D(anny)-Day : Predict the outcome of today's trade deadline

[PedroKsBambino]

Ainge to me remains a good GM. I don't think he is as good as Riley or Masai, or Buford. But I think there's a case for him as high as fourth (one can argue about Morey, for sure) and it's pretty hard to not have him in the top ten with any credibility. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that---people get fixated on a binary approach to a coach or GM and that just isn't so.

As I've said in other threads, my belief is that he is a hair too little focused on depth, and I think it's pretty clear the draft picks the last few years have been disappointing. But that story is not fully written yet, and while it's easy to forget the headline on the draft for him recently is "got his three biggest picks perfectly right" which is incredibly important and incredibly hard to do.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Any chance the new players play tonight?

Semi is out with a hip injury and RL and TT are still out. If none of the new guys play, it's going to be interesting.

 

[lovegtm]

Any chance the new players play tonight?

Semi is out with a hip injury and RL and TT are still out. If none of the new guys play, it's going to be interesting.

Fournier won't be there, Wagner and Kornet will, but unsure whether they'll play. Going to be a bit rough for a game or two.

 

[shoelace]

Fournier won't be there, Wagner and Kornet will, but unsure whether they'll play. Going to be a bit rough for a game or two.

Tonight and tomorrow feel like losses given their lack of big depth with Theis gone and Thompson out, but after that they get into the easier part of their schedule. They have one of the easier second half schedules after tomorrow night and have a 6 game home stand, should be a good environment to work Fournier in.

 

[Jakarta]

Fournier won't be there, Wagner and Kornet will, but unsure whether they'll play. Going to be a bit rough for a game or two.

Is the trip from Orlando to Milwaukee really that much more taxing than coming from NY or Chicago that only Fournier can’t make it?

With no TT and no Theis, maybe the positional need is greater for the big guys, but they traded for Foirnier because his skills which would be needed against a really good team like the Bucks.

 

[Archer1979]

Ainge, as well as a lot of other NBA GM's, are facing an uphill battle when it comes to roster building. They can do everything that they can, but as long as the elite players choose to come together to form super-teams, there's a limit to their ceiling. The only hope they have is something unexpected happens like Lebron getting having a sever ankle sprain.

 

[lovegtm]

Ainge, as well as a lot of other NBA GM's, are facing an uphill battle when it comes to roster building. They can do everything that they can, but as long as the elite players choose to come together to form super-teams, there's a limit to their ceiling. The only hope they have is something unexpected happens like Lebron getting having a sever ankle sprain.

Great initial post, excited to see more thought-provoking stuff from you!

 

[shoelace]

Ainge to me remains a good GM. I don't think he is as good as Riley or Masai, or Buford. But I think there's a case for him as high as fourth (one can argue about Morey, for sure) and it's pretty hard to not have him in the top ten with any credibility.

I'd agree with all of the points you make in this post, though I think it's fairly close between all of those guys. Riley has the structural advantage of being in a market that players desire, and I think that has a more significant effect on trades and FA recruitment than we can adequately measure. As someone who moved from New England to Atlanta, I could literally never imagine choosing to go back to a cold weather climate even if I had the opportunity to make more money and certainly not if I perceived the options as equal. If Masai and Riley, or Ainge and Riley, switched places I don't know that Riley's results would be any better.

I think we both come to the same conclusion that, barring one of those GMs wanting to come to Boston (which they won't), I don't really see what the alternative to Ainge is. It just feels like a misplaced frustration about things beyond his control (injury luck, and likely mental illness among other thigngs in Kyrie's case) and them not being really good right at this exact moment.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Any chance the new players play tonight?

Semi is out with a hip injury and RL and TT are still out. If none of the new guys play, it's going to be interesting.

View: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1375432403443933187


Speculation is probably Monday to actually play, but the Chicago guys could hypothetically be available as soon as tonight, Fournier as early as Saturday.

 

[ZMart100]

If the alternatives are Grant or Tacko at the back up big, I'd be inclined to let Wagner play without practice.

 

[Archer1979]

Great initial post, excited to see more thought-provoking stuff from you!

I know my limitations when it comes to the NBA. Bet the under.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

How could Danny not top the offer for Gordon? Squints at Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and top-five protected pick in 2025.

They either needed a young veteran player to give ORL some semblance of legitimacy to ensure that the fans don't completely bolt; they love RJ Hampton; or they think DEN's top-5 protected 2025 draft pick has a chance to be really good.

Or some combination of that.

As mentioned above, if Harris is seen as a negative asset it doesn't make much sense not to take Nesmith and a #1.

 

[lovegtm]

They either needed a young veteran player to give ORL some semblance of legitimacy to ensure that the fans don't completely bolt; they love RJ Hampton; or they think DEN's top-5 protected 2025 draft pick has a chance to be really good.

Or some combination of that.

As mentioned above, if Harris is seen as a negative asset it doesn't make much sense not to take Nesmith and a #1.

I think there’s a strong chance the Celtics backed out when a) they saw how cheap Fournier was b) decided that they’re not contenders now c) decided to empty the vaults for a better player over the summer and wanted to save assets.

At that point, Orlando was left taking the best thing left.

 

[Cellar-Door]

View: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1375485679401119749


In news that should surprise nobody, BOS inquired on Vuc but ORL thought WCJr was a step above anybody the Celtics could offer (to be fair he is, he's having a good year and has a ton of upside).

 

[BigSoxFan]

View: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1375485679401119749


In news that should surprise nobody, BOS inquired on Vuc but ORL thought WCJr was a step above anybody the Celtics could offer (to be fair he is, he's having a good year and has a ton of upside).

Wonder what our offer was. Time Lord, Nesmith, and picks?

 

[Cellar-Door]

Wonder what our offer was. Time Lord, Nesmith, and picks?

Yeah my guess is it was... pick 2 young guys, plus picks

 

[radsoxfan]

Has Carter really been having a good year? Seems flat at best, I thought the Bulls were disappointed in his recent play.

Kind of sad we don't have anyone with his upside. I wonder if TL was in the deal.

 

[lovegtm]

I'm ok missing out on this one. I'd rather target a non-center over the summer.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Has Carter really been having a good year? Seems flat at best, I thought the Bulls were disappointed in his recent play.

Kind of sad we don't have anyone with his upside. I wonder if TL was in the deal.

He's having an ok year but hasn't shown much growth since joining the NBA. I wouldn't say the C's don't have anyone with his upside, just no one with his floor.

 

[radsoxfan]

Curious to know the Timelord vs Carter evaluation.

Entered the league the same year, TL 2 years older and has that hip issue.

I kind of think it's a close call given how well TL has played recently but not surprised Carter is viewed more favorably.

Too bad Langford, Grant, and Nesmith have zero value.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

TL next to Jonathan Isaac almost seems unfair. I'm not really sure why Orlando even wanted WCJ unless they are totally sour on Bamba. Bamba is probably more similar with TL than WCJ tho.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Has Carter really been having a good year? Seems flat at best, I thought the Bulls were disappointed in his recent play.

Kind of sad we don't have anyone with his upside. I wonder if TL was in the deal.

He hasn't been a great fit for them, but he's shown some incremental improvement
AST% is up, TOV% down on increased usage, shown an improved jumper that may indicate an ability to be more of a stretch option. Defense has been inconsistent, but decent.