I Am not embarrassed to say the Knicks situation might be better than the Rockets for Durant. The only thing embarrassing here is this Rockets organization at the moment.
Fair enough, but imo you have to look more deeper than this and i also think you undervalue us a bit in this scenario, we made the conference finals with Harden...pause...Howard...another pause...and a bounch of decent role players...Terry playing as a starter...i mean, add to Harden Durant and Horford, those two only are A LOT better than what we had last year, i mean, A LOT better. We should also consider that the Spurs, for how good they are as a franchise, coaching staff, players, they'll not be as good as they were without Duncan, we're talking about a true hall of fame player, best 4/5 in the last 15 years, they are going to miss him big time. Parker is also looking more done than not, Ginobili is really old... The Clippers are still a very good team, i agree, but they never made it over the second round, age and injuries are not helping them...seems this will probably be their last year together, not sure you can consider them better than that eventually Rockets team. I agree, i like Jimmy but i think Harden is on another level overall (he also seems to have more injuries lately -> another reason to prefer Harden over him). But those franchise/guys on the lead now are not known to be patient, that's also why in Philly they canned Hinkie, they want proven players and a team to make the playoffs, they'll do everything in their power to make their team better as soon as possible. Anyway, the problem for the Celtics in "sign Durant and look for a trade in the future" is that Durant will not join with the hope that someday they will trade for a star...no way, they must agree to a trade before they talk with him to have a chance.
I Am not embarrassed to say the Knicks situation might be better than the Rockets for Durant. The only thing embarrassing here is this Rockets organization and* some* of* their* fans* at the moment.*
Via trade? I mean nobody thought Boston could nab Allen and Garnett in the same offseason. Granted, they already had Pierce.
You think Knicks fans are better? That Phil Jackson is doing better as a GM? That James Dolan is a better owner? That Carmelo is somebody who can coexist well with Durant? OK buddy.
Definitely. And its hard to disagree with you about needing that top player, or with Vivi about having that trade in place already. i just think it might be possible for KD to bet on Boston as an organization to get there faster than Houston.
That's the million dollar question. Who's available? If Durant were to decide to leave OKC this year ( I don't think he will) then Boston would have to go acquire a star or at least arrange a deal by July. I'm just not seeing any of the top guys that are attainable. Especially in that timeframe. Even if Durant stays in OKC one more year it will still be difficult to go get a star in the next year. Which stars are you thinking could be attainable?
Yes, very infrequently situations arise where stars are available. KG was one and Harden was another. I just don't see any likely candidates right now. Do you?
Exactly. Also, both Seattle and Wolves were bad teams looking for a rebuild with both stars looking to get traded so, they were available.
I don't off the top of my head, but I never saw Allen and Garnett being available either. Ainge is a great GM, I'm sure he has someone pegged. To throw names out there, Jimmy Butler and Blake Griffin would likely be available for the right price. Both were on the block during trade deadline. Same with Boogie because, you know, the Kings.
But I agree that Boston is more about the potential to get stars with assets/good GM, good young talent, great coach, and being in the East. It's probably not the most immediately logical choice, but I think they would be in the running.
You never know. As teams get closer to the draft, they fall in love with top prospects. Some team may just fall in love with Dragan Bender, or Jamal Murray. It's a long shot, but the point is the Celtics have a lot of assets to acquire talent, were already tied for 3rd best record in the East, have a great coach, great fans, and seemingly competent ownership and GM.
But they were in two bad teams, with no chance to win, and especially Garnett was pissed, he wanted to be in a better situation so, they were available. That's why you have to look at Butler today, the Bulls are in a dubious situation, if they'll find a way to get one/two good/great players they'll probably stay put, but if their free agency is going to be poor, maybe they'll go for a rebuild. I don't believe Griffin is/was on the trade block, this will be their last year together, there's no reason why they should trade him now, keep in mind that Doc is president of basketball operations, he runs the show there, he's not going to tank, he's a coach with a big name. The only way i can see them trade Blake is for another all star in the same spot so, the only name i can think of as today is Love, if the Cavs lose again the finals and Lebron asks to trade him. On Cousins, i always thought that they were close to trade him, but after all the rumors about Lakers and Celtics trying to get him without success, i think the Kings are just refusing to lose their franchise player (let's say). And that's understandable if you look at their owner, Ranadive is a guy who wants to win fast, like Prochorov, Cuban, Les...they don't tank, they don't give a **** about picks.
What if Boston offers 2 draft picks and Marcus Smart for Butler? Again, I was just throwing out names. But we never knew Harden was available either, did we? It was kind of rumored and then happened out of nowhere, very fast. I'm just saying it is within the realm of possibility that Boston will make a big splash and said splash may be attractive to KD.
Same, for me at least, which pack would you pick if you trade Butler and looking for a rebuild: Okafor, Stauskas or Saric, Lakers next year pick or Smart (which is not even a point guard, he needs to learn how to shoot and not a good passer), Nets pick and a future pick ? I would take the first without a doubt. And what about: Warren, Len and Miami unprotected future pick or Randle, Ingram, Clarkson ? I mean, i agree that they can make the slapsh, and i'm the first saying that Butler may be available. I'm just saying that it's not a given that he'll be available and even if he will, there are other teams interested and with as many/if not better assets.
Let's say it takes more picks - Ainge offered SIX PICKS for the chance to take Winslow - Boston can still make a very competitive offer. But again we are really going down the rabbit hole here because there's no indication that Philly would give up Saric and Okafor for Butler or are even in the running for KD, or that KD would want a part of a franchise that dysfunctional. All I mean to say is this - Boston has the ability to make a splash, that said splashes are not always foreseen, and that the right circumstances could make Boston a frontrunner. I don't think any of those assertions individiaully or in conjunction are farfetched. But this is all conjecture and for fun, so let's roll with it :grin:
