Author Topic: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green  (Read 2242 times)

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Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« on: October 14, 2014, 10:19:46 AM »

Offline BleedGreen1989

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Gather all the intel you’d like, and this will still be a borderline 50/50 guess on both guys.

Boston has gauged the market for both over the last year or so, and its expected price for Rondo has been sky-high, per several league sources. That price will drop as Rondo’s deal ticks toward expiration, but the market for him is thin. Point guard is stacked leaguewide, and Rondo is 28, coming off ACL surgery, and seeking a max contract as he approaches free agency. A few suitors could wait to chase him in the offseason instead of dealing assets now and risking that Rondo walks in July.

If Boston wants a big haul, it has to hope a potential Rondo suitor feels some unexpected desperation early in the season. Houston is under pressure to win now, and if it starts slowly, Daryl Morey might swallow hard and meet Boston in the middle. Rondo and James Harden make for an awkward fit, but talent tends to work itself out, and the Rockets are confident they can re-sign stars once they get them.

Sacramento has outsize expectations after Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins won gold with Team USA, and any owner with outsize expectations is an explosive wild card. The Kings have three point guards, including two free agents they signed this summer, but they will soon realize their team just isn’t very good.

Depending on what happens with Rudy Gay, a Rondo pal, the Kings might not have enough cap space to chase Rondo in free agency — building an urgency to trade for him now.

There are other theoretical fits, but none that has the required combination of trade assets, devil-may-care boldness, and confidence in winning the Rondo free-agency game.1 If a frothy market doesn’t materialize, the Celtics might resign themselves to keeping Rondo in hopes that the extra year they can offer in free agency coaxes him to return at a price below the max.

Rondo is a flawed, temperamental player, but he’s a pass-first star who could work as bait for an alpha dog. Without him, Boston is just a collection of unmolded pieces waiting for a unifying force, playing the lottery in the meantime.

Green has a player option for 2015-16, meaning he may be working on a de facto expiring contract. His price will come down as the season moves along, but Boston might be willing to accept a diminished return. He’s a likable guy with more fans across the league than you might expect, and he can split minutes between the two forward positions.

We know now that Green isn’t a primary offensive option, but he has become a good spot-up shooter, he runs the floor, and he’s a nice secondary threat. He can attack gaps in the defense, provided a teammate cracks them open first.

New Orleans and Washington have obvious needs on the wing, and both have sniffed around Green in the past. But the Pelicans have already traded a bundle of first-round picks, and the Wiz are just $1.5 million below the tax without an obvious midrange salary to move in exchange.

The Raptors have bad memories of Joe Johnson bulldozing them in the post, and they have all their own picks, plus the midsize expiring deals linked to Landry Fields and Chuck Hayes. Atlanta and Detroit could use a boost on the wing, and it’s easy to see Green fitting as a hybrid forward in both Houston and New York. Denver’s roster seems ripe for a trade, though the Nuggets are crowded on the wing.

Green could fit in lots of places. If Boston doesn’t view him as a long-term core piece, he’ll be easy to move.
*CB Miami Heat*
Kyle Lowry, Dwayne Wade, 13th pick in even numbered rounds, 18th pick in odd numbered rounds.

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2014, 11:38:59 AM »

Offline D.o.s.

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"Lowe, can you do a piece on Boston dealing Rondo/Green?"

"Sure. Ok, it's done: 'Maybe.'"

"...."

"*cries into coffee. Spits out 5,000 words of "well maybe but maybe not.*"
At least a goldfish with a Lincoln Log on its back goin' across your floor to your sock drawer has a miraculous connotation to it.

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2014, 12:40:10 PM »

Offline Csfan1984

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Only interesting take from the piece is there are more fits for Green than Rondo.

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2014, 12:50:19 PM »

Offline BudweiserCeltic

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Lowe's prediction is actually that Boston will trade Green.

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2014, 12:50:56 PM »

Offline D.o.s.

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Also, the actual thread title should be Boston keeps Rondo and trades Green, but it's basically conjecture anyway.

edit: this guy right here knows what's up.
At least a goldfish with a Lincoln Log on its back goin' across your floor to your sock drawer has a miraculous connotation to it.

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2014, 04:09:24 PM »

Offline Csfan1984

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Going off the Toronto suggestion, does any one think the teams would teams consider the following?

Toronto trades= a 1st, Hayes, Ross and Nogueira.

Celtics trade= Green, Fav and Pressey.

Ross is under control for 2 years and a young decent player, Nogueira is another Center gamble, Hayes is exp deal.

Green is a nice upgrade at SF. Lowry, DeRozan, Green, Johnson and Val are a pretty strong five. Fav (when back) and Pressey helps depth.

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2014, 01:50:16 PM »

Offline greece66

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"Lowe, can you do a piece on Boston dealing Rondo/Green?"

"Sure. Ok, it's done: 'Maybe.'"

"...."

"*cries into coffee. Spits out 5,000 words of "well maybe but maybe not.*"
lol TP

Re: Zach Lowe prediction: Boston keeps Rondo and Green
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2014, 02:18:43 PM »

Offline greece66

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Gather all the intel you’d like, and this will still be a borderline 50/50 guess on both guys.
How exactly does this translate into "Boston keeps both Rondo and Green"?
Lowe seems to suggest that Boston will only keep Rondo in case they fail to find a good deal. And that Green is easier to trade if they decide to move him. (Translation: predictions are difficult especially about the future.)