Ha... Blake Griffin played like Aaron Gordon last nightWho now?
Ha... Blake Griffin played like Aaron Gordon last nightWho now?
This does not suck. I like Theis but Williams' development will be fun to watch.After arguably his career game too. That sucks. I'm not a big Theis guy but he was looking good and plays a role. We'll be seeing more of Williams.
Wait, we are a team in developmental mode? I don't see Theis' injury affecting Williams much it is the Horford/Baynes 5 rotation where he will get his minutes. I just hate seeing Semi out there as he's a pretty decent downgrade unless he makes a leap off last season......which as a 2nd year player is certainly possible.This does not suck. I like Theis but Williams' development will be fun to watch.
No? But Williams has a chance to grow into a real contributor over the course of the season and I enjoy watching him.Wait, we are a team in developmental mode? I don't see Theis' injury affecting Williams much it is the Horford/Baynes 5 rotation where he will get his minutes. I just hate seeing Semi out there as he's a pretty decent downgrade unless he makes a leap off last season......which as a 2nd year player is certainly possible.
I don't think giving a rookie big 10 minutes a game in order to "develop" him means that the team is in development mode. Because of injuries last year, Semi got 15 minutes a game. With Theis hurt, I would imagine we might see something similar with Williams, especially with Baynes getting banged upWait, we are a team in developmental mode?
Agreed. Semi provides zero help with rim protection. He is nothing more than filler at wing. Brad will probably go from a 10 to 9 man rotation in tight games. It will be Horford/Baynes at the 5.Wait, we are a team in developmental mode? I don't see Theis' injury affecting Williams much it is the Horford/Baynes 5 rotation where he will get his minutes. I just hate seeing Semi out there as he's a pretty decent downgrade unless he makes a leap off last season......which as a 2nd year player is certainly possible.
BSF said that losing Theis isn't a bad thing. He later clarified that he enjoys watching Williams play which sometimes I don't take the fan into account and only looking at the team as a whole. I am ok with losing a couple guys from our rotation due to its redundancy but Theis isn't one of those guys who is redundant and needs the ball like a Jaylen or MaMo.I don't think giving a rookie big 10 minutes a game in order to "develop" him means that the team is in development mode. Because of injuries last year, Semi got 15 minutes a game. With Theis hurt, I would imagine we might see something similar with Williams, especially with Baynes getting banged up
Not to jump on you but I didn't. I said seeing more of Williams "does not suck." My preference is obviously for Theis to be healthy and Williams to still get some opportunities along the way.BSF said that losing Theis isn't a bad thing. He later clarified that he enjoys watching Williams play which sometimes I don't take the fan into account and only looking at the team as a whole. I am ok with losing a couple guys from our rotation due to its redundancy but Theis isn't one of those guys who is redundant and needs the ball like a Jaylen or MaMo.
I did like Williams out of the draft and he's looked very intriguing in limited minutes. This will be a good opportunity for him in the games we have either Horford or Baynes missing. Maybe he'll be that rare rookie who can contribute on a championship team.
I apologize. I just re-read the quote where you responded. Carry on. /sticks head in sandNot to jump on you but I didn't. I said seeing more of Williams "does not suck." My preference is obviously for Theis to be healthy and Williams to still get some opportunities along the way.
No worries. Everyone gets a mulligan today. I will miss Theis since he is a very good bench piece but the silver lining is that Williams should get some more opportunities to demonstrate continued growth. Hopefully Theis can return at some point and Brad has a tough decision to make later on in the year.I apologize. I just re-read the quote where you responded. Carry on. /sticks head in sand
Do they? They seem to have a similar game. Theis has a little more range and a better offensive game atm, but he's not on the team for his offense. Williams definitely has more upside but their games don't seem that different to me other than Theis is further along in development with a lower ceiling.They play different games, and if Williams can build a foundation as a rebounder, rim protector and defensive specialist this year it just gives Brad another option come playoffs
This is a decent take on the situation. With Baynes coming back, Brad was only going to play Theis a handful of minutes. Potentially playing Williams those few minutes shouldn't alter any games.I think the Theis/Williams argument breaks down to this. right now it might actually be better in the long term for Williams to get more minutes. if Williams can build a foundation as a rebounder, rim protector and defensive specialist this year it just gives Brad another option come playoffs
Unless a Horford or Baynes injuries occurs I'm guessing any extra minutes going to either Williams, Ojeleye, or Yabu are going to be matchup specific barring a breakout season by one of them. I doubt very much it will be Yabu as he's completely worthless aside from being a big body who can play a 3-point shooter on tv.I think some of Theis' minutes may go to Williams, but he will have to beat out Baynes, Yabu, Ojeleye, and smaller lineups for every single minute he gets.
