CELTICS REPORTEDLY STILL TRYING TO PULL OFF MAJOR TRADE

WEEI

By Jerry Spar

The Celtics did not pull off the major trade many fans were hoping for prior to last month’s draft, but they still might have a chance to make a splash. According to a report from the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett, the C’s have been continuing their attempts to improve their lineup by landing a big-name player — namely Bulls guard Jimmy Butler or 76ers center Jahlil Okafor.

The report notes that the C’s may have hurt their chances with their surprising selection of Jaylen Brown at No. 3.

Wrote Bulpett: Sources tell us the C’s are still holding the line on their offers from prior to the draft. They will make trades if teams come around to their price.

Jimmy Butler and Jahlil Okafor are said to be still available, but getting them now won’t be as easy as on draft night when Chicago and Philadelphia, respectively, both coveted the No. 3 overall pick so they could take Providence’s Kris Dunn.

The Celtics helped their cause with the acquisition of free agent forward/center Al Horford but clearly need to do more to compete with the best in the East.

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Since the draft the Bulls added Rondo (presumed starter) for 2 years, Jerian Grant (cheap 3 year rookie deal) to be his backup and have Calderon for 1 year who Grant might have a hard time beating out or who will be a 3rd guy getting some minutes at the position.

I would think that with McDermott and Dunleavy as their SF's an athletic young defender at that position would be just what they need. Jaylen Browns was compared to Jimmy Butler by many scouts and should be just as coveted now AFTER their FA moves, as Dunn was at the draft. Remember, Butler plays some SF too, and if he is being traded that position HAS to be addressed by them. 

I would still do a variation of the trade I suggested at the time of the draft for him:

Brown, Bradley, Amir, [Jackson over Rozier], James Young and the Nets 2018 pick unprotected for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. 

That is 26.5 in salary coming in and about 27-28 million going out, depending on what Brown and Jackson's rookie salary #'s come in at. The C's were a projected 11-12 million under the cap if they renounced Sully/Zeller while still picking up the Amir/Jerebko deals. That is still enough to sign Festus Ezeli. 

Re-uniting former teammates Rondo and Bradley as starters and Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson as their backups would be kinds cool. They all played their best ball when teamed together and Jackson grew up 2 hours outside of Chicago.

Such a deal could also be done w/o Taj or Amir but with the C's taking back Grant and giving up Rozier instead, who is another midwest guy who would pair well with Grant. 

Probably isn't enough for the Bulls b/c they are overvaluing Butler to the extreme based on his contract of 3 years 57 million looks so affordable in the new crazy market and how established all-stars are hard to come by. But I think the deal is fair to both teams.

Ram wrote:Since the draft the Bulls added Rondo (presumed starter) for 2 years, Jerian Grant (cheap 3 year rookie deal) to be his backup and have Calderon for 1 year who Grant might have a hard time beating out or who will be a 3rd guy getting some minutes at the position.

I would think that with McDermott and Dunleavy as their SF's an athletic young defender at that position would be just what they need. Jaylen Browns was compared to Jimmy Butler by many scouts and should be just as coveted now AFTER their FA moves, as Dunn was at the draft. Remember, Butler plays some SF too, and if he is being traded that position HAS to be addressed by them. 

I would still do a variation of the trade I suggested at the time of the draft for him:

Brown, Bradley, Amir, [Jackson over Rozier], James Young and the Nets 2018 pick unprotected for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. 

That is 26.5 in salary coming in and about 27-28 million going out, depending on what Brown and Jackson's rookie salary #'s come in at. The C's were a projected 11-12 million under the cap if they renounced Sully/Zeller while still picking up the Amir/Jerebko deals. That is still enough to sign Festus Ezeli. 

Re-uniting former teammates Rondo and Bradley as starters and Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson as their backups would be kinds cool. They all played their best ball when teamed together and Jackson grew up 2 hours outside of Chicago.

Throwing in James Young is the deal-breaker for me.

steve3344 wrote:Throwing in James Young is the deal-breaker for me.

Pretty funny there steve

http://www.csnne.com/video/james-young-work-starting-pay

I am not sure that I would want to trade two or three of the core players on our team for Butler.  Draft picks leaving for established talent is fine, but Crowder is a very important part of what the Cs are building with.  From almost Crowder's first ten days in Boston he has been the guy pulling the team together every bit as much as Rondo was pulling it apart.  Not only that, but Crowder is likely to become an 18 ppg player this year and then a 20 ppg player the season after next while still playing spectacular defense.  This guy is only improving every year to the point that he may be as good as Butler is very soon.

I could see maybe moving Bradley in a trade for Butler because they play the same position, are about the same age, etc, and of course, James Young (hot off his summer league performance last night) could go in just about any deal.