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Post by Admin on May 30, 2023 15:12:46 GMT -5
Celtics offseason primer: How can Brad Stevens improve roster after ugly exit?
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com
MIAMI — The Celtics season ended in disappointing fashion on Monday night after the team fell short of a historic comeback to the Heat by laying an absolute egg in Game 7 to lose the series 4-3. Once the heavy favorites to make the NBA Finals after the Bucks were upset in Round 1, the Celtics now enter the offseason in a worst-case scenario after bowing out in the East Finals to a Heat squad that were heavy underdogs at the start of the series.
With so much of the team’s core under contract through next season, the logical stance would be for the Celtics to run things back. However, after an underwhelming finish to the year with this core, big questions now arise about what exactly is this team’s best path moving forward as a new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect.
Big questions and no easy answers await Brad Stevens as tries to get this team back to the NBA Finals next season. Here’s a first look at the offseason outlook and the tools he has at his disposal to reshape this group after an ugly finish.
2023-24 projected payroll
Jayson Tatum: $32.6 million
Jaylen Brown: $30.7 million
Malcolm Brogdon: $22.5 million
Marcus Smart: $18.5 million
Derrick White: $18.1 million
Robert Williams: $11.8 million
Al Horford: $10 million
Danilo Gallinari: $6.8 million (player option)
Payton Pritchard: $4 million
Mike Muscala: $3.5 million (team option)
Luke Kornet: $2.4 million (non-guaranteed)
Sam Hauser: $1.9 million
Justin Champagne: $1.9 million (non-guaranteed)
Total salary: $166 million to 13 players
Total guaranteed money: $158 million to 10 players
Expected salary cap for 2023-24: $134 million
Expected luxury tax line for 2023-24: $162 million
2023 CELTICS FREE AGENTS
Grant Williams (restricted): This will be the biggest storyline of the Celtics’ offseason from an internal perspective to begin. Williams turned down a four-year extension last October per league sources in hopes of landing a bigger deal but he had an underwhelming second half of the season that included being yanked in and out of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation at various points of the year. Williams may want a fresh start elsewhere but he’s not in control of that with the Celtics holding his restricted rights in free agency. How much will the Celtics be willing to spend to bring him back? Will Williams opt for a short-term deal to hit unrestricted free agency sooner? The Celtics have no reliable means of replacing his production in free agency but his price tag won’t be cheap when factoring in luxury tax penalties.
Blake Griffin: A great voice in the locker room during the regular season who provided some useful minutes when Al Horford and Robert Williams needed time off. He clearly would be welcomed back by his teammates but with limited open spots available on the roster, will the team opt to address a different area of the roster with this spot? It’s hard to see him coming back if Muscala and Kornet are retained (far from a sure thing).
Non-guaranteed contracts: Mike Muscala has a team option at a little above the league minimum but that could be deemed as a pricy investment when the luxury tax penalties are factored in. If the Celtics are able to re-sign Grant Williams, I could see the Celtics declining it and trying to bring him back at the veteran’s minimum or turning to a younger player altogether. Kornet will likely be battling for a roster spot in training camp to stay on his minimum contract.
Two-way contracts: JD Davison feels like a lock to be back in this spot given his age coming off a solid season in Maine. Meanwhile, Mfiondu Kabengele is no longer eligible for a two-way spot seeing how it’s his fifth year in the league so he would have to play his way into a 15-man roster spot in training camp. New CBA rules will also have the Celtics three total two-way spots to fill next year so they will be able to add a couple of young names here.
TRADED PLAYER EXCEPTIONS
The Celtics have two TPEs but both are worth under $2 million so they won’t be of use in any trades for Boston. Any deals the Celtics make this offseason will need to involve matching salaries.
FREE AGENT SPENDING AVAILABLE
> No cap room > $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception > Veteran minimum contracts: No limit
DRAFT PICKS
The Celtics will pick at No. 35 in the second round. It will be the highest pick of the Brad Stevens era if they choose to keep it on draft night next month.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Will Jaylen Brown get a supermax extension or are alternatives explored?
