Danny might have stolen 2 or 3 lottery picks

[fairweatherfan]

In terms of assets, we got a great deal, and most folks around the league seem to agree.  Doubly so since the Nets were basically bidding against themselves.

But - these are intermediate assets, their value is less what they are than what they can bring.  If we don't use our contracts and picks to get some good players, or draft wisely with the picks we keep, the trade won't wind up helping us much. 

I think to sum it up, we won Phase 1 of our rebuild handily - we got more assets than we had any right to expect.  But now we have to see how Phase 2 goes - turning those assets into championship-quality players, while hopefully developing a few here too.  That's where all the uncertainty right now comes in - we've done very well so far, but we need to succeed a few more times to really make this work.

[BballTim]

Danny might have engineered his greatest heist since the 2007 Ray/KG swaps

Okay, seriously, that is beyond hyperbolic.

What is with people on these forums being so excited about this trade? I can understand if you think the trade is a good long-term move, and you can certainly make this argument, but I don't understand the people who are coming out and claiming this is some brilliant heist by Danny. It isn't. There is a possibility that this trade, when combined with future moves, will help our rebuild, but there is an equally strong possibility that it does NOTHING to help us.

  I think the odds that it does NOTHING to help us are fairly slim. They might not all be the high draft picks that people hope for but they're definitely tradeable assets.

It is still WAY to early to say something as ridiculous as "greatest heist since the 2007 Ray/KG swaps."

When will you people learn? How many years must there be supposedly strong drafts with "can't miss" prospects like Wiggins that don't pan out? You DO realize the odds are stacked extremely against the Celtics, right?

  A few points here. One, he said might. Two, he said best heist since the KG trade, not better than the Ray or KG trade. What's Danny's greatest heist since then? Perk for Green? Baby for Bass? Sign and trade for Lee? It's not like the poster compared it to McHale and Parrish for the 1st pick in the draft. The threshold for "greatest heist since 2007" is fairly low.

What Danny did is a high risk/high reward scenario. It might pay off, it might be a disaster. Way too early to tell. Anyone who thinks that this was a SAFE and can't-miss trade doesn't understand how the NBA works, plain and simple.

  How might it possibly be a disaster? Are PP and KG going to play so long and so well for the Nets that we'll regret the trade? Will any of the players we draft somehow ruin the team? You're right that this isn't a can't miss trade, but it's hard to describe trading a couple of over-the hill former stars for some draft picks as anything but safe. Where's the big risk? At worst we'll be no better off than we would be if we hadn't made the trade.

[mmmmm]

I think the 2016 and 2018 picks are huge and the swap option in '17 is big two.

We should be on the up swing of the rebuild by 2016 by that point and then to get a potential top 10 in two of the next 3 years to replace any of the aging players that are one their way out.

I totally agree with this.

Brooklyn, no matter how well they do this year, is headed for a gigantic financial brick wall  that's going to probably have a big impact on 2016.  The money owed to D-Will and JJ for that season is huge and no one is going to take those contracts in trade. 

And Lopez has a big fat player option.  He could decline it and probably make a bundle in free agency.   If they extend Lopez, then the budget gets even bigger.  There will be little money under the cap with which to field a competitive team and they will not have had draft picks with which to rebuild with.   More likely, they will have to trade Lopez in order to replenish with new draft picks and assets to rebuild.

[mgent]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

[Fafnir]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

Blatche and AK-47 have opt outs, they are in no way locks to stay with the Nets.

If Williams declines notably and Johnson continues to age along the same trend then they're in trouble.

[mgent]

I think the 2016 and 2018 picks are huge and the swap option in '17 is big two.

We should be on the up swing of the rebuild by 2016 by that point and then to get a potential top 10 in two of the next 3 years to replace any of the aging players that are one their way out.

I totally agree with this.

Brooklyn, no matter how well they do this year, is headed for a gigantic financial brick wall  that's going to probably have a big impact on 2016.  The money owed to D-Will and JJ for that season is huge and no one is going to take those contracts in trade. 

And Lopez has a big fat player option.  He could decline it and probably make a bundle in free agency.   If they extend Lopez, then the budget gets even bigger.  There will be little money under the cap with which to field a competitive team and they will not have had draft picks with which to rebuild with.   More likely, they will have to trade Lopez in order to replenish with new draft picks and assets to rebuild.

It will definitely be hard for them to win a championship with all their money going to JJ, Lopez, and Williams, but I don't see how that's not a "competitive" team.

[mgent]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

Blatche and AK-47 have opt outs, they are in no way locks to stay with the Nets.

If Williams declines notably and Johnson continues to age along the same trend then they're in trouble.

