You're in Neil's shoes...

This is my one concern. Neil will know by the end of the season next year whether or not the current starting lineup can go any further and if not where the limitation is coming from. But I agree this unit needs one more wing/guard who can create his own shot besides Dame. Maybe CJ can help.

 

I agree and that is saying a lot because I like Wes and Nic A LOT, but having another dynamic offensive player who you can pencil in for 20 would move this team up. Saying that, you will also lose a skill which either of Wes and Nic bring like defense or play making ability.

Finding that player that can be better in either position would be a difficult thing to find. I don't think there are that many.

I actually think Will Barton is going to be very good, to the point where we will discuss the possibility of not resigning Wes if he is offered a crazy amount by a team trying to steal him from us. I have very high expectations for Will Barton. I think he's going to come up big.

 

I love wes and batum as much as any fan, but I must agree with you. I've noticed that only when Matthews or Batum actually had games where they were creating their own shot, was when our starting core looked unbeatable. Problem is that doesn't happen all the time.

Both players are fully capable of doing this, but for whatever reason, can't consistently do it all the time.

Believe it or not, I think the addition of Blake maybe just what the doctor ordered. I watched many Laker games and Blake has that skill. The "playmaking" skill. He isn't superstar, but quality enough to keep the defense honest with range but the desire to involve his teammates.

 

So you are saying we should have gotten Igudala?

 

Some of you think we'll lose Matthews; others say we'll have to pay him $14 million per year. How about a 3rd option--trade him this season for a young scorer/defender who makes half of that 14? Okay, I'll compromise...a third as much.

I mean, if the rest of the league values him as highly as you think, we could make a steal of a trade for an up-and-comer.

 

I think we have 12 players who could be real contributors to an NBA team, 13 if Leonard improved. I can see a trade of 3-4 capable players to Boston for Rajon Rondo.

 

Why?!?!

 

Repped.

 

I am not one of those who thinks he will get 14 million and i assume only a couple do and even those were only implying that it was "possible" not necessarily probable. That being said, even in that scenario I think it would be hard to do. First off it would be very difficult matching salaries and secondly the teams that would offer Wes $14 million are probably not the teams who have that younger and potentiality better version of him.

Maybe Jeremy Lamb if, and only if, Reggie Jackson was included. And I doubt OKC would bite on that because they would not want to give Wes the big pay day next year.

Cleveland would bite, but is Dion Waiters better than CJ? They are both listed at 6'4"

I would bite on Oladipo or Giannis Antetokounmpo, but would these young teams who are 3 years away take that chance?

I hate contributing to a trade Wes topic, but I guess if I am Neil I have nothing better to do than to explore all options.

 

As a unit we have one of the best starting 5's in the NBA... top 5 for sure. We would be hardpressed to swap 2 of our starters for a big enough upgrade that a Guy like Barton plugged into Wesleys role, would keep us that highly ranked.

Exapmle
Lillard - Matthews - Batum - Aldridge - Lopez

vs.

Lillard - Barton - Batum - Aldridge - Gasol

 

Why Rondo? Because he's available and can be a good fit.
Say we offer Blake, CJ, DWright, Freeland, Leonard for Rondo. This would be a Pippen-type trade.
We would start Rondo, Lillard, Nico, LMA, Lopez with Wes, Barton, Claver, T-Rob, Kaman coming of the bench. Lillard would play as a 2 or as a PG when Rondo on the bench, he proved he can do both.
It's a gamble, may not be worth the risk, but if we can turn some of our bench into a player of Rondo's caliber, I think we should at least consider it.

 

I would take Rondo, but if we trade 5 guys for 1 then Boston has to cut 4 more players and pay them. They already have a bunch of decent young talent similar to the players they would be receiving. The CBA rules for a Pippen like trade are different. Those extra salaries hurt. I guess if they had more time to trade the excess of players for 2nd round picks.......

 

Poor blake, traded again!!!! Hahaha. He would never be included BTW...

But whatever the case, the players used aren't my concern; which I think would require more for the deal. Most likely having to give up Batum or Matthews with other players for Rondo.

My biggest concern is the chemistry. Rondo is a nut job and has shown this publicly and behind closed doors. He is a great defender and facilitator but at what cost to our chemistry?

 

I don't know that Rondo is especially Nutty. He probably wants out of Boston but that's understandable considering he's in his prime and they're still a few rebuilding years away from being any kind of factor.
In response to Pinwheel, I think it's a relatively good deal for the Celtics. I think 4 if not 5 of these players are good enough to make their roster and at least some would make the rotation. None of them has a very big or long-term contract and one or two can become key future players for them. Blake is someone they can use, CJ is a promising young talent, Freeland deserves more minutes than he would get in Portland, DWright is servicable. I think the Houston deal (for Pippen) had less talent going their way.

 

Who does Boston cut to make room for the Blazers refuse?

 

Boston, if they are even interested in trading Rondo, would get way better offers than Leonard, CJ and D. Wright.

 

There are 60 guys in the league right now making 10+ mil a year, that' ~2 per team. We know Lillard is going to get up there soon, so are we going to have all 5 of our starters making that much money? This starting lineup isn't a title contender and we've seen how bad it sucks to have no bench.

 

No kidding. Rondo, head case that I believe him to be, has to have more value than our scrubs and projects.