NBA Lottery: Tues 8:30 PM EST on ESPN

[CelticsElite]

I wonder if ainge is pumping his fist or cursing lol.

Working a deal now is all about NO and selling them .

A Lakers or Knicks 1-2 pick would have been hard to beat .....except we stll have ONE important asset ......NO hates the Lakers , they are in the West and Plinka is a **** .   All this works in Dannys favor.

exactly.

Well said

[colincb]

This is a top 3 draft. Lakers at 4 didn't do themselves much good and the NYK needed the top pick to really make a BIG change. Knicks are arguably the worst managed NBA team, so if Irving's stupid enough to want to go there, then we don't want him.

Don't think the 2nd pick can fix the Grizzlies. Still think that AD moves on because the Pelicans are not going to contend, even with Zion. Nonetheless, these two are negative results, offset to some extent by the lighter protections on the MEM pick going forward (and they could fall off the face of the Earth in 2 years).

[celticinorlando]

Let's say Boston loses Kyrie and doesn't trade for Davis

Does anyone think Ainge makes three first round picks in an average draft?

[liam]

Is there a way to make the NBA draft lottery less transparent?

Nope...

[j804]

Btw Go Warriors!!! Them winning another chip increases the chances that KD stays right? How do you leave a three peat?

[footey]

Lakers package 4th pick and Ball to Memphis for 2nd pick. Then package 2nd pick with Kuzma and Ingram to Pels for Davis. Griffin would love to build core around Zion and Ja Morant.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think it does change the landscape to some extent.  Could have been worse.  Knicks are not likely to be AD contenders.   Lakers will now have a better offer but this just pushes C's to have to pay a bit more.

The value of the Memphis pick takes a hit.  AD may be intrigued and want to stay.   

More likely, NO counts their blessings and realizes that Zion fell in their laps (he would definitely have been the gold in a Knick package) … now they've got Zion for nothing and can reasonably set themselves up for a re-build around him.   Tatum, Smart, and Griz pick sounds good.  Cap space.... and NO is on it's way. 

From the first coin flip last month, the C's haven't had a break.

[celticinorlando]

The Knicks are the one team that concerns me. They can create the team that Danny has been trying to make and hurt the Cs doing it.

[RPGenerate]

Wow, the Suns and the Cavs got screwed really hard. Absolutely miserable seasons, and they only get the 5th and 6th pick.

[liam]

Lakers package 4th pick and Ball to Memphis for 2nd pick. Then package 2nd pick with Kuzma and Ingram to Pels for Davis. Griffin would love to build core around Zion and Ja Morant.

Can you even trade Ingram with his health issues?

[Neurotic Guy]

Lakers package 4th pick and Ball to Memphis for 2nd pick. Then package 2nd pick with Kuzma and Ingram to Pels for Davis. Griffin would love to build core around Zion and Ja Morant.

The Memphis part of your scenario would be good for the C's.  Memphis goes nowhere.  Can't fathom they would do that.  Wait... is Chris Wallace still there?

[celticinorlando]

I am just really interested in what Danny does if he does not trade for AD...all these picks that are very bland.

[mctyson]

Man NOLA have all the trade leverage now for AD. Ainge will have to dump the war chest on the table for him if Kyrie stays.

i dont see why everyone is continually whining about this. williamson will not turn NO into a contender out of the gate, if ever. AD would have to wait for him to mature and grow. is AD suddenly turning into a patient person?

i dont see where this changes anything for AD. if it does, i think it opens NO up to a trade that brings young stars and pick so as to build around williamson. that plays to the celtics strength.

100%

Best post in this thread

Correct.  If anything, getting the #1 pick only hastens the rebuild.  You trade all veteran assets and acquire young talent, under control for as long as possible, and build from there.

In some ways, that was the idea behind "The Process" even if it was a crappy way to treat your fans...eventually you will have enough young talent under your control to build a perennial contender, at least for a few seasons.

The only difference here is if NO can trade the #1 pick for another star to pair with Davis, assuming he extends or guarantees extension.  I just cannot see that happening given he forced his way out.

So you can basically guarantee Davis is traded by Draft Night.

[mqtcelticsfan]

I think it does change the landscape to some extent.  Could have been worse.  Knicks are not likely to be AD contenders.   Lakers will now have a better offer but this just pushes C's to have to pay a bit more.

The value of the Memphis pick takes a hit.  AD may be intrigued and want to stay.   

More likely, NO counts their blessings and realizes that Zion fell in their laps (he would definitely have been the gold in a Knick package) … now they've got Zion for nothing and can reasonably set themselves up for a re-build around him.   Tatum, Smart, and Griz pick sounds good.  Cap space.... and NO is on it's way. 

From the first coin flip last month, the C's haven't had a break.

The moves into the top 4 were about as disastrous as it could get for Boston. I’d say the order in which those top 4 ended up was as good as we could hope for once it became those 4.

[gouki88]

Lakers package 4th pick and Ball to Memphis for 2nd pick. Then package 2nd pick with Kuzma and Ingram to Pels for Davis. Griffin would love to build core around Zion and Ja Morant.

Why on earth with Memphis do that?? Ja Morant is so much a better prospect than Ball and whoever is at 4