We obviously don't have much tape on Williams yet but I view them differently. Theis comes in when there are more shooters on the floor since he seems to have a bit more speed and range to cover the 3PT line and doesn't get killed on switches. Williams seems to be more a stay at home protect the rim when there is a player like KI on the floor. Offensively Theis seems to be in the right place at the right time, and we don't have enough on Williams from that end to know for sure.Do they? They seem to have a similar game. Theis has a little more range and a better offensive game atm, but he's not on the team for his offense. Williams definitely has more upside but their games don't seem that different to me other than Theis is further along in development with a lower ceiling.
I don't understand this at all.Shams reporting the Yabu's option got picked up.
Yuck, don't like this one bit. That's $3.1M of ownership money flushed down the drain.Shams reporting the Yabu's option got picked up.
Trade ballast?Yuck, don't like this one bit. That's $3.1M of ownership money flushed down the drain.
Since Yabu is clearly not a 'wing', 5's are for sale. I'd have allocated that money towards bringing Theis back next season
Have to find the source, but someone did the calc that Brown+Smart+Yabu is just over exactly enough to match Anthony Davis.I assume this is with an eye toward having the low-to-mid-level contracts that can be valuable in trade.
It’s not flushed anywhere. He’s one of those middle contracts that could be useful in trade, and if it doesn’t work out they’ll just send him someplace like Atlanta.Yuck, don't like this one bit. That's $3.1M of ownership money flushed down the drain.
That's part of why they did this. I also think that they like him and think he has trade value. But I did expect them to pass.Have to find the source, but someone did the calc that Brown+Smart+Yabu is just over exactly enough to match Anthony Davis.
Curious - why do you care about the money?Yuck, don't like this one bit. That's $3.1M of ownership money flushed down the drain.
Since Yabu is clearly not a 'wing', 5's are for sale. I'd have allocated that money towards bringing Theis back next season
Dynasties always feel inevitable, right up until they don't. The Warriors are clearly better than the 2012-2013 Heat, but even having one of their stars banged up would put them in similar territory, particularly wrt depth. And the Celtics, if they're playing with purpose on offense, are better than those Spurs teams imo.
They all said Boston.
I wouldn't be surprised if Ainge likes him. Yabu has a nice skill set and is still pretty young. I wouldn't be surprised to see him turn into a useful player.That's part of why they did this. I also think that they like him and think he has trade value. But I did expect them to pass.
Edit: "Trade value" might have been the wrong word. What I meant was that they figure he has at least neutral value - if they want to shed the contract without parting with any additional value, they think they could - not that they can turn and deal him for a legit asset.
Either way, it seems clear now that they value trade optionality and slight upside over avoiding the repeater tax.I wouldn't be surprised if Ainge likes him. Yabu has a nice skill set and is still pretty young. I wouldn't be surprised to see him turn into a useful player.
I'm less concerned about the money and more bothered with Yabu's lack of development. I've lost my patience with him. He's a 5. He has not developed a reliable 3 pt shot where he can extend the defense. I also don't see him as an athletic/mobile rim protector on defense. I see him as a liability on the floor, that will awkwardly run over another Celtic by accident.Curious - why do you care about the money?
Theis is going to be a RFA next year. I doubt that the approximately $2M of funds is going to make a huge difference to ownership as Kyrie's new contract is going to take them into the luxury tax next year. They must be making bank on this team as of this moment as I'm sure they are budgeting for HOU-level luxury payments into the near future.
Note that Celtics Blog did a nice projection of Cs future salaries here: https://www.celticsblog.com/2018/7/27/17599624/boston-celtics-luxury-tax-problem-projecting-future-payroll-kyrie-irving-gordon-hayward-al-horford
In fact, I think the opposite take is correct here - if the Cs had declined Yabu's option. I would be worried about what they were thinking financially. Not having Yabu's contract on the books isn't going to get them under the luxury tax, so if they are worried about paying the tax on the approximately $2M difference between Yabu and an end-of-the-bench guy, what are they going to do when they are approximately $7M over the luxury tax before they have to decide whether to resign Horford?
