Buying a draft pick

[BigRedDog423]

ESPN is reporting right now that the Knicks bought the Lakers pick for 3 million. My question is why weren't the Celtics trying to buy this pick? We've been spending this whole time examining the 58th pick hoping for a slight chance at a contributor, the 29th would've been a much better bet, especially when you don't have to give up players.

Now some of you are going to say that the Lakers wouldn't sell it to us because we're the competition and they wouldn't want to strengthen us. But other reports said that they offered the pick to Houston first for cash and they are competing with the Lakers much more than we are.

So what do you think, did we drop the ball or do you all think that this draft is so abysmal that it's not even worth picking up an essentially free draft pick?

[wdleehi]

1) Lakers are not going to sell the pick to the Celtics instead of the Knicks.

2) Maybe they don't want a pick so late in the 1st round where they get a player they don't think is worth the money he would be owed the next 3 years.

[victorycigar]

danny has done some of his best work in the 2nd round (see gomes, powe, and big baby).  i wouldn't be surprised if we buy an early 2nd round pick.  early 2nd round picks are actually more valuable than a late 1st because of the lack of a guaranteed contract.

[BigRedDog423]

  early 2nd round picks are actually more valuable than a late 1st because of the lack of a guaranteed contract.

Yea you're right. Hopefully they'll be some decent players there this year.

[Cman]

danny has done some of his best work in the 2nd round (see gomes, powe, and big baby).  i wouldn't be surprised if we buy an early 2nd round pick.  early 2nd round picks are actually more valuable than a late 1st because of the lack of a guaranteed contract.

... and as a result they "cost" more.  If pick #29 sold for $3M, then the going rate for pick #31 will probably be $3M plus a future 2nd rounder...

[droopdog7]

I would expect the Celts to buy a pick only once we know who is on the board (as they did with Rondo).  Buying it now could be bad since all of the players we like could be long gone by then.  And even the 29th pick could be bad (e.g., Giddens).

[Chief Macho]

I'd love for the celtic to buy a pick for Chase Budinger.

[beantownboy171]

Players im looking at for tonight:

Chase Budinger
Sam Young
Ty Lawson
Dejuan Blair
Tyler Hansborough
Jeff Teague
Tyrone Williams

Im hoping one of these will slip.

[BigRedDog423]

I'd love Sam Young or Blair but Blair isn't going that low.

[Cman]

According to draftexpress,
Portland just traded Sergio Rodriguez + #38 to Sacramento for #31 (gives an idea of the "cost" of a high 2nd rounder).

[beantownboy171]

I'd love Sam Young or Blair but Blair isn't going that low.

Yah that was more likely a month or so ago but his stock has sense risen.

[fairweatherfan06]

It seems like we could buy NO's pick for Pruitt (they need a backup point) or Giddens/TA (big hole at the two guard and those are both cheap options).  With their pick I'd look for somebody like Austin Daye or Chase Budinger, either one of them could fill a need (Daye in particular could possibly play 3-5 and would give us some leverage in negotiationg with BBD) or if there is a PG we like but that seems about right.

[droopdog7]

I'm thinking of second round pick like Danny Green.  I think he would be worth going after.

[bobdelt]

We'd be lucky to sign a FA for 3 million, no less buy a pick (plus the contract that goes with it)

[celts34pats55]

1) Lakers are not going to sell the pick to the Celtics instead of the Knicks.

2) Maybe they don't want a pick so late in the 1st round where they get a player they don't think is worth the money he would be owed the next 3 years.

It's the one thing the NBA does better than the NFL (other than Belichick of course). The executives realize that the draft is a glorified, and structured free agent pool. It's why Belichick trades down all the time. If he has the Lakers pick and he doesn't feel anyone is worth the money he knows he'll have to pay there he moves back and takes a similar player for a lot less money. It's simple economics really.