Brad Stevens Thread – Finding The Way

[CelticFaninLBC]

If Ayton becomes available, should Stevens try dealing for him?

This article mentions thr idea of Rob Williams, Derrick White and Nesmith for Ayton.

The Suns would need draft compensation on top of that. It might be too risky to gut the team of assets for Ayton and also hardcap the team.
I do like the idea of finally having a real 7 footer on the team.

Yeah they'd be close to the tax apron, with just Tatum, Brown, Ayton, Horford, Smart, Theis, G. Williams and PP.

[165bows]

Yeah the TPE can't be "moved" or combined. It just allows us to take back a player making $17M without worrying about outgoing salary. Taking back that much salary sets up for an EXTREMELY expensive tax bill next year if Horford is back. But the longer term payroll can accommodate a player in that range with a reasonable luxury tax number if we add a player in that range on a multi year deal. Because of the rising salary cap/tax line and Horford's deal expiring we have good flexibility moving forward. You can allocate Horford's current salary slot into a multi year contract acquired through the TPE and Grant's extension. if Horford is worth hanging onto a few more years and needs more than the minimum, then you probably gotta dump Theis for a vet min big. Which honestly... whatever. Not the end of the world. If Horford himself is coming back for more than the minimum than obviously he's at a level where you feel good about Horford/Grant/Rob being the bulk of your playoff big rotation.

I still like Kevin Huerter a LOT for this team with that TPE. That's a guy who can bring strong shooting and some ball handling off the bench. He'll be a guy teams hunt on defense like they do Pritchard, but at 6'7" he can contest better. Whenever Tatum goes to the bench and we play Jaylen at the 3, I always feel like we're playing fire because not sure the combo of Smart/White gives us enough secondary scoring or floor spacing. When you put Pritchard in there it helps, but leaves you vulnerable on defense and he's still pretty limited overall on offense. I look at it as there are 48 minutes each at PG/SG/SF. So 144 minutes total. In a playoff rotation, you can allocate those minutes as:

Tatum - 36
Brown - 36
Smart - 32
White - 20
Huerter - 20

Any minutes you want to play small with Tatum at the 4 you can add some minutes to the other guys, But Huerter fits beautifully there to me. Can be hidden within the defensive scheme and hold his own but brings big time shooting and secondary playmaking. Could be a great complimentary piece. I don't think ATL would look to move him directly, but I think you could get him in a multi team scenario...

ATL gives: Huerter, maybe some assets
ATL gets: player they like better than Huerter

BOS gives: 2023 pick
BOS gets: Huerter (into TPE)

Team X gives: player ATL likes better than Huerter
Team X gets: 2023 BOS pick, maybe some assets from ATL

Idea here is that 'Team X' prefers salary relief and a BOS pick to Huerter. The caliber of player determines whether ATL sends an asset with Huerter or not. For instance I could see ATL sending Huerter and #16 to DET for Jerami Grant but the Pistons preferring another pick to Huerter since they're rebuilding and want to use cap space on maybe guys like Mitch Robinson or Collin Sexton. Just throwing out an example.

If you want to go with a more limited player, someone like Alec Burks makes a lot of sense. His salary is only $10M and he's got a 2nd year team option. So more favorable than Huerter's 4 year deal, but a more limited player and a guy in his 30s. Still, he's a good 3 point shooter on high volume (40% on 5 attempts/game the last 3 years, no full season lower than 39%). NYK actually played him at PG some so you get a little playmaking versatility there as well. Solid enough defender and good size at 6'6" too. Likely looking at salary relief and 2nd rounder(s) so should be inexpensive to acquire.

If NY starts dumping salary I’d take a flier on Obi Toppin.

That's not happening. He's a rookie scale guy. And clear role to backup Randle. If anything they'd want to open up more minutes for him.

Burks is 30 years old and they have lots of young guards/wings that are at least worth giving a look (Quickley, Grimes, Reddish, McBride). Of course Barrett is there as their "franchise player" even if he's probably not good enough for that. Then they also have a multi year deal to old friend Fournier that will be hard to move. Rose is still there at PG. And Kemba is dead weight at this point. They have a log jam there and Burks might be the only vet they can move for something as trivially positive as a second round pick.

