As a Celtics writer, many of my articles are based on ideas from my readers. In an earlier article I alerted Celtics fans that the major question relative to the present roster concerns the center spot. One of my readers, Pat Ram, proposed a Jaylen Brown-for-Domantas Sabonis trade:
Like Brown, Sabonis is in the fourth year of his rookie contract and will earn $3.5 million this season. The 6'11", 240-pound center/forward was chosen 11th-overall in the 2016 NBA draft, eight spots after Jaylen's selection at #3. Last season with the Pacers, Domantas averaged 14.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 2.9 APG in only 24.8 minutes per game. His per-36-minute numbers project to 20.4PPG/13.5 RPG/4.2 APG - numbers that would fit well with this Boston team. Brown's numbers from the 2018-19 season are: 13.0 PPG - 4.2 RPG - 1.4 APG.
Brad Stevens would love to have a stretch-five - something he doesn't have now. Sabonis can hit the long shot, but he didn't do it often last season - hitting 9-of-17 shots beyond the arc for the season at 52.9 % accuracy. Jaylen hit 95-of-276 at a .344 clip.
How is his defense, you may ask. Last season, Sabonis ranked 86th in the NBA for Defensive Rating, compared to Brown's 165th rating for the same category. Net Ratings show Jaylen at #156 and Sabonis at #90.
Would the Pacers consider trading Domantas, or - for that matter- would Danny Ainge let Brown go? If Indiana thinks that the pairing of Myles Turner and Sabonis would work, they may retain him. If they think otherwise, the Pacers may go with a trade. If Jaylen Brown is seeking a max contract extension, Ainge would seriously consider a Sabonis-for-Brown deal. What do our readers think?
Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel and Facebook
Main points are probably:
— Pat Ram (@Celtics_PRam) October 7, 2019
- Awkward fit in Indiana in more PF mins beside Turner at C & his next contract should pay him more than Myles
- Perfect fit in Brad’s system playing 80% of mins at C
- Brown better fit as Indiana’s 2nd option than Celtics 3rd-4th
Potential win-win
Like Brown, Sabonis is in the fourth year of his rookie contract and will earn $3.5 million this season. The 6'11", 240-pound center/forward was chosen 11th-overall in the 2016 NBA draft, eight spots after Jaylen's selection at #3. Last season with the Pacers, Domantas averaged 14.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 2.9 APG in only 24.8 minutes per game. His per-36-minute numbers project to 20.4PPG/13.5 RPG/4.2 APG - numbers that would fit well with this Boston team. Brown's numbers from the 2018-19 season are: 13.0 PPG - 4.2 RPG - 1.4 APG.
Brad Stevens would love to have a stretch-five - something he doesn't have now. Sabonis can hit the long shot, but he didn't do it often last season - hitting 9-of-17 shots beyond the arc for the season at 52.9 % accuracy. Jaylen hit 95-of-276 at a .344 clip.
How is his defense, you may ask. Last season, Sabonis ranked 86th in the NBA for Defensive Rating, compared to Brown's 165th rating for the same category. Net Ratings show Jaylen at #156 and Sabonis at #90.
Would the Pacers consider trading Domantas, or - for that matter- would Danny Ainge let Brown go? If Indiana thinks that the pairing of Myles Turner and Sabonis would work, they may retain him. If they think otherwise, the Pacers may go with a trade. If Jaylen Brown is seeking a max contract extension, Ainge would seriously consider a Sabonis-for-Brown deal. What do our readers think?
Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel and Facebook
Comments
Post a Comment