so what can we get for jeff green?
This is another reason Ainge has made a horrid mistake. He has set the market for himself. There is no reason any team should have to offer more than a second rounder and some horrible players for J Green now.
Realistically if you are another GM and you need or want Jeff G why would offer anything similar to a fair deal for him now? Do the Celts give you the impression they won't let go of something for fair value? Do they give you the impression they are trying to improve their team in the near future? Do they give you the impression they value somewhat productive players that aren't on rookie deals?
Or do they give the impression that "everything must go!"
Ainge has given every GM in the league permission to walk up to his yard sale, pick the thing up, shake it, and say ....."Uhhh. I'll give you a dollar for it. I only have a dollar and a half on me and I gotta take the bus back".
I think the rub Ainge has offered us on the Rondo market was that we were going to lose him anyhow and this is the best we could (and it beats getting nothing when he walks as a FA). Green is signed through next year.
Then lose him. Don't take garbage for him. At some point I will likely expand on this, but essentially you have to say to the player "Fine. Go ahead and try to get what you want to be paid from a team that is under the cap that wants you and that you want to play for. Or make more money here. Go ahead. Have fun with that."
and you have to tell teams like the Mavs "oh you want to try to make a deep playoff run? You want to try to win a ring? Ok, well take your crud deal and shove it and try to stand in line and win the Rondo sweepstakes in the offseason. You make him your offer, and we'll offer him more money and we'll see where he goes. I mean I hear you have some rivals that sorta want a pg too and hey we can all give it a shot and see what happens. Personally I like my odds and not yours but we're allowed to have a difference of opinion".
But you sure as heck don't give a guy like Rondo away for some crud players and picks and shrug your shoulders like a loser and say "Hey it was the best I could do".
Settling is something some woman does that just really really wants to get married and is living with her parents and hasn't been asked out in two years. It's not something an NBA GM does.