If It Is To Be Said. So It Be. So It Is. The First Deadline Trade Thread.

[CelticFaninLBC]

The point of trading for Al was to save ownership money. Can't see Steven trading for Westbrook or Wall.

[Andrew McCeltic]

The appeal to Westbrook is getting out of Al’s money and having someone to hold down the 1 when you trade Smart/Schroeder

So then we trade Al for...a top 5 bad contract in the league? A contract that might be worse than Kemba? **** no

It’s one year and Russ is probably as overpaid relative to performance as Al. The opportunity is to have LA give up excess value for a short term win.. 2026 swap and 2027 pick was the suggestion from a Laker fan.. there are permutations and offshoots that could give us a nice reset.

[CelticFaninLBC]

The appeal to Westbrook is getting out of Al’s money and having someone to hold down the 1 when you trade Smart/Schroeder

So then we trade Al for...a top 5 bad contract in the league? A contract that might be worse than Kemba? **** no

It’s one year and Russ is probably as overpaid relative to performance as Al. The opportunity is to have LA give up excess value for a short term win.. 2026 swap and 2027 pick was the suggestion from a Laker fan.. there are permutations and offshoots that could give us a nice reset.

Their 2026 and 2027 picks will be useless when they sign Tatum.

[Bohemian]

Sorry, I am lost. Why are you talking about Westbrook coming to Boston?

[sully00]

The appeal to Westbrook is getting out of Al’s money and having someone to hold down the 1 when you trade Smart/Schroeder

Whah? Wait Al is getting out of the money. You waive him at seasons end and pay him his 14 mil and then maybe resign him on the cheap why on earth would you turn him into an extra 30 mil dollar headache?

There are good options out there on the trade market but damn Russ isn't on that list.

[zoyathedestroya]

I dhink we're going to trade Smart but not until the summer.

Westbrook is a train wreck.

Still curious about selling high on Jaylen but totally realize C's will not.

Not really interested in Beal.

Would love to ditch vets and play kids but Ime/Brad.

Feeling trapped.

Can we at least do this for the rest of the season?? If we're a .500 team anyway, at least raise the value of the young guys. The vets aren't changing our trajectory this season. It's still up to Tatum and Brown how far this team will go.

Rotation of Smart/Brown/Tatum + PP/Nesmith/Ro/Grant/Timelord and whatever we get for Richardson/Schroder/Horford

How is Smart different than Richards and Schroeder? Schroeder is expiring so whatever happens happens but no way do I just unload Richardson he has been great. Outside of Grant Williams the kids have sucked and can't be given away.

I agree with fallguy that offseason is the time Smart's gonna get moved, if he is.

I never said young guys can be given away. I'm suggesting the opposite. Play them more so we can at least find out if their value can be raised. 10 mins a game when main guys are injured aren't gonna cut it.

[chrisab123]

Can we at least do this for the rest of the season?? If we're a .500 team anyway, at least raise the value of the young guys. The vets aren't changing our trajectory this season. It's still up to Tatum and Brown how far this team will go.

Rotation of Smart/Brown/Tatum + PP/Nesmith/Ro/Grant/Timelord and whatever we get for Richardson/Schroder/Horford

How is Smart different than Richards and Schroeder? Schroeder is expiring so whatever happens happens but no way do I just unload Richardson he has been great. Outside of Grant Williams the kids have sucked and can't be given away.

I agree with fallguy that offseason is the time Smart's gonna get moved, if he is.

I never said young guys can be given away. I'm suggesting the opposite. Play them more so we can at least find out if their value can be raised. 10 mins a game when main guys are injured aren't gonna cut it.

Other than Nesmith I think we know who Romeo and Grant Williams at this point. Prichard still is dealing with coming back from the broken nose it seems like. All 4 are tradeable if they're getting something decent back. Sometimes in the case of Romeo its okay to admit the pick was a bust and move on.

[sully00]

What does Boston have to send DET in a deal that Jerami Grant goes to ATL and John Collins to Boston and Al Horford to DET?

Collins in ATL has never seemed like a good fit. Most team's aren't looking for a pure PF anymore but I think in Boston it would work very nicely with the pieces in place.

Are any of Boston's young players of value to DET? Does two future firsts get it done?

[CelticFaninLBC]

How is Smart different than Richards and Schroeder? Schroeder is expiring so whatever happens happens but no way do I just unload Richardson he has been great. Outside of Grant Williams the kids have sucked and can't be given away.

I agree with fallguy that offseason is the time Smart's gonna get moved, if he is.

I never said young guys can be given away. I'm suggesting the opposite. Play them more so we can at least find out if their value can be raised. 10 mins a game when main guys are injured aren't gonna cut it.

Other than Nesmith I think we know who Romeo and Grant Williams at this point. Prichard still is dealing with coming back from the broken nose it seems like. All 4 are tradeable if they're getting something decent back. Sometimes in the case of Romeo its okay to admit the pick was a bust and move on.

