Would you cash in the pick now?

[LarBrd33]

So here's our situation...

WE're currently sitting with the 5th worst record in the league.  On pace for a Top 5 pick in an epic draft thought to have 6+ future all-stars.

On the flip side, we are 2 games out of the playoffs and our all-star PG is going to return any day now.  Making the playoffs gets you no better than pick #15. 

So here's your question... 

Would you cash in on the pick right now?  Humph's expiring + our unprotected 1st rounder... what kind of return would you be comfortable with taking?

Don't just tell me it's untouchable.  It's not untouchable.  Especially for those of you fans who are adamantly against trading Rondo... those of you who want to build around a 28 year old PG.  You must have some player you'd be comfortable trading Hump and our unprotected 2014 for.  Wow me.  Who has the guts?

[BleedGreen1989]

I agree its certainly not untouchable but I don't see anybody on the market yet I'd be willing to trade it for.

If Ainge moves it, it'll be around the draft I imagine.

[LarBrd33]

You're Danny Ainge.

You step into your office this evening and you have a handful of voice mails.

Pistons offer Greg Monroe for Bogans and our unprotected 2014 pick.  Do you bite?  Yes or no.

Lakers are offering Pau Gasol for Humph's expiring, Gerald Wallace and the unprotected pick.  You doing it?

Rockets called too... They are finally willing to move Asik for Bass and the unprotected pick.  You in?

Pistons again... they noted that Josh Smith loves Boston.  They are offering Smith for Humph's expiring and the unprotected pick.  You doing it?

Knicks left a voice mail.  Carmelo Anthony for Wallace, Humph and the unprotected pick... you intrigued yet?

If no to all of the above... what deal would get you to dump that pick right now?  A vocal minority of you (BBallTim, Celtics18, for instance) seem pretty convinced this team can, should and will make a playoff push once superstar Rondo returns.  So I'm curious what you guys would want right now to help in that playoff push... since doing so would devalue the pick from Top 5 to 15-20 anyways.

[Birdman]

I pass on Gasol..but like the other players and would do any of them

[Nerf DPOY]

The problem with this hypothetical for me is, I'm okay with trading the pick, but to get the player(s) I'd want, the pick needs to be better than it would be if we traded it during the season and made the playoffs. So I guess like BleedGreen said, trading the pick now is off limits.

Of the proposals you listed and having to move the pick now, that Carmelo one seems far and away the best offer.

[BigAlTheFuture]

A firm "hell no" from me to all the trade proposals. Monroe, Smith, etc. are not worth giving up our pick for.

[freshinthehouse]

You're Danny Ainge.

You step into your office this evening and you have a handful of voice mails.

Pistons offer Greg Monroe for Bogans and our unprotected 2014 pick.  Do you bite?  Yes or no.

Lakers are offering Pau Gasol for Humph's expiring, Gerald Wallace and the unprotected pick.  You doing it?

Rockets called too... They are finally willing to move Asik for Bass and the unprotected pick.  You in?

Pistons again... they noted that Josh Smith loves Boston.  They are offering Smith for Humph's expiring and the unprotected pick.  You doing it?

Knicks left a voice mail.  Carmelo Anthony for Wallace, Humph and the unprotected pick... you intrigued yet?

If no to all of the above... what deal would get you to dump that pick right now?  A vocal minority of you (BBallTim, Celtics18, for instance) seem pretty convinced this team can, should and will make a playoff push once superstar Rondo returns.  So I'm curious what you guys would want right now to help in that playoff push... since doing so would devalue the pick from Top 5 to 15-20 anyways.

I would say no to any of those offers in a heartbeat, as would Danny Ainge.

The best player offered here is Carmelo, and does anyone really think a team based around Carmelo and Rondo is going to win a championship?  Really? 

Like another person already mentioned, that pick is more valuable than any player currently on the market.

[LarBrd33]

But you guys saying "hell no" acknowledge that we very well may make the playoffs this year... and the pick will end up #15.  You wouldn't get any of those packages if the pick was #15.  You clear on that?

But theoretically the pick could end up #1... which gives it value right now. 

Which is a bigger gamble?  To me, it seems like those of you saying "hell no" are big gamblers.  You'd rather take a chance on a pick that more likely ends up #15-20 once Rondo returns than remain in the bottom 5.  Seems the safest route is to cash it in now for an impact player.

