Our friend Evans Clinchy writes for both this blog and the Blazers blog called Blazers Edge. So he was the perfect person to approach with a trade proposal involving Jeff Green going to the Blazers.
I proposed Dorrell Wright, Thomas Robinson and a future 1st round pick for Jeff Green.
Here was his response:
Count me as interested. I think Dorell Wright, Thomas Robinson and a pick for Green is a win-win trade, and the salary cap math works. Let's go for it.
For the Blazers, Green would be a really good addition as they look ahead to the playoffs this spring. I don't think he'd start, to be sure, but he'd be exactly the piece they need as a sixth man - a dynamic wing guy who can create his own shot off the dribble. Portland has a solid third guard in Steve Blake and a serviceable backup big man in Chris Kaman, but a wing scorer like Green is the one thing they're still lacking. Getting JG would help them ease the workload on their current wing guys, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum, who have both battled minor injuries this season. Green could slide right in and play big minutes right away. It'd be perfect.
For the Celtics? There's really no reason not to do it. I'd be shocked if Green were to stay in Boston past this summer - he's seemed fairly miserable for a couple of years now with the direction of the team. He's ready to win. So why not move him before he bolts, and get a little something back? Robinson is an interesting player who could benefit from a change of scenery and - who knows? - might thrive in Boston. Wright is a little extra shooting help, which can't hurt. Draft picks, well, you know how much Danny Ainge loves those.
There might be some competition for Green's services, as we've all already heard the rumor about Memphis, and there may be other teams sniffing around the Celtics' wing scorer in the next month or two. But if the Blazers can offer the most enticing package - perhaps by including their first-round pick, which will be in the late twenties - it wouldn't be surprising to see them land the guy. Fortunately for Neil Olshey, he just signed a big contract extension to himself, so he's got the job security to take a little gamble. I think Green's a guy worth betting on.
There are some details that would have to be ironed out. Like which 1st round pick would it be? Would there be protections on it? I think I'd be happy to throw in a future 2nd rounder to grease the skids. Also, we'd have one too many players on the roster. So we'd either have to cut Pressey or one of the guys we traded for or include someone else in a trade (either to Portland or elsewhere). Still, I don't think any of those details would be deal breakers.
I've got some more ideas that I'll probably post later. But what do you think of this deal?