Burks could be worth picking up for nothing. OTOH I could see them making a play for LaVine and working to dump some other salary to do it, and some of that salary is unmovable. So I agree with what you are saying but if he was getting moved for some low key assets I’d be in on it.

[BostonCouchGM]

ORL is dumb enough to let Bamba walk apparently just as he got healthy and showed he can be a high caliber starting center. I still remember last seasons 19-15 with 4 blocks game against us. Injuries and a clueless organization hurt his value but they might be willing to move him in a S & T for someone instead of just losing him for nothing. We were rumored to love him before the draft and there were trade rumors years ago. He's the type of guy Ainge excelled at finding and giving a chance to. I wonder if we could make it work. I know he has his very vocal haters on this board but how would people feel about it if we did get him? I'd love to have him in the event Horford is gone or as a massive improvement over Theis and for when TimeLord is inevitably out.

11-8 with almost 2 blocks a game while shooting 38% from three. I think he'd look great in green personally.

Here he is putting up 32 vs Embiid and the Sixers. He couldn't stop Embiid though but who can?

https://www.nba.com/watch/video/mo-bamba-32-points-highlights-vs-philadelphia-76ers

[Fencer reregistered]

ORL is dumb enough to let Bamba walk apparently just as he got healthy and showed he can be a high caliber starting center. I still remember last seasons 19-15 with 4 blocks game against us. Injuries and a clueless organization hurt his value but they might be willing to move him in a S & T for someone instead of just losing him for nothing. We were rumored to love him before the draft and there were trade rumors years ago. He's the type of guy Ainge excelled at finding and giving a chance to. I wonder if we could make it work. I know he has his very vocal haters on this board but how would people feel about it if we did get him? I'd love to have him in the event Horford is gone or as a massive improvement over Theis and for when TimeLord is inevitably out.

11-8 with almost 2 blocks a game while shooting 38% from three. I think he'd look great in green personally.

Here he is putting up 32 vs Embiid and the Sixers. He couldn't stop Embiid though but who can?

https://www.nba.com/watch/video/mo-bamba-32-points-highlights-vs-philadelphia-76ers

Do you recall the details of the discussion as to whether we can S&T for anybody? I don't, but I have a feeling that the answer was basically "No".

The issue, obviously, is that an S&T triggers the hard cap.

[lon3lytoaster]

I know not fully responsible for the 2020 draft but looking at where we’re at now, it’s not hard to ruminate on what Bane, Bey or Maxey could have done for this team.

Need to stop giving away firsts and hit on some of these picks, because the last few drafts have had a lot of high level role players we’ve missed on except Rob and Grant.

[hugepatsfan]

My fantasy trade as an overreaction to Brown turning it over 5 times in the 3rd last night like someone learning how to dribble for the first time and Rob Williams missing another game...

Trade #1 - Draft night trade (agreed to in principle, executed in new year) for Beal (he opts in to facilitate a deal to BOS the way CP3 did to get to HOU from LAC)

BOS gives: Jaylen Brown, Theis, Nesmith
BOS gets: Brad Beal (opted in), #4 pick (PF Keegan Murray - some Al Horford to his game)

WAS gives: Beal (opted in)
WAS gets: Davion Mitchell, Theis, Nesmith, Moe Harkless

They get mostly expiring salary and a young PG for playing ball with the Brad Beal trade facilitating.

SAC gives: #4, Davion Mitchell, Moe Harkless, Terrence Davis, Alex Len
SAC gets: Jaylen Brown

They'll have cap space to absorb the extra money here. They are rumored to want to make the playoffs so they make a move for an all star caliber player.

Necessary evil to make the numbers work

Buy out Horford for $14.5M and stretch it over 3 years. Need to do it for the next deal below and the hard cap that comes with it

Trade #2 - S&T for Ayton

BOS gives: Rob Williams, Derrick White, 2023 1st
BOS gets: Ayton (S&T max deal), Will Barton (taken into Fournier TPE)

PHX gives: Ayton (S&T max deal)
PHX gets: Rob Williams, 2023 BOS 1st

They get a cheaper replacement to save money because their owner is cheap as ****

DEN gives: Wil Barton
DEN gets: Derrick White

Defensive upgrade with Murray and (maybe?) MPJ coming back.



