Celtics trying to acquire another pick between 4 and 8

[jonathanlambert33]

I'm going to post this from someone I know, this guy has legitimate sources so I believe this 100%. It's absolutely legitimate.

I am surprised this hasn't come out yet, because I have heard it now from 2 different NBA people, unprovoked. But the Celtics are supposedly trying to add another pick between 4 and 8. They want one of the guards AND one of the bigs. Supposedly, anybody on their roster besides Crowder and Thomas is available, and they really don't want to part with any of the Nets picks. But outside of that, they have

2016 picks - 16, 23, 31, 45, 51, 58

Future picks - pick swap option with Nets in 2017, Brooklyn's 2018 pick, and Memphis 2019 or 2020 pick

Players - Avery Bradley (2 yr/17 mil), Marcus Smart (2 yrs/8 mil, then becomes RFA), Kelly Olynyk ( 1 year/3 mil, then becomes RFA), Terry Rozier, James Young, Jordan Mickey, RJ Hunter - all on recent rookie deals

 

[elcheato]

I would definitely trade my pick if I'm in that range for one of those future Nets' picks and hope for a better draft down the line. I would not deal it for anything else the Celtics offer though. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

He brought up Bradley, 16, 31, Olynyk, and RJ Hunter for 6, Tyreke, Ajinca, and 40. I don't know if Boston would do that, but I suppose the team with the pick is the team with the leverage. Also Bradley, 16, 23, 31 for Tyreke and 6.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

He's also heard from those same sources that they want to walk away with one of Dunn, Hield, or Murray and one of Bender or Chriss.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Can you let me know of the source, either here or PM? I'd love to gain more Celtics insider info


Anyways this clearly makes sense to me. Everyone is calling this a two person draft, and I disagree. This is an 8 person draft, where the Top 2 are on another level. The prospect you draft at #9 overall isn't that special really, and from there it just diminishes even further. The guy we would draft at 16 probably wouldn't be much better than the guy at 23, or 31.

Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, Dragan Bender, Jamal Murray, Kris Dunn, Buddy Hield, Jaylen Brown, and Marquese Chriss. Those are the only real good prospects in this draft; the only ones that you can legitimately say might have All Star+ potential. Everyone else (Deyonta Davis probably leads the 2nd unit of prospects) are future role players at best.

So Danny has 8 picks in this draft, and 7 of them basically suck. I don't want to take anyone at 16 or 23 because they are just guaranteed salaries for players they aren't any better than the guys who are already benchwarmers on the team (Hunter, Mickey, Young).

I want to retain the 2017 BKN 1st because I don't see them getting better in one year, but I'd move the 2018 1st if it meant getting back in the Top 8.

Realistically if we were to trade back in, it won't be with Minnesota or New Orleans. Both have the opportunities to get stars no matter what. I also highly doubt Phoenix would move #4 overall but who knows what direction they would go -- and maybe if they only wanted Bender and he was gone that they'd be fine taking 16, 23, the 2018 BKN 1st, and Smart. Who knows with them?

It'll be with Sacramento or Denver if we do move back up. Both teams really seem like they are only interested in one of the 3 guards -- Murray, Hield, and Dunn. Two of them at the worst will be taken by the time Denver is on the clock, and maybe all 3. In that case, the selections between Chriss and Jaylen Brown is not too enticing for either team, imo, and trading out could be a serious possibility.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Also personally I wouldn't want to take that deal with the Pels because I don't really like Tyreke Evans much as a player, but I'd end up liking it for 2 reasons

1. I can finally get an Evans Celtics jersey (my last name)
2. He'd do the same thing, if not better, as Evan Turner did last year ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Plus you get Bender and I assume then Buddy Hield or Murray to come off the bench with Smart in that scenario, and it'd work. That's a team that can be really solid in the interim while we still develop prospects and let Brooklyn suck for us

 

[jonathanlambert33]

He's an insider for the Pels bosox, he gained inside info probably a little over a year ago and he's had other "league sources" for a while now, as his best friend has worked in NBA front offices for nearly a decade now, with Cleveland and currently in Atlanta. I'd be willing to bet those are the two people he spoke of. He talked after the lottery of the Pels looking to move their pick so I'm sure his source told him of the Boston talks, and his buddy in Atlanta (or friends he has gained from knowing the guy) keyed him in on Boston as well.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Damn, i didn't think the Pels were looking to trade out . But similarly to what I said about Denver and Sacto -- maybe the Pels want a combo guard and Hield isn't that. It affirms what you said about wanting Dunn, and Murray would work well with Jrue too. If they don't love the Hield fit, then it makes sense to trade down I guess.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Damn, i didn't think the Pels were looking to trade out . But similarly to what I said about Denver and Sacto -- maybe the Pels want a combo guard and Hield isn't that. It affirms what you said about wanting Dunn, and Murray would work well with Jrue too. If they don't love the Hield fit, then it makes sense to trade down I guess.

I think they'd always be willing to trade out if they could acquire a young veteran that could help now. He said if they were to trade out Boston and Denver would be the two most likely, but Milwaukee is a possibility too.

I do know they would prefer that combo type, but would be happy with Buddy too. I think it all comes down too what's still available and what's being offered.

 

[bosoxlover12]

I really don't want to lose Bradley, because he's so good defensively and is the longest tenured on the team, but his value probably won't ever be higher than it is right now. And I can't imagine a team that doesn't want a lockdown perimeter defender that has an improving 3pt shot. He's not a combo guard, but a Jrue-Bradley backcourt is crazy good on defense and I think Jrue personally should hang the ball more than he has

 

[bosoxlover12]

And Denver for a while has screamed like the best place to trade with for us

Between the #7 pick, Gallo (who Danny has been trying to get for years), and now Nurkic being available due to Jokic's breakout year, it makes sense to target that team for a trade

 

[bosoxlover12]

I really just want something to happen for us. Why is the draft still a week away!!

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'd be salivating over a defensive backcourt of Jrue/Bradley...then you surround those guys with AD, Asik, and possibly Pondexter.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

And I think when you have perimeter defenders like Holiday, Bradley, QPon, Gee, and interior defenders like AD, Asik, Ajinca, and Cunningham that helps you out with being able to bring back a guy like Ryan Anderson.

 

[bosoxlover12]

^^ Definitely. Boston was able to survive having minus defenders like Jerebko, Olynyk, and Sullinger because we had Bradley and Crowder out there too. Jrue -- Bradley -- QPon -- Anderson -- Davis is a really good lineup to close games with

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Holiday / Douglas / Frazier
Bradley / Hunter
Pondexter / Cunningham / Gee / Ennis
Davis / Babbitt
Asik / Olynyk

That leaves two roster spots left, assuming guys like Douglas/Frazier/Gee/Ennis/Babbitt would even all make it to next season. You still have plenty of cap space and two first rounders (essentially). That's intriguing.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Bosox:

If Boston can't get a very good to great player in a trade for their 3rd pick, they ideal want to package some of their other assets to end up with two top 8 picks in this draft

 

[bosoxlover12]

I'd almost rather the second option anyways
 
 
Jimmy Butler, who I assume is the most attainable talent to get, would cost a ton and tbh I'm not sure he's worth it if we aren't getting Durant in Free Agency too.
 
 
Just get rid of 16, 23, some of those 2nds, and whatever else it takes (just not Smart or the 2017 1st) to get me Jaylen/Buddy/Murray along with Bender