The Celtics know what they will be able to offer their All-Star guard later this summer, with a five-year, up to $295 million offer that could be in play. Will the team be willing to give him the full boat after a disappointing East Finals exit for the franchise which featured a brutal series for Brown, particuarly in Game 7? And will Brown be willing to commit to Boston for the long-term? If the offer is made, it’s hard to see Brown turning it down but this will be a subplot that lingers until both sides are willing to make a commitment. However, if the Celtics aren’t sure that they can build a contending team adequately around Brown and Tatum while both are making supermax money for the latter half of this decade, a trade could be explored. For now, the odds remain strongly in favor of Brown staying put but the Celtics finish to the year no longer makes it a sure thing.
Will Joe Mazzulla be back? The odds are in favor of Mazzulla getting a second chance after the team felt confident enough to lift his interim tag in the middle of the regular season. However, his missteps in the postseason along with the team getting upset this round could give the front office pause after a golden opportunity was squandered. If he’s back, look for some more experienced names to flank him on the bench as some of his current assistants are expected to rejoin Ime Udoka in Houston per sources.
How does Brad Stevens shake up the roster? With 10 players under contract already for guaranteed deals and limited free agent spending available, the easy move would be to bring everyone back and try to add some supplemental parts. Still, it’s a stretch to think this core will be good enough after taking a step back this year and digging themselves a 3-0 hole they could not climb out of. The Celtics have excess depth in the backcourt that they will likely be better served to move to address other parts of the roster. Outside of bringing back Tatum and probably Brown, every possibility should be on the table.
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Post by croc on May 30, 2023 17:33:34 GMT -5
Mazzulla has to be gone.
What will cause Jaylen to take the max deal? Having his coach? An addition to the roster? Can't do it, just trade him?
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2023 17:51:22 GMT -5
So even if offered the SuperMax you don't think Brown wants to be here?
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Post by croc on May 30, 2023 18:24:49 GMT -5
So even if offered the SuperMax you don't think Brown wants to be here? Not without changes...Problem is he might be the key to a fix.
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Post by kdp59 on May 30, 2023 18:56:21 GMT -5
Boston almost has to offer Brown that super max. IF they don't , he will not re-sign here and Boston will have to try to trade him on the expiring deal. That means his agents will tells teams which ones he will re-sign with and which he won't, That will limit what Boston could get back in any trade for him.
Brown took less money on his rookie extension and then a year later watched the team give Tatum the full amount. he WILL NOT TAKE LESS than he has "earned".
IF Boston tries to get him to take less, agents around the league will make sure to tell their players to NOT play for Boston as they go cheap with offers and that will be a thing for a few years.
Brown will get his super max , hell most Celtics fans seemed to WANT him to make all-NBA so he would be eligible ( even thought to me it meant less time the Jays would stay here).
The Celtics will likely run it back for the most part then and if next season ends like this one they can trade Brown then. ( they have to wait a year after he signs the super max to trade him).
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Post by kdp59 on May 30, 2023 19:04:11 GMT -5
as for other roster moves, I think Grant may walk if he gets an offer and Pritchard may be moved if the team can get an asset back.
one idea I have right now is to try to move Brogdon and get back a young big man in the trade.
would allow the team to let Grant walk and then use that low tax paying MLE for a guard/wing ( Javonte Green has been talked about).
one trade option could be
Brogdon (22.5M) and Muscala (3.5M)
to Atlanta for
J. Collins (25.3M) and G. Matthews (2.0M)
Collins and Rob should be a good match ( assuming Collins can get out of the funk he was in this season) and Javonte Green (along with Pritchard) replaces some of the depth we lose with Brogdon
Have a starting lineup of
Rob Collins Tatum Brown Smart
with
White AL Gallo Hauser Javonte Pritchard
available off the bench
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Post by croc on May 30, 2023 19:30:57 GMT -5
Boston almost has to offer Brown that super max. IF they don't , he will not re-sign here and Boston will have to try to trade him on the expiring deal. That means his agents will tells teams which ones he will re-sign with and which he won't, That will limit what Boston could get back in any trade for him. Brown took less money on his rookie extension and then a year later watched the team give Tatum the full amount. he WILL NOT TAKE LESS than he has "earned". IF Boston tries to get him to take less, agents around the league will make sure to tell their players to NOT play for Boston as they go cheap with offers and that will be a thing for a few years. Brown will get his super max , hell most Celtics fans seemed to WANT him to make all-NBA so he would be eligible ( even thought to me it meant less time the Jays would stay here). The Celtics will likely run it back for the most part then and if next season ends like this one they can trade Brown then. ( they have to wait a year after he signs the super max to trade him). They have to offer it, will he take it? He may have demands to take it.
