If I where the GM of the _________ I would _________ (thoughts on the top 7)

[CFAN38]

Cavs,

Given their owners desperation to win. (Trading for Deng, signing Bynum) I think they go with a big offer for Love. Something based around #1 and Thompson for Love and pieces.

Minn,

I would make the Love trade with the Cavs and draft Embiid (if back checks out). Adding Embiid and the emergence of Dieng at the end of the season would make Pek a nice available trading piece. Embiid, Thompson and Dieng would put them in a good position inside for years to come. They would still have the #13 pick to bring in a young wing player.

Bucks,

Take Wiggins, his measurements came back impressive. He is 6'9 in shoes 7' wing and 8'11 standing reach. He and Giannis form a young super athletic wing tandem for the star starve. I would also explore the possibility of trading for Boozer. He is overpaid and the Bulls will give up an asset (maybe #19) to avoid amnestying him. He would give them a vet big who can score and they could have a similar front court rotation to the current bulls.

76ers

Take Parker, I think Parker and Young will form a very interesting, versatile and interchangeable pair at forward. Thinking outside the box I would like to see them move up from #10 (maybe to Cs pick) using 2 of their 4 2nd round picks #32 and #47 to draft Aaron Gordon. If they really want to grow a team in the draft why not pair two young and promising combo forward in Gordon and Parker. Those two along with MCM and Noel give the 76ers a lot of talent. With the 2nd round picks that they didn?t trade I would look for at least one of the following Nick Johnson and/or Russ Smith. I think both could develop into nice options next to MCW. 

Magic

Take Exum, he is a great fit paired with Oladipo. With the #12 pick I would look to trade for a  starting caliber PF even it that means using Afflalo in a trade. I like Nicholson and O'Quinn but think both are better suited as 3rd bigs off the bench.

Jazz

Take Randle and shop Kanter. Favors can move over to the center position and Randle would give this team a different dimension on offence. If Kanter can net them a starting SF to replace Jefferson then they have a nice top 6 assembled.

Celtics

If Love is off the trade table then they likely have to use the pick or explore moving down. Drafting BPA would mean taking Smart but this opens up a lot of questions about the future of Rondo. I think Smart can play with Rondo but neither will thrive with the pairing. Another avenue I would explore would be dropping down a few picks to take Saric (see 76ers Gordon trade above).

Lakers

If Smart is still on the board I take him If not I go with Vonleh. Outside of the draft I think the lakers should use they best asset cap space to gain further assets. If they arnt in the running for Love or Melo why not take on the contracts of the teams who are trying to free space. Using their cap space take on the contracts of Lin and Asik from Houston for either the #25or a future 1st. Then sign and trade Gasol to the bulls for Boozer and #19. Along with Kobe that gives the Lakers a respectable starting 4 that?s just missing a SF and most importantly they come off the books after one season. In Vonleh is the pick at #7 then #19 could be used for a PG either Payton, Ennis or Napier in that order.

[kne]

So you have the Magic taking Exum at 4 to pair him with Oladipo, correct?

[mgent]

If I were the GM of the     Lakers    , I would     kill myself    .

[knuckleballer]

If I were the GM of the     Lakers    , I would     kill myself    .

TP for making me laugh.

[CFAN38]

So you have the Magic taking Exum at 4 to pair him with Oladipo, correct?

missed it edited them in

[pearljammer10]

If I where the GM of the Cavs I would pick Embiid. Great franchises need great defensive anchors to win championships. It's an extra plus when they play the front court positions. With Irving and Embiid the Cavs might become an attractive destination for players to play. Irving, Waiters, Deng, Varejo, Embiid (if they all stick around) would be a nice core moving forward.

If I where the GM of the Bucks I would select Jabari Parker. Take the best available talent because the Bucks aren't looking to be very good now or in the near future. Take the sure thing (and I think Parker is more of a talent than Wiggins) and hope that he can turn the franchise around.

If I where the GM of the 76ers I would select Andrew Wiggins. Again, the 76ers aren't going anywhere immediately and I can't see any big named free agents wanting to play/stay there. With Young and Carter-Williams, adding Wiggins will provide them with a nice young exciting core to watch develop over the years. Plus they have the tenth pick as well.

If I where the GM of the Magic I would definitely take Dante Exum. They could look to trade the pick but I think the prospect of adding Exum is more exciting and beneficial then what they could net in a trade. A lineup of Exum, Afflalo, Harris, PF through FA, Vucevic and Oladipo as a 6th man with Nelson and Harkless off the bench is yet again another nice young core that can be exciting in the East as a 7th or 8th seed in the next couple years. I don't think anything they trade for would have a significant positive effect on the franchise. (However, I trade Afflalo for Bradley and a first next year. Leaving an even younger team to develop with Exum, Oladipo, Harris, PF, Vucevic and Bradley and Nelson off the bench. Afflalo won't resign there and if you can get a first round pick and a defensive stopper for him while his value is high I do it.)

