Would you cash in the pick now?

[LilRip]

I'd imagine that a team would only be interested in buying our 2014 unprotected draft pick at such a high price if there was a good chance that we'd still end up in the lottery. I doubt any team would give up a player like Kevin Love or Melo for a pick and expiring, especially since we're in the East where a .400 record means playoffs.

See, the flipside to this scenario is (for the pro-drafters), would you trade Rondo (assume that he's always been healthy in order to put him on the level of a Kevin Love or LMA or Melo) to the Sixers for their first round and an expiring? You probably wouldn't because odds are that they'll make a run towards making the playoffs with Thad Young, Hawes, Turner and MCW on a healthy Rondo-led team. They still might not make the playoffs, but odds are, you would've just traded Rondo for the 13th or worse pick.

[LarBrd33]

I'd imagine that a team would only be interested in buying our 2014 unprotected draft pick at such a high price if there was a good chance that we'd still end up in the lottery. I doubt any team would give up a player like Kevin Love or Melo for a pick and expiring, especially since we're in the East where a .400 record means playoffs.

See, the flipside to this scenario is (for the pro-drafters), would you trade Rondo (assume that he's always been healthy in order to put him on the level of a Kevin Love or LMA or Melo) to the Sixers for their first round and an expiring? You probably wouldn't because odds are that they'll make a run towards making the playoffs with Thad Young, Hawes, Turner and MCW on a healthy Rondo-led team. They still might not make the playoffs, but odds are, you would've just traded Rondo for the 13th or worse pick.

well if a team like the knicks thinks they are losing Melo for nothing in the summer... I think they'd have to think hard about an offer that included our unprotected 2014 pick.  No guarantee Melo and Rondo would get boston to the playoffs anyways.  The team still has considerable holes.

[Who]

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 do the Melo trade but not the others. Then try to trade J.Green for Asik.

PG - Rondo
SG - Bradley
SF - Melo
PF - Sully
 C - Asik

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.

I would do the Joakim Noah trade too.

PG - Rondo
SG - Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Sully
 C - Joakim Noah

That is a darn good team. Not quite title worthy but maybe just one piece away. The C's would still have good trade assets left after making this deal. I like the odds of Ainge finding the next move somewhere further down the line to make that group a title contender. In the meantime, I think that group can be a 55 win team and very enjoyable to follow.

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

Do you do it?

I do the Horford trade as well.

Horford is one of the best centers in the league. His high post play (passing and jump-shooting) would be terrific with Rondo and Sully too. Not a big shot-blocker but I love his quickness and mobility defensively. Boston could have a great trapping defense and force a lot of turnovers with Horford at the five. Strong rebounder.

[BballTim]

I'd imagine that a team would only be interested in buying our 2014 unprotected draft pick at such a high price if there was a good chance that we'd still end up in the lottery. I doubt any team would give up a player like Kevin Love or Melo for a pick and expiring, especially since we're in the East where a .400 record means playoffs.

See, the flipside to this scenario is (for the pro-drafters), would you trade Rondo (assume that he's always been healthy in order to put him on the level of a Kevin Love or LMA or Melo) to the Sixers for their first round and an expiring? You probably wouldn't because odds are that they'll make a run towards making the playoffs with Thad Young, Hawes, Turner and MCW on a healthy Rondo-led team. They still might not make the playoffs, but odds are, you would've just traded Rondo for the 13th or worse pick.

well if a team like the knicks thinks they are losing Melo for nothing in the summer... I think they'd have to think hard about an offer that included our unprotected 2014 pick.  No guarantee Melo and Rondo would get boston to the playoffs anyways.  The team still has considerable holes.

  I doubt any gm in the league would think there's a good shot you could add Melo and Rondo to this team right now and miss the playoffs. That's pretty far-fetched.

[vjcsmoke]

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

No.  Pistons are the team that need to move Monroe.  They are playing out of position and Monroe is about to get a lot more expensive. (think max deal).

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

Nope Gasol is old and washed up.  He has negative trade value.

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

For a guy who's salary is about to balloon to 15m because of his poison pill contract?  Hell no.

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

Like Josh Smith the player, hate his contract.  No way.

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

Melo ain't no KG.  I don't see him as a dominant player on a championship team.  No thanks.  His contract is also pretty humungous and would prevent us from making moves for 2 years.  No.

If no to all of the above... what deal would get you to dump that pick right now?

You don't dump a top 5 pick in the 2014 draft unless you're an idiot and Ainge ain't an idiot.  The reason all your trade suggestions are vetoed is you insist on trading an unprotected pick.  That would be the height of folly.  A top 6 protected pick, I'd consider moving for the right player.  None of those guys you mentioned would be worth a top 6 pick in THIS YEAR's star studded draft.

