Boston Celtics 2021-2022 Season

I'm starting to agree with this more and more the season goes on. Its hard to know what's real and what's not when it comes to players skill/development and coaching.

But it's pretty clear after more time that Ime's rotations are very bad.

I don't know but... If the C's continue on their current path they will be close to having a lottery pick. So you can package that up with Schroeder and Richardson along with Smart as trade bait you have enough assets to get something good in return. Of course multiple teams would have to be involved but maybe that is how they get Fox or as you like Rozier.

That is 4 assets that could/should be used to try to make this team better next year. 

The big question is Browns future health and R Williams also for that matter.

I think I agree with the Fox idea, they need that 3rd piece and he could be it. 

Listen, the team often looks bad, needs to overcome adversity, has depth that doesn't make sense together, is consistently inconsistent BUT... their most-played line-up has played the 2nd fewest minutes together of anyone and doesn't even contain their 2nd best player.

/photo/3

I don't think it's unreasonable to still think they might succeed at beating good teams and trouncing bad teams when everyone is actually available. Hopefully. Maybe.

Ok so this is a crazy yet feasible trade idea so have at it.

In my opinion for a championship contending team the 3 guys I have mentioned are all worth a late 1st rd pick. Granted some maybe a little more, some maybe a little less. That is putting a lot of weight on a late pick not having a ton of value. But a few late rd picks all of a sudden have much more value as you have a chance that 1 out of 3 is a real player and maybe you get 2 role players. That would be 3 maybes.

So yes this is an oversimplification but. Say Fox is available and the C's get 3 contending teams to send their #1 to Sactown and those teams get one of each of those guys? Smart and his reasonable contract could go to a team that has aspirations and has a low 20's position. Schroeder  could also be worth more than just a late rd pick. It all depends on the teams out their thinking they have a team that is one player away or maybe an injury issue.

Maybe this trade needs tweeks but I don't think it is outlandish to think it could be the foundation to a big trade that brings the C's a player that could be the answer. Keeping in mind that Hayward, Kyrie and Kemba were all failed attempts at that missing piece so it isn't easy.

Lastly, just how much more value does Fox bring compared to Smart? Yes more but is it more than a deal like that? And I don't know whether the C's could make the money work with all the teams involved so it is just a thought.

No not a playoff spot, like a move that makes you a true contender.

Like I said, I am looking at late 1st rd picks as not having much value.

My mindset on that is starting to change. Seems like more and more talented role players are being found in the late 1st/early 2nd these days

To both of you in regards to the late 1st picks. I don't see it that way and as I said in my original post it is still kind of a crapshoot. Heck the teens are also. Just look at all the C's picks from that bounty they had and what they have gotten. Like I said in the original post, if you have 3 you have a chance that 1 ends up being a real player or maybe 2 role players. This graph below supports that as it looks like 1 in 3 amounts to anything, . And if you are a really good team with aspirations of winning it all do you care about the 25th pick in the draft? no!!  And the chances that player is going to be as good as Smart or Schroeder are about 15%. 

Read the comments in the far right column.

www.82games.com/nbadraftpicks.htm

I'm talking about current day NBA not 1988 to 2008. The g league and two extra roster spots with two way contracts have changed the draft. Record numbers declare all the time now. I'd argue the value of a 2nd round pick has never been higher. You see undrafted success stories now like you used to see 2nd round picks.

Richardson was given to us for taking his contract. He has value, yet it's not a first.

Schroder is a maybe, yet given no bird rights he's likely closer to Fournier who cost two seconds even with full bird rights.

Smart I can see both sides, yet it's a maybe for me. A big reason is I hate his extension at 4 years 19 million per season. I don't see that as good value for a 6th or 7th piece on a title contender. It's why I asked how people value Smart. If you see him as a starter a first makes perfect sense. Just for the record I'm ruling out taking on bad contracts like Love, Westbrook, Wall, those Knick contracts. If you're willing to eat bad money that changes things.

Just my opinion yet you'd have a better chance targeting young players you like or other teams value. Take the Celtics, if I was a GM and they wanted something I had, guys like Pritchard, Langford and Nesmith are my buy low targets. A creative GM could get a very interesting return for those guys, I just don't see 3 first round picks. You're basically saying Smart, Schroeder and Richardson equal Fox, that's just wishful thinking in my book.

Love the way they have been using PP as the screener for Tatum in pick and pop situations. I also thought Tatum made some really good passes last night(many of which didnt lead to assists as the shooter missed)

I’d do that deal in a heartbeat