and Courtney Lee, they are not needed on this team because we have younger players who need minutes who are already as good if not better than them. I would love to move them for someone like Gortat or Asik to get a real centre on this roster but I don't see that happening.

I really don't like the idea of trading Rondo for assets. I think you should only move him for someone of similar level, impact and ability. I think the removal of Doc, Pierce and Garnett and the humbling experience of a long term injury might give him a bit of a boost when he comes back to jump his game up another notch or two.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Ok, who is that similar player you can get for Rondo?

[Andrew McCeltic]

We could also deal Green/Brooks for Monroe/Stuckey- Perkins for Green for Monroe is a huge net win.

[darrendaye]

Overall, I think Bass and Crawford get dealt at the deadline. I hope they can manage an expiring and a pick for each. Then Ainge plays it out with what is left.

As the OP mentions Giannis, on a sidenote, he was the only guy I'm regretful the Celts could not manage to grab.

Next offseason, imo, is likely to be somewhat quiet beyond the draft. I don't think you can start discussing Wallace trade options until next year's trade deadline. Hopefully Lee can get dealt sooner. Perhaps Ainge can use Bogans' non-guaranteed contract and/or the $10.3mm trade exemption in a salary dump situation next offseason. But it would have to be the right fit.

[2Mas]

Ok, who is that similar player you can get for Rondo?

I'm not trading Rondo for anyone. Unless it's like a legit superstar. I don't see the need to trade him. He's gonna miss 1/3 of the year & we're gonna be .500 tops with him anyways.

BUT to me a Rondo Green Sully top 5 pick & if we can flip Bass (11mil in cap), or both (16mil in cap) we can sign a stud next summer add that top 5 pick. 1 a big 1 a shooting guard & I think we're legit again.

I'm all for the keeping Rondo train.

[sully00]

It is easy enough to say you don't want this guy or that guy but you have to be realistic about the value of your own players.

Understand that guys like Lee and Bass have no real trade value, you can only hope it doesn't cost Boston an asset to move them if you decide to do so.

Green and Bradley could have some trade value but they actually have to play well to establish it.

Rondo is the only player with trade value but even that is hanging on his return to health. His value league wide is nowhere near what Boston would likely need to get to seriously consider trading him.

Ainge's most likely scenario is to collect more bad contracts in exchange for expiring contracts and collect more draft picks.

[165bows]

A few injuries that will likely resolve, but could possibly turn into an area of need for teams:

Emeka Okafor, cervical disc problem, WAS
Chase Budinger, knee surgery, MINN
Carl Landry, hip flexor tear, apparently out 3-4 months, SAC
Rodney Stuckey, broken right thumb/surgery, DET
Deron Williams, ankle, BRK

Also, Chris Kaman smashed a finger in a team toboganning activity in China and may miss time. OMG.

The Lakers have experienced Kobe Bryant's torn Achilles, Pau Gasol's knee problems and Steve Nash's broken leg over the last year. Now there's the tobogganing injury sustained by Chris Kaman at the Great Wall of China. One of his fingers was squashed while he was sledding down a slippery concrete track after trekking along the wall for two hours Sunday with Lakers teammates and staffers. His sled, essentially a wheeled cart with a brake, was rammed from behind by teammate Shawne Williams. Kaman instinctively put out his hand as he saw Williams careening toward him and, well, ouch.

Visitors to the Mutianyu portion of the wall take a gondola or cable car to the top of a hill where the wall is located. They can return the same way or take the toboggan down. "I didn't hit the brake the whole time. Guys on the edge were yelling 'Slow down' and I just kept going," Kaman said. "All of a sudden I catch up to this guy close to the bottom, so now I have to brake. Shawne Williams comes behind me without hitting his brake at all and just smashed right into me." Los Angeles Times

Read more at http://hoopshype.com/rumors/tag/injurie ... Icq0hA6.99

[humblebum]

I'd say right now Green is your most moveable asset. With Rondo and Sullinger as your two most likely building blocks you're going to need to find a legit 2-3 who can carry the offensive load. I don't think Green can be that guy. Over the next couple seasons Wallace gives you similar level production with value added for being that coaches dream hustle player.

Green has legit talent and more importantly the opportunity to showcase his skills early in the year. I think Rondo and Green's skill sets tend to overlap a bit as well. Wouldn't be surprised to see Green moved to a contender.

