Could Danny Look to Trade Up This Year?

[PosImpos]

This year is supposed to be a historically weak draft.  Many teams are going to be looking to trade down, or out completely.  For a team looking to rebuild, those picks just aren't going to be worth as much as they should be.

But to a team in win-now mode -- particularly win-this-year-or-not-at-all mode -- a top 10 or top 5 pick in this draft could yield the young, contributing role player needed to keep a team in contention.

With that in mind, could Danny look to combine the 2012 Clippers pick with another pick or another asset (e.g. Bradley, who he recently said would be top 5 in this draft), to move up into the top 10 or top 5 of the draft this year with the hopes of snagging that impact role player who could help this team win next year?


I'm not saying this would necessarily be a good idea.  I don't know if any of the players who might be at the top of this year's draft are even going to be good enough to be a impact role player on this team next year.  But if it were possible to snag a young guy with size, athleticism, rebounding ability, inside scoring etc to give the Big 4 the support they need, I think it could be worth it. 

There are quite a few big men with very legit size at the top of this draft who might not ever be stars, but could figure to be solid contributors (Kanter, Valanciunas, Motiejunas, Williams, Biyombo).

I'm just floating this out here because it occurred to me that this could be something that Danny has considered doing.

[the_Bird]

I'd just like to see them buy a pick or two and get a couple of young, project-type guys at the end of the roster.  There's roster spots available, I'd rather have some of those dedicated to young guys than using them all on broken-down geezers.  Bring in a couple young guys for us all to overvalue and project into the Hall of Fame.  Seriously, though, seems like a year when there might be a few picks for sale, take advantage of that to start re-infusing some youth to the roster, see if you get lucky and maybe start picking up some fresh trade assets.

I'm not start enough about specific prospects yet to know if there's anyone worth trading up for.  Would love to see them get a young PF with some upside to play behind KG for a year, though.  

[Evantime34]

I doubt we give up future assets but I wouldn't be shocked if we bought a pick that was higher than our own, maybe one from NO?

[ctrey]

I absolutely hope we get some extra picks in this draft. Danny certainly does one thing well: draft. His track record is quite strong overall. I think it would be well worth trying to get into the late lottery and another pick between 17 and 20 along with keeping our own. I think there are players in this draft that 3 to 5 years from now people will be saying "how did nearly everyone miss on that guy".

[Chris]

While he could trade up, I can't imagine him giving up much value to do it.  This could be a draft where teams are going to be looking to sell picks, or trade down, just for cash, and if that is the case, and there is a player he loves, then sure, it could happen.  However, I think the more likely scenario is Danny will do his best to actually trade down and out of this draft (although likely unsuccessfully).

[Lucky17]

I'd just like to see them buy a pick or two and get a couple of young, project-type guys at the end of the roster.  There's roster spots available, I'd rather have some of those dedicated to young guys than using them all on broken-down geezers.  Bring in a couple young guys for us all to overvalue and project into the Hall of Fame.  Seriously, though, seems like a year when there might be a few picks for sale, take advantage of that to start re-infusing some youth to the roster, see if you get lucky and maybe start picking up some fresh trade assets.

I'm not start enough about specific prospects yet to know if there's anyone worth trading up for.  Would love to see them get a young PF with some upside to play behind KG for a year, though.  

Co-sign. Would love to see them acquire a legit big man prospect and an athletic wing to learn at the feet of the Big Three.

[LooseCannon]

Ainge seems to target specific players.  He won't make a trade for the sake of moving up and putting the team in position to get lucky and find a future franchise player.  Ainge will only make a trade if there is a specific player he wants to draft.

[Finkelskyhook]

Re: Could Danny Look to Trade Up This Year?

Why would that matter?  Rookies won't play under Rivers anybody.