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2023 19:37:15 GMT -5
Like a new head coach?
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2023 19:39:12 GMT -5
as for other roster moves, I think Grant may walk if he gets an offer and Pritchard may be moved if the team can get an asset back. one idea I have right now is to try to move Brogdon and get back a young big man in the trade. would allow the team to let Grant walk and then use that low tax paying MLE for a guard/wing ( Javonte Green has been talked about). one trade option could be Brogdon (22.5M) and Muscala (3.5M) to Atlanta for J. Collins (25.3M) and G. Matthews (2.0M) Collins and Rob should be a good match ( assuming Collins can get out of the funk he was in this season) and Javonte Green (along with Pritchard) replaces some of the depth we lose with Brogdon Have a starting lineup of Rob Collins Tatum Brown Smart with White AL Gallo Hauser Javonte Pritchard available off the bench
Grant will only walk away with nothing in return if the C's opt to "not match." He's RESTRICTED so C's can match if they'd like.
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Post by dfries13 on May 30, 2023 20:40:49 GMT -5
Brogdon (22.5M) and Muscala (3.5M)
to Atlanta for
J. Collins (25.3M) and G. Matthews (2.0M)
This deal i see as possible. Brodgon can spell Young at point and pick up some minutes at SG .. Hawks need both
This deal also makes a sign and trade for Grant even more likely..
Horford is about spent and will fall off even more next year and Rob is what he is.
Sign and trade Grant for a PT center who's names not Kornet...
Brown is 50/50 on staying over an year and maybe 60/40 offered the max....
Then again Stevens might just trade or sign any body that is a known good three point shooter and try his and Mazz's theory.. Just shoot alot of threes and hope and pray............
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Post by kdp59 on May 31, 2023 6:59:09 GMT -5
as for other roster moves, I think Grant may walk if he gets an offer and Pritchard may be moved if the team can get an asset back. one idea I have right now is to try to move Brogdon and get back a young big man in the trade. would allow the team to let Grant walk and then use that low tax paying MLE for a guard/wing ( Javonte Green has been talked about). one trade option could be Brogdon (22.5M) and Muscala (3.5M) to Atlanta for J. Collins (25.3M) and G. Matthews (2.0M) Collins and Rob should be a good match ( assuming Collins can get out of the funk he was in this season) and Javonte Green (along with Pritchard) replaces some of the depth we lose with Brogdon Have a starting lineup of Rob Collins Tatum Brown Smart with White AL Gallo Hauser Javonte Pritchard available off the bench
Grant will only walk away with nothing in return if the C's opt to "not match." He's RESTRICTED so C's can match if they'd like.
Boston has to put the qualifying offer on him first, which they should. IF they make no moves to add another big I can see them matching , rather than losing him for nothing.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2023 11:57:46 GMT -5
Brogdon (22.5M) and Muscala (3.5M) to Atlanta for J. Collins (25.3M) and G. Matthews (2.0M)
This deal i see as possible. Brodgon can spell Young at point and pick up some minutes at SG .. Hawks need both This deal also makes a sign and trade for Grant even more likely.. Horford is about spent and will fall off even more next year and Rob is what he is. Sign and trade Grant for a PT center who's names not Kornet... Brown is 50/50 on staying over an year and maybe 60/40 offered the max.... Then again Stevens might just trade or sign any body that is a known good three point shooter and try his and Mazz's theory.. Just shoot alot of threes and hope and pray............
I like Collins at PF ... I just don't see Brad opting out of both Brogdon & Pritchard but if he does I'll want a true PG to go with White & Smart (Coby White a RFA w/ Bulls has a $7.7M QO and may be let go with so many PGs ahead of him).
Another cheaper get at SF/PF would be Kyle Kuzma (Wizards $13M Player Option) with talk of a rebuild in DC under new GM he could opt out or do a S&T.
