Yeah I can see the point. I do wonder if the value you're getting is them doing the deal now though. I think Richardson would be movable for a 1.8-2.4M player that they might rather have than Fernando or Carsen later, maybe a team that strikes out in FA even takes him for free. Celtics might be willing to not haggle over a small value difference in order to make sure they are protected in case they lose Fournier.
Probably low. If his best offer is from a room team they have no real incentive. Could perhaps send them a 2nd or 2 for a TPE I guess if they were willing.
No it makes no sense to be Smart as they are both expiring contracts. I’d guess Dunn+ since he has to be heading out of town before he even lands.
It is not Julia Roberts, it is Renata Sorrah who is a Brazilian national treasure.
Looks like DAL is just giving Richardson to BOS. After being the guy PHI really wanted in the Butler deal (over Bam, apparently - https://www.libertyballers.com/2019/7/19/20699551/josh-richardson-isnt-an-exact-replacement-for-jimmy-butler-and-jj-redick-sixers-nba-free-agency), he's being given away. Strange how fortunes go in the NBA.
I think offensive improvement from Richardson is a real possibility and the Celtics needed defensive help. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the lukewarm response, the Port Cellar seems to value offense over defense. But the Celtics went from being an elite defense in 19-20 to mediocrity in 20-21. Some of that was injuries and shot karma, but still.
It’s shaping up to look like Brad is preparing to have space for Beal next summer so Smart wouldn’t need to be moved for value since that value would tie up necessary cap space next summer. So we truly are looking at a bridge year before Beal arrives and by that time we’ll also know what roles, if any, guys like Romeo, Nesmith, Pritchard can fill moving forward.
The Port Cellar values offense because it matters more and it's harder to find. You can throw a min contract and hit a very good defender who can't score (Shaq Harrison and the like), in the playoffs if you can't score you can't win, you can win with an okay defense. There is a reason all across the league contracts value offense over defense, it's the rarer skill.
Ah, don't be glum! 33% is the absolute nadir for Richardson - he's shot that low twice in his career, but his career average is more like 36%. That's nothing special, but it's not, like Smart-level bad. With how erratic three point shooting is, he could have a career year next year. Who knows!
Exactly this
Actually, the last three seasons Smart has shot better than him from 3. The real problem though is that his skills are incredibly redundant with Smart. They are both combo guards who excel on defense, can switch, but are relatively poor shooters. It's hard to imagine them playing together. As an asset play, I do like buying low on Richardson as it wasn't long ago he was traded for Jimmy Butler and considered one of the best defenders in the league. The issue is a roster-building one, where--as CD pointed out-- if we lose Fournier, we lose a playmaker/scorer, who we desperately need. Clearly we aren't done making moves. Let's see what Brad has up his sleeve next.
I think the Cs could use another useful rotation player so hopefully he helps.
It amazes me the lack of objectivity in evaluating Smart's shooting.
good post. I was excited to see a healthy Fournier play next to the Jays
Offense is statistically easier to evaluate, so the Port Cellar likes comparing players based on it. I don't get a sense that the PC over/under values defense vs. offense.
I'm happy to have amazed you, but I'm honestly not sure what you mean by objectivity. I tend to look at a guys career numbers because there's so much volatility in three point shooting. If you had chosen to look at their last four years, you'd have had to include a year where Smart was just a sliver north of 30% and a year where Richardson was better than Smart has ever been.
Fernando right now would be the third non-rotation center. They could always find another minimum salary vet to replace him if necessary.
Shooting is a learnable skill, and Smart's worst shooting years were earlier in his career. Also, his best shooting year came in a year when the Celtics were the most offensively loaded and he shot less. In the right situation, he'll be fine. I think that at this point in their careers, both he and Richardson are better than their 33% from last year. if the Celtics can get some kind of offense established this year around Tatum, Brown, Horford (or Rob), then I think Smart and Richardson will be able to do their part.
I think this is a tenable scenario for Smart. Just less sure it'll happen than you are is all. Guys regress all the time.
He's young so maybe there can be more there, but he played just 226 minutes last year, badly. That's less than Waters and far less than Kornet, who didn't come to Boston until late March. If he's the 3rd center behind a brittle TL and 35 year old Al, we're in trouble.
Thank you for humping the "we need big depth because Fabrege eggs" theme. I was tied up with stuff around the house today.
Not if he's the 4th center behind TL, Al, and a forward who's a small ball center.
Yea I like Moses better than Bruno, but it seemed like most around here thought very little of MB. If Yam does another year abroad they could use a 2-way on a young BIG for the "break the glass in case of an emergency" BIG. They could bring back Kornet on a min. Plus decent vet centers can be picked up for free on the minimum post-trade date.
As a 4th center sure, but unless that forward/small ball center is already on the roster (Grant), like I said there's more work to do.
Yeah, it's not even officially the 21-22 offseason yet. I don't think anyone believes this is the roster they're going to have on opening tip next season.
Its interesting but I wonder if having to integrate into three entirely different teams with different defensive schemes/responsibilities was the driver. It could also be that his strong defensive numbers in Miami were a function of a very good system. Regardless, Richardson at his best is a pretty valuable player and if he is staying, I suspect he will be part of an Udoka defensive juggernaut. Scoring is fun but stops and teams that clamp are where the game gets fascinating.
He was out with COVID for 3 weeks. Do Celtics fans know any other young players whose defensive performance dropped a lot after COVID?
Yep.
All the guys in and out of the lineup, playing in a bubble, etc. Stats just won't be as meaning ful. GM's are going to have to make decisions more with from film, their eyes, etc.
With how the game is played today every defensive possession is reliant to some degree on your teammates skill, execution and/or effort. An individual defender can do everything correct yet a teammates miscue can make it appear as if he is the one who was responsible. Without understanding the particular scheme of a set you can’t know what you don’t know.
Another way to think of it: Bruno is 6 fouls, for use against the few (1-2?) remaining teams where that may be useful.
I think Grant is already there, and part of his regression was losing the small ball center minutes as the Celtics rolled out double big lineups.
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of all the players who has Covid.
Richardson's 2018-19 year, his first out of Philly, was on the mess of a Philly team that featured double bigs and the non-shooting Ben Simmons. I doubt he got the same open looks from 3 that he had the previous year (his best year) in Miami.
The Dallas roster was pretty awkward too. Richardson was probably the third-best distributor on that team after Luka and Brunson, and if I had to guess, playing next to Hardaway Jr and Porzingis didn't give him many opportunities to get good looks. Obviously Luka is an all-world passer, but a quick look at B-Rer shows like they were near the bottom of the league for assists despite that. (26th)
I think a one-year flyer on Dunn could be worthwhile, but I won't be all that disappointed if he ends up being moved quickly.
