Around the League: Week 6 11/19-11-25

[carey]

Nationally televised games this week

Monday: Phoenix Philadelphia 7:00 PM EST NBATv, Oklahoma City Sacramento 10:00 PM EST NBATv
Tuesday: Portland @ New York 7:30 PM EST NBATv
Wednesday: L.A. Lakers @ Cleveland 8:00 PM EST ESPN, Oklahoma City @ Golden State 10:30 PM EST ESPN
Thursday: No Games.
Friday: Houston @ Detroit 7:00 PM EST NBATv, Utah L.A. Lakers 10:30 PM EST NBATv
Saturday: San Antonio @ Milwaukee 8:30 PM EST NBATv
Sunday: No Games.

NBA News

The Clippers are real, one way or another: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2018/11/18 ... -standings

Luke Walton told Rajon Rondo to ‘shut the f**k up’ during Lakers coaches’ huddles - https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/201 ... quote-espn

Sources: Disagreement over Kings’ direction could lead to coach Dave Joerger’s dismissal - https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-disagr ... 26681.html

Warriors’ Lacob on Durant, Green: ‘We’re not choosing anybody over anybody’ - https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article ... 401442.php

Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir endured the heartache of choosing faith over basketball - https://theundefeated.com/features/bilq ... asketball/

The 10 must-watch NBA draft prospects in Maui Invitational (Carey's note: Warning this is an ESPN+ link) - http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_ ... hups-watch

[Mori Chu]

Thanks for the thread and links, carey sir!

[Uncle_Gene]

Woj keeps reporting about the issues in D.C.

Quick question; should the Suns trade for John Wall ? Remember that he signed for the super max when commenting. I'm not saying I would trade for him. I just want to know your thoughts.

[ShelC]

2 reasons not to trade for Wall: 1) His contract; 2) John Wall

He's got major longterm money owed with a shaky injury history and a not-so-great reputation. I don't know if it's fair to throw around the "c" word with him, but I wouldn't dismiss it either.

[carey]

Quick question; should the Suns trade for John Wall ? Remember that he signed for the super max when commenting. I'm not saying I would trade for him. I just want to know your thoughts.

This should answer your question, Gene.

The next 4 years of John Wall's contract: $38.2M, $41.2M, $44.4M, and $47.3M.

[Wormwood]

Quick question; should the Suns trade for John Wall ? Remember that he signed for the super max when commenting. I'm not saying I would trade for him. I just want to know your thoughts.

This should answer your question, Gene.

The next 4 years of John Wall's contract: $38.2M, $41.2M, $44.4M, and $47.3M.

If Wall was making 20-25M per year, he'd be a decent deal. His numbers are a little hollow because of so-so efficiency and poor defense. But he costs way more than that, and would absolutely cripple our salary cap. We can't even unl;oad dead weight for him anymore (Arthur, Chandler, and Anderson would be enough to get him... if we hadn't waived Chandler and Arthur).

[ShelC]

Along the same lines, the Celtics brought Hayward off the bench last night which may or may not be a thing going forward. Given the Cs depth at the wing, it seems like Hayward could be a luxury they might not need. He was supposedly a FA target of ours when McD was in charge but I don't know if many thought he was worth that deal. Would there be any interest now? He doesn't look all the way back from the injury but I don't think it's a physical thing necessarily and the injury he suffered isn't a long term concern IMO.

I think a deal like Anderson, Jackson, Bender, Melton and maybe a pick or two for Hayward and Rozier could help both teams? Too one sided in our favor?

I'm thinking the Cs get cap relief with Anderson next year, two young players to get a look at (they had interest in Jackson during the draft and supposedly like Bender), Melton is a young guard prospect plus some future picks. Or, we swap Anderson with Ariza in the deal. Shouldn't make a difference.

We get Hayward back as a core piece on the wing who handle the ball and take some of the load off Booker. He's not a star max guy, but a versatile vet who can play the 2/3/4 and switch around with TJ and Bridges, add some shooting and overall skill and IQ to the perimeter. We also get our (potential) PG of the future in Rozier who we can re-sign when Ariza's off the books in the summer.

[O_Gardino]

Along the same lines, the Celtics brought Hayward off the bench last night which may or may not be a thing going forward. Given the Cs depth at the wing, it seems like Hayward could be a luxury they might not need. He was supposedly a FA target of ours when McD was in charge but I don't know if many thought he was worth that deal. Would there be any interest now? He doesn't look all the way back from the injury but I don't think it's a physical thing necessarily and the injury he suffered isn't a long term concern IMO.

I think a deal like Anderson, Jackson, Bender, Melton and maybe a pick or two for Hayward and Rozier could help both teams? Too one sided in our favor?

I'm thinking the Cs get cap relief with Anderson next year, two young players to get a look at (they had interest in Jackson during the draft and supposedly like Bender), Melton is a young guard prospect plus some future picks. Or, we swap Anderson with Ariza in the deal. Shouldn't make a difference.