Still awaiting word from the optimists who are certain we're a playoff team.

[Nerf DPOY]

Which is a bigger gamble?  To me, it seems like those of you saying "hell no" are big gamblers.  You'd rather take a chance on a pick that more likely ends up #15-20 once Rondo returns than remain in the bottom 5.  Seems the safest route is to cash it in now for an impact player.

What if you think we'll be bad enough to have a high pick and still have Rondo? Either way, this feels like a long way to go in an attempt to trap certain posters' positions.

[lon3lytoaster]

I'd trade it with Top-3 or Top-4 protection for the right deal. If no one wants to offer up for that, too bad.

Not even in consideration to trade it unprotected. Potential of Parker, Wiggins or Embiid is too much to trade for anyone not named LeBron. Carmelo doesn't get an unprotected pick from me.

[BigAlTheFuture]

I'd rather not risk trading our pick and have it end up being a top 5 pick. That would suck so bad. If Rondo comes back and we make the playoffs, which I highly doubt at this point, and we end up with the 15th pick, so be it.  I can live with that. Imagine us trading our unprotected pick to the Lakers and our pick turns out to be 1st overall, and their own pick being 2nd overall or something. I'd probably burn my house down in anger.

[lon3lytoaster]

But you guys saying "hell no" acknowledge that we very well may make the playoffs this year... and the pick will end up #15.  You wouldn't get any of those packages if the pick was #15.  You clear on that?

But theoretically the pick could end up #1... which gives it value right now. 

Which is a bigger gamble?  To me, it seems like those of you saying "hell no" are big gamblers.  You'd rather take a chance on a pick that more likely ends up #15-20 once Rondo returns than remain in the bottom 5.  Seems the safest route is to cash it in now for an impact player.

Still awaiting word from the optimists who are certain we're a playoff team.

Really don't think we're a playoff team this year. Might come close to that, but I don't really think Rondo will be "back" until next year. He'll play within a couple weeks, probably but he's not going tk be Rajon Rondo for a while yet, in my opinion.

Cleveland, BKN and NYK are all on the rise at the moment, as well. I think we even have a chance at a bottom 4 record. Not an awful place to be in this draft.

[JBcat]

The only player on your list I would consider is Melo, but not sure if that would put us over the top.  I tell you what I would throw our pick, and the rest of the Nets picks for Kevin Durant.  Then have our core of Rondo, Bradley, Durant, and Sully.   Of course OKC won't do that now.  I would consider doing your type of deal for someone like Cousins.   

Unless we are blown over with a deal though I'd rather just hold on to the pick.

[Celtics18]

But you guys saying "hell no" acknowledge that we very well may make the playoffs this year... and the pick will end up #15.  You wouldn't get any of those packages if the pick was #15.  You clear on that?

But theoretically the pick could end up #1... which gives it value right now. 

Which is a bigger gamble?  To me, it seems like those of you saying "hell no" are big gamblers.  You'd rather take a chance on a pick that more likely ends up #15-20 once Rondo returns than remain in the bottom 5.  Seems the safest route is to cash it in now for an impact player.

Still awaiting word from the optimists who are certain we're a playoff team.

Nobody is certain we are a playoff team. I have certainly never, ever claimed that. 

I wouldn't put the number one pick off limits, though.  Pardon me if I don't have the "guts" to give you any names that I'd trade it for right now. 

Oh what the heck;  Carmelo Anthony, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Lamarcus Aldridge, Andre Drummond, Nikola Pekovic.  Those are just some names off the top of my head that I'd consider. 

[freshinthehouse]

But you guys saying "hell no" acknowledge that we very well may make the playoffs this year... and the pick will end up #15.  You wouldn't get any of those packages if the pick was #15.  You clear on that?

But theoretically the pick could end up #1... which gives it value right now. 

Which is a bigger gamble?  To me, it seems like those of you saying "hell no" are big gamblers.  You'd rather take a chance on a pick that more likely ends up #15-20 once Rondo returns than remain in the bottom 5.  Seems the safest route is to cash it in now for an impact player.

Still awaiting word from the optimists who are certain we're a playoff team.

Either move is a gamble.  I'd rather take the gamble that could lead to us being a championship team for years to come than gambling that a Melo and Rondo led team could win a title.