The Celtics are still decided whether to use center Enes Kanter as a starter or have him play a bigger role on the second unit, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports. Kanter signed a two-year deal worth approximately $10MM to be a rotation player for Boston.
“Everybody’s preference is to start,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “But he didn’t seem to me like he was losing sleep over it. He understands what we were thinking, and I told him no decisions have been made. We’re still mixing and matching. We’ll be doing it all the way until Oct. 21.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Raptors guard Fred VanVleet has taken rookie Terence Davis under his wing, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun writes. The former Ole Miss guard went undrafted but earned a two-year deal from Toronto after impressing with the Nuggets’ summer league team. “He’s got to get a lot better obviously to be able to help this team but you see flashes,” VanVleet said. “You see what he brings to the table. But he’s kind of in an awkward position. I know they’re asking him to do some primary ball-handling which is probably not natural for him so I think in a more traditional second unit with a point guard (on the floor with him) he can play off the ball more.”
- Raptors power forward Chris Boucher has impressed coach Nick Nurse to the point where he might be a rotation player, Wolstat tweets. Boucher’s $1,588,231 salary becomes guaranteed if he makes the opening night roster. Up to that point, Boucher has a $125K guarantee. The 6’10” Boucher appeared in 28 games with the Raptors last season and is one of eight players on the training camp roster with a partial or non-guaranteed contract.
- Center Mitchell Robinson has already outplayed his team-friendly four-year contract and an extension may be in the Knicks’ best interests, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News examines. Robinson is eligible next summer for a four-year extension in excess of $53MM. Robinson could sign that extension as early as July and would require the Knicks to tear up Robinson’s $1.8MM team option for 2021/22, Bondy adds.
Drummond to the Celtics for Hayward and a first.
The Pistons then feel they need a centre so they swap Reggie Jackson and Thon Maker and a pair of seconds for Bobby Portis and DSJ
1. DSJ. Rose
2. Kennard. Snell. Galloway
3. Hayward. Doumbouya. Brown
4. Griffin. Morris
5. Portis. Wood
Pistons have a better and younger PG who plays a similar style. Hayward is a perfect second star to have next to Griffin. Portis saves the Pistons paying for Drummond extension. All of a sudden the Pistons get a lot better at shooting the 3 ball, Griffin doesn’t have to carry the team as much, and they have their future backcourt set.
Celtics get Drummond who will give Walker good screens and collect a bunch of rebounds and second chance points. Drummond at 26 fits the Celtics plans better too.
The Knicks get a nice vet lead guard in Jackson which takes pressure of Barrett to be amazing straight away. (He did struggle in summer league and stuff) It also unclogged the Knicks front court Randle and Robinson now get more minutes with Gibson and Maker on the bench in cover. Plus they get extra picks
Boston would take that trade in a heartbeat, and laugh later.
Boston would take it and enjoy it, Walker Smart Brown Tatum and Drummond would be a nice team but then it would ruin them financially. Drummond is going to get about a 30 mil extension or most likely walk. And Jaylen Brown is due for an extension also and will want to be paid well but I’m not sure either are worth it.
Why would we want Hayward? I’d much rather have Drummond for his dominant rebounding ability and Maker for his potential. The Pistons are trying to get out from under huge contracts, not take on more.
Well Drummonds extension will likely come this year and he will get about 30m each year for however many years he wants really. Plus the Griffin and Drummond duo won’t win you anything. Griffin is by far the better player and you need to build around him. Maker and his potential has stalled ever since he entered the league.
Hayward’s deal is ugly but it’s also only 2 years long. Which is a good amount of time to see how a Griffin and Hayward duo would work. Drummond may be a good rebounder but those boards don’t result in wins and his 13 boards a game and 15 points aren’t worth 30 mil. Portis would actually be an improvement from Drummond. Portis can shoot the 3 ball well, he’s good from the line, he’s younger and can improve on his defence and stuff Drummond won’t get much better
Plus the Pistons also benefit by getting a first rounder from Boston which will probably end up at about 20th in the draft
If I was Ainge, I would do it. First rounder would be their own though, not Grizzlies.
I could see Boucher as a rotation player. Hes a 4/5, so that would put him fighting with RHJ and Stanley Johnson for minutes behind Siakam, unless those guys are used more at the 3, although they have Anunoby, and I would guess Powell plays 3 in small lineups.