Jeff Van Gundy was just on Zach Lowe’s podcast, and he just raved about - of all people - Abdel Nader.
That contract could be such a steal. Nader looks like a legit second unit guy in the making to me, and for 1.5 million the next four seasons. Yes, please.Jeff Van Gundy was just on Zach Lowe’s podcast, and he just raved about - of all people - Abdel Nader.
Anyone else see this? Hey, Danny, get on the horn! This guy deserves some love.The Vertical's Shams Charania reported Monday that Smart hopes to stay with the Celtics but that he hasn't heard from Boston about a new contract as the Oct. 16 deadline to agree to an extension approaches.
Smart looks like he added a legit foot to his vertical this offseason, which seems to have improved his finishing ability. If the improved shooting is as real is it seems at the moment, he will be a rich man soon.Anyone else see this? Hey, Danny, get on the horn! This guy deserves some love.
In video after the game Marcus said "my agent and them haven't talked..."Scal said on the broadcast last night that even though there's been no offer yet to Smart the sides have most definitely talked.
I love IT, but if he's that hurt as bad as it looks then this won't be a mistake. Also, it seems that he thought that playing through injury (he sais he should have sat out postseason) would mean Boston paid him. It wasn't going to happen.“Boston is going to be all love,” he vows, with one exception. “I might not ever talk to Danny again. That might not happen. I’ll talk to everybody else. But what he did, knowing everything I went through, you don’t do that, bro. That’s not right. I’m not saying eff you. But every team in this situation comes out a year or two later and says, ‘We made a mistake.’ That’s what they’ll say, too.”
So, apparently the Celtics knew that making him play in the postseason would lead to this injury and that they would be able to deal him for a player no one knew would become available.Thomas gave so much to the Celtics, and it stinks they wore down his body while he was on a cheap contract then traded him before he was due a massive raise...
The valid gripe he has is that (from his perspective) the team ran him into the ground and hurt his future earnings to then replace his scoring, partially, with a free agent he helped recruit, and to whom his playoff performance probably made the team more attractive.IT: "I might never talk to Danny Ainge again"
https://sports.yahoo.com/isaiah-thomas-might-never-talk-140045003.html
I love IT, but if he's that hurt as bad as it looks then this won't be a mistake. Also, it seems that he thought that playing through injury (he sais he should have sat out postseason) would mean Boston paid him. It wasn't going to happen.
The writer says, HOT TAKE ALERT:
So, apparently the Celtics knew that making him play in the postseason would lead to this injury and that they would be able to deal him for a player no one knew would become available.
+1 Agreed.The valid gripe he has is that (from his perspective) the team ran him into the ground and hurt his future earnings to then replace his scoring, partially, with a free agent he helped recruit, and to whom his playoff performance probably made the team more attractive.
Totally agree, except for the fact that everyone knew IT was good offensively after the regular season last year, so he didn't have tons left to prove in that regard. However, I think he (perhaps misguidedly) put his body out there in the playoffs with the expectation he'd be rewarded for it, when it fact it was probably a terrible move for him long-term.You don't pay players for past performance and IT is the one who signed his original contract. I can see him being upset or whatever, but he doesn't really have a gripe. Plus, if the Celtics didn't "ring" out every ounce of talent from IT, he'd never be in line for a monster pay day anyway. I
I was addicted to the Kyrie/GH 1-3 pick and roll variations, personally.BTW, I just can't stop watching the ball movement on this play. Can anyone else?
I shared your concern, but looks like this won't be a huge deal.Is anyone slightly worried about Baynes's injury? He had shown great promise as kind of an "enforcer", rebounder, and elbow jump shooter. Knee injuries in preseason scare me, and obviously they have a lack of bigs.
Great piece, thanks. Basically what I was trying to articulate in the other thread with this:O'Connor article on Kyrie, he's bullish -
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2017/10/13/16467270/kyrie-irving-boston-celtics-great-point-guard-debate
I agree. This is all much ado about nothing to me. If I was IT, after last year and all he fought through and gave on the floor, I would fucking despise Danny Ainge.I liked the Kyrie trade, as I truly believe we've seen IT's best days already (and I think the 2017-18 Nets will be better than projected). I certainly don't blame Ainge; he wasn't going to make IT4 a max player barring some miracle, and the GM needs to be focused first and foremost on the "best interests of the ballclub".
