Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 1

[Sreister]

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Did anybody see we picked up Peter Jok today?

Dude averaged 20 PPG in college on elite shooting. Could be a sleeper here.

AHHHHH.

Yeah, so the big thing with Jok is we had two guys that were "THE" guy for his Soph and JR season, with him being THE guy for his SR season. I see him stepping up and being a Morrow type guy. Not much on D, but a KNOCK DOWN shooter with his SR year learning how to actually score as well as shoot. I hope he sticks around (being an Iowa Alum) because I do think he can be a sleeper. He had to step up this year and he absolutely did, his game grew a lot for his 4th year. (bodes well for him stepping up here as well)

[Damkac]

F... the Celtics. I hope Kyrie will be failure for them.

[bwgood77]

I guess this guy didn't know as much as he thought he did.

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[jcsunsfan]

Man I really don't like that trade for Boston. Ainge is a cold hearted dude to trade IT after he came out and played for them the day after his sister passed away. Dude definitely gave his heart to the Celtics and was a large part of what got them where they are now, but looks like Ainge didn't want to pull up the Brinks truck for him. I also doubt IT was too happy when he saw it took adding Zizic, Crowder, and a top 5 pick to swap him and Kyrie, but I'm sure he'll get over it playing with LeBron and Kevin Love. Can't help but wonder if the Cavs are going to try adding another player with that Brooklyn pick or if they'll keep it to prepare for LeBron's potential exit.

If Ainge kept IT out of sentimentality, he should be fired. He needed a guarantee at the pg position. Kyrie is a much better player than IT IMO. Ainge does not have to pay IT now. Kyrie will probably stay in Boston long term. Ainge still has picks to get into the top of the 2018 lottery.

He now has one superstar. He has a present "big three" of Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford. That trio is a nice mix of offense and defense in a pg, wing and a big. He is looking for another star among his young wings, either Tatum or Brown. He has the means of getting yet another star in next years draft with the unprotected Laker pick. Ainge needed a "can't miss" player right now. He got that in Kyrie.

I think there is a good chance Boston beats Cleveland this year in the playoffs. They will also give the Warriors more opposition in the finals. They won't beat them, but it will be closer.

[noelphx]

So Taytum was the sticking point on the Boston deal. Cavs folded on that and did the deal. Guess we really didn't want to give up our pick this year.

[jcsunsfan]

So Taytum was the sticking point on the Boston deal. Cavs folded on that and did the deal. Guess we really didn't want to give up our pick this year.

Our timeline is different than Bostons.

[Puff]

Man I really don't like that trade for Boston. Ainge is a cold hearted dude to trade IT after he came out and played for them the day after his sister passed away. Dude definitely gave his heart to the Celtics and was a large part of what got them where they are now, but looks like Ainge didn't want to pull up the Brinks truck for him. I also doubt IT was too happy when he saw it took adding Zizic, Crowder, and a top 5 pick to swap him and Kyrie, but I'm sure he'll get over it playing with LeBron and Kevin Love. Can't help but wonder if the Cavs are going to try adding another player with that Brooklyn pick or if they'll keep it to prepare for LeBron's potential exit.

If Ainge kept IT out of sentimentality, he should be fired. He needed a guarantee at the pg position. Kyrie is a much better player than IT IMO. Ainge does not have to pay IT now. Kyrie will probably stay in Boston long term. Ainge still has picks to get into the top of the 2018 lottery.

He now has one superstar. He is looking for another among his young wings, either Tatum or Brown. He has the means of getting another in next years draft with the unprotected Laker pick.

Unlike most on this board I think the Celtics made the right move. I like IT and wish we would have kept him. However we would be in the same dilemma that Cleveland will be in next summer. Is he really worth a max contract.

The Celtics also do not need Crowder. I really like their rotation on the wing in Tatum, Brown, and Hayward.

As some have suggested the ECF could be epic next spring.

It will be interesting to see how the Cav's handle the PG rotation. Both Rose and IT will be playing for their next contract. Can they coexist?

The only real positive I see for the CAV's, and it could be huge for them, is the Brooklyn draft pick. Of course Lebron must be happy to see Kyrie no longer in Cleveland.

[enigmatics]

Ainge got robbed. lol

No he didn't. He managed to keep most of their young core guys (Tatum, Brown, and Smart). All he did was get rid of someone they weren't gonna pay the max, an aging vet, and a draft pick that won't be in the Top 5 next year after the Nets improvement this offseason.

Kudos to Ainge. He had the better bargaining chips with IT > Bledsoe.

[Jarlaxle0204]

So Boston's defense has gotten worse over the offseason. Booker put up 70 on them last year with a good defensive team. Can't wait to watch him score 100 against them this year.

[sunsbg]

So glad Irving will be proving he is not a superstar on another team.

[Jdiddy701]

So glad Irving will be proving he is not a superstar on another team.

I don't get the Kyrie Irving hate. Boston still will be a top 3 team in the East. I know that's not saying a lot but they do have a good damn team. I hope Kyrie does well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them actually come out the East.



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[Damkac]

Celtics could have Butler or PG while keeping IT. That is much much better than just Kyrie.

[Kerrsed]

So glad Irving will be proving he is not a superstar on another team.

I don't get the Kyrie Irving hate. Boston still will be a top 3 team in the East. I know that's not saying a lot but they do have a good damn team. I hope Kyrie does well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them actually come out the East.



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I dont think its necessarily hate on Irving, more so Boston gave up a lot to get him, way more than they should have. The Brooklyn pick is HUGE. HUGE! I dont see the difference between Irving and IT's production on the court being the Nets pick and Crowder/Zicic.

