What do you value more? Cap space or draft picks

[JSD]

So we get Okafor with only 2 and 1/2 years left and two first rounders for cap clearing contracts? Sign me up. We could use Okafor down the stretch and those picks for rebuilding.

It's a win/win

If you think that Dwight Howard isn't happening, it isn't all that bad a place to be in.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.

The Celtics next star will likely be acquired via draft or via trade, not as a straight free agent signing.

If it's going to be via draft, we need to start stockpiling as many picks as we can.

If it's via trade, we're going to need to start developing some young trade assets, guys like JJJ and Bradley and whoever else we draft.  We need the next Al Jefferson, the next Ryan Gomes, to help get us the next KG.  So, that's going to take a few years, so draft space this summer is probably moot.

So, take Okafor.  He'll help in the transition, so we won't be quite so unwatchably terrible.  In the summer of 2013, hopefully he'll be the next version of Theo Ratliff's Expiring Contract, and we'll be able to pair some of our young talent and some of our acquired draft picks to get someone decent.  

And, worst-case, he fills the biggest need on the team when healthy and he expires when Pierce does.  

If you can get two first rounders for taking him on, I'd do it.  Just one, no (unless it's a REAL good pick).

TP. You're dead on. I 100% agree that this is the formula for a team in this market.

[dtrader]

I would do this deal for just 1 1st rounder added. If it was NOs first rounder, it'd be a no-brainer. For Minnis...I'd still do it. 

1.- That pick is only going to get better as the wolves season gos on without rubio, so it could easily be around #12 or better when all is said and done.  I think thats a great spot to pick. 

2.- I dont even think Emekas contract is THAT bad.  Yes, he's overpaid, but what decent center isn't?  He's underperforming right now, but theres no saying that a change of scenery wouldnt do him some good. At worst he's a serviceable big that rebounds well. At best, he's a defensive game changer.

If all it cost us was JOs contract plus filler...I'd be extremely happy.

[BostonArizona]

Yes. Yes. and Yes to this trade.

Considering Rubio is done for the year the Minnesota pick is lottery bound.

I don't care if Okafor plays a game this year. Give me that pick.

[OmarSekou]

I hope this doesn't get ugly.

[indeedproceed]

1.- That pick is only going to get better as the wolves season gos on without rubio, so it could easily be around #12 or better when all is said and done.  I think thats a great spot to pick.  

I'm not saying Rubio isn't helping them win, but they've got a certain degree of swagger right now. That'll carry them a bit. I'd be willing take a Tommy Point bet that they manage to stay within 5 games of .500 by the time the season ends.

If Kevin Love is really the best power forward in basketball (something I am NOT buying. Power Forwards PLAY DEFENSE!), they'll find a way to do it.

[Celtics4ever]

Draft picks.   Cap space is no promise of signing anyone...

[rondohondo]

Draft picks.   Cap space is no promise of signing anyone...

draft picks are a crap shoot and free agents are proven players in the league

[indeedproceed]

Draft picks.   Cap space is no promise of signing anyone...

draft picks are a crap shoot and free agents are proven players in the league

Agree, but if you can't land the big fish in the open water, you sell the crap shoot to gamblers who already have fish they don't know the the real value of.

Yeah I mixed metaphors, so what?

[dtrader]

1.- That pick is only going to get better as the wolves season gos on without rubio, so it could easily be around #12 or better when all is said and done.  I think thats a great spot to pick.  

I'm not saying Rubio isn't helping them win, but they've got a certain degree of swagger right now. That'll carry them a bit. I'd be willing take a Tommy Point bet that they manage to stay within 5 games of .500 by the time the season ends.

If Kevin Love is really the best power forward in basketball (something I am NOT buying. Power Forwards PLAY DEFENSE!), they'll find a way to do it.

They might stay within 5 games of .500, but couldnt 5 games from .500 be bad enough to get the 12th pick or better?  If thats the pick we get (in addition to a legit defensive center), I think thats a deal that has to be made.  

The 12th pick and a little luck in a stacked draft, could yield a superstar.  I think that chance is worth sacrificing cap space for what could be a very poor free agent class.

[bostonpatriot]

"@SamAmicoFSO: Cavs will stay in touch w/Hornets however. Hornets said to still be entertaining offers for either of 2 first rounders to dump Okafor deal"

Would you deal Jo, Dooling and Wilcox for Okafor and either Minnesota or No's first? This would be similar to the deal that Cleveland made to acquire Irving last year. Instead of $25 mm this would leave us with $12 mm of cap space (8 if Bass picks up his option. Three firsts in a very good draft would be better for rebuilding than the cap space imo. Also Okafor would be huge for us bringing back a perk like presence.

