Yeah that team can't really work unless the Celts wanna spend 250 mill on payroll. George is due a max after next season, Hayward will command the max, IT will be close to the max (and the reason I say close is because he may take slightly less than max if you give him a 5th yr) AB is gonna be about 4/90 range. Smart and Olynyk will be 12-15M a year guys.

Maybe let IT go and run AB-Hayward-George-Crowder-Horford with George and Hayward as the primary ballhandlers. That's a good team but it's still not touching GS.

You probably couldn't touch GS if you uses every non-GS player. Making a better team than them shouldn't be the goal.

Yeah, but you could argue that pushing your chips all in and cashing in picks, cap space to compete now isn't as valuable a strategy in a world where GS exists. That's my point.

If GS doesn't exist the way they do now, doesn't cashing in for George/Hayward sound a lot better?

Or should it just not factor into the decision making process because trying to become the 2nd-3rd best team in the league with some equity is good enough?

GSW and CLE dominance is one reason for not trading the pick, just move your timeline back a bit and hope Bucks and 76ers **** up their situation or continue to get back injury luck.

But if they got Hayward (and didn't get PG), they'd be favorites to make the conference finals for like 6.5 of the next 8 years with their current roster/assets, and they'd probably be looking at something like 3.5 finals. Even if they lost to GSW everytime it'd be a massive success. The median outcome for the Celtics (especially with FO being decent, Brad being great) is just totally, totally insane. As great as the Cavs are, father time is undefeated and they aren't without their warts.

one issue with not trading the pick is that I'm not really sure how well a rookie develops while playing bench minutes, it certainly isn't helping his growth or his possible trade value

If you pay Hayward then don't you have to pay IT/AB tho? Otherwise it's just a half measure, right? Hayward/Horford/AB/crowder core probably isn't doing better than that core with IT. In which case you probably just lose in rd 1 and 2 a lot of the time.

It's a good problem to have but def not the easiest situation to navigate.

don't think development is hindered as long as he plays real minutes and participates actively in the offense. not sure how many examples of such circumstances exist, but kobe comes to mind. 16 mpg rookie year (25% usg), 26 mpg year 2 (27% usg).

these high lotto picks often get thrust into carry roles that they can't handle in hopes that eventually they grow into it, but i don't think teams want to make them do that. their rosters usually suck so they have no choice


edit: harden also. 23 mpg rookie year, 27 mpg year 2 and at even lower usg; ~20% both years


but yeah they are generally pushed beyond their capabilities their rookie year, so i don't imagine scaling things back hurts

Not sure how much lack of PT would hurt a Fultz. Tough to predict something like that.

It definitely does setup this type of like Vet starting QB/backup QB Drew Brees/Phil Rivers dynamic with him and IT though.

Tough to say how that would manifest itself.

I'm not really sold on Fultz.

I'd def entertain the possibility of trading the #1 pick for Jimmy Butler.

A lot of analysts, smart ones imo, seem to think it would take more than the #1 to get Paul George. I feel like they are on crack for saying that.

If I were Indy I'd SNAP a top 3 pick for PG, it wouldn't even be close.

Butler is a harder choice for Chicago, mainly because he's way better and there isn't another young stud to sell to your franchise like you have with Myles Turner.

What about Randle and Clarkson instead

Those analysts aren't very smart.

Yeah Indy is taking the #1 for George right now if they can get it imo. He's gone otherwise.

Also, I think George is better than Butler and I think his game ages better. But it isn't something I'd love to debate since Butler clearly had a much better regular season. George had a much better playoffs tho (granted in a sweep so no one cares)

Butler has 2 years left on his deal tho so it isn't apples to apples either way.

I think the #1 pick fetches either of them though. Are the Bulls really gonna turn down #1 so they can trot Butler out there with Wade and Rondo the next few years?

Harden for Lonzo

I can't find a specific date for Wade's option for next year but the league's season is July 1 so probably then, I'd assume they want to hold off on making a Butler trade decision until after that.

Fwiw remember the rumours of Indy already turning down ridiculous offers around the deadline

Boston might be able to play Chicago and Indy and Hayward off each other and drive the price lower, but the NBA GM CW on George is >>> the TZ consensus view, remember.

Ainge is real real good but I'm not sure if he's that good.

Indy should bait Knicks with that offer :

George vs Noah, 8th pick and a 2022 unprotected

What power does Indy have? George wants to be a Laker.

They have a terrible front office as a trading partner, might be all they need.

Ehh, even Magic probably isn't making the mistake NYK did w/ Melo.

Not like getting George there asap is a priority either. Whereas NYK did feel like they had to get Melo there fast because Amare could die at any time and they were so starved for a solid team.

Also with Rob Lowe running the show I expect the Lakers to be pretty sharp with the contract nuances

Stay in your lane

The full thing :





Amazingly absurdly ridiculous

Leahy came at him a bit harsh but Lavar is such as dipsh*t.