Would you cash in the pick now?

[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.

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.

That's what I was looking for.  Thanks, Celtics18.  I respect that.  That takes guts.

I'll hone in on your Noah comment.

Chicago is trying to tank.  They just dumped Luol deng.  They plan on buying out boozer.  Dumping 28 year old Noah would just add to their chances.

So you're telling me if Chicago called and offered Noah for Humph's expiring and our unprotected 2014 pick, you'd go for it?

That takes considerable nerve.  Way to put your money where your mouth is.  You're convinced this team can compete this year. TP for Celtics18 for manning up.

[aporel#18]

We want an All Star either by drafting him or by trading for him.

Who will be available this and next season? I was hoping for LaMarcus Aldridge (seems very unlikely now) and Marc Gasol, guys who could play with Rondo (and our other players) and be very good. Any way you look at it, you'll need to send picks+prospects+contracts, so what Danny is trying to do is to get lots of assets+financial flexibility.

If you send your unprotected pick you're getting one of those players, and maybe a guy like Melo. If not, you keep the pick.

No to any less valuable player. I'd give a top-7 protected pick to the Lakers if they give us Gasol and take on Wallace, but that's it.

Asik or Monroe are a problem to their current teams, really. Why would you give up such a good asset for them? LAC pick for Monroe, maybe, but not for Asik. If Morey give us Motiejunas and the rights to either Llull or Papanikolau... maybe.

If Dumars wants the Cs to take on Josh, I'd give him the LAC pick and Crawesome only if he takes on Wallace.

Celtics don't need to trade for anyone who doesn't improve their chances, so they can ask for the moon. Ainge did very well paying money and a 2nd rounder to get under the luxury tax threshold. Now he can sit and watch the rest of the League lowering their expectations and rising their offers. Well Done, Danny.

[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.

That's what I was looking for.  Thanks, Celtics18.  I respect that.  That takes guts.

I'll hone in on your Noah comment.

Chicago is trying to tank.  They just dumped Luol deng.  They plan on buying out boozer.  Dumping 28 year old Noah would just add to their chances.

So you're telling me if Chicago called and offered Noah for Humph's expiring and our unprotected 2014 pick, you'd go for it?

That takes considerable nerve.  Way to put your money where your mouth is.  You're convinced this team can compete this year.

I think I'd do it.  I'm not convinced they can compete this year.  Even if we added Noah and had Rondo completely healthy by the playoffs, I don't think we'd be a contender for a title this year.  I do think it would put us close to being a legitimate contender within the next couple of years, though. 

It would surely be a gamble, though.  I doubt Ainge does anything that bold. 

[LarBrd33]

Celtics18's Noah trade suggesting is an intriguing one... because presumably a team of PG - Rondo, SG - Bradley, SF - Green, PF - Sully C - Noah would make the playoffs this year.  So by adding Noah you're basically rolling the dice that the pick will be 15 or above.

So while it would be nerve-racking dumping a currently projected Top 5 pick for Noah... ultimately the chances of it ending up in the Top 5 are very slim.   I see the logic behind it.

His Marc Gasol trade is a little sketchier... he's coming off a sprained MCL, but should be back very shortly.   Trading Humph + our unprotected 1st for Gasol sure would have me on edge for a little bit... but hopefully he comes back and Boston makes a run.

Would anyone else do the Noah or Marc Gasol trades?

Follow-up question for Celtics18 (and anyone else who wants to chime in)...


Atlanta calls and offers Al Horford for Humph's expiring and the unprotected 2014 pick.

Do you do it?

[Celtics18]

Celtics18's Noah trade suggesting is an intriguing one... because presumably a team of PG - Rondo, SG - Bradley, SF - Green, PF - Sully C - Noah would make the playoffs this year.  So by adding Noah you're basically rolling the dice that the pick will be 15 or above.

So while it would be nerve-racking dumping a currently projected Top 5 pick for Noah... ultimately the chances of it ending up in the Top 5 are very slim.   I see the logic behind it.

His Marc Gasol trade is a little sketchier... he's coming off a sprained MCL, but should be back very shortly.   Trading Humph + our unprotected 1st for Gasol sure would have me on edge for a little bit... but hopefully he comes back and Boston makes a run.

Would anyone else do the Noah or Marc Gasol trades?

Follow-up question for Celtics18 (and anyone else who wants to chime in)...


Atlanta calls and offers Al Horford for Humph's expiring and the unprotected 2014 pick.

Do you do it?

I'd be more reticent to do it for Horford.  He's not expected back at all this season.   Plus, I prefer Noah or Gasol as a fit for this ball club.  But, I'd consider it. 

[Nerf DPOY]

Celtics18's Noah trade suggesting is an intriguing one... because presumably a team of PG - Rondo, SG - Bradley, SF - Green, PF - Sully C - Noah would make the playoffs this year.  So by adding Noah you're basically rolling the dice that the pick will be 15 or above.

So while it would be nerve-racking dumping a currently projected Top 5 pick for Noah... ultimately the chances of it ending up in the Top 5 are very slim.   I see the logic behind it.

His Marc Gasol trade is a little sketchier... he's coming off a sprained MCL, but should be back very shortly.   Trading Humph + our unprotected 1st for Gasol sure would have me on edge for a little bit... but hopefully he comes back and Boston makes a run.

Would anyone else do the Noah or Marc Gasol trades?

Follow-up question for Celtics18 (and anyone else who wants to chime in)...


Atlanta calls and offers Al Horford for Humph's expiring and the unprotected 2014 pick.

Do you do it?