Romeo's the same age as Nesmith and a 1.5 years younger than PP and has been more productive than both. Why is he the bust of the group?

[Curmudgeon]

I think Horford might be moved for Hield. The Kings have been trying to deal him for years. Personally I'd rather just keep Horford unless the Kings throw in a sweetner, e.g. Davion Mitchell or a pick.

[Tatumfor2]

Any news on Fernando for Collins? Around a week ago I heard (sauces) we may have to add a heavily protected 2nd but POBO is holding firm on not doing it atm. One more loss and we may have to give in.

Finally, a trade that just makes sense for everyone!

[Fencer reregistered]

Well-reasoned article.

I think there was at least one unfortunate typo mixing up "buyer" and "seller", but the arguments are pretty clear even so.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/power-brokers-of-the-nba-trade-deadline-why-bulls-pacers-blazers-and-thunder-will-dominate-the-rumor-mill/

[CelticFaninLBC]

What does Boston have to send DET in a deal that Jerami Grant goes to ATL and John Collins to Boston and Al Horford to DET?

Collins in ATL has never seemed like a good fit. Most team's aren't looking for a pure PF anymore but I think in Boston it would work very nicely with the pieces in place.

Are any of Boston's young players of value to DET? Does two future firsts get it done?

BOS gets: Collins, Olynyk & Joseph
ATL gets: Smart & J. Grant
DET gets: Horford, D. Wright, Nesmith, BOS pick & CHA pick, which ATL recently picked up in the Reddish trade.

[Andrew McCeltic]

The appeal to Westbrook is getting out of Al’s money and having someone to hold down the 1 when you trade Smart/Schroeder

Whah? Wait Al is getting out of the money. You waive him at seasons end and pay him his 14 mil and then maybe resign him on the cheap why on earth would you turn him into an extra 30 mil dollar headache?

There are good options out there on the trade market but damn Russ isn't on that list.

Westbrook is good! We all know the problems, but for a 1.5 year rental to keep the team from bottoming out? He might even make us better this year. He's shooting the same 3pct as Smart, so it's neutral for our spacing, and he's five times the offensive player. He could put up 20 points and 10 assists to close out the year. He's averaging 8 rebounds a game.

There are versions where we'd get under the tax and rake in medium to long term value. LA would be spendthrift for a short-term boost if they're foolish enough to think they can win another title.

A 2026 swap and a 2027 first? Good chance those are lotto picks. You could do Al/Smart/DS for Russ and 1.5 picks and be under the tax this year. Add JRich for THT and you're five million under this year. Or do Al/Smart for Russ/picks and work separate JRich/DS trades to maneuver financially and take back other pieces.

There are net positive scenarios. The only serious calculation is about what options it opens up and closes down this summer. Keeping Al means you pay him 14 million to not play and get some financial maneuverability. If you get Russ and you're ready to go deeper into the tax for at least a year, we have TPEs and a pick surplus to facilitate trades.

You're thinking of Westbrook like he's the player Washington traded for - he doesn't have three years left to handcuff a Wizards team in desperate need of improvement. He has a year and a half left to *make us better* while we reset around Rob and the Jays.

[Andrew McCeltic]

What does Boston have to send DET in a deal that Jerami Grant goes to ATL and John Collins to Boston and Al Horford to DET?

Collins in ATL has never seemed like a good fit. Most team's aren't looking for a pure PF anymore but I think in Boston it would work very nicely with the pieces in place.

Are any of Boston's young players of value to DET? Does two future firsts get it done?

BOS gets: Collins, Olynyk & Joseph
ATL gets: Smart & J. Grant
DET gets: Horford, D. Wright, Nesmith, BOS pick & CHA pick, which ATL recently picked up in the Reddish trade.

Detroit can do better. In a vacuum, two 1sts and Nesmith for Grant (+ Olynyk? They signed him to be a vet presence they can sell high to an upgrading playoff team, not to throw him into a trade) is fair value.

[sully00]

Can we at least do this for the rest of the season?? If we're a .500 team anyway, at least raise the value of the young guys. The vets aren't changing our trajectory this season. It's still up to Tatum and Brown how far this team will go.

Rotation of Smart/Brown/Tatum + PP/Nesmith/Ro/Grant/Timelord and whatever we get for Richardson/Schroder/Horford

How is Smart different than Richards and Schroeder? Schroeder is expiring so whatever happens happens but no way do I just unload Richardson he has been great. Outside of Grant Williams the kids have sucked and can't be given away.

I agree with fallguy that offseason is the time Smart's gonna get moved, if he is.

I never said young guys can be given away. I'm suggesting the opposite. Play them more so we can at least find out if their value can be raised. 10 mins a game when main guys are injured aren't gonna cut it.