And if we did get John Collins at PF then will Brad add another center too? (Naz Reid is a UFA $2M+++)
I also like Bruce Brown (Player Option w/ Denver $6.8M will opt out for $8M+) who is a Swiss Army Knife able to play PG, SG, SF and even some PF and a local product
In the RFA area: Coby White (PG mentioned above), Cam Johnson (SF QO $8.5M w/ Nets), P.J. Washington (PF w/CHA QO $8.5M), Hachimura (PF w/ LAL QO $7.7M+) - if they pursue KI they will be hard pressed to match a decent offer to Rui who along with Tatum is part of the Jordan Brand.
UFAs: There are about 50 PGs, 50 SGs, 45 SFs, 35 PFs and 30 Cs ... of interest (to me) would be Naz Reid and to a lesser extent for defense only Nerlens Noel at backup center. At PF Harrison Barnes ($18-20M w/ SAC), Jerami Grant ($21M w/POR) and my fav Jalen McDaniels ($2M+ w/Sixers). *Note: Both Barnes & Grant were on Team USA with Tatum
So if we move on from Grant, Pritchard, Kornet etal I'd target 1) Bruce Brown or Jalen McDaniels at backup wing and 2) Naz Reid or Hachimura (if available) for a Big. 3) If you move Brogdon & Pritchard I must have Coby White as J.D. Davison doesn't look ready to me.
FWIW: Kabengele looks more prepared to backup Rob than Kornet so I'd keep Kabby.
Aside from trades the C's will have their Draft Pick (#35), the Taxpayer MLE ($5M if Grant not resigned) and the Vet Minimum (about $2M each) for veteran ring chasers.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2023 12:01:01 GMT -5
Better get all your ducks in a row this off-season cuz once Brown and Tatum are SuperMaxed there will be no more additions other than draft & vet minimum additions: As a super tax team, you lose most of the flexibility you have to add to your roster. You’re down to signing your draft picks and signing minimum contracts for free agents. In trades, you can’t aggregate salaries together anymore and you can only take back as much salary as you send out. And you’re limited in trading future draft picks. There are some other restrictions too, but you get the idea. It’s hard to flesh out your roster around your stars.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2023 13:16:18 GMT -5
B Robb reports that Danny Ainge defended Mazz @ this link:
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was a finalist for that Jazz head coaching position before Hardy was hired and Boston prevented Ainge from hiring Mazzulla as an assistant last offseason before he was promoted to head coach in Boston in place of Udoka.
Ainge delivered a passionate defense of Mazzulla’s performance this season and gave his two cents on what ails the team after a tough bout of shooting luck in the East Finals.
“I work for another company now, but I’m trying to defend my friends,” said Ainge. “I know Joe [Mazzulla]. I hired Joe four or five years ago to work in our G League. I still cheer for my friends.
“I don’t think the team quit on Joe. There was pretty good evidence they did not quit on the coach. I just think they weren’t playing well. The team’s overall confidence struggled after the comeback wins against Philly, which was really the highlight of the season.”
Ainge credited the Heat’s role players for delivering huge performances against Boston but cited the player’s inconsistencies rather than Mazzulla’s miscues as the main driver for the disappointing exit. He also took a shot at former Celtics coach Ime Udoka while praising Mazzulla.
“This team found joy,” Ainge said. “They were inconsistent, but they were rooting for each other. They were all defending Joe in the media. You see Joe’s toughness and stubbornness. He’s a relentless worker. He has a passion to learn. Joe is a leader, and I think this was a difficult situation with the high expectations the team had coming in. I don’t think there’s anybody there that doesn’t believe that Joe is better than Ime [Udoka] as a coach.”
A lack of leadership has been a concern for the Boston Celtics in recent seasons, but especially this year after the loss of Ime Udoka.
The Cs have a problem: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are poor leaders, and they have not matured enough to take on those roles. The problem with this is that Marcus Smart and Al Horford then step in, or even Grant Williams, and that is not the right mix for an NBA locker room.
The best players are supposed to be the leaders and alphas, not the role players.
