BGleas

Respectfully as well, but you're talking about a player you admittedly haven't really watched. He was playing at an all-star level last season, especially the early part of the season. He then got hurt and that took him out of all-star contention. But, Hayward was basically back to his old self, just on a team with more weapons so his usage was down. The injuries are a concern, im not going to act like they aren't. But with that said, his injuries have been more of the freak accident type, not the chronic type. The injury that took him out early in the season was getting his finger stuck in another players jersey and dislocating a finger. Obviously the ankle injury whole horrific, was a freak thing. His injuries aren't like chronic hamstring pulls and knee issues, etc.

Hayward is a good defender.

I'm guessing you didn't watch a lot of the Celtics last year? Hayward was pretty much back to his old self post-injury. He had a really strong year, its just he was playing with Kemba, Tatum, Brown and Smart, so his usage wasn't what he's used too, but he had a really good year. If he opts out with the Celtics, it will be to get a raise on more years, not to take a pay cut.

That is a lot to give up for Jrue Holiday. He's a really good player and leader, but that's a lot. I know the Celtics were tied to this one too, and while I would have loved to have him for sure, I thought swaping Hayward for him would have been a lateral move at best.

I know it's not popular, but I think Belichick is probably the greatest coach of my lifetime (42 years old) in the 3-4 major sports. What he has done over 20+ years, in an era built to prevent what he's done, is flatout remarkable.

Congrats, @btownqb! Really happy for you!

That would be an awful deal for LA. The Clippers are in title mode and I know they need a point guard, but Russ ain't it. Kawai would go insane watching Russ chuck up terrible shots. I respect how hard Russ plays and his effort, etc., but he is a bit like an Allan Iverson. Great player, but you almost have to have your entire system built around him for it to work.

Just to show how quickly these things can change, my wife works in my kids school and now is saying that our entire county may be shutting down soon and going back to virtual. Amazing how quickly this thing spreads and changes.

I'm in PA and our kids have been back to school in person since late August. There have been cases at all level, though mostly at the Middle School and High Schools, but something that they've found through contact tracing is that the cases are not originating in the schools and there is very little, if no, spreading within the schools. More credence that masks do indeed work, as our schools mask policy is pretty strict.

Ugh. The Cowboys have given up the most points through 7 games of any team since 1970 and have given up 20+ in the first half of 6 straight games. The Eagles have 7 points at halftime.

Agree. Will be interesting how Kyrie does with it. As a Celtics fan I'm a little jaded on it, but I don't see it going well. It may be fine the first year, but at some point Kyrie is going to start waxing philosophical about nonsense and try to be a leader and it will fail.

It makes a ton of sense for Steve Nash, but I wonder how it works with Brooklyn's personnel? I'm assuming with this move that Nash is going to lean into D'Antoni's system, though not sure if it will look more like the Phoenix version or the Houston version? I wonder how Kyrie fits those systems? Kyrie probably fits the Houston version much better, but would Durant and the rest of the Nets be happy watching Kyrie dominate the ball James Harden style?

Sorry for quoting myself, but i actually undershot this. Jaylen Brown has played in 3 ECF's in 4 years and Tatum has played in 2 ECF's in 3 years. So while the Celtics still need to make moves, they didn't miss any window. They're set up nicely for the next decade.

Exactly what I'm saying, but probably haven't articulated well. They didn't acquire all of these assets for Myles Turner.

Thats also a ridiculous trade. Most trades thrown out by these media guys are ridiculous. Again, just going on my experience from the inside, media would throw out crazy trades and claim Danny Ainge had discussed them with teams. We would point blank ask Danny and the vast majority of the time that would be the first time he had ever heard of it, let alone actually talked to a team.

Because that's not how it works. You need one team to believe Ball, Wiseman, Edward's or one of the top foreign guys is an all-star caliber player, and then you build leverage off of that. I guarantee you there are at least a few GM's around the league falling in love with one of these guys and looking to make a splash with fans. Regardless of the year, top 1-2 picks sell tickets and build excitement.

I also never said Myles Turner isn't a fit for the Warriors. He'd of course be a good fit for them. I've said they're not trading the #2 pick for Turner unless the Pacers sweeten the pot considerably. Also never said the Warriors aren't going to make a move. I was just pushing back on Pacers fans thinking they'll trade the #2 pick for a deal centered on Myles Turner and with the Warriors having to throw more picks in. The Warriors are looking to acquire an all-star caliber player with this pick.

I never once said I know more than an NBA scout.

I dont think "this years draft" matters as much as you do. It does matter, im not saying it doesn't, but it doesn't devalue the asset as much as you think. The team it goes to could then flip it to someone else for more future assets, etc. Its a trade piece and a good one. Ben Simmons? No, the Sixers aren't trading Ben Simmons for the #2 pick. But as I said yesterday, I think the Warriors are looking to get, and can get, a fringe all-star player for a package with the #2 pick. Vucivic from Orlando, someone like that. Thats just an example, but he's a lot better than Turner.

I appreciate the backup,@Hoosierhoopster! But I also don't want things to get overblown. I don't have all the answers and I could end up wrong here. Just to be clear for everyone else or new people. I worked in PR for the Celtics front office for 5 years, so no I wasn't on a GM track or anything, so I don't want to over state my background. But I will say, in PR you spend a ton of time with the players, coaches and basketball people. I literally would be in the draft war room during the draft and at the draft workouts, etc. So I do have a feel for these things and experience. But, I also don't want to overplay that or misrepresent it. Edit: That experience also doesn't mean I'll be proven right or that I know more than a current NBA scout, i most likely don't, but I do have experience in these rooms, so more of an educated opinion so to speak.

I never said it wasn't a good fit or that the Warriors wouldn't trade for Turner. I don't think they will but its not a crazy idea. I'm saying the Pacers would be the ones "sweetening the pot", not the Warriors. Strong draft or not, the #2 pick is an asset you don't give up lightly. On the Celtics, I mean they made a Game 7 ECF appearance after drafting Tatum and Brown. Brown has played in 2 ECF's and Tatum was a starter on the team that took LeBron's Cavs 7 games. This year they were a contender. I'd hoped they would have gone further, but I think the bubble impacted things and last off-season I think the Horford loss was a bit of a surprise for the franchise. You add Horford and the Celtics have more depth and size, etc. Yes, I would have loved the Celtics to cash in and get Anthony Davis with those young players, but Davis wouldn't assure he'd re-sign so the risk was too big. The Celtics need to add pieces and get more veteran, but the core is there to compete for titles.

It was said in this thread that not only would the Warriors have to give up #2 and Wiggins, but also throw in additional first round picks, including the future pick they have from Minnesota. I still don't think the Warriors are trading the #2 pick in a deal centered around Myles Turner, though I could see them doing it if Vic is included and the Pacers sweeten the pot.

We will. And again, I'm not ruling out a deal with the Pacers, but it won't be the Pacers getting #2 and Wiggins and only having to give up Myles Turner and trade fodder. On the don't have a clue thing, not sure if that was meant for HH, me, or both, but we both certainly do have a clue, especially when it comes to the NBA and how these deals work. Doesn't mean we'll necessarily be proven right on this one, but we know the topics very well.

Absolutely. There's a strong likelihood that Wiggins is included in a deal. But it's not just as a throw in salary dump. Myles Turner is a nice player, but the Warriors aren't looking to trade the #2 pick and Wiggins for "nice", they're working to get an all-star caliber player in return

He could be and probably will be. The Warriors are also throwing out signals, could be real or could be to fire up interest in the pick, that they were "blown away" by one of the foreign prospects in the draft.