I also don't blame Isaiah for his remarks, however. IT certainly did not have to play on an injured hip immediately after his sister was killed in a car crash or immediately after her funeral; noone would have blamed him for missing time even in the playoffs given the circumstances. But play he did. He did everything that the team asked him to do, and more, and seemed to really, really enjoy being part of the Boston sports scene all around. He was my kids favorite player on the team by far (irrelevant factoid alert). So, I completely understand why he's not exactly keeping Ainge on his Christmas card list, and I have no problem with that. Personally, if the Celtics don't advance to the Finals, I hope it is the Cavs that win the title, as I would gladly see Isaiah hug the trophy, even it means LeBron is hugging the same trophy as well.
Agree with this post 100% except liking the trade at the time. I begrudge Thomas nothing when it comes to his feelings about Ainge - even allowing for the excellent points others have made here about what Ainge essentially did for IT4s career.I liked the Kyrie trade, as I truly believe we've seen IT's best days already (and I think the 2017-18 Nets will be better than projected). I certainly don't blame Ainge; he wasn't going to make IT4 a max player barring some miracle, and the GM needs to be focused first and foremost on the "best interests of the ballclub".
I also don't blame Isaiah for his remarks, however. IT certainly did not have to play on an injured hip immediately after his sister was killed in a car crash or immediately after her funeral; noone would have blamed him for missing time even in the playoffs given the circumstances. But play he did. He did everything that the team asked him to do, and more, and seemed to really, really enjoy being part of the Boston sports scene all around. He was my kids favorite player on the team by far (irrelevant factoid alert). So, I completely understand why he's not exactly keeping Ainge on his Christmas card list, and I have no problem with that. Personally, if the Celtics don't advance to the Finals, I hope it is the Cavs that win the title, as I would gladly see Isaiah hug the trophy, even it means LeBron is hugging the same trophy as well.
The Boston Celtics are working to sign guard Marcus Smart to a long-term extension ahead of Monday's deadline, according to WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman.
I agree. We've seen his floor, and it's fairly valuable, but if he's plays like he's been playing in the pre-season, he's gonna be really useful. I think Danny and Brad would love to have Marcus's age 24-28 years at 15 mil per in the current market. He's got warts, but the dude makes winning plays.Yeah, I read that, thanks. But I think there are compelling reasons for Ainge to talk about the extension:
(1) It never hurts to get a sense of how much money Smart is looking for, and what kind of "discount" he might be willing to give a team that he clearly likes playing for.
(2) If Smart were willing to do say $70, $75 million for five years, you might want to sign him just because that's an attractive contract, and he then becomes a more attractive asset because of it (just as Crowder was). But of course that assumes the contract isn't gunked up with "no trade" clauses.
I just can't imagine that, two years from now, Smart at say $70-$75 million for five years won't look like a really good deal, barring some catastrophe.
Most people seem to be VERY pessimistic about the RFA market, but if Smart looks as good this year as he did in the preseason, he probably ends up being the Otto Porter guy who gets maxed regardless of need.I guess the question is whether Smart’s agent sees a monster RFA offer coming his way if he doesn’t sign. There aren’t that many teams capable of making such an offer and Smart doesn’t make sense for many of those who do.
His only reason to sign would be pessimism about his RFA market.
If he plays like he has preseason, 4 years at 15M per is one of the best contracts in the NBA.I agree. We've seen his floor, and it's fairly valuable, but if he's plays like he's been playing in the pre-season, he's gonna be really useful. I think Danny and Brad would love to have Marcus's age 24-28 years at 15 mil per in the current market. He's got warts, but the dude makes winning plays.
Marcus Smart is not going to get a no trade clauseBut of course that assumes the contract isn't gunked up with "no trade" clauses.
To beat the Warriors. If you look at the projected wins, they aren't 6th.I get that the analytics don't "like" the Celtics that much. But the ESPN "6th/16th" projection is utter garbage; there's not 5 teams in the East better than the Celtics.
True, although the ESPN rankings are still utter garbage.To beat the Warriors. If you look at the projected wins, they aren't 6th.
If for no other reason than he isn't eligible for one. Requirements include being 8 years in the league and 4 with your most recent team.Marcus Smart is not going to get a no trade clause
They are, but internally, they follow the trend. Their projections say 44 wins, their people are predicting 50+. Projections do not like the Boston Celtics for some reason or another. We'll see who is right.True, although the ESPN rankings are still utter garbage.