2019-20 Boston Celtics Season

“He is,” said Kemba Walker on if Tatum was getting better at taking over games. “I’m trying to encourage him more to do so. He’s just gotta become that killer, which he is. It’s so fun to watch him and Jaylen (Brown), man. It’s so fun to be a part of their growth.”

Imagine that, the team struggle for a bit and its biggest star doesn't throw his teammates under the bus. He stays supportive and doesn't try to hug the limelight. Imagine that!

I really like DSJ, but I don't like the fit since he can't shoot. Trier makes more sense here.

I keep seeing suggestions (including BRobb and @dangercart) of Bogdanovic (Sac) and I'm starting to like it:

1. If Brown/Tatum/Hayward are healthy, he replaces Wanamaker in the rotation and provides much needed scoring off the bench.
2. If not, he can either fit into the starting lineup to replace 1 or, if they decided to put a "big" in the first 5, he can still fill the above role.
3. In the offseason, in a CRAZY scenario where Gordon decides that Boston hasn't been the right fit and thinks, long-term, he'd be better elsewhere, you keep BB as his "replacement".
4. If not, you COULD work a sign-and-trade to maybe get something back.
5. If Danny and Wyc really wanted to go crazy, they pay even more Luxury Tax and keep GH AND BB. The latter becomes a nice trade piece down the road should GH end up healthy and here long-term.
6. Or, more likely, you just let him walk and he's your typical "rental"

The cost, BRobb suggested the Memphis pick + salary (Poirier, Edwards, and either BW or Semi). Ryan B suggests Kanter + their own 1st and BRK's 2nd. I don't like that one (though Ryan does point out that there would need to be a 2nd deal to replace Kanter).

I don't love giving up that Memphis pick outright but if you put some protection around it, you can probably still trump the competition. Of the Playoff or Playoff Contending Teams, there are a bunch who can't trade a 1st (MIL, UTAH, DEN, IND, PHI, OKC, MEM and BRK all might owe their pick). So that leaves:

LAL - Pick will likely be the 2nd worst in the draft based on current records
SA - Just read they are one of the least active teams at the deadline historically
POR - Going after Love?
PHO - Maybe Love as well but, either way, not sure trading a 1st for a rental makes sense

or

MIA - Does wing depth really make sense for them?
ORL - Much like PHO without the hint of a Love pursuit. Does a rental make sense for their future?
DAL - Likely the real competition IMO.

Another idea I've heard/read is Alec Burks. Very cheap. Also didn't realize that, in addition to having played with Hayward and Kanter, he's also related to Tatum by marriage.

Just one of the reasons this team is so exciting, Smart is a great 5th player on a team. OK so they don't have a top 10 player but 1 thru 5,6 they are all really good with a few guys still growing.

My god, Zion scored 17 straight points last night including 4-4 on 3's in 3 minutes and 29 seconds.  And then he got pulled while still on the streak because of his minutes restriction.

He already did something no one ever did in NBA history in his first game.  

Are we really worried about protection on the Grizz pick?

Anything can happen in one year. Sure I believe that 100%. Yet talking about top five picks next year isn't one year. You need some miracle this year so the pick doesn't convey. Which means you add a top three pick to that team. Then you need them to suck or get crazy lucky again next year. It's the combo and that Franchise. Plus the pick is already top six protected this year. They are also one of the few teams that will have a ton of money to spend next year if they want to. Heck they might add to this years team with an Iggy trade.

So you can add some crazy protection, but like I asked are we really worried?

What are the current odds that pick conveys this year 95%?

You only trade the Grizz pick if you have to right? Which means your trading it to top other offers, which offer better picks than ours. So if you protected it for the lottery, which is a likely. What do you send them then? Our 2021 pick isn't likely better than our 2020 pick. Maybe top ten works because they see that as unlikely, but again if it happens and there is a semi decent chance it could. What do you send them? The way I look at it, if you include that pick it's because you need to for the player you want. Not because it might fall out of the lottery.

I touched on this a while back, getting BB seems to depend on if you want him long-term. Given his age I can see a bunch of teams looking at him as a building block, not your standard rental (a late first likely isn't enough). I don't share RJPs thoughts that he won't have suitors either. Shooting is all the rage right now. Heck he'd be a good fit for the Grizz next year. So if you want him it's likely going to cost you.

Is he worth the Grizz pick? All depends. If you want to keep him long-term that isn't crazy. He's young, very good shooter and would make an awesome 6th man. I certainly don't expect that though, but who knows. I would love a bench with a scorer like him and a defender like Smart though.

Brown, Tatum and Kanter all out tonight. No more injuries please.

No Romeo either, I’m back to being annoyed by him

Yeah, dude just flat out hasn't been healthy since being drafted.

HUGE win tonight, the Magic have been pretty decent lately. Kemba was the obvious highlight, but man Daniel Theis is a BALLER.



I prefer to believe that he's injured, the alternative is that he can't outplay Semi.