losing AB + Sully + 16 makes us substantially worse next year and is effectively moving 3 mid firsts and several years of invested player development for the # 6 pick. In order to win that trade #6 pick needs to be an absolute stud.
You can probably substantially replace AB and Sullinger without too much trouble in free agency, honestly. Would the team really be worse if you just re-signed Bass and Jerebko and then signed a guy like Jared Dudley, Arron Afflalo, or Wilson Chandler for somewhere in the 4-7 million per year range?
Anyway, the whole point of spending several years of player development on young role players like AB and Sully is the hope that you can then package them later for a chance at a real star.
If a trade (or series of trades) is available that allows the Celts a chance at a guy Danny thinks could be a star, they've got to jump on it.
Hypothetical scenarios like this are why I believe there's a solid chance the Celts could actually take a step or two back this summer while going after assets that could prove to be more than just nice role players. Trying to win games by virtue of having quality 10 man depth is not going to lead to contention.
One benefit of having a team riddled with mediocrity... Literally everyone is easily replaceable. Only one I'd be nervous about trading is Marcus Smart on the off chance he develops beyond defensive role player. But hes totally on the table in trades if it lands a substantial cornerstone player.
He strikes again! lol
I'm going to get labelled a Marcus Smart hater in the same way I was labelled a Rajon Rondo hater. When you don't get drunk off the irrational koolaid, people assume you are trolling. I was proven right with Rondo eventually.
Smart is a fine prospect. Probably the most valuable chip we have. I'd argue that the #6 pick was more valuable before we used it. Smart has proven to be maybe the 7-10th best rookie this year. Not bad. His defense is spectacular. He can sporadically be troublesome for opposing guards. But he's an undersized shooting guard with atrocious offensive ability right now. Those expecting him to develop into a Russell Westbrook type player are taking a major leap of faith. Sometimes bad offensive guards remain bad offensive guards. Sure, Smart could suddenly raise his 36% shooting to a level of competence... we saw it happen with Ben McLemore this year. Guards usually get more efficient in their 2nd year. Or maybe Smart follows the Rondo/Rubio (without elite passing) path. I wouldn't bet money on Smart becoming an all-star some day.
I just can't take you serious anymore. Your pessimism is just too much, and you constantly underrate our guys in favor of overrating your "bae" in Philly. You're the one being irrational in your Smart-hatred, and your claims that you were making last night about "Smart's ceiling is Noel's floor," "Smart's ceiling is at best Avery Bradley," and "at best, Smart will impact the game on the level Noel did as a rookie" are just astronomically biased and asinine. Tell me again, who is the one drinking the irrational red, white, and blue koolaid?
Actual quotes, by the way, before you say I'm misrepresenting what you said.
Yep. That's the way it looks right now. Wicked unfair, right? Defensive big men impact basketball games more than defensive little men. Noel's floor was his rookie season... where he averaged 10 points 8 boards, 2 blocks and 2 steals for the season and lead a top 12 defensive team. As he made strides throughout the year, he proved to be even better after the all-star break... where his team had the best defensive rating in the league in minutes he was on the court. I'd like to think that if Smart someday was able to develop into a player who could single-handedly make his squad the best defensive team in the league, it would be considered an unprecedented achievement for a 6'4 tweener guard. While both Smart and Bradley are pests defensively, you'll never see either as the focalpoint of a team's defense. Nobody is building a defense where they funnel everyone to Marcus Smart. That's obviously not happening since basketball doesn't work that way. Unfortunately, for a guard to impact the game in such a significant manner, it has to be on the offensive end... So if SMart some day develops into a player who can carry his team's offense, it will be as impressive as Noel carrying his team's defense. Thus, Smart's ceiling is Noel's floor.
Sure, there's a little hyperbole there, but you didn't seem to be grasping the difference between an elite defensive guard (Tony Allen) and an elite defensive big (Ben Wallace). The concept continues to baffle, frustrate and anger you. In peak form, both were EXCEPTIONAL at what they did. The cream of the crop. But Tony Allen's defensive impact is enough to make him a solid role player (often off the bench). Ben Wallace's defensive impact was enough to build a champion around. Size matters.
That doesn't mean I "h8r8" Tony Allen, because I accurately mention his trade value never approached the trade value of Ben Wallace. It doesn't mean I h8r8 Marcus Smart when I point out his current limitations. Maybe he makes an improbable leap and develops into the next Gary Payton. He was a pretty weak offensive player in College (42%/29%/72% his sophomore season) and has proven to be a weak offensive player as a rookie. Maybe it'll happen. Maybe James Young will develop into a better player than Andrew Wiggins. Maybe the guy we get #16 will be the next Michael Jordan. It's not impossible. I try not to base my evaluation of the team on wild fantasyland expectations.