Marc Spears: Two teams to keep an eye out for if Celtics make changes: Rockets and Spurs

I mean not really, if embiid comes back they're a legit contender, if not, they still have maxey/mccain/3rd pick in the draft. Maxey is 24, his value isn't going down when he's 25/26/27 so trading him now would be idiotic beyond belief. What would houston even offer? They have zero use for sengun, don't think houston would trade amen, what else is there? Just draft picks?

 

Sometimes guys are capped out at Maxey's age, sometimes not--we're staring at that question right now with Sengun. (Like he's probably not fully maxed out, but might be close to it.) If you think this is all you're going to get out of him and other teams haven't caught up to it yet, his perceived value is higher than his real value. That's the case for trading him, similar to discussions we have here every day about this player or that player.

So let's say you think there's no chance of contending again with Embiid and PG, and Maxey is basically already at his ceiling (i.e. not a #1 option). The next generation, being McCain and whoever you get out of this draft, etc--is actually much younger than Maxey. Your rebuild may take too long and Maxey asks to be traded before you can contend again.

In that case, you strike while the iron is hot, get as many picks and younger guys as you can right now, and look toward the next iteration of your team.

 

I mean i guess i don't view that much differently from the rockets trading sengun/amen types for draft picks. It's just SO unrealistic that i don't think it's worth even mentioning. Philly is also a massive unknown. What if embiid DOES come back and is himself again? Sure the odds are low, but even if it's 10%, that's still a 10% chance you're a legit title contender, especially since the east is such utter garbage with boston finished. I think maxey is fantastic though and with the rockets pick this year being bad and the 29 mavs pick being significantly downgraded i don't see a reasonable offer. What would you offer? Let's pretend morey would be willing to trade him if he got what he thinks is a good deal.

 

I think it's kind of similar to trading Sengun for draft picks, if we were to do that next offseason, not this one. Remember, both him and Amen are 22 and finished their 4th and second years respectively. Maxey is 24 and just finished his 5th year.

I actually could see us moving off of Sengun for draft picks and young players after next season if he doesn't show real improvement and we think the future lies with guys who don't fit that well with him (namely Amen).

All of that said I do agree it's pretty unlikely that they trade Maxey this offseason. I just don't think it's impossible, and I do think they're in a really strange circumstance as an organization that's going to be tricky for Morey to navigate. Hard for me to say for 100% certain which way he leaps.

Edit: To answer your question, if I'm Morey and I decide that the path needs to be a full rebuild, an offer with all the Phoenix/Brooklyn/Dallas picks plus Jalen Green at least looks interesting.

 

He's way better than sengun though i don't think that's a fair comparison. If it's 25/27/29 suns picks, 27 nets, 29 mavs sure i would probably do that as morey because that way in the unlikely scenario it's new years and embiid is embiid you can just trade those picks for a star.

 

Eh, I would have said he was better than Sengun before this season, but now I think they're about equal. The Ringer sucks, but they actually have Alpi ranked ahead of Maxey, for whatever that's worth.

 

Ya people are always prisoners of the moment, when maxey was having awesome playoff games nobody would've said that.

 

You think "I only care about efficiency" guru Morey has any interest in Jalen Green? Come on, nobody's ever buying that one, sorry.

 

Boston already has 12 guys on the roster for next season and will try to bring back Luke Kornet and Al Horford. They won't want to take on 5 contracts. Also, that trade is basically Tari and our worst players. Terrible deal for the Celtics unless we're trading every first-round pick we have available.

 

https://www.basketballnetwork.net/o...d-his-own-gm-during-his-time-with-the-raptors

Apparently it was the Toronto GM that was misleading the Rockets and Stoudomire, he used the Rockets as leverage to get a better deal. Which he eventually got from Portland.

Which sucked royally, because that 1998 team needed a point guard so bad, it hurt. I think Stoudomire would have been the final piece that delivered another championship in the Hakeem era.

 

I don't think he necessarily looks at it in that simple of terms. He prizes efficiency when trying to build a contending team, but when trying to build toward a winning team, he prizes value, which depends on how the league views a player and on how he is utilized and improves (or declines) over time. It's possible he might see Jalen as an appreciating asset. Hard to say.