We get Hayward back as a core piece on the wing who handle the ball and take some of the load off Booker. He's not a star max guy, but a versatile vet who can play the 2/3/4 and switch around with TJ and Bridges, add some shooting and overall skill and IQ to the perimeter. We also get our (potential) PG of the future in Rozier who we can re-sign when Ariza's off the books in the summer.

That would be a great deal for us.

[ShelC]

Rozier might be unhappy with his role...

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtic ... eyebrows-0

[Mori Chu]

We have briefly discussed Wall in the recent past. I like Wall's game more than most here. But that contract is just a disaster. I don't think we would do it. Saver is just too money-conscious to throw that much of our cap at any one guy. And frankly we don't have a GM right now, so I don't think they could even get it done.

As for the Celtics, I could see them making a trade closer to Christmas. We'd have to give them a good asset like a future first-rounder to make it happen. Rozier is interesting, but those picks have a lot of value, so I'd be a little cautious in any trade scenario. I also think we could just wait until the offseason to go after Rozier as a free agent.

[ShelC]

I'm less concerned with picks and more concerned with getting known quantities who can help us win at this point. I'm usually all for the draft, but we can't keep drafting and waiting on guys to develop. I'd send over a top 3 protected 2019 pick or unprotected 2020/2021 pick. We have enough young players ready to win with Booker, Bridges, Ayton. We need NBA players to move the needle now.

[O_Gardino]

I like that trade for us, but Boston is in Win Now mode. I don't know why they trade 2 core players for future cap space, projects, and picks.

[ShelC]

Hayward isn't helping them right now and Rozier might become a distraction. Moving Hayward (and his deal) could be addition by subtraction allowing Stevens to go with Tatum, Brown, Morris at the 3/4 and not worry about feeling compelled to use Hayward. I think Jackson can be useful there or give them Ariza (in place of Anderson) for another veteran 3-D guy. They know they can't re-sign Rozier so if they get Melton and/or a pick, maybe it's worth it.

[Cap]

I don’t want to give up a first round pick for a player who’s about to be a UFA. We’ve screwed ourselves that way too many times before.

[ShelC]

Rozier? Isn't he a restricted FA? Or are you talking about Ariza/Anderson going out in the deal?

[Xylus]

Why would the Celtics move on from Hayward? I guess I’m out of the loop on that one.

[Cap]

Rozier? Isn't he a restricted FA? Or are you talking about Ariza/Anderson going out in the deal?

You’re right, he’s RFA. I made a mistake.

Still, I think the general principle holds when you’re not talking about a max player. I don’t want to trade a first round pick for something that could blow up in our faces this summer.

[In2ition]

Rozier? Isn't he a restricted FA? Or are you talking about Ariza/Anderson going out in the deal?

You’re right, he’s RFA. I made a mistake.

Still, I think the general principle holds when you’re not talking about a max player. I don’t want to trade a first round pick for something that could blow up in our faces this summer.

I agree. I think Rozier is overrated. He would provide pesky defense and shot creation, but he doesn't pass much better than Canaan, and he's not a great rebounder either. The Suns have been hesitant to give up a 1st round pick for him, with good reason. Celtics aren't going to match offers for Rozier, unless he signs for around $6 mil a year or less and showed that he loved being the 3rd string pg. Now, he's unhappy with his role...well that doesn't help his trade value for Boston. Boston thought they had their sleeper agent of Gambo that would roast and guilt the Suns into giving up a valuable 1st this year for a guy that could be the next Payton and the Suns figure out that he isn't the answer. He's kind of like Knight except you sacrifice shooting for some better defense, and I wasn't a big fan of Knight's shooting.

[In2ition]

I kind of think that the Suns, if they do make a slightly panicked trade, will trade the Mil pick and Anderson for Kevin Love, and shore up the rebounding and shooting. I'd feel better about that trade if Love didn't sign that extension.

[Cap]

Rozier? Isn't he a restricted FA? Or are you talking about Ariza/Anderson going out in the deal?

You’re right, he’s RFA. I made a mistake.

Still, I think the general principle holds when you’re not talking about a max player. I don’t want to trade a first round pick for something that could blow up in our faces this summer.

I agree. I think Rozier is overrated. He would provide pesky defense and shot creation, but he doesn't pass much better than Canaan, and he's not a great rebounder either. The Suns have been hesitant to give up a 1st round pick for him, with good reason. Celtics aren't going to match offers for Rozier, unless he signs for around $6 mil a year or less and showed that he loved being the 3rd string pg. Now, he's unhappy with his role...well that doesn't help his trade value for Boston. Boston thought they had their sleeper agent of Gambo that would roast and guilt the Suns into giving up a valuable 1st this year for a guy that could be the next Payton and the Suns figure out that he isn't the answer. He's kind of like Knight except you sacrifice shooting for some better defense, and I wasn't a big fan of Knight's shooting.

And bottom line with any sub-max RFA: if you’re willing to pay him more than anyone else is, you can probably pick him up as an RFA; if you’re not, you can very easily lose him as an RFA. ROFR isn’t worth much for such players.