http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/242221/Celtics-Aggressively-Shopping-3rd-Overall-Pick The Boston Celtics are hoping to convert the third overall pick into an impact player further along in their career than be patient for a rookie to develop. The Celtics have been a playoff team in each of the past two seasons with a strong overall team that lacks a true star. "[I'm] hearing that No. 3 pick overall is the one that they are really shopping," said Blakely, "trying to be as aggressive as possible in trying to move that pick, because they want to get a difference-making, impact player right now. And they believe using that No. 3 pick, and maybe some other players and/or picks, might be the best way to [make] that happen." Blakely was asked about the type of players the Celtics are targeting. "The guys that they want are the guys that everybody wants," said Blakely. "We're talking about [Kevin] Durant, we're talking about Jimmy Butler, those type of players. And those guys are going to be at the top of their wish list until those guys say, 'We don't want to come to Boston.' "
As much as I've enjoyed the West being the superior conference, it would be nice to see a team from the East that can give the best teams in the West a competitive finals series. Plus I'm all for anything that weakens OKC. The sooner the better, especially, if it doesn't strengthen another team in the West (other than the Blazers) in the process. But, I think it's most likely Durant signs a 2-year deal with OKC, with the second year as a player option. That makes good financial sense for him gives him a chance to try to win one more time with Westbrook, but still test the FA waters again next summer after OKC chokes again in the playoffs. Then, him and Westbrook will both leave at the same time and go their separate ways. BNM
They're wanting someone like Butler, and I'm not really convinced there's someone as good as Butler at #3. If their plan really is to try to go for "the big three" 2.0, and bring in Durant/Horford/Butler, they have to convince Chicago that the third pick is good value. I personally don't think that it is.
You may not find someone to think there is an equal player, but may find someone rebuilding that thinks a player there could be great in a couple of years?
I guess it depends on whether Chicago wants to blow it up. If that's the case, they need to deal Rose as well.
But, it's not just the 3rd pick. BOS has so much available to sweeten a trade. The have a total of 8 picks in this draft (3, 16, 23, 31, 35, 45 51, 58). They can offer a team looking to rebuild a buttload of picks - to go with the 3rd overall pick. In spite of having 9 players on guaranteed contracts, they have potentially the third highest amount of cap space available, at over $53 million. Only the worst team in each conference (LAL, PHI) has more available cap space than the 47-win, 5th seed Celtics. This has several implications. The most obvious is they can offer multiple drafts picks in an unbalanced trade scenario. This is very desirable for a team looking to rebuild as they can acquire both draft picks and shed a ton of salary. It also means that BOS has a lot of young players on cheap contracts. These young players, along with the draft picks can also be combined in one, or more, unbalanced trades to take advantage of all that cap space. Finally, the Celtics won 47 games, were the 5th seed in the East and advanced to the 2nd round of the playoffs, all without a true superstar. Any star that goes there will push them to 55, or more, wins and make them an instant contender for a top 2 seed in the East with a very legitimate shot at making the finals. They also have an excellent coach and using all those draft picks and cap space to land 2, or more, stars would make them title contenders. Honestly, with 8 draft picks, a shit ton of cap space, lots of good, young players on cheap contracts, a good coach and already a solid playoff team, I've never seen a team so well positioned to make some big moves in the off season. Danny Ainge has done a tremendous job acquiring tradeable assets. It will be interesting to see if he can parlay those assets into one, or more star players that can take his team from a mid playoff seed to one of the two teams in the East, or even a legitimate title contender. BNM
That's pretty much exactly what he did to get Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. He traded picks and young talent. I don't remember all the players involved, but Minny got a young Al Jefferson for KG, and Seattle got Jeff Green for Ray Allen.
Also, Kevin McHale basically gifted him Garnett. He hasn't really done anything earth shattering since that summer. Getting Thomas from Phoenix was pretty hilarious though. God the Suns are awful.
That's called "pulling a Morey" and the strategy isn't a sound one. Would Durant/Butler/Horford win a championship? Would they even be that much better than OKC? I'm not so sure.
With all those assets, they should be trying to pry Anthony Davis away from the Pelicans. That's a team that needs a do-over.
