Trade for a 2010 Draft Class Player Who Won't Agree to an Extension?

[LooseCannon]

Last year, the Thunder traded James Harden away in October just before the deadline for extensions to be negotiated because Sam Presti didn't want to get caught up in a season-long 'Melo-drama or to make a trade mid-season that wrecks team chemistry.

Will history repeat and a player from the draft class of 2010 become available?  How many GMs would make such a player available?  Sam Presti has shown he would.  I think Ainge would.  A lot of GMs probably would be shy about being criticized for doing so.

But who is available?

Demarcus Cousins seems like the obvious name.  While new ownership might point to them overpaying, it could also be true that new ownership and management will be less sentimental about keeping Cousins because they won't have an interest in him being a success to make their record look good.

If Cousins wants more money than the Kings think he is worth, can the Celtics offer enough for the privilege of possibly overpaying Cousins, who is looking for a max contract?

Greg Monroe's agent has said he won't seek an extension and Detroit probably wants a year to evaluate whether Monroe and Drummond are a good fit to be on the floor together.  If the results aren't good, maybe one of those players will become available.

Paul George wants a max contract and I don't see why he wouldn't get one.

John Wall will get his max extension.  Anyways, the Celtics have Rondo.

Would the Bucks lowball Larry Sanders?  Would you give up Jared Sullinger and draft picks for Sanders?  Would you give Sanders a big contract after only one good season?

Cousins and Sanders probably won't be available, but I see a slim chance that they might be.  How much of a haul would you be willing to give up for either player?

[PhoSita]

Cousins is the only one of those players who is likely to be even remotely available who also has the talent to have a team built around him.

I like Monroe a lot, but I'm skeptical he'll be available.  But I'd be happy if Ainge found a way to get Monroe to put next to Rondo.  You can work with that.

[Who]

Monroe is the guy whose agent said that there is no point in his client signing an extension because his value will only rise? I think he is.

That players with G.Monroe's size and production are always hugely valuable in free agency and that there will be shortage of suitors for a player like him. 

That there is nothing for a player like G.Monroe to gain by signing (a contract extension) earlier. Only for the team (to gain - at the player's expense) .

[nickagneta]

This is why having cap space to do such things is better than sucking for a draft pick.