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[LooseCannon]

I've advocated the idea that Courtney Lee may become expendable mid-season when Avery Bradley comes back.  With salary cap rules and the Celtics facing the hard cap, it seems like it would be difficult to trade Lee with no other non-minimum salary players involved for a player who makes more than $6m/year.  So, here are some bigs who are in the $4-6m range.

Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta, $5.25m
Jason Maxiell, Detroit, $5m
Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, $4.8m, signed through 2015
JJ Hickson, Portland (can veto a trade)
Chuck Hayes, Sacramento, $5.5m, signed through 2015

There are other players who fit the criteria that I left off, but arguably Lee for this level of talent is probably more realistic than schemes to trade for Josh Smith or Verejao.  I'd be interested in the one guy who is probably the least available.

If this is the best you can do for a mid-season deal when January comes around, do you explore this avenue or do you wait and see who gets a buy-out after the trade deadline?

[Cman]

I've advocated the idea that Courtney Lee may become expendable mid-season when Avery Bradley comes back.  With salary cap rules and the Celtics facing the hard cap, it seems like it would be difficult to trade Lee with no other non-minimum salary players involved for a player who makes more than $6m/year.  So, here are some bigs who are in the $4-6m range.

Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta, $5.25m
Jason Maxiell, Detroit, $5m
Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, $4.8m, signed through 2015
JJ Hickson, Portland (can veto a trade)
Chuck Hayes, Sacramento, $5.5m, signed through 2015

There are other players who fit the criteria that I left off, but arguably Lee for this level of talent is probably more realistic than schemes to trade for Josh Smith or Verejao.  I'd be interested in the one guy who is probably the least available.

If this is the best you can do for a mid-season deal when January comes around, do you explore this avenue or do you wait and see who gets a buy-out after the trade deadline?

The celtics biggest need is a pure C, and of your list Zaza fits that bill the best. I like him, but he is clearly on the downside of his career. I'm not sure a one year rental is in the best interest of the Cs. I think it is better to maintain the C's current depth and wait for the buy out. I know people have been underwhelmed with Courtney Lee thus far, but I think it pays to be patient with these things.

[Moranis]

I don't think Boston can trade Courtney Lee for any of those players.

[snively]

Maxiell isn't an upgrade on Bass or Sully, so no dice there.

Hickson is an offensive specialist a la Wilcox - I don't see him adding any new dimensions, so no.

I'm a big fan of Hayes, but we're not really hurting for post defense (we haven't had to break the glass on Darko or Collins yet) and we don't have any size to pair him with, other than KG.  So no to him.

Zaza is interesting.  I really like his offensive rebounding, but I'm not sure he's much better than Wilcox - another specialist.  And Atlanta probably wouldn't be interested - they have Korver, Morrow and their rookie Jenkins already at 2-guard.  Heck even Stevenson.

I think LRMAM is a good target though, especially if we're looking to include Jeff Green in a bigger deal.  One of the better combo forward defenders in the league.  Lee would make a nice third guard in Milwaukee's rotation too - an off-ball guy to slide in between Ellis and Jennings and space the floor for them, as well as bringing the defensive intensity Skiles likes.  I wonder if Milwaukee likes Quis enough to be comfortable with him as their only defensive option at the 3 - Tobias and Dunleavey leave a lot to be desired defensively.

[Who]

I don't think Lee nets you Zaza or Mbah a Moute. I think both players are too valuable to be made available for Courtney Lee.

Mozgov down in Denver is another name to add to your list. Legitimate seven footer with length/strength and quickness/mobility. Good post defender but his positioning on team defense is iffy. Overall, a subpar but serviceable defender/rebounder. Good finisher around the rim and has a short jump-shot. Looks to be the odd-man out there in Denver's center rotation with Koufos and McGee winning the battle for playing time.

[LooseCannon]

I don't think Boston can trade Courtney Lee for any of those players.

I'm expecting you have to toss in a draft pick or two for at least some of these players.

[Surferdad]

A better question is who can you get for Courtney Lee + Jeff Green.  That's a lot more salary so you could set your sights much higher.

Don't get me wrong, I like both players and would be happy to keep them, but to get back a legit all-star center (or borderline) to go with KG, Pierce and Rondo would be very tempting.

[LooseCannon]

Maxiell isn't an upgrade on Bass or Sully, so no dice there.

Hickson is an offensive specialist a la Wilcox - I don't see him adding any new dimensions, so no.

One thing the Celtics may be interested in is someone they can get as a replacement if the injury-prone Chris Wilcox has an injury.

Say, Wilcox goes down in January and is listed as being out for a nebulous 1-3 months.  What can you acquire for Lee and maybe a first or second round pick?

[LooseCannon]

A better question is who can you get for Courtney Lee + Jeff Green.  That's a lot more salary so you could set your sights much higher.

I think it is realistic to work under the assumption that Green and Bass are probably not being traded if the team is doing well.  I prefer to come up with realistic trade ideas that don't look like the other team being completely robbed.

[bfrombleacher]

I think it is better to maintain the C's current depth and wait for the buy out. I know people have been underwhelmed with Courtney Lee thus far, but I think it pays to be patient with these things.

Yup. This is another case of "good thing Ainge is GM, not celticsblog".

We'd have Steph Curry instead of Rondo now if celticsblog was GM.

[pearljammer10]

I don't think Boston can trade Courtney Lee for any of those players.

Nor do I. If bass was involved maybe. But I wouldn't replace any of those player with bass, even if hickson is having an impressive season thus far.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Trading Lee for a big would be counter productive to our roster.

[LooseCannon]

I think it is better to maintain the C's current depth and wait for the buy out. I know people have been underwhelmed with Courtney Lee thus far, but I think it pays to be patient with these things.

Yup. This is another case of "good thing Ainge is GM, not celticsblog".

We'd have Steph Curry instead of Rondo now if celticsblog was GM.

I generally agree and I mainly created this thread because I thought the one about a midseason trade for Smith, Verejao, or Jefferson was stupid.

[Mazingerz]

I can still remember the Lin trade machine last year when Linsanity was a its peak. People telling that Ainge seriously overlooked TaLint in Harvard.

[OsirusCeltics]

Trading Lee for a big would be counter productive to our roster.

Explain how

I just see him at redundant on the Celtics roster. He's obviously not a bad player