Our ensuing roster would be:

Smart / Pritchard
Beal
Tatum / Barton
G Williams / Murray
Ayton

[Hal14]

Make it happen, Brad! Best player in all of europe, for the 2nd year in a row.

Micic could be the final piece we need:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/267065/NBA-Teams-Have-Interest-In-Vasilije-Micic-For-Next-Season

Watch on YouTube

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

If Ayton becomes available, should Stevens try dealing for him?

This article mentions thr idea of Rob Williams, Derrick White and Nesmith for Ayton.

The Suns would need draft compensation on top of that. It might be too risky to gut the team of assets for Ayton and also hardcap the team.
I do like the idea of finally having a real 7 footer on the team.

none of the 4 teams left in the playoffs have a player in their rotation who is over 6'10".

Ayton isn't a 7-footer either. He's 6'11". With a 7'6" wingspan (the same wingspan time lord has)

[165bows]

ORL is dumb enough to let Bamba walk apparently just as he got healthy and showed he can be a high caliber starting center. I still remember last seasons 19-15 with 4 blocks game against us. Injuries and a clueless organization hurt his value but they might be willing to move him in a S & T for someone instead of just losing him for nothing. We were rumored to love him before the draft and there were trade rumors years ago. He's the type of guy Ainge excelled at finding and giving a chance to. I wonder if we could make it work. I know he has his very vocal haters on this board but how would people feel about it if we did get him? I'd love to have him in the event Horford is gone or as a massive improvement over Theis and for when TimeLord is inevitably out.

11-8 with almost 2 blocks a game while shooting 38% from three. I think he'd look great in green personally.

Here he is putting up 32 vs Embiid and the Sixers. He couldn't stop Embiid though but who can?

https://www.nba.com/watch/video/mo-bamba-32-points-highlights-vs-philadelphia-76ers

Do you recall the details of the discussion as to whether we can S&T for anybody? I don't, but I have a feeling that the answer was basically "No".

The issue, obviously, is that an S&T triggers the hard cap.

They are right at the hard cap line for next year so it’s theoretically possible- but they’d have to send out more than the take in and forgo pretty much everything else move-wise. Possible but not at all likely imo.

[165bows]

My fantasy trade as an overreaction to Brown turning it over 5 times in the 3rd last night like someone learning how to dribble for the first time and Rob Williams missing another game...

Trade #1 - Draft night trade (agreed to in principle, executed in new year) for Beal (he opts in to facilitate a deal to BOS the way CP3 did to get to HOU from LAC)

BOS gives: Jaylen Brown, Theis, Nesmith
BOS gets: Brad Beal (opted in), #4 pick (PF Keegan Murray - some Al Horford to his game)

WAS gives: Beal (opted in)
WAS gets: Davion Mitchell, Theis, Nesmith, Moe Harkless

They get mostly expiring salary and a young PG for playing ball with the Brad Beal trade facilitating.

SAC gives: #4, Davion Mitchell, Moe Harkless, Terrence Davis, Alex Len
SAC gets: Jaylen Brown

They'll have cap space to absorb the extra money here. They are rumored to want to make the playoffs so they make a move for an all star caliber player.

Necessary evil to make the numbers work

Buy out Horford for $14.5M and stretch it over 3 years. Need to do it for the next deal below and the hard cap that comes with it

Trade #2 - S&T for Ayton

BOS gives: Rob Williams, Derrick White, 2023 1st
BOS gets: Ayton (S&T max deal), Will Barton (taken into Fournier TPE)

PHX gives: Ayton (S&T max deal)
PHX gets: Rob Williams, 2023 BOS 1st

They get a cheaper replacement to save money because their owner is cheap as ****

DEN gives: Wil Barton
DEN gets: Derrick White

Defensive upgrade with Murray and (maybe?) MPJ coming back.



Our ensuing roster would be:

Smart / Pritchard
Beal
Tatum / Barton
G Williams / Murray
Ayton

So Brown, White, Horford, Rob and pick for Ayton and Beal (2 FAs)? Seems a bit grass is greener.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Make it happen, Brad! Best player in all of europe, for the 2nd year in a row.