Combine that issue with the fact that Joe Mazzulla is not a leader, and you see the reason why Wyc Grousbeck was forced to step in. Grousbeck felt that the C’s were teetering and that they needed a spark. It is ultimately pathetic that it took a step in from ownership to get the series against the Heat back on track. The players were ultimately stunned by Grousbeck’s comments, but it should have never gotten to that point.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2023 14:59:41 GMT -5
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Post by kdp59 on Jun 3, 2023 7:51:31 GMT -5
Brogdon (22.5M) and Muscala (3.5M) to Atlanta for J. Collins (25.3M) and G. Matthews (2.0M)
This deal i see as possible. Brodgon can spell Young at point and pick up some minutes at SG .. Hawks need both This deal also makes a sign and trade for Grant even more likely.. Horford is about spent and will fall off even more next year and Rob is what he is. Sign and trade Grant for a PT center who's names not Kornet... Brown is 50/50 on staying over an year and maybe 60/40 offered the max.... Then again Stevens might just trade or sign any body that is a known good three point shooter and try his and Mazz's theory.. Just shoot alot of threes and hope and pray............
I like Collins at PF ... I just don't see Brad opting out of both Brogdon & Pritchard but if he does I'll want a true PG to go with White & Smart (Coby White a RFA w/ Bulls has a $7.7M QO and may be let go with so many PGs ahead of him).
Another cheaper get at SF/PF would be Kyle Kuzma (Wizards $13M Player Option) with talk of a rebuild in DC under new GM he could opt out or do a S&T.
And if we did get John Collins at PF then will Brad add another center too? (Naz Reid is a UFA $2M+++)
I also like Bruce Brown (Player Option w/ Denver $6.8M will opt out for $8M+) who is a Swiss Army Knife able to play PG, SG, SF and even some PF and a local product
In the RFA area: Coby White (PG mentioned above), Cam Johnson (SF QO $8.5M w/ Nets), P.J. Washington (PF w/CHA QO $8.5M), Hachimura (PF w/ LAL QO $7.7M+) - if they pursue KI they will be hard pressed to match a decent offer to Rui who along with Tatum is part of the Jordan Brand.
UFAs: There are about 50 PGs, 50 SGs, 45 SFs, 35 PFs and 30 Cs ... of interest (to me) would be Naz Reid and to a lesser extent for defense only Nerlens Noel at backup center. At PF Harrison Barnes ($18-20M w/ SAC), Jerami Grant ($21M w/POR) and my fav Jalen McDaniels ($2M+ w/Sixers). *Note: Both Barnes & Grant were on Team USA with Tatum
So if we move on from Grant, Pritchard, Kornet etal I'd target 1) Bruce Brown or Jalen McDaniels at backup wing and 2) Naz Reid or Hachimura (if available) for a Big. 3) If you move Brogdon & Pritchard I must have Coby White as J.D. Davison doesn't look ready to me.
FWIW: Kabengele looks more prepared to backup Rob than Kornet so I'd keep Kabby.
Aside from trades the C's will have their Draft Pick (#35), the Taxpayer MLE ($5M if Grant not resigned) and the Vet Minimum (about $2M each) for veteran ring chasers.
I am not sure I following your thinking hre with the list of various FA's and possible trades. we cannot bring back any players in a sign and trade as we will be over the hard cap, so that's out. as you noted we only have a new $5M TP-MLE, so many or most of the free agents you listed would be out of our price range. this team will be already limited this off-season in what they can do unless they move one or more of the rotation pieces, IMO. I personally would move on from Brown as I think they have peaked with this group. But OPie seems to have another idea ( at least in public). Brown and maybe Brogdon in two different trades could re-set the salary structure moving forward as well keep the team competitive. Maybe even better than the Tatum/Brown duo in the long run.
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Post by kdp59 on Jun 3, 2023 8:02:25 GMT -5
so to indulge my fantasy I'll propose two major trades here:
Brown and Muscala $35.3M
to Atlanta for
D. Hunter O. Okongwu #15 pick in the draft ( J. Hawkins from UConn might be a good pick there) $32.2M
then
Pritchard and #35 pick
to Utah for
#28 pick ( Julian Strawther- Gonzaga or Jaime Jaquez Jr- UCLA could be picks there).
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Post by croc on Jun 3, 2023 8:19:45 GMT -5
Reports Stevens is eyeing Rondo as an Assistant Coach
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2023 13:14:28 GMT -5
I like Collins at PF ... I just don't see Brad opting out of both Brogdon & Pritchard but if he does I'll want a true PG to go with White & Smart (Coby White a RFA w/ Bulls has a $7.7M QO and may be let go with so many PGs ahead of him).
Another cheaper get at SF/PF would be Kyle Kuzma (Wizards $13M Player Option) with talk of a rebuild in DC under new GM he could opt out or do a S&T.
And if we did get John Collins at PF then will Brad add another center too? (Naz Reid is a UFA $2M+++)
I also like Bruce Brown (Player Option w/ Denver $6.8M will opt out for $8M+) who is a Swiss Army Knife able to play PG, SG, SF and even some PF and a local product
In the RFA area: Coby White (PG mentioned above), Cam Johnson (SF QO $8.5M w/ Nets), P.J. Washington (PF w/CHA QO $8.5M), Hachimura (PF w/ LAL QO $7.7M+) - if they pursue KI they will be hard pressed to match a decent offer to Rui who along with Tatum is part of the Jordan Brand.
UFAs: There are about 50 PGs, 50 SGs, 45 SFs, 35 PFs and 30 Cs ... of interest (to me) would be Naz Reid and to a lesser extent for defense only Nerlens Noel at backup center. At PF Harrison Barnes ($18-20M w/ SAC), Jerami Grant ($21M w/POR) and my fav Jalen McDaniels ($2M+ w/Sixers). *Note: Both Barnes & Grant were on Team USA with Tatum
So if we move on from Grant, Pritchard, Kornet etal I'd target 1) Bruce Brown or Jalen McDaniels at backup wing and 2) Naz Reid or Hachimura (if available) for a Big. 3) If you move Brogdon & Pritchard I must have Coby White as J.D. Davison doesn't look ready to me.
FWIW: Kabengele looks more prepared to backup Rob than Kornet so I'd keep Kabby.
Aside from trades the C's will have their Draft Pick (#35), the Taxpayer MLE ($5M if Grant not resigned) and the Vet Minimum (about $2M each) for veteran ring chasers.
I am not sure I following your thinking hre with the list of various FA's and possible trades. we cannot bring back any players in a sign and trade as we will be over the hard cap, so that's out. as you noted we only have a new $5M TP-MLE, so many or most of the free agents you listed would be out of our price range. this team will be already limited this off-season in what they can do unless they move one or more of the rotation pieces, IMO. I personally would move on from Brown as I think they have peaked with this group. But OPie seems to have another idea ( at least in public). Brown and maybe Brogdon in two different trades could re-set the salary structure moving forward as well keep the team competitive. Maybe even better than the Tatum/Brown duo in the long run.
I was responding to the trade Brogdon idea. Rather than Collins maybe a three way with Bulls & Wizards Hawks for Coby White and Kyle Kuzma. That fills two positions rather than one and opens up dealing Smart if need be.
The MLE should be able to get one of Reid, Noel or McDaniels ...
Use Pritchard, Muscala and/or Gallo for another hole if need be - that's $7.5-14M in contracts (1yr)
We will not be S&T any of our traded pieces ... the team sending back will be doing the S&T (Bulls = White)
There's also Javonte Green (UFA) who could be signed with vet minimum.
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2023 13:32:56 GMT -5
I don't mind losing Brogdon for Coby & Kuzma ... that's a win in my book!
If Lakers do sign Irving and must let Hachimura go ... might they bite on Gallo & Pritchard for a return?
Sixers may match McDaniels but they have a new HC who may have other ideas ... Reid may get offers for more than MLE but with a contender? If not Reid then it's unlikely Noel gets another $10M contract and he may want to come home to a contender.
Javonte is a nice safety valve at SG/SF, cheap and a Tatum buddy.
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Post by croc on Jun 3, 2023 17:15:54 GMT -5
I'm not a fan of moving Brogdan, but they may have to. I'd rather they move Smart. Brogdan, Grant and Pritchard will probably be the musical chairs unless Brown won't sign a supermax (bet he does).