For the unprotected New Orleans first? I'd throw in our pick too.

The Wolves pick will be out of the top 10. I'd probably pass on that. But I'd consider for the Wolves pick + future NO pick with a weak protection.

[indeedproceed]

1.- That pick is only going to get better as the wolves season gos on without rubio, so it could easily be around #12 or better when all is said and done.  I think thats a great spot to pick.  

I'm not saying Rubio isn't helping them win, but they've got a certain degree of swagger right now. That'll carry them a bit. I'd be willing take a Tommy Point bet that they manage to stay within 5 games of .500 by the time the season ends.

If Kevin Love is really the best power forward in basketball (something I am NOT buying. Power Forwards PLAY DEFENSE!), they'll find a way to do it.

They might stay within 5 games of .500, but couldnt 5 games from .500 be bad enough to get the 12th pick or better?  If thats the pick we get (in addition to a legit defensive center), I think thats a deal that has to be made.  

The 12th pick and a little luck in a stacked draft, could yield a superstar.  I think that chance is worth sacrificing cap space for what could be a very poor free agent class.

Oh yeah, maybe. I was just saying, I don't think the 'As Rubio goes, so goes the Wolves' comment is true necessarily. Especially when they got steady hands in Barea and Ridnour there.

[bostonpatriot]

I think this draft might be stacked with future quality role-players. Players with high ceilings, I don't really see more than a couple.

[tyrone biggums]

Draft picks.   Cap space is no promise of signing anyone...

draft picks are a crap shoot and free agents are proven players in the league

Agree, but if you can't land the big fish in the open water, you sell the crap shoot to gamblers who already have fish they don't know the the real value of.

Yeah I mixed metaphors, so what?

For all of the talk about the greatness of the 2012 draft, I would say its just as likely that it will go down as the most overrated draft in recent memory. I don't really see that game changing force in this draft class. That is the main reason that the Celtics should wait on anything that would take up cap room. You never know exactly what deal will become available or who will ultimately sign here until free agency starts anyways. Danny and company might as well try to woo Dwight Howard, what do they have to lose? It's not like the posters here believe hes coming so there is no risk in public backlash if Howard lands in Brooklyn Dallas or China.

[dtrader]

Draft picks.   Cap space is no promise of signing anyone...

draft picks are a crap shoot and free agents are proven players in the league

Agree, but if you can't land the big fish in the open water, you sell the crap shoot to gamblers who already have fish they don't know the the real value of.

Yeah I mixed metaphors, so what?

For all of the talk about the greatness of the 2012 draft, I would say its just as likely that it will go down as the most overrated draft in recent memory. I don't really see that game changing force in this draft class. That is the main reason that the Celtics should wait on anything that would take up cap room. You never know exactly what deal will become available or who will ultimately sign here until free agency starts anyways. Danny and company might as well try to woo Dwight Howard, what do they have to lose? It's not like the posters here believe hes coming so there is no risk in public backlash if Howard lands in Brooklyn Dallas or China.

Losing out on dwight wouldnt be a big deal, because as you said...no ones really counting on it. 

However, if there was a deal on the table that would give us a decent center and a very high draft pick, we pass on it, and this class ends up producing as many great players as it potentially could...that will hurt.  Especially if we miss out on dwight, and end up using all that cap space we saved up to overpay roy hibbert or something.

I like the emeka deal because it would give us a shot at something great (pulling a star out of the draft), while guaranteeing us something ok (emeka).

[CoachBo]

The only picks worth more than cap space is lottery picks.  You really have little chance of landing a franchise player, or even an impact player outside of the lottery.  At least with cap space you get to chose the players you sign; for the most part you already know what they bring to the table.  Even with lottery picks you never really know who's going to make it and who's going to be bust.

that's not necessarily true. the point is to acquire as many assets as possible. that way you develop them, maybe you'll get lucky and one of them turns out to be really good, or you trade those assets for a more established player. you can have all the capsapce in the world but it wont do you any good if no great fa's dont want to come to boston.

Mid to low draft picks (which is what we have) will not land you anything of value.  Having a bunch of lower picks just means you'll end up with more garbage.  It's certainly possible to get lucky and strike gold with a later pick, but the odds are stacked against you.  Just look at what WAS in the NFL gave up to get the #2 overall pick in the draft.  

we traded a bunch of mid level draft picks and ended up with kg so i'm not exactly sure where you are coming from.

The idea that those mid-level draft picks became value for Garnett and Allen is one of the most over-used pieces of nonsense on this board.

Ainge did NOT trade "value" for Garnett and Allen. He traded a lottery pick, a scorer who can't guard me and a bag of garbage to two franchises selling superstars for pennies on the dollar.

That's called luck. Not assets.