Moves That Should Happen This Offseason (Part 2)
Today we are continuing this series as I am predicting/telling teams what to do with their big name free agents. We went over a few yesterday, and we are doing a few more today. Part 3 is tomorrow, so stay tuned!
The Celtics Should Move Gordon Hayward
This past season for the Celtics was good, but there was a lot to be desired. A root of their problems is the hierarchy. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the two best players on this team, with Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward in the background. But during the season guys like Marcus Smart were getting the ball too much late, and it was very confusing to see the ball go to other players when they should be going to the Celtics All-Stars.
I compare this team to the 2011 Heat, a team with no order or hierarchy. Going into the 2020-21 season, one thing needs to be set straight. Jayson Tatum is ‘the guy.’ Jaylen Brown is option #2 and Kemba Walker is #3. That leaves Hayward kind of out of the picture.
While Hayward is solid, the Celtics have enough scoring, which is the main reason Hayward is on the team. Hayward has a near $32,000,000 player option, which he will accept. But I want the Celtics to trade him.
The Celtics desperately need some big guy help, immediately. Daniel Theis is solid off the bench, not as a starter. Robert Williams is raw and Enes Kanter is a turtle on defense. Trading Hayward for some interior defense would be key.
A guy that has been thrown around a lot has been Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. I think that the Celtics trade Hayward and maybe Romeo Langford or a pick for Turner and maybe Victor Oladipo. While I think that the Celtics don’t need Oladipo, if that’s what gets the deal done, then do it.
But I don’t think that the Celtics should force a bad trade, something that GM Danny Ainge is not known for doing. If you don’t give up you too much, and you are able to get Myles Turner, do it. Turner is a great shot-blocker and Indiana might be looking to rebuild after firing coach Nate McMillan. But if you can’t find anybody, just suck it up with Hayward for another year, and he might be gone in 2021 as he is an unrestricted free agent.
So in short, move Hayward for some rim protection if possible and solidify Jayson Tatum as your #1. If you can’t, Hayward might be with the team for just one more season.
The Nuggets Need To Get Rid Of Paul Millsap
The Nuggets are an ascending young team in the Western Conference. With Jamal Murray, Jokic, and Jerami Grant among other young talent, the Nuggets have a very bright future. Paul Millsap does not fit into this plan. Millsap is on the decline of his career, and he is not the same. His defense is suspense as he isn’t fast enough to guard wings, and mostly too small to guard centers. He’s out of place and the Nuggets should waive goodbye to the once All-Star.
Millsap was making $30,000,000 this past year, to average 11.6 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field and 44% from 3. He is not worth his money. Millsap is 35 years old and his time in the league is dwindling down. I think keeping Millsap gets in the way of the development of Porter Jr. and Jerami Grant.
Millsap could get a small contract, nowhere near his $30,000,000 contract. A small 1-2 year contract for Millsap to come off the bench, but I still think that the Nuggets should get rid of Millsap to make way for Porter Jr. and Grant, the future of this team. Keeping Millsap and for him to eat up cap space just to slow down the progression of your wings is very stupid.
The Clippers Should Keep Marcus Morris Sr.
The Clippers season ended very disappointedly, and they need to win a title in the 2020-21 season. Keeping Marcus Morris helps them. Marcus Morris is another wing defender that can help out PG and Kawhi, who sometimes struggled on defense during the playoffs.
Morris had a career year with the Knicks and Clippers, averaging 16.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. He shot 44% from the field and 41% from 3. So Morris was very good.
Morris adds some toughness to this team. And while the Clippers have some holes in other places such as big guys and a true point guard, having Morris helps. I think that he is better suited being off the bench rather than taking shots from PG and Kawhi in the starting lineup.
Morris could be offered a 1-2 year deal worth about $8-12 per year. I think that Morris helps the depth of team a lot, but if he asks for too much money, you let him go to fix other areas of your team. But if he is willing to take a pay cut, then you should keep him.
The Clippers Should Get Rid Of Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell has turned himself into one of the best bench players in the league, earning a reputation for his feisty play and dominant style. Harrell won 6th Man of the Year and he is an unrestricted free agent. In 9.99/10 situations, you would want to keep this type of player. The Clippers shouldn’t keep Harrell.
Harrell is a all offense, no defense type of player. And as we saw in the Western Conference Semifinals, if he isn’t playing good on offense, there is no point for him to be on the floor. He got absolutely roasted by Nikola Jokic, and his defense isn’t that great. I think that the Clippers shouldn’t give Harrell big money and instead get a true point guard and some big guy depth, a big guy who can actually defend the paint.
Harrell will be well sought out for, but it would be stupid to bring him back because he doesn’t do much defensively. His offense has to be going 100% of the time for him to be useful on the floor. I think that the Clippers would be better suited keeping Morris, and signing some solid veterans at PG and C to fill out the roster. Harrell can go off and do other things, and I think that the Clippers will have to be just fine.
What Are More Free Agent Move That You Would Like To See? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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