If I where the GM of the Jazz I would ... Shake my head and pray? Because they're a mess and I don't see any big names going to Utah any time soon... They'll probably give Hayward a near max extension just to hold onto him (mistake). And They'll lock up Favors (hopefully for not too much money.).....Oh wait I'm the GM so I can do what I want....

Since I can't sign and trade Hayward along with the 5th pick my options here are low. I won't be using that package for a Love or Melo type player. So I pick Randle here. Burke, Hayward and a trio of Randle, Favors, Kanter down low could put the Jazz on the right track? But probably not.

If I where the GM of the Celtics I would trade the number 6th pick to Minnesota for Kevin Love.  (Along with Sully, Wallace and 2 more future firsts). Already traded Bradley and a first for Afflalo. Then trade the Trade Exception for Asik and Lin to help Houston get Melo. And sign Pierce to an MLE like deal.

Rondo/Lin
Afflalo/#17
Green/Pierce
Love/Bass
Asik/KO

Top 4 team annually in the East for the next 5 years.

If I where the GM of the Lakers I would ....Tough. Smart could be a good pick for them here cause he could handle LA but I think they would want to win now. I try and trade the pick for a big fish who wants LA. Obviously Love comes to mind as well as Anthony but I don't think they can make a good enough offer for either of them. Take Smart and hope for the best with my cap space.

If I where the GM of the Kings I would trade my number 8 along with one of my younger talents (preferably McLemore) for either a defensive big man to pair with Cousins or another established wing man  a 3 and D type guy. Also try to ship off Jason Thompson or Carl Landry in that deal.  I look to package #8 and McLemore for a PF and try and somehow work out a sign and trade with future picks for Hayward.

If I where the GM of the Hornets I would ...The Bobcats smelt the playoffs this year and are changing their name back to the hornets next years....Means big things a happening. Is there anyone at number 9 that can help them build on this contention? I don't think there is. So I use the number 9 pick to add another veteran alongside Jefferson with the youth of Kemba and Gilcrest developing. Really, I make a run at a guy like Gortat.

If I where the GM of the 76ers I would so again Philly has a great young core if they net Wiggins. Might as well stay young cause even with a veteran presence I don't see them making much noise in the standings. With picks 6 at Minn, 8 with? and 9 with? I assume that Vonleah, Gordon and lets say McDeromt are off the board... That leaves plenty of options with their pick 10. I don't see them take Saric and they need another big. Wild card pick of Jusus Nurkic to man their center spot.

[hpantazo]

If I where GM of the lakers I would really go to town on their fans. I would amnesty Kobe but keep Nash. I would resign Pau to a max deal, and I would trade the 7th pick to the celtics for Wallace.

Basically I would run the lakers like Pitino ran the celtics.

[slamtheking]

If I were the GM of the CAVS, I wouldtake Wiggins as the closest to a sure thing
knowing I can't afford a Bennett-level mistake again at #1. Wiggins has the highest upside
with no health issues.

If I were the GM of the BUCKS, I would take Embiid and use Sanders as tradebait to fill
other holes on the roster.  This team isn't going anywhere soon so Embiid has a couple of
years to develop.

If I were the GM of the SIXERS, I would take Parker as the last of the top 3 players
available.  Team needs scoring and this kid can be the go-to scorer the team needs right
from the get-go.

If I were the GM of the MAGIC, I would take Exum as the BPA and great fit with Oladipo
as my backcourt of the future.

If I were the GM of the JAZZ, I would probably take Randle to play PF and move Favors
to Center and use Kanter as tradebait or first big off the bench.  Team is going nowhere
for at least a couple of years so enough time to evaluate the big man rotation.  The 2
back up options are Gordon to plug the hole at SF and hope he develops on offense or
take Smart because he's likely to be much better than Burke.

If I were the GM of the CELTS, I would trade the pick either as part of a deal to get
Love or failing that, trade down to someone that wants either Smart, Gordon or Vonleh and
pick up a later lottery pick and another young asset.  if no deal presents itself, probably
take Gordon as the player with the highest floor--a bit high to be taking a player that's
primary skill is defense but he could potentially defend 4 positions and his offense
isn't a completely hopeless cause since he can shoot (somewhat)

If I were the GM of the LAKERS, I would trade that pick for someone who will fit with
Kobe for the next 2 years.  C's should hang up on the #7 and Nash for Rondo but would counter
with Nash & #7 for Green, AB (S&T) and #17.  Gives the team the SF and back up SG
Lakers can use to help Kobe.  try to weasel Sully, KO or even Bass into that deal as well
for depth at PF and either on cheap money or expiring deal.  no way to get Love or Melo with
just #7 as the prime trade chip

[pearljammer10]

If I where the GM of the Cavs I would pick Embiid. Great franchises need great defensive anchors to win championships. It's an extra plus when they play the front court positions. With Irving and Embiid the Cavs might become an attractive destination for players to play. Irving, Waiters, Deng, Varejo, Embiid (if they all stick around) would be a nice core moving forward.