It's still about 300K short assuming Davis waives his trade kicker.Have to find the source, but someone did the calc that Brown+Smart+Yabu is just over exactly enough to match Anthony Davis.
LeVert was a lottery pick who slipped due to his recurring foot problems. The Nets got themselves a steal if he's able to stay healthy. If you're looking for a big deal in Ainge root for the Pelican's 3-game losing streak to stretch to say 10 or so......or however many it would need to be to get Demps fired.Taking Yabu over LeVert was annoying. I get that they needed a guy they could stash but, man, I never saw anything even remotely intriguing about Yabu.
I think the trade ballast guesses are probably correct. I think Danny’s got another big deal in him in the next 12 months.
We've seen Yabu play 18 minutes this season. You really want to evaluate his development or lack thereof based on that?I'm less concerned about the money and more bothered with Yabu's lack of development. I've lost my patience with him. He's a 5. He has not developed a reliable 3 pt shot where he can extend the defense. I also don't see him as an athletic/mobile rim protector on defense. I see him as a liability on the floor, that will awkwardly run over another Celtic by accident.
I'd like to see Horford/Baynes/Theis play the majority of the minutes at the 5 and use development minutes for Williams this season.
Next offseason we could find an experienced, cheap 5 ring chaser, OR we could have a young 5 develop in Maine OR the Celts could use one of their later 2019 draft picks to take a young athletic 5. Yabu really doesn't have a role on this team next year, not sure why you have to guarantee him $3.1MM.
Couldn’t it be argued his lack of playing time reflects his lack of development?We've seen Yabu play 18 minutes this season. You really want to evaluate his development or lack thereof based on that?
Baynes/Theis have both been injured and missed games. And Yabu has only played 18minutes, that tells me something. We have 4 guys ahead of him for one spot.We've seen Yabu play 18 minutes this season. You really want to evaluate his development or lack thereof based on that?
On this team? Really?Couldn’t it be argued his lack of playing time reflects his lack of development?
Yeah. He couldn't compete with Theis for playing time. Robert Williams has been playing above him recently.On this team? Really?
Semi played 24 minutes before tonight and then had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 22 minutes because of a specific matchup.Yeah. He couldn't compete with Theis for playing time. Robert Williams has been playing above him recently.
Stevens was on with Grande before their broadcast and was asked specifically about Guerschon. To your point, Brad noted that young players with Yabu's potential are extremely rare in that he can defend down low as well as at the arc - he essentially referred to him as a player who fits the modern game very well.Semi played 24 minutes before tonight and then had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 22 minutes because of a specific matchup.
I know you know BBall. I know you know that the Cs are not evaluating him on the 18 minutes he played. The Cs see him every day in practce. They are not going to throw away $2M just because they think he is handsome.
He may not amount to anything but he's got more upside potential than the Walt Lemon Jrs of the world. I'm glad the Cs exercised his option. It's not my $.
You shifted the goal posts. I didn’t argue picking up the option was bad. He seems tradeable.Semi played 24 minutes before tonight and then had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 22 minutes because of a specific matchup.
I know you know BBall. I know you know that the Cs are not evaluating him on the 18 minutes he played. The Cs see him every day in practce. They are not going to throw away $2M just because they think he is handsome.
He may not amount to anything but he's got more upside potential than the Walt Lemon Jrs of the world. I'm glad the Cs exercised his option. It's not my $.
To some extent, yes, but this isn't the 2013-14 team, or even the 2015-16 team. And I think any NBA role player is going to need more than 235 minutes over 90 games to find their niche.Couldn’t it be argued his lack of playing time reflects his lack of development?
Theis is actually a good NBA role player. Williams has 12 minutes, at least 7 of which were pure garbage time. This Celtic team is deep.Yeah. He couldn't compete with Theis for playing time. Robert Williams has been playing above him recently.
I read somewhere that defending the arc has been a trademark of the Brad Stevens Celtics, and even the Doc Rivers Celtics were good at it.I don't know what this team's ceiling is but they held the Bucks to 31% from three which is actually about 3.5% points above their season average thus far.