Micic could be the final piece we need:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/267065/NBA-Teams-Have-Interest-In-Vasilije-Micic-For-Next-Season

Watch on YouTube

Read on Twitter

OKC holds Micic's draft rights though (from when the Sixers salary dumped Horford). If the Celtics were really interested I guess they would have figured some way to include him in the Horford trade. He's been good enough to make the jump to the NBA for a while, so I'm not even sure he is that interested in leaving Efes. So I think it's unlikely we'll see him in green next year which is a shame because he can ball.

[hugepatsfan]

My fantasy trade as an overreaction to Brown turning it over 5 times in the 3rd last night like someone learning how to dribble for the first time and Rob Williams missing another game...

Trade #1 - Draft night trade (agreed to in principle, executed in new year) for Beal (he opts in to facilitate a deal to BOS the way CP3 did to get to HOU from LAC)

BOS gives: Jaylen Brown, Theis, Nesmith
BOS gets: Brad Beal (opted in), #4 pick (PF Keegan Murray - some Al Horford to his game)

WAS gives: Beal (opted in)
WAS gets: Davion Mitchell, Theis, Nesmith, Moe Harkless

They get mostly expiring salary and a young PG for playing ball with the Brad Beal trade facilitating.

SAC gives: #4, Davion Mitchell, Moe Harkless, Terrence Davis, Alex Len
SAC gets: Jaylen Brown

They'll have cap space to absorb the extra money here. They are rumored to want to make the playoffs so they make a move for an all star caliber player.

Necessary evil to make the numbers work

Buy out Horford for $14.5M and stretch it over 3 years. Need to do it for the next deal below and the hard cap that comes with it

Trade #2 - S&T for Ayton

BOS gives: Rob Williams, Derrick White, 2023 1st
BOS gets: Ayton (S&T max deal), Will Barton (taken into Fournier TPE)

PHX gives: Ayton (S&T max deal)
PHX gets: Rob Williams, 2023 BOS 1st

They get a cheaper replacement to save money because their owner is cheap as ****

DEN gives: Wil Barton
DEN gets: Derrick White

Defensive upgrade with Murray and (maybe?) MPJ coming back.



Our ensuing roster would be:

Smart / Pritchard
Beal
Tatum / Barton
G Williams / Murray
Ayton

So Brown, White, Horford, Rob and pick for Ayton and Beal (2 FAs)? Seems a bit grass is greener.

Like I said, "My fantasy trade as an overreaction" haha. But I did also have us adding the #4 pick from SAC in the Brown deal. Big part to overlook. Obviously that's an unknown commodity, but if that player live up to draft status that's huge.

[hugepatsfan]

I'll throw out Devonte' Graham as a TPE candidate.

Contract status: $11.55M for '22-23, $12.1M for '23-24, $12.65M for '24-25 (only $2.85M guaranteed in the last year)

He did not play well for NOP. He was a bad signing. Hence them conceivably looking to move off the deal. But link below highlights perspective on why NOP wanted him in the first place:

https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2021/06/13/2020-21-charlotte-hornets-player-review-devonte-graham/

In CHA, he had success both as a P&R playmaker and as a spot up shooter. He's undersized

I think we see in this MIA series and throughout the playoffs that Tatum and ESPECIALLY Brown are better play finishers than playmakers. Brown definitely more so than Tatum. So I think adding another guy who can run the P&R and set things up would be huge. Particularly someone who can also be a spot up shooter for those situations where you do want to let Brown or Tatum handle. I'm particularly speaking about stretches where Brown is asked to lead a mostly bench lineup though. Pritchard has done some nice things but he's not someone they trust to run the P&R. White's not at his best asked to play the point either. I think Graham would be a real nice addition to the 2nd unit.

I know he's undersized and this board hates undersized guards, but we're talking about a bench player here. Having a Monstars sized lineup off the bench while also having ball handling and shooting might not be realistic because guys who fit that mold are tough to find. All the better if we can find someone with size who can also handle and shoot, but that might be too greedy. And that link highlighted how he can be a part of competent team defense.

Just throwing it out as a suggestion.

