One Trade That Every Team Should Do
Celtics get: PF/C Elton Brand, Raptors 2015 second-rounder (via Atlanta)
Hawks get: PF/C Brandon Bass
Finances: This doesn’t really affect Boston’s finances either way, as they’d still have tons of cap room as a rebuilding team. Right now, Boston has $65.1 million committed in contracts, though they have a ton of expiring deals, causing them to only have $33.5 million on the books next year. Bass is on an expiring deal worth $7 million, as is Brand, though his contract is only worth $2 million. Little financial motivations from either party in this trade.
The Fit: The main reason Boston is doing this trade, as a rebuilding team looking for future assets, is to sell Bass in exchange for future assets. This comes in the form of the Raptors’ second-round draft choice via Atlanta, not the 35 year old Elton Brand. Brand would play little minutes for Boston, just as he is for Atlanta currently, in favor of younger players in the Celtics’ frontcourt, like PF Jared Sullinger and C Kelly Olynk, among others. Bass is just one of many veterans that Boston has shipped in exchange for draft picks this season, as PG Rajon Rondo (DAL), PF/C Brandan Wright (PHO), and SF Jeff Green (MEM) have all made their way out the door. The rebuild is on in Beantown, and Bass is just another domino to fall.
Why the other team does it: Though the Hawks clearly don’t need to make any moves, as evidenced by their first-place standing in the East, they could certainly use a quality backup big man behind PF Paul Millsap and C Al Horford. Bass is averaging a very solid 9 points, 4 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks a game, and could certainly fill that void as another do-it-all player for Atlanta. The fact that his contract is expiring is vital, and could be the final piece in Atlanta’s quest for the title this year.
Celtics get: PF/C Elton Brand, Raptors 2015 second-rounder (via Atlanta)
Hawks get: PF/C Brandon Bass
Finances: This doesn’t really affect Boston’s finances either way, as they’d still have tons of cap room as a rebuilding team. Right now, Boston has $65.1 million committed in contracts, though they have a ton of expiring deals, causing them to only have $33.5 million on the books next year. Bass is on an expiring deal worth $7 million, as is Brand, though his contract is only worth $2 million. Little financial motivations from either party in this trade.
The Fit: The main reason Boston is doing this trade, as a rebuilding team looking for future assets, is to sell Bass in exchange for future assets. This comes in the form of the Raptors’ second-round draft choice via Atlanta, not the 35 year old Elton Brand. Brand would play little minutes for Boston, just as he is for Atlanta currently, in favor of younger players in the Celtics’ frontcourt, like PF Jared Sullinger and C Kelly Olynk, among others. Bass is just one of many veterans that Boston has shipped in exchange for draft picks this season, as PG Rajon Rondo (DAL), PF/C Brandan Wright (PHO), and SF Jeff Green (MEM) have all made their way out the door. The rebuild is on in Beantown, and Bass is just another domino to fall.
Why the other team does it: Though the Hawks clearly don’t need to make any moves, as evidenced by their first-place standing in the East, they could certainly use a quality backup big man behind PF Paul Millsap and C Al Horford. Bass is averaging a very solid 9 points, 4 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks a game, and could certainly fill that void as another do-it-all player for Atlanta. The fact that his contract is expiring is vital, and could be the final piece in Atlanta’s quest for the title this year.