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Would Danny Ainge have interest in Memphis’ Kosta Koufos?

Chuck - Red's Army January 8, 2015 Celtics News, Rumors 24 Comments

On the heels of the trade rumors surrounding the Celtics and Grizzlies, Grantland’s Zach Lowe offered this:

Aside to @ESPNSteinLine report on MEM/Green: Cavs/Bos/MEM had talked re 3-teamer that would have sent JG to MEM, Koufos to CLE, picks to BOS

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) January 8, 2015

In that deal, Memphis is essentially trading Kosta Koufos for Jeff Green. Cleveland’s acquisition of Timofey Mosgov kills that scenario, but I’m wondering why Boston and Memphis can’t continue the dialogue.

A necessary requirement is the Celtics interest in the 7-foot Koufos. He’s an above average shot blocker and average rebounder, according to ESPN’s scouting report. Considering the Celtics problems protecting the rim, Koufos would be a gigantic upgrade. Why is Memphis willing to deal him? He’s a free agent looking to make significantly more than his current $3 million salary.

I took a peek at the Grizzly Bear Blues story about the Green rumor and those guys tab Tayshuan Prince and his $7 mil expiring contract, Koufos, Quincy Pondexter, Jon Leuer and Jordan Adams as potential pieces in any deal.

Leuer is a 6-10 PF who can’t defend. Forget him. Pondexter and Adams are wing players. We already have enough here (#FreeJamesYoung). That leaves Koufos as the only desirable piece for Boston. If Memphis were to dump Koufos, they might want a big in return.

So… a trade involving Green and Tyler Zeller for Koufos and Prince works in the trade machine.

Who says no?

Andre

Iunno about Tayshaun, do we need more veterans in their twilight years? If so, bring back Paul Pierce to retire here. Any rim protector is welcome, but I like Zeller :/
- KGino
  
  don’t think he’d play much, and his contract comes off the books in the offseason (we wouldn’t keep him)
  - Curt Hays
    
    Based on what I can tell, the assumption is that we’d waive him immediately.
- chuckmckenney
  
  He’d be an option for a buyout.
KGino

I like the 1st rounder and Prince straight up for Green a lot more… An above average shot blocker & rebounder with a very limited offensive game… Didn’t we just get one of those?? Especially if the guy is looking for a major bump up from his 3 mil contract (he hasn’t proven he deserves that yet). I’d rather invest money in a proven big who will actually get us somewhere, should the opportunity arise.

It doesn’t make any sense to trade Zeller if we don’t have to… He’s cheaper than Koufos and arguably more skilled overall. Keep Zeller. He could be a role player on a good team.
NE_Celt

This would be a tough call….Zeller over Koufos…both have different skills that could help. Zeller was a big part of the win last night because of his offense…but if we had a shot blocker keeping the other team to less points on the other end, same thing could happen. The other issue really, is what to do with all these bigs…Wright got a DNP last night…and supposedly he is pretty good at shop blocking…so maybe the better play would be getting more picks or expiring contracts we can turn into players we need to fill other positions down the road.
Francesco Vaccarella

#FreeJamesYoung
BIG_HITTA1

if Stevens doesn’t #FreeJamesYoung, then the #FreeBradStevens movement must start. And who ever thunk that Zeller would become the C’s MVP???!!??!!!!
Jester00

sold
Sean McLaughlin

Me. Not a fan of including Zeller.
- BIG_HITTA1
  
  ditto.
GoKingsGoCeltsGoTigersGoNiners

Can we somehow package danny ainge in this deal?!
Astarot

Not a fan at all. Come on he’d be an upgrade for a contending team not for Boston.
pierce Hart

whats the point chuck? a few places further down in the draft? A short term fix isn’t needed for a team in a long term rebuild
- chuckmckenney
  
  Who said anything about short term? He’d be a piece for the future. Whether you have LeBron on this team or not, you need a defensive presence in the middle.
Frank Aziza

Tyler Zeller is becoming a very good basketball player. If he’s not worth developing then who is? He’s the only player on this roster that can actually be great in two years. We have some young players with very low ceilings…Tyler’s ceiling is looking high.
- adam
  
  Sully, Young, Smart, Kelly, all low ceilings?
zippittyay

Whoufos?
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