[Slartibartfast]

I'd say right now Green is your most moveable asset. With Rondo and Sullinger as your two most likely building blocks you're going to need to find a legit 2-3 who can carry the offensive load. I don't think Green can be that guy. Over the next couple seasons Wallace gives you similar level production with value added for being that coaches dream hustle player.

Green has legit talent and more importantly the opportunity to showcase his skills early in the year. I think Rondo and Green's skill sets tend to overlap a bit as well. Wouldn't be surprised to see Green moved to a contender.

Fully agree. Though it could turn into a showcase of his weaknesses just as easily. Let's hope he can put up numbers without a playmaker (other than the great Jordan Crawford of course).

I'm hoping we can find a home for Lee too, maybe in the same deal. Maybe Eric Gordon. I can see the Pelicans liking a Green/Lee package. And a health risk like Gordon is the kind of guy Ainge always seems to go for (Raef, Wally Z, JO, Sully, Green post heart-surgery).

[sully00]

The problem with moving Green and Lee is that they are owed 34 mil over the next 3 years. So in any kind of "even trade" one that doesn't involve you throwing in draft picks you have to take back the same kind of money. Eric Gordon is a good example of the type of salary you need to take back. But if your the Hornets why would you want to swap Gordon's 29 mil for Green and Lee's 34 mil?

To me the best path to a trade for Boston is Avery Bradley (outside of Sullinger and KO). For Bradley to play well enough that a contending team would desire him as a starter and at the same time needs to liquidate a pricey star talent that doesn't fit the team. Boston could use Bradley and Hump to offer a team the ability to cut salary instead of Boston focusing on cutting salary for a FA bonanza that is ill fated to being with.

I like Bradley so I just want him to play well for this team but I think realistically he has the chance to be this team's most valuable trade chip that this team is going to be willing to move.

[Andrew McCeltic]

The problem with moving Green and Lee is that they are owed 34 mil over the next 3 years. So in any kind of "even trade" one that doesn't involve you throwing in draft picks you have to take back the same kind of money. Eric Gordon is a good example of the type of salary you need to take back. But if your the Hornets why would you want to swap Gordon's 29 mil for Green and Lee's 34 mil?

Because Gordon has a major injury history and hasn't been fully healthy in 3 years, and doesn't want to be in NO?

[sully00]

The problem with moving Green and Lee is that they are owed 34 mil over the next 3 years. So in any kind of "even trade" one that doesn't involve you throwing in draft picks you have to take back the same kind of money. Eric Gordon is a good example of the type of salary you need to take back. But if your the Hornets why would you want to swap Gordon's 29 mil for Green and Lee's 34 mil?

Because Gordon has a major injury history and hasn't been fully healthy in 3 years, and doesn't want to be in NO?

Sure I get why they may want to trade him but your giving them back a guy who at this point is extremely overpaid in Lee and a guy who missed a season due to heart surgery in Green and neither are the same caliber of player as Gordon. So unless your going to throw in draft picks or young talent then why?

Now 3 or 4 months from now if Avery Bradley is scoring 15 ppg and shooting the 3 and playing defense then maybe NO will want to swap Gordon for him. But of course if he is producing like that most will think he is on his way to Springfield and we could never possibly trade him.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Lee's only slightly overpaid- his contract looks bad because we have so many shooting guards- but he can be a solid rotation player in the right situation. With Holiday, Evans, Davis and Ryan Anderson taking shots for the Pelicans, they may want a shooting guard who can fill a complementary role. And it's misleading to call Green "a guy who missed a season"- he's clearly back now, and healthy, and without the chronic injury risks that Gordon seems to have. It's partly a salary dump for NOP, and turning one expensive injury-prone player into two less expensive healthier players is reducing their risk and increasing their flexibility..

[humblebum]

I don't think Bradley gets moved in any deal not involving a healthy stud. IMO he's the guy most likely to be asked about as a throw in to a larger deal around Green/Bass/Hump but like Ainge did with Rondo he'll be held out as an uber role player with potential to become more.

We are more or less stuck with Lee and Wallace. Bass has limited value to any contending team, perhaps an expiring and a second rounder or a lower level prospect. Hump has absolutely zero value outside of being an expiring. I don't think KO and Sully are anywhere near peak value so that's a no go and Rondo needs to reestablish his value post knee injury.

Outside of that you have limited assets. I think Crawford could surprise this season but I see Vitor, Brooks, Bogans as salary filler for any potential deal.

[brackdan70]

with Utah.. Gordon Hayward and Marvin Williams for Jeff Green and Courtney Lee or for Green, Crawford and Brooks?