Right, they'd have to give them the money they wanted, but considering the Nets have no other way to add players I think that's possible.  They knew they'd be stuck over the cap when they brought these guys together so you have to think they were prepared for this situation.  It's not like they can dump the rest of their team too and start rebuilding anytime they want.

I agree if Johnson and Williams both decline they'll be in trouble, but I don't think it would launch them from 49 wins to a high lottery pick like people are suggesting.  And for the record, both of them significantly declining isn't a lock either.

[Fafnir]

The Nets can't give Blatche or AK-47 more than early bird or mini-MLE contracts, which isn't very much. Both will have bigger offers elswhere if they want.

The only reason Blatche is with the Nets at the minimum is that the Wizards are still paying him and getting a bigger contract doesn't get him paid much more due to it offsetting the Wizards contract.

[VitorSullyandKOFan]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

Blatche and AK-47 have opt outs, they are in no way locks to stay with the Nets.

If Williams declines notably and Johnson continues to age along the same trend then they're in trouble.

Right, they'd have to give them the money they wanted, but considering the Nets have no other way to add players I think that's possible.  They knew they'd be stuck over the cap when they brought these guys together so you have to think they were prepared for this situation.  It's not like they can dump the rest of their team too and start rebuilding anytime they want.

I agree if Johnson and Williams both decline they'll be in trouble, but I don't think it would launch them from 49 wins to a high lottery pick like people are suggesting.  And for the record, both of them significantly declining isn't a lock either.

A declining Joe, Deron, Brook and a bunch of scrubs isn't going to be competitive.

[hwangjini_1]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

Blatche and AK-47 have opt outs, they are in no way locks to stay with the Nets.

If Williams declines notably and Johnson continues to age along the same trend then they're in trouble.

Right, they'd have to give them the money they wanted, but considering the Nets have no other way to add players I think that's possible.  They knew they'd be stuck over the cap when they brought these guys together so you have to think they were prepared for this situation.  It's not like they can dump the rest of their team too and start rebuilding anytime they want.

I agree if Johnson and Williams both decline they'll be in trouble, but I don't think it would launch them from 49 wins to a high lottery pick like people are suggesting.  And for the record, both of them significantly declining isn't a lock either.

A declining Joe, Deron, Brook and a bunch of scrubs isn't going to be competitive.

just adding to, and not refuting, the points above. another way to view the nets future is to say "yes, for the next 2 years williams and johnson wont allow the nets to fall off a cliff." they are good players who, barring an injury, will play good ball for 2 years.

the interesting question is what happens in years 3-4, when the celtics still own nets picks? clearly KG and pierce are gone. williams health is a concern, and johnson may have lost some step and speed and devolved into a spot up jump shooter. johnson will be 35 then.

their "big 3" will be less effective by then, but will be eating up huge chunks of their salary space.

not a sure thing at all for the picks owed to the celtics to be in the lottery. but not completely unlikely that they be in the teens, or maybe better.

so, for me at least, i am happy to have any sort of draft pick in addition to the celtic's own for the next few years. i am also happy that in 3 years these picks maybe, just maybe, have a decent chance of being good ones.

all in all, ainge did a great job of increasing the assets the team has, and therefore his ability to wheel and deal.

[Boris Badenov]

After reading through the many insights in this thread I am left with one inescapable thought:

I am really, really glad I'm not a Nets fan.

[Eddie20]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

During the 2015-16 season the ages for the following players will be:

Williams - 31
Johnson - 34
AK 47 - 35

Plus, Williams has those chronically injured ankles. Who knows what shape they'll be in by then?

They will be relying heaving on Brook Lopez. So with no draft picks, cap room, young prospects currently on the team, or trade assets, I just don't see how they're going to improve. I think they're a very likely lottery team.

[LarBrd33]

Nets from this year aside, I don't understand why people think they are going to dive-bomb after this season and become a guaranteed lottery team.  A team of Lopez, Williams, and Johnson won 49 games last year.  AK47 is only 32 and Blatche is making a name for himself.

They are nothing like the Celtics who were relying on KG and Pierce to keep them afloat.

You're right.

#1 - Brooklyn will probably win 50+ games this season. Deron Williams is an elite PG who is limited by injuries.  Starting the season 3-8 is not a big deal ...


#2 - They will find ways to add talent.  They will probably remain competitive for the foreseeable future.  Don't count on there being any lotto picks.

#3 - Regardless, it was a solid trade.   KG might retire after this season.  Pierce might sign back with Boston.  Getting a couple late first rounders for a couple guys who have a foot in retirement = a huge win.

[Nerf DPOY]

The Nets would have to go 47-24 from this point on in the season to reach 50 wins, and you think they'll probably get there?

[LarBrd33]

The Nets would have to go 47-24 from this point on in the season to reach 50 wins, and you think they'll probably get there?

Yup.  Probably.  Unless Deron is injured longer than anticipated.