 

This is the answer. Derrick White is the perfect player to add to this roster. If the Nets were willing to give up on the GIannis dream this summer, I think the following might work-

Jalen Green to the Nets
Rockets give the Nets back control of their 2027 1st as well as our own protected 2028 1st
Rockets send the 2027 Suns pick to the Celtics

Nets send Cam Johnson to the Celtics

Celtics send Porzingis to the Nets (salary dump)
Celtics send Derrick White to the Rockets

Celtics get off some bad salary (Porzingis), bring back a good rotation player and grab a high-value future 1st
Rockets get back a perfect guard for our situation- great defender, highly efficient offensively who can play at the 1 and the 2 on offense
Nets get control of their 2027 1st and another 1st from the Rockets. Porzingis expires after next year and Jalen Green is a lottery ticket for a team that wants to tank

Problem solved. Make the calls, Rafael.

Also, you could substitute Cam Whitmore to the Nets instead of our 2028 1st. That would also work.

Finally, even Stephen A and Mathloom should like this post. Derrick White is that much better than Jalen Green.
Addition

 

Great points. Most teams wait too long to trade their stars and in so hurt the return while also not accomplishing anything with those extra years. Phila is for sure at a crossroad. Some young talent and two once stars sinking their cap. I think Morey gives it at least one more year. Too soon to call the PG signing a failure. I disagree, but seems likely.

 

I wish there were a "Don't Like" button so I could give you one of those for this post.

We won't trade Sengun because he's 22 years old and already clearly our 2nd-best player. He just played really well in the playoffs facing against one of the greatest defensive players or all time.

He has improved immensely on defense and his trajectory is clearly going up. He's the 2nd-best passing big man in the NBA. He's a strong rebounder. He's also signed to a really great contract. What does he have to do to convince you that he's a foundational piece?

His great flaw this season was a lack of efficiency. I believe he can correct that based on the fact that he shot more efficiently the previous season. Unless it's for Giannis, Sengun will not be traded.

Also, Morey won't trade Maxey. He's too good and too young. There's only one Nico Harrison in the NBA willing to trade their young star.

 

I am not anti-Sengun. I like his game.

I'm just concerned about starting two non-shooters with him and Amen, and ultimately I think the future is brighter for Amen. Granted, I do think Amen will learn how to shoot--so maybe it will be just fine. I've been wrong before, though, and I'll be wrong again (hopefully not about this one).

 

I agree that Amen's future is even brighter than Alpi's but I like the combination. No one else in the league has two such talented players who have yet to turn 22 years old.

I think Amen has already improved his shooting tremendously. 27.5% from 3 is still bad but a lot better than the year before (13.8%). Importantly, he shot 37.7% with the corner 3 this season. That's rock solid and great evidence that he's on his way to being a decent shooter.

Let's please focus our criticism on the player that deserves it the most- Jalen Green.

 

Are you seriously suggesting we give up Jalen Green and 3 1s for Derrick White? I understand he's a great role player but come on that's an awful trade.

 

You're mistaken.

Derrick White is a much better offensive basketball player than Jalen Green.
He's also much better on defense.
He's also on a better contract.

Jalen Green is better at dunking and knocking up middle-aged Instagram models.

If we care about winning, then it's a good trade.

 

Well in the short term it would help. It wouldn't move the needle, white isn't good enough to do that, but it would help. Long term, losing that many assets for a role player would complete cripple the rockets.

 

He's not a role player. He used to be a role player. He's a top 25-player in the NBA currently. He just plays on a loaded roster which is why he only scores 16 ppg. With Tatum out, he scored 34 tonight.

How many guards in the NBA are excellent on both sides of the ball and score efficiently? It's SGA, Ant Edwards and Derrick White.

There is no chance SGA and Ant Edwards will be available. Derrick White likely won't be either but he's the most likely of the 3. He can also play the point effectively and also play off ball. He's the absolute best player to upgrade Jalen Green who might possibly be available.

I am not getting off this Derrick White hill.