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Post by Cabutan on Jun 3, 2023 18:26:49 GMT -5
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Post by kdp59 on Jun 4, 2023 6:50:10 GMT -5
I am not sure I following your thinking hre with the list of various FA's and possible trades. we cannot bring back any players in a sign and trade as we will be over the hard cap, so that's out. as you noted we only have a new $5M TP-MLE, so many or most of the free agents you listed would be out of our price range. this team will be already limited this off-season in what they can do unless they move one or more of the rotation pieces, IMO. I personally would move on from Brown as I think they have peaked with this group. But OPie seems to have another idea ( at least in public). Brown and maybe Brogdon in two different trades could re-set the salary structure moving forward as well keep the team competitive. Maybe even better than the Tatum/Brown duo in the long run.
I was responding to the trade Brogdon idea. Rather than Collins maybe a three way with Bulls & Wizards Hawks for Coby White and Kyle Kuzma. That fills two positions rather than one and opens up dealing Smart if need be.
The MLE should be able to get one of Reid, Noel or McDaniels ...
Use Pritchard, Muscala and/or Gallo for another hole if need be - that's $7.5-14M in contracts (1yr)
We will not be S&T any of our traded pieces ... the team sending back will be doing the S&T (Bulls = White)
There's also Javonte Green (UFA) who could be signed with vet minimum.
gotcha! White is a RFA and kuzma will opt out of his $13M player option to become an UFA this off-season. To get either one (unless they will play for $5M) would require a sign and trade where Boston receives them in the trade, meaning Boston would be hard capped. not the team trading them. (just to clarify) I doubt we can get Naz or McDaniel for the $5M MLE. maybe Noel, but I agree with you I think I'd rather spend some of that for a player like Javonte Green ( who has been rumored already). I've said before I doubt Pritchard has much value as an expiring contract (though a team could keep him as a RFA the following year) so maybe a late first at best IMO. ( AInge?) Muscala and Gallo are damaged or old and have little value to get any real assets back either, at least IMO. Bur Opie got Brogdon for Theis, Nesmith and some garbage last year, so one never knows. The new CBA will likely cause Opie's butt to pucker before adding more older high priced players however. If Not Opie's Wyc's for SURE! I guess I just take Opie at his word here and don't see many changes, at least none that really matter in the floor. I did see Pierce said that Boston should hire Sam Cassell to the coaching staff. Not sure if he is connected to Wyc or not, but Cassell and Silas would be good additions to the front of the bench to me. Seems like that's where Opie will make major changes, after dropping the ball this past season on coaching help.
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Post by kdp59 on Jun 4, 2023 7:19:11 GMT -5
interesting read and pretty much shuts down any idea of Tatum OR Brown being traded for the next year or two. I am not sure on this part: I think Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams and Danilo Gallinari will be with new teams next season. Who replaces those three is a story for another day.I can see all three being here at the start of next season , I mean Opie traded FOR Brogdon just last off-season and one could say it was a success. Grant may not get any offers from another team and sign and two year deal at around $10M each with the second year a player option ( My bet). Gallo has little to no value in the trade market and Boston is in no position to give up assets to dump a guy. So unless Gallo retires, I see him back also.
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Post by Cabutan on Jun 4, 2023 8:38:28 GMT -5
interesting read and pretty much shuts down any idea of Tatum OR Brown being traded for the next year or two. I am not sure on this part: I think Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams and Danilo Gallinari will be with new teams next season. Who replaces those three is a story for another day.I can see all three being here at the start of next season , I mean Opie traded FOR Brogdon just last off-season and one could say it was a success. Grant may not get any offers from another team and sign and two year deal at around $10M each with the second year a player option ( My bet). Gallo has little to no value in the trade market and Boston is in no position to give up assets to dump a guy. So unless Gallo retires, I see him back also. when I see Brogdon, white, smart, PP, I see a bunch of different talent but alot of redundancy as well plus all defined as PGs but no real PG in any of them. That has to be addressed. When Smart decides to play PG, full PG, we are pretty successful. But that's not always the case. He tends to play other positions. So who is our PG? We can't rely on Brown or Tatum for that task. If bringing Rondo as an assistant is part of the move, then we better have a full time PG coming up otherwise is nonsense. I keep saying bring up JD and see what he has to offer in practice. Let him learn the system. In the GLeague he won't do shit.
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