Celts in position to draft Exum or Smart - What would you do?

[ChefEricT]

I don't know much about those two, but isn't Smart 6'4"ish and Exum even taller?  Could one play with Rondo?  Really, in the current state of the NBA I would be surprised if both fell out of the top 5.

[crimson_stallion]

Let's say the Celtics have the 5th or 6th pick and the Wiggins, Embiid, Parker and Randle are gone, leaving Exum and Smart.

1) Do you take Exum, Smart, someone else, or try to trade the pick?
2) If you do take Exum or Smart, and assuming either is the real deal, do you:

• Trade Rondo?
  Re-sign Bradley?
  Re-sign Crawford?

I think right now just based on scouting reports I'd take Exum because he has the potential to be special, he's taller than Smart, and he has more ability to play both guard positions. Though both don't have great shots right now, Exum is supposed to have a smart basketball IQ. I do love Smart's leadership and competitiveness though. It would definitely be a tough call, because Smart at least has two years of college as a track record.

I would then see if Rondo and Exum can play together. If Exum is the real deal and is obviously better at point then I'd consider dealing Rondo since his contract will be up and we don't need two points. The same would apply to Smart.

With Exum on board and having good height, I might be more inclined to overlook Bradley's height disadvantage at SG when deciding how much to offer him.

I don't think either way I keep Crawford unless it's small money. Maybe if Bradley gets some significantly higher offer than Crawford in RFA, I change my mind and consider keeping Crawford over Bradley.

What do you guys think? My guess is regardless of what happens, either Crawford or Bradley will likely not be here next season. That would become a definite if Smart or Exum is drafted.

I'd be thrilled if we could take Exum.  He has a very rare combination of length and athleticism.  Add that to his court vision and rebounding ability and ability to post up and score off the dribble...I see a potential Penny Hardaway there.

Plus he looks like he could play either guard position equally well.  A backcourt of Rondo + Exum could be seriously impressive.

[coco]

Are those two any good?

[freshinthehouse]

I'd be psyched if we were in position to draft either Smart or Exum, but I'd def take Exum.  I want us to try trade Rondo this off-season, and I def don't want to sign Crawford long-term.  Either trade him before the deadline or let him walk.

[jambr380]

I would see who might be available for the pick from a team that is really high on either of these guys or I would see what it would take to move up for Parker or Wiggins. Since it would only be a couple of spots, and Exum is projected to also be a star, I would hope this would be possible without giving away too much.

I might also consider trading down and grabbing Cauley-Stein and Glenn Robinson (for instance) with our two picks and hopefully bring back another strong asset - I wouldn't do this for a protected pick from a decent team. It would have to really work out in our favor.

No matter what, I would try to work out a trade with Det with Green and Monroe being the main pieces switching places. I would like to solidify our Center position and work it out from there.

[SHAQATTACK]

Trade at pick for Parker 

[CFAN38]

I would see who might be available for the pick from a team that is really high on either of these guys or I would see what it would take to move up for Parker or Wiggins. Since it would only be a couple of spots, and Exum is projected to also be a star, I would hope this would be possible without giving away too much.

I might also consider trading down and grabbing Cauley-Stein and Glenn Robinson (for instance) with our two picks and hopefully bring back another strong asset - I wouldn't do this for a protected pick from a decent team. It would have to really work out in our favor.

No matter what, I would try to work out a trade with Det with Green and Monroe being the main pieces switching places. I would like to solidify our Center position and work it out from there.

If smart or e um is a ail able no way DA trades down.

[Tr1boy]

exum. smart looks like he will fall fwd driving to the basket. he is also taking ridiculous 3 pt shots with 20 sec left (like jcraw)
shot selection is not good

i like vonleh. could be good

[wahz]

As a guy who watches a ton of basketball, I am horrified anyone answered the question.

Smart is a driven player who looks like he is playing as hard as playoff Rondo. Exum looks like, uh, well, I dunno because I am reliant on everyone else on Exum: he doesn't play here and we have no real idea about him.

If we draft Exum, great, but as an amateur basketball fan, I have no idea how good he is.

[hpantazo]

You never trade down, or draft players based on position. You ALWAYS take the best player on the board, no matter what, and things will work out for the best.

[action781]

You never trade down, or draft players based on position. You ALWAYS take the best player on the board, no matter what, and things will work out for the best.

I disagree.  If Rondo is in your future, I think that makes it hard to take a pure point guard.  I don't think getting fair value in trades is as easy as everyone thinks, especially for point guards.

Look at how hard it was for LAC to get good value for Eric Bledsoe.  Who was the last backup point guard who was traded away and returned good value? 

Even recently traded elite starting PGs like Chris Paul and Deron Williams didn't return value that really impacted their former franchises in a big way.

[obnoxiousmime]

You never trade down, or draft players based on position. You ALWAYS take the best player on the board, no matter what, and things will work out for the best.

I disagree.  If Rondo is in your future, I think that makes it hard to take a pure point guard.  I don't think getting fair value in trades is as easy as everyone thinks, especially for point guards.

Look at how hard it was for LAC to get good value for Eric Bledsoe.  Who was the last backup point guard who was traded away and returned good value? 

Even recently traded elite starting PGs like Chris Paul and Deron Williams didn't return value that really impacted their former franchises in a big way.

Well, that's the question, is Rondo the future or not? The Celtics need to make a decision before his contract is up. The fact that Exum or Smart would seem to replicate some of Rondo's role on the court complicates the decision more so than if they got a big man or wing player.