I wouldn't. Not to knock Horford, but I think better opportunities will present themselves by draft night or this summer.

[chambers]

Good topic, TP.

Personally I'd cash the pick in for Carmelo if it meant we'd get Chandler and Shumpert from them too.

Here's an instant rebuild move for a legitimate title contender for the next 4-5 years that I've posted on Celticsblog a few times, this particular one very recently.


KNICKS SEND:
Carmelo (extended contract sign and trade)
Chandler
Shumpert

BOSTON SENDS:

2014 pick unprotected (at this stage this trade is a draft night trade and the pick is top 5)
2015 first round pick in 15-20 range (Clippers or Nets)
-Humphries
-Wallace
-Bass
-Bogans
-Olynyk


We still have Brooklyn's 2015 pick, our own 2015 pick, Clippers pick+future Nets picks.
New York might ask for a 2015 first rounder as well but I think you'd have to say yes.

I would then go after Lance Stephenson and forget re-signing Bradley. We'd presumably have to move Green to get Stephenson but that 9 million dollar contract is perfect in a sign and trade for Stephenson with Indiana.

In this scenario we end up with a brutal team of:
PG Rondo/Crawford
SG Stephenson/Shumpert
SF Melo/Veteran (Pierce?)
PF Sully/Kenyon Martin
C Tyson Chandler

And still have plenty of picks.
I think that's about as good as it gets other than getting Lebron or Durant and I can't see any team touching us.

[BballTim]

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?

  You do, go back a couple of weeks and you'll find plenty of your own posts talking about trading our draft pick in order to immediately improve the team (with Rondo on it).

[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?

  You do, go back a couple of weeks and you'll find plenty of your own posts talking about trading our draft pick in order to immediately improve the team (with Rondo on it).

Yup.  Under the right circumstances, I dump that pick now.

If I'm the GM of the Celtics, I either trade the pick to make a splash now... or trade Rondo to make a splash later.  I see the logic behind both.  I don't like the position of standing pat... wasted opportunity.

You have to leverage this draft in one direction or another.  You either go all-in for a Top 5 pick, or you use the perceived value of that pick to add contributors now.   If you stand pat, there's a 50/50 shot Rondo plays you into the playoffs and you lose your best asset (the pick).   A #15 pick doesn't have anywhere near the same value as a Top 5 pick.

[BballTim]

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?

  You do, go back a couple of weeks and you'll find plenty of your own posts talking about trading our draft pick in order to immediately improve the team (with Rondo on it).

Yup.  Under the right circumstances, I dump that pick now.

If I'm the GM of the Celtics, I either trade the pick to make a splash now... or trade Rondo to make a splash later.  I see the logic behind both.  I don't like the position of standing pat... wasted opportunity.

  Luckily for us Danny's got at least a modicum of patience.

[BballTim]

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.

That's what I was looking for.  Thanks, Celtics18.  I respect that.  That takes guts.

I'll hone in on your Noah comment.

Chicago is trying to tank.  They just dumped Luol deng.  They plan on buying out boozer.  Dumping 28 year old Noah would just add to their chances.

  I don't know that the Bulls are blindly tanking. It's likely they're still hopeful that Rose will come back and they'll try and contend with Rose/Noah/Gibson/Butler/whoever. If that's the case they'll unload players that aren't part of their future like Deng and Boozer, but it doesn't mean that they'll dump Noah in order to improve their draft position.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

I'd say on to most of those offers except the Monroe, and Melo ones, in which case, it would be I'll have to call you back when the conference playoff-lottery picture clears up a bit more. Having said that an offer like the one for Gasol would the most perplexing. I mean why take on a 33 year old, 19 million dollar rental, with this year's free agency looking like it does?   

[Jailan34]

Interesting topic but I'm having a hard time seeing a scenario that would benefit both teams involved.

I wouldn't do it for Melo, he is one of my favorite players but I feel like Parker could be even better than him.

It'd have to be a player like Anthony Davis or Damian Lillard, or other young extremely talented players whose teams would be terrible without.

So those are the only kind of players I'd trade it for, and in the end the trade would probably hurt both teams involved.

[Goldstar88]

Good topic, TP.

Personally I'd cash the pick in for Carmelo if it meant we'd get Chandler and Shumpert from them too.

Here's an instant rebuild move for a legitimate title contender for the next 4-5 years that I've posted on Celticsblog a few times, this particular one very recently.


KNICKS SEND:
Carmelo (extended contract sign and trade)
Chandler
Shumpert

BOSTON SENDS:

2014 pick unprotected (at this stage this trade is a draft night trade and the pick is top 5)
2015 first round pick in 15-20 range (Clippers or Nets)
-Humphries
-Wallace
-Bass
-Bogans
-Olynyk


We still have Brooklyn's 2015 pick, our own 2015 pick, Clippers pick+future Nets picks.
New York might ask for a 2015 first rounder as well but I think you'd have to say yes.

I would then go after Lance Stephenson and forget re-signing Bradley. We'd presumably have to move Green to get Stephenson but that 9 million dollar contract is perfect in a sign and trade for Stephenson with Indiana.

In this scenario we end up with a brutal team of:
PG Rondo/Crawford
SG Stephenson/Shumpert
SF Melo/Veteran (Pierce?)
PF Sully/Kenyon Martin
C Tyson Chandler

And still have plenty of picks.
I think that's about as good as it gets other than getting Lebron or Durant and I can't see any team touching us.

I would do that in a Heartbeat.

[Chief]

If Kevin Love was involved, yes. Sully too.