Is Danny Ainge overvaluing Green, Bradley, and Bass in potential trade negotiations?

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (and occasionally CSNNE's pre and postgame Celtics coverage) was a guest on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show yesterday.  Among the topics of conversation were the options available to Boston as the Feb. 20 trade deadline approaches. Here's what Mannix had to say about Danny Ainge's efforts to move Jeff Green and Avery Bradley:

"I've had conversations with a couple of different general managers last night, and we talked a little bit about Boston and what they were trying to do at the trade deadline, and the sense I got from them was that Boston is totally overvaluing some of the players they have. They're looking for first-round picks in return for guys like Jeff Green or a guy like Avery Bradley and others and they're just not going to get it." 

"I think at this point, Jeff Green is absolutely on the table for a deal. I think if Boston can find a way to find a way to get either a first-round draft pick or some kind of young piece back that can be better for their future, they would be willing to deal him. The problem is that other teams are seeing what Jeff Green is, and other teams are seeing just how much money Jeff Green is making, and I don't think they're willing to deal for him." 

"He [Green] was off the table in the Omer Asik trade about a month ago. I remember talking to people in the organization and there was no way they were going to trade Jeff Green in an Omer Asik deal. They thought Green was too valuable in the short term and the long term. Now, a month and a half later, and we're now realizing that Jeff Green is kind of this Jekyll and Hyde type of guy where some nights he can go for 30, other nights 2-for-12 from the floor and totally vanish."

And on Brandon Bass:

"Nobody really wants him. … You hear a lot about what Brandon Bass can do, and how valuable he might be, but Houston didn't want any part of him when they were talking about the Omer Asik trade a month, month and a half ago, and I don't think anybody across the league really wants him. He's got a decent salary and I guess he comes off the books in a year or so, but for the time being he's not a valuable guy in terms of on-the-court contribution. You're not going to get a first-round pick in return for him."

I totally agree with Mannix's assessment of Green.  At the time I wasn't thrilled about the idea of parting with him to get Asik, but I'd be more than happy to make that deal now.  In terms of overvaluing players however, I assume this is all part of the chess match.  Of course Ainge is trying to to get too much for his guys at first, but as the deadline approaches all parties involved will soften their stances.



Follow Mark Vandeusen on twitter @LucidSportsFan