Making a move for George

[Eddie20]

It's pretty clear that things aren't working out in OKC and that George will be bolting during the summer. However, what if the thought is to try to salvage him leaving by gaining some value now?

Something along the lines of Smart, Morris, Yabusele, Larkin (eligible to be moved in a couple of days), and Nader work under the cap.

As for OKC, they're able to get Smart, who having played for Oklahoma State, would likely welcome signing there long-term. They also get a good contract in Morris and a prospect in Yabusele. Not the best of deals for George, but beats the alternative in receiving nothing for him. Besides, how many teams have the ability to beat that offer, have the confidence George re-signs, and are in position to win now? Larkin and Nader are salary filler and would likely be waived.

As for us, why not? Smart is looking to get paid and I'm wondering how much he'll command vs how much we're actually willing to pay. I'm confident that the allure of playing for Stevens and alongside Irving, Horford, and Hayward, he apparently is friends with the latter, would be enough to have him strongly consider re-signing in Boston.

[slamtheking]

same issues here as there were over the summer -- what's the likelihood PG resigns here?  I think there's a better than 50/50 chance he bolts for free agency. 

he's certainly an upgrade over who we'd be sending out (combined) but even though Morris has missed a lot of time, can we thin the ranks of our bigs any further without paying a price?  I don't think we can. 

if Danny had something up his sleeve to make this deal, get PG to resign with us as well has pick up a solid big man for the bench to replace Morris in the rotation (a very big if that would likely require the exception to get it done) then roll the dice.

a lineup of Kyrie, Hayward, PG, Horford and either Brown or Tatum as the starting 5 would give most other teams fits trying to defend them but we'd probably have issues defending top bigs that can control the boards (Davis, Drummond, Cousins, etc...).  not to mention how much will it kill our cap next year is PG is signed --> how far over the luxury tax will we be?

[Monkhouse]

It's pretty clear that things aren't working out in OKC and that George will be bolting during the summer. However, what if the thought is to try to salvage him leaving by gaining some value now?

Something along the lines of Smart, Morris, Yabusele, Larkin (eligible to be moved in a couple of days), and Nader work under the cap.

As for OKC, they're able to get Smart, who having played for Oklahoma State, would likely welcome signing there long-term. They also get a good contract in Morris and a prospect in Yabusele. Not the best of deals for George, but beats the alternative in receiving nothing for him. Besides, how many teams have the ability to beat that offer, have the confidence George re-signs, and are in position to win now? Larkin and Nader are salary filler and would likely be waived.

As for us, why not? Smart is looking to get paid and I'm wondering how much he'll command vs how much we're actually willing to pay. I'm confident that the allure of playing for Stevens and alongside Irving, Horford, and Hayward, he apparently is friends with the latter, would be enough to have him strongly consider re-signing in Boston.

Pretty interesting idea, this is something that I've wondered about myself.

You could slot Tatum at the 4, or George at 4, (even if he has voiced displeasure at this,) the system that Brad runs doesn't matter on positional differences.

[Big333223]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

[hpantazo]

My guess is the Cavs will move the Nets pick and salary for him.

[Eddie20]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

Don't forget that Tatum was the starting 4 before Hayward was hurt. Stevens' believes in position less basketball and having 2 guys like Hayward and George that can play 1-4 (both can be facilitators offensively) seems like a good problem to have. You can start Horford, Hayward, George, Irving, and Brown, while having Tatum as a super sub who can come in for any of the starters, minus Horford, unless we're going ultra-small. Again, good problem to have.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

If he were available for the package the OP suggested, I'm in. I think he'd cost more than Smart, Larkin, Nader, Yabu, and Morris.

Take the talent and figure out the rest later. For at least the next 4 months, we wouldn't have a minutes problem.

[celticsclay]

My guess is the Cavs will move the Nets pick and salary for him.

That is also my fear. However, I don't think there is any chance they will move on from George at midseason given what they gave up to get him (and the Brooklyn pick would obviously be a steal for a rental)

[ChillyWilly]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

Smart's gone at the end of year the rest is all junk filler. I'd be shocked if that's all it took to get even 1/3 of season for George.

Danny wasn't going to pay IT4 what makes any of us think he's going to pay Marcus?

[Eddie20]

https://www.foxsports.com/watch/the-herd-with-colin-cowherd/video/1114871875803

[Big333223]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

Smart's gone at the end of year the rest is all junk filler. I'd be shocked if that's all it took to get even 1/3 of season for George.

Danny wasn't going to pay IT4 what makes any of us think he's going to pay Marcus?

Because Marcus is going to cost about 1/4 of what Thomas will be asking for.

[Eddie20]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

Smart's gone at the end of year the rest is all junk filler. I'd be shocked if that's all it took to get even 1/3 of season for George.

Danny wasn't going to pay IT4 what makes any of us think he's going to pay Marcus?

Because Marcus is going to cost about 1/4 of what Thomas will be asking for.

That's not accurate at all. How much do you think Smart's going to be getting? Now compare that to players like Crabbe, Shumpert, Tyler Johnson, Roberson, etc.

[Monkhouse]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

Smart's gone at the end of year the rest is all junk filler. I'd be shocked if that's all it took to get even 1/3 of season for George.

Danny wasn't going to pay IT4 what makes any of us think he's going to pay Marcus?

Because Marcus is going to cost about 1/4 of what Thomas will be asking for.

That's not accurate at all. How much do you think Smart's going to be getting? Now compare that to players like Crabbe, Shumpert, Tyler Johnson, Roberson, etc.

12-14 million per year most likely... Anything more than that... Bye Smart... 

[Eddie20]

I'm not sure why this would interest the Celtics, with Brown and Tatum playing well, Hayward coming back next year, and George hitting free agency this summer. They'd be gambling big time that George would want to stick around when Hayward gets back and then if he does there would be roster problems on the wing. The alternative is George leaves in free agency and then what was the point of the deal in the first place?

Smart's gone at the end of year the rest is all junk filler. I'd be shocked if that's all it took to get even 1/3 of season for George.

Danny wasn't going to pay IT4 what makes any of us think he's going to pay Marcus?

Because Marcus is going to cost about 1/4 of what Thomas will be asking for.

That's not accurate at all. How much do you think Smart's going to be getting? Now compare that to players like Crabbe, Shumpert, Tyler Johnson, Roberson, etc.

12-14 million per year most likely... Anything more than that... Bye Smart... 

Right. So a far cry from the 1/4 price he suggested. Unless he thinks Isaiah will getting north of 45m per year.

[Atzar]

That doesn't help OKC at all. 

If I'm OKC, I take the chance that I can re-sign George rather than accept that deal.  George isn't the problem on that team.  Westbrook, George, and Adams can win games with the right support.  The problem with the Thunder is that Melo is hurting more than helping and nobody else on that team is any good.  But it's much easier to find better roleplayers and depth than it is to find another player like George.

For our part, you're suggesting that we trade all of our junk for their second-best player.  Yabusele, Nader, and Larkin are third-string depth at best.  Smart and Morris are backups, and I feel like Smart and Roberson are redundant.  That's not an attractive package, even if you consider that George would be a rental for us.  They aren't doing that.  Maybe they start listening if you dangle that LA/SAC pick, but I'm not sure we want to give up a pretty good future asset for a half-season rental who we probably can't re-sign.