If I where the GM of the Bucks I would select Jabari Parker. Take the best available talent because the Bucks aren't looking to be very good now or in the near future. Take the sure thing (and I think Parker is more of a talent than Wiggins) and hope that he can turn the franchise around.

If I where the GM of the 76ers I would select Andrew Wiggins. Again, the 76ers aren't going anywhere immediately and I can't see any big named free agents wanting to play/stay there. With Young and Carter-Williams, adding Wiggins will provide them with a nice young exciting core to watch develop over the years. Plus they have the tenth pick as well.

If I where the GM of the Magic I would definitely take Dante Exum. They could look to trade the pick but I think the prospect of adding Exum is more exciting and beneficial then what they could net in a trade. A lineup of Exum, Afflalo, Harris, PF through FA, Vucevic and Oladipo as a 6th man with Nelson and Harkless off the bench is yet again another nice young core that can be exciting in the East as a 7th or 8th seed in the next couple years. I don't think anything they trade for would have a significant positive effect on the franchise. (However, I trade Afflalo for Bradley and a first next year. Leaving an even younger team to develop with Exum, Oladipo, Harris, PF, Vucevic and Bradley and Nelson off the bench. Afflalo won't resign there and if you can get a first round pick and a defensive stopper for him while his value is high I do it.)

If I where the GM of the Jazz I would ... Shake my head and pray? Because they're a mess and I don't see any big names going to Utah any time soon... They'll probably give Hayward a near max extension just to hold onto him (mistake). And They'll lock up Favors (hopefully for not too much money.).....Oh wait I'm the GM so I can do what I want....

Since I can't sign and trade Hayward along with the 5th pick my options here are low. I won't be using that package for a Love or Melo type player. So I pick Randle here. Burke, Hayward and a trio of Randle, Favors, Kanter down low could put the Jazz on the right track? But probably not.

If I where the GM of the Celtics I would trade the number 6th pick to Minnesota for Kevin Love.  (Along with Sully, Wallace and 2 more future firsts). Already traded Bradley and a first for Afflalo. Then trade the Trade Exception for Asik and Lin to help Houston get Melo. And sign Pierce to an MLE like deal.

Rondo/Lin
Afflalo/#17
Green/Pierce
Love/Bass
Asik/KO

Top 4 team annually in the East for the next 5 years.

If I where the GM of the Lakers I would ....Tough. Smart could be a good pick for them here cause he could handle LA but I think they would want to win now. I try and trade the pick for a big fish who wants LA. Obviously Love comes to mind as well as Anthony but I don't think they can make a good enough offer for either of them. Take Smart and hope for the best with my cap space.

If I where the GM of the Kings I would trade my number 8 along with one of my younger talents (preferably McLemore) for either a defensive big man to pair with Cousins or another established wing man  a 3 and D type guy. Also try to ship off Jason Thompson or Carl Landry in that deal.  I look to package #8 and McLemore for a PF and try and somehow work out a sign and trade with future picks for Hayward.

If I where the GM of the Hornets I would ...The Bobcats smelt the playoffs this year and are changing their name back to the hornets next years....Means big things a happening. Is there anyone at number 9 that can help them build on this contention? I don't think there is. So I use the number 9 pick to add another veteran alongside Jefferson with the youth of Kemba and Gilcrest developing. Really, I make a run at a guy like Gortat.

If I where the GM of the 76ers I would so again Philly has a great young core if they net Wiggins. Might as well stay young cause even with a veteran presence I don't see them making much noise in the standings. With picks 6 at Minn, 8 with? and 9 with? I assume that Vonleah, Gordon and lets say McDeromt are off the board... That leaves plenty of options with their pick 10. I don't see them take Saric and they need another big. Wild card pick of Jusus Nurkic to man their center spot.

Completely forgot the 76ers have Nerlens Noel as well. That's crazy. So if I'm the 76ers at 10 I'm hoping that McDermot is there... I then roll out into 2014-2015 with a starting line up of

Carter Williams
Wiggins
Dougie Fresh McDermott
Thad Young
Nerlens Noel

That's the type of rebuild that, as a fan, I might be able to get behind.