Why Ainge will struggle to pull off a major trade

[shut_the_gate]

Ainge and other gm’s like him will find it almost impossible to make any major upgrades to their rosters. This is because of two key issues:

1. Because of this season’s lack/no fans, there hasn’t been any home advantage, this along with baseball style series due to covid... the league average records are very unusually even by this point in the season.

2. With the introduction of the play-in tournament even if some teams records lag, most will have a shot at sneaking into a playoff spot.

These factors will prevent most GM’s (other then possibly OKC) from opening any type of trade discussions that would hinder their chances of winning this season.

[shut_the_gate]

(Sorry admins I’ve placed this in transaction ideas when it should be under Celtics talk)

[ConnerHenry]

More than half of the teams cannot trade a 1st round pick, if Danny is willing to give up 1st rounder, there's a deal to be made

[NKY fan]

More than half of the teams cannot trade a 1st round pick, if Danny is willing to give up 1st rounder, there's a deal to be made

Philly, denver , Atlanta and possibly Indiana and Toronto could bid up first rounders. Remember that some of the first rounders that are owed can be traded by their counterparty team.
 In 2014 Danny traded a first rounder! Even though it was not our first rounder (our draft pick was considered prime asset at the time) he sent out the clippers first rounder we owned at the time for IT. Similar borderline playoff team could do the same like the Knicks , thunder or Houston or Memphis ... in addition some teams can offer swaps of their draft picks ( bucks , houston , Phoenix ).
Some teams have other teams with protections which will most likely hold and they will convert to second rounders ... those can be touted as first rounders by teams buying at the deadline.
Our first rounder ( unprotected ) can be viewed valuable now but at the deadline it can be viewed as a very late first rounder 27-30 range.... might be better to strike now lol

[footey]

I agree with OP. Which is why I think it is far more likely we use most of the Hayward TPE after the season.

[PhoSita]

I agree -- it just doesn't make sense to go all-in on this season.  Similarly, a lot of teams have reason to think they shouldn't throw in the towel.


One factor to add is that the lack of good information about college basketball prospects means that the value of getting a high draft pick is more murky than usual.

[slamtheking]

unless some stud making close to the exception miraculously becomes available for peanuts in return, the TPE is unlikely to be used until the offseason which will offer Danny an opportunity to evaluate the current roster and provide better opportunities to utilize that exception as part of a multi-step deal

[wdleehi]

On the flip side, some team is going to realize that they are not going anywhere.   Is there a better time to sell off ok to good player when you know there are no fans in the stands?   It's not like a team is going to sell less tickets this year.


So then a team selling off those players can get a 1st and cap space from he Celtics.   They can then in theory turn around and take back another contract from another team for another pick to help a trade go through or help a team get under the cap.


My favorite example, the Magic.   Let's say the agree to trade Gordon to the Celtics for the TPE, a 1st an pair of 2nds.   They then turn around and trade with the Warriors for Oubre Jr and a 1st.   

They end up losing games.   Next year, the sell the team on the returning players from injury and three first round picks to their fans.