[MilotheSlayer]

I do like this trade long term for the Celtics. I think Kyrie does stay with Bos past his 2yrs. A core of Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford is really good, especially in the East. Now in 2yrs when the core changes to Kyrie, Hayward, and (Tatum/Brown) I think they become even better. They still have an awesome pick for next year and now they don't have to pay IT (scares the hell out of me).

[DirtyDez]

So glad Irving will be proving he is not a superstar on another team.

I don't get the Kyrie Irving hate. Boston still will be a top 3 team in the East. I know that's not saying a lot but they do have a good damn team. I hope Kyrie does well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them actually come out the East.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I dont think its necessarily hate on Irving, more so Boston gave up a lot to get him, way more than they should have. The Brooklyn pick is HUGE. HUGE! I dont see the difference between Irving and IT's production on the court being the Nets pick and Crowder/Zicic.

Ainge should've traded Tatum instead of the Nets' pick (if that was the hangup). They already have Hayward plus Jaylen Brown. Use the Nets and Laker pick on AD next summer.

Suns actually did Cleveland a favor by keeping JJ.

[Puff]

Ainge got robbed. lol

No he didn't. He managed to keep most of their young core guys (Tatum, Brown, and Smart). All he did was get rid of someone they weren't gonna pay the max, an aging vet, and a draft pick that won't be in the Top 5 next year after the Nets improvement this offseason.

Kudos to Ainge. He had the better bargaining chips with IT > Bledsoe.

I agree with most of that but I am not sure IT is greater than Bledsoe. I certainly could be wrong and IT had a hell of a year but Bledsoe may have been a better fit in Cleveland.

It appears to me that it came down to the unprotected pick from Brooklyn.

I am curious to know exactly what we actually offered. Everything is all speculation at this point.

[Cutter]

I'm the furthest thing from a homer but I'll go on record stating the Suns will finish closer to the teens than bottom-3 in wins in next year barring significant injury. They won't be going into games next year short-handed with the mindset knowing that losing is acceptable by management. I don't expect anything from Jackson, Bender or Chriss but Booker/Warren should take another leap forward after finishing strong last year. I'm also not a believer in the Lakers, Mavs and Kings as much as everyone else plus the East will have several teams trying like hell to lose.

I don't see another 20-something win season.

I hope you're right Dirty. If we do exceed a 20-something win season then that means our young players are improving and that we really have a "core" that might be worth something some day.

[AtheJ415]

Man I really don't like that trade for Boston. Ainge is a cold hearted dude to trade IT after he came out and played for them the day after his sister passed away. Dude definitely gave his heart to the Celtics and was a large part of what got them where they are now, but looks like Ainge didn't want to pull up the Brinks truck for him. I also doubt IT was too happy when he saw it took adding Zizic, Crowder, and a top 5 pick to swap him and Kyrie, but I'm sure he'll get over it playing with LeBron and Kevin Love. Can't help but wonder if the Cavs are going to try adding another player with that Brooklyn pick or if they'll keep it to prepare for LeBron's potential exit.

If Ainge kept IT out of sentimentality, he should be fired. He needed a guarantee at the pg position. Kyrie is a much better player than IT IMO. Ainge does not have to pay IT now. Kyrie will probably stay in Boston long term. Ainge still has picks to get into the top of the 2018 lottery.

He now has one superstar. He has a present "big three" of Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford. That trio is a nice mix of offense and defense in a pg, wing and a big. He is looking for another star among his young wings, either Tatum or Brown. He has the means of getting yet another star in next years draft with the unprotected Laker pick. Ainge needed a "can't miss" player right now. He got that in Kyrie.

I think there is a good chance Boston beats Cleveland this year in the playoffs. They will also give the Warriors more opposition in the finals. They won't beat them, but it will be closer.

There is no basis to believe that Kyrie is much better than IT.

[jcsunsfan]

I think Ainge did just fine in this trade. I think this season was IT's best both now and in the future. Kyrie can be a better defender. IT can't.

Ainge added Kyrie and Hayward this offseason. Semi looks pretty good too. I think the Celtics are just fine.

[AtheJ415]

I do like this trade long term for the Celtics. I think Kyrie does stay with Bos past his 2yrs. A core of Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford is really good, especially in the East. Now in 2yrs when the core changes to Kyrie, Hayward, and (Tatum/Brown) I think they become even better. They still have an awesome pick for next year and now they don't have to pay IT (scares the hell out of me).

We'll see, but I wouldn't necessarily bank on Tatum/Brown becoming core members. Ainge's draft history is absolutely terrible. The best player they have drafted in a decade is arguably Smart, who has a 12 PER. The other side of that coin is that those picks are becoming FAs, and other teams are signing them hoping they can develop into more than the role players they are (Olynyk, Bradley). I think Stevens makes all of their players seem better than they are. For instance, Smart is a key guy for them and the numbers don't support him actually helping you win. I think Stevens can make Irving much better--same with Hayways, but I don't buy that core being as great as it appears. Tatum looked great in summer league, but that has proven to be an absolutely horrendous predictor of future performance (Josh Selby is a hall of fame SL player, Jerryd Bayless, Nick Johnson, etc.. Even on the other side of the coin Brogdon was horrible in SL but much better in the real NBA).

I think both Brown and Tatum have promise, but I don't think they are likely to become stars. It is going to be a gamble, like it is with most young players. To me, Tatum is still an inefficient volume scorer, similar to a poor man's Melo, and so he has to improve his efficiency a ton and get better at some other aspect of the game. In college he was nowhere near as efficient as he was in SL, so the real question is whether he actually improved that much in training for the draft or if he was just hot for 4 games. Brown has the athleticism and defensive will but is not particularly skilled at anything on the offensive end at this point. Point being, both have a long ways to go.