[165bows]

My fantasy trade as an overreaction to Brown turning it over 5 times in the 3rd last night like someone learning how to dribble for the first time and Rob Williams missing another game...

Trade #1 - Draft night trade (agreed to in principle, executed in new year) for Beal (he opts in to facilitate a deal to BOS the way CP3 did to get to HOU from LAC)

BOS gives: Jaylen Brown, Theis, Nesmith
BOS gets: Brad Beal (opted in), #4 pick (PF Keegan Murray - some Al Horford to his game)

WAS gives: Beal (opted in)
WAS gets: Davion Mitchell, Theis, Nesmith, Moe Harkless

They get mostly expiring salary and a young PG for playing ball with the Brad Beal trade facilitating.

SAC gives: #4, Davion Mitchell, Moe Harkless, Terrence Davis, Alex Len
SAC gets: Jaylen Brown

They'll have cap space to absorb the extra money here. They are rumored to want to make the playoffs so they make a move for an all star caliber player.

Necessary evil to make the numbers work

Buy out Horford for $14.5M and stretch it over 3 years. Need to do it for the next deal below and the hard cap that comes with it

Trade #2 - S&T for Ayton

BOS gives: Rob Williams, Derrick White, 2023 1st
BOS gets: Ayton (S&T max deal), Will Barton (taken into Fournier TPE)

PHX gives: Ayton (S&T max deal)
PHX gets: Rob Williams, 2023 BOS 1st

They get a cheaper replacement to save money because their owner is cheap as ****

DEN gives: Wil Barton
DEN gets: Derrick White

Defensive upgrade with Murray and (maybe?) MPJ coming back.



Our ensuing roster would be:

Smart / Pritchard
Beal
Tatum / Barton
G Williams / Murray
Ayton

So Brown, White, Horford, Rob and pick for Ayton and Beal (2 FAs)? Seems a bit grass is greener.

Like I said, "My fantasy trade as an overreaction" haha. But I did also have us adding the #4 pick from SAC in the Brown deal. Big part to overlook. Obviously that's an unknown commodity, but if that player live up to draft status that's huge.

Ah I missed that. Rather, I saw it but thought it ended elsewhere. I don’t mind the backcourt part (though I’m more a Paola guy), front court not so much.

[Hal14]

Make it happen, Brad! Best player in all of europe, for the 2nd year in a row.

Micic could be the final piece we need:

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/267065/NBA-Teams-Have-Interest-In-Vasilije-Micic-For-Next-Season

Watch on YouTube

Read on Twitter

OKC holds Micic's draft rights though (from when the Sixers salary dumped Horford). If the Celtics were really interested I guess they would have figured some way to include him in the Horford trade. He's been good enough to make the jump to the NBA for a while, so I'm not even sure he is that interested in leaving Efes. So I think it's unlikely we'll see him in green next year which is a shame because he can ball.

I think the celtics were just focused on getting horford and dumping kemba in that trade. they may have not even known who Micic was. Brad was only like a week into his new job as PBO.

Now that Brad has been in the role for a year, maybe now he sees enough of a need and it's been another year if Micic dominating the euroleague so maybe now a move is made.

OKC is a rebuilding team - Micic doesn't really make sense for them, at age 28. Micic is a good fit for a playoff team - as a piece that could allow that playoff team to take a leap.

Either Brad can try to make a trade with OKC to acquire Micic's rights, or perhaps OKC relinquishes his rights, which would make him a free agent.

You never know..

[Fencer reregistered]

After all that maneuvering. LOL.

Read on Twitter

[zoyathedestroya]

Stevens inherited a large part of the rotation and most of the FO but Brad is still the architect of this team. From hiring Ime to bringing back Al to extending Smart & Rob to trading for White & Theis. We can argue on the value of each of his moves (and those made by Danny before him) but it still came together with him at the helm. So kudos to Brad for making this happen.

Anyone notice if he was in Miami? I didn't see him during the game or the presentation.

EDIT: Never mind. I saw him hug Horford.

[TheMartian]

^^^^ I was just about to give thanks to the architect of all this. Thank you, Brad!

[zoyathedestroya]

[Theocy]

We used to have this for Danny didnt we ?