I would give them away right now is what I mean they have sucked they have gotten run and done little with it. Pritchard's coming around but Langford is in his 3rd season and getting almost 18 mpg and there is just nothing there on a consistent basis. Nesmith is only in his second season it isn't like I am giving up but no friggin way I am watching guys who need the decks cleared so they can get some run.

You want to chase Tatum and Brown out of town do that right about now.

[zoyathedestroya]

How is Smart different than Richards and Schroeder? Schroeder is expiring so whatever happens happens but no way do I just unload Richardson he has been great. Outside of Grant Williams the kids have sucked and can't be given away.

I agree with fallguy that offseason is the time Smart's gonna get moved, if he is.

I never said young guys can be given away. I'm suggesting the opposite. Play them more so we can at least find out if their value can be raised. 10 mins a game when main guys are injured aren't gonna cut it.

I would give them away right now is what I mean they have sucked they have gotten run and done little with it. Pritchard's coming around but Langford is in his 3rd season and getting almost 18 mpg and there is just nothing there on a consistent basis. Nesmith is only in his second season it isn't like I am giving up but no friggin way I am watching guys who need the decks cleared so they can get some run.

You want to chase Tatum and Brown out of town do that right about now.

At the very least expand the rotation to 10 guys if you want to hold on to Richardson and Horford. (See what Memphis, Cavs, and even Miami/Dubs are doing with their young guys). We already know that Schroder isn't part of this team's future. PP has been productive when he's at least played 18 mins beginning last season. It's just hard to feel comfortable and at ease with your game when you get two six minute stints a game and barely get touches (Nesmith/Langford).

This is Langford's first real healthy season. Not ready to count him out especially when he's playing a position whose minutes go to our 3 main guys.

Brown and Tatum have to play better and more consistently if they want this team to win. I'm not even asking them to make their teammates better at this point.

[CelticFaninLBC]

How is Smart different than Richards and Schroeder? Schroeder is expiring so whatever happens happens but no way do I just unload Richardson he has been great. Outside of Grant Williams the kids have sucked and can't be given away.

I agree with fallguy that offseason is the time Smart's gonna get moved, if he is.

I never said young guys can be given away. I'm suggesting the opposite. Play them more so we can at least find out if their value can be raised. 10 mins a game when main guys are injured aren't gonna cut it.

I would give them away right now is what I mean they have sucked they have gotten run and done little with it. Pritchard's coming around but Langford is in his 3rd season and getting almost 18 mpg and there is just nothing there on a consistent basis. Nesmith is only in his second season it isn't like I am giving up but no friggin way I am watching guys who need the decks cleared so they can get some run.

You want to chase Tatum and Brown out of town do that right about now.

I think age needs to be considered. Langford was a one-n-done out of college, whereas PP was a 4 year guy and turns 24 next week. Langford is the only one of Nesmith and PP that's show much this year.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

Translation: We're getting trash offers and we may be stuck with him for a while.

[SatchSanders]

Who are your top 10 players 25 years old and younger and can you list their number of titles.

Meh, that's a red herring. Tatum and Brown are barely good enough to make the playoffs, never mind titles. You can always argue that they aren't good enough now but they'll get there. I don't see them getting there at all. Tatum is regressing. Brown's shooting has definitely improved but his other flaws (turnovers, defensive lapses) have not been corrected.

Who do you foresee getting there?

They're plenty good enough to lead a team to the title, and yes they demonstrated that in 2017-18 and in 2019-20. But we don't have the right parts at this point, the chemistry isn't very good now, and the conference in particular has improved at the top.

Those teams had strong players at the point and to distribute. Usually the point and the distributor are one and the same, but those teams did it differently (scoring point and other distributors). In '17-18 it was Rozier as a scoring point, Horford as a distributor, and Smart as a mishmash. In '19-'20 Hayward was the linchpin, Kemba the scoring point, and Smart the mishmash.

That's what this team misses when it comes to moving the ball. The J's haven't grown enough to both score efficiently and distribute without someone else helping fill those roles the way Jrue does in Milwaukee. Hayward's gone of course. Kemba last demanded extra defensive attention during the bubble. Horford's a shell of himself on offense. RWIII COULD be that distributing fulcrum on offense right now, but won't be trusted until he develops a better shot. Langford hasn't emerged yet, which I think is more a function of mistrust rather than a lack of capacity on his part. PP's not capable of being such a point, while Richardson and Nesmith are just 3&Ds.

A third star is discussed because it's easiest to find the scoring and distribution in one player. likely a star can stretch the defense and distribute. But those missing roles could be spackled together the way they were in the conference finals runs. The spackling becomes more fragile the deeper you go, as the margin of error shrinks. I think it's better to sell at the deadline, see which kids swim, and then use the TPEs to add realized talent to replace what we've offloaded the last few years.