Or maybe it doesn't matter who they get - if he ends up being a stud they deal Rondo regardless and go young. Even though Rondo is not old, any player we draft is going to have too large an age difference with Rondo for their peaks to align. Rondo should be competing for the playoffs now, not 4-5 years from now.

Like 6-7 years back when Ainge tried to deal Pierce to draft Chris Paul, I'm fine with them starting over if they've identified someone in the draft as being a true difference maker, not just a "solid" occasional all-star type.

If they try to build around Rondo, I don't really see anyone available that would make them a contender. There's no Kevin Garnett type out there. Kevin Love would be a fine addition but his lack of D limits his impact. Melo is also a talented but flawed player.  Who else is out there that is entering peak age and is disgruntled on a bad team?

I remember before Garnett was available I was against rumored deals for Iverson and Gasol because I didn't feel they improved the team enough to be a contender. Maybe I was wrong about Gasol but I feel like this is a similar situation the Celtics are in now: being tempted by very good but probably not elite players. The Nuggets certainly learned that the hard way with Iverson.

But hey there are 29 teams every season that "fail" to win a championship. I understand that sometimes it's enough to just be good and hope some things fall your way. Not every team is able to have a Durant or LeBron or one of the top 4-5 players in the league.

[pokeKingCurtis]

But hey there are 29 teams every season that "fail" to win a championship. I understand that sometimes it's enough to just be good and hope some things fall your way. Not every team is able to have a Durant or LeBron or one of the top 4-5 players in the league.

A convoluted "I'm right, you're wrong" thread, hybrid of "trade Rondo" and "tank".

From what I've seen, all, if not most, of these threads are started by pro-tank people.

I don't understand why there are so many of these threads and why more are being started.

There is no discussion to be had when it comes to trading Rondo and tanking.

The goal of most, if not all, of these threads is to convert "non-believers" (especially in tanking threads). But I have yet to see this.

All that ever happens is these threads unravel into snark and/or condescension. Like such^^.

I don't really mind the tank. Okay it irks me a little but when there is actually a discussion and there is a valid point, sure.

However, the worst part is when people act all superior just because they believe in the tank. Especially in the context of these pro-tank threads, where it's just a rehash of the same talking points and when the discussion disintegrates, all you're doing is just repeating the same stuff but with attitude.

...

Some tank believers also misrepresent the position of "non-believers". I don't think anyone (except a very small minority) truly believes that this roster right now is going all the way and winning 18.

But, man, with some of the things you read on these forums, you'd think those who don't believe in the tank are truly idiots.

...

Of course...definitely people should do what they like as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. Especially on the internet.

But I certainly think the whole tanking deal affects the general vibe of the forums. And I certainly feel Celticsblog is a step above the slush that is 90% of the internet.

I probably haven't been all that coherent...long week...but hopefully it wasn't too painful to sit through (for anyone who read this).

/rant

[PhoSita]

If we're in a position to draft one of the "big name" guys from this draft, I think we'll be in a pretty great position.  I trust Ainge to take the right guy, though I think it'll be hard to go wrong.

[obnoxiousmime]

But hey there are 29 teams every season that "fail" to win a championship. I understand that sometimes it's enough to just be good and hope some things fall your way. Not every team is able to have a Durant or LeBron or one of the top 4-5 players in the league.

A convoluted "I'm right, you're wrong" thread, hybrid of "trade Rondo" and "tank".

From what I've seen, all, if not most, of these threads are started by pro-tank people.

I don't understand why there are so many of these threads and why more are being started.

There is no discussion to be had when it comes to trading Rondo and tanking.

The goal of most, if not all, of these threads is to convert "non-believers" (especially in tanking threads). But I have yet to see this.

All that ever happens is these threads unravel into snark and/or condescension. Like such^^.

I don't really mind the tank. Okay it irks me a little but when there is actually a discussion and there is a valid point, sure.

However, the worst part is when people act all superior just because they believe in the tank. Especially in the context of these pro-tank threads, where it's just a rehash of the same talking points and when the discussion disintegrates, all you're doing is just repeating the same stuff but with attitude.

...

Some tank believers also misrepresent the position of "non-believers". I don't think anyone (except a very small minority) truly believes that this roster right now is going all the way and winning 18.

But, man, with some of the things you read on these forums, you'd think those who don't believe in the tank are truly idiots.

...

Of course...definitely people should do what they like as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. Especially on the internet.

But I certainly think the whole tanking deal affects the general vibe of the forums. And I certainly feel Celticsblog is a step above the slush that is 90% of the internet.

I probably haven't been all that coherent...long week...but hopefully it wasn't too painful to sit through (for anyone who read this).

/rant

The hypothetical situation posed in this thread requires the Celtics to have a top 6 pick so of course it will attract mostly pro-tankers. I wasn't trying to convert or bait anybody into another tanking debate.

My last paragraph which you quoted was not meant to be sarcastic or condescending. It was just a statement about the realities of the NBA. It's the league where championships predominantly go to the top superstars and there's only a handful of them each generation. An organization could make only smart moves but not win a title because they don't have such a player.

For example, the Rockets are one of the shrewdest organizations out there right now. They win almost all of their trades, they draft very well, and they outmaneuver other teams with their FA signings. However, even with all that I don't think they have a real contender because they don't have that one transcendent player.