[Celtics4ever]

Monroe, I might bite though I doubt they would.  Gasol, I would not bite as he is too old.  Asik, is not worth that if they want a guy rotting on their bench when your dangling Bass and a later in the round pick, screw them.

[kingtutts]

Crappy GM's trade unprotected picks.  Danny Ainge fleeced two crappy GM's.  I guarantee that he will not trade a single unprotected pick unless, and only unless, it a deal breaker in  getting a franchise altering player in return.  If he moves that pick now, it will be top 3 or 5 protected.

[JBcat]

I would hold on to the pick, and what might be in our favor come trade deadline is there could be many more buyers than sellers with teams looking to make a playoff push.  We have some solid role players that a playoff team might want.   

The only sellers I see right now are potentially us, Philly, Orlando, Milwaukee, and Utah.   Sacramento seems to be in buyer mode.  The Lakers could be in sell mode and NO possibly with Gordon.   I thought at the beginning of the season Toronto and Phoenix would be in sell mode by now, but they would be in the playoffs if it started today.  Teams like Washington, Detroit, Charlotte, and Cleveland are desperate to make the playoffs. 

[PhoSita]

This is a silly question.

If we assume, for a moment, that NBA GMs are at least as smart as we are (crazy, I know), then we can assume that they also see that the value of the Celtics' pick is fairly precarious right now.  It could be top 5, or it could be #16 or #17. 

So why would another team be willing to trade a major asset for that pick, especially considering that acquiring that kind of player would pretty much guarantee that the pick ends up on the lower end of that spectrum?

[LarBrd33]

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

No.  Pistons are the team that need to move Monroe.  They are playing out of position and Monroe is about to get a lot more expensive. (think max deal).

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

Nope Gasol is old and washed up.  He has negative trade value.

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

For a guy who's salary is about to balloon to 15m because of his poison pill contract?  Hell no.

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

Like Josh Smith the player, hate his contract.  No way.

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

Melo ain't no KG.  I don't see him as a dominant player on a championship team.  No thanks.  His contract is also pretty humungous and would prevent us from making moves for 2 years.  No.

If no to all of the above... what deal would get you to dump that pick right now?

You don't dump a top 5 pick in the 2014 draft unless you're an idiot and Ainge ain't an idiot.  The reason all your trade suggestions are vetoed is you insist on trading an unprotected pick.  That would be the height of folly.  A top 6 protected pick, I'd consider moving for the right player.  None of those guys you mentioned would be worth a top 6 pick in THIS YEAR's star studded draft.

You understand that none of those players get traded for a #15 pick, right?  The premise of this thread is if you'd give up the pick (with no protection) right now with hopes of making a run.  Both are gambles...

I'm saying if someone called and offered you a player right now, but insisted the pick be unprotected.... would you do it?  You seem to be flatly dismissing the idea.  I understand your point of view, but understand that Rondo is on his way back and we're 2 games out of the playoffs.  IT seems at this point we're still more likely to make the playoffs (#15 pick) than miss it.

[LarBrd33]

This is a silly question.

If we assume, for a moment, that NBA GMs are at least as smart as we are (crazy, I know), then we can assume that they also see that the value of the Celtics' pick is fairly precarious right now.  It could be top 5, or it could be #16 or #17. 

So why would another team be willing to trade a major asset for that pick, especially considering that acquiring that kind of player would pretty much guarantee that the pick ends up on the lower end of that spectrum?

... If you traded Rondo to the Bobcats, Kings or Pistons right now... you'd probably insist that the 2014 1st rounder they included was unprotected. 

It's not a silly question. 

[wdleehi]

No. 

Not unless the Celtics can get a star not in the last year of their contract. 




The Celtics need that star.  They need the guy that can make the baskets down the stretch. 


The easiest path to that point for the Celtics are those 1st round picks.  The Celtics pick this season may be the best of them.  There is no one available at this point that I would trade that pick for. 


Maybe at some point before the trade deadline, such a player may appear.  Or maybe during the offseason before the draft.


But at this point, there is no one available that is worth trading that pick. 

[PhoSita]

This is a silly question.

If we assume, for a moment, that NBA GMs are at least as smart as we are (crazy, I know), then we can assume that they also see that the value of the Celtics' pick is fairly precarious right now.  It could be top 5, or it could be #16 or #17. 

So why would another team be willing to trade a major asset for that pick, especially considering that acquiring that kind of player would pretty much guarantee that the pick ends up on the lower end of that spectrum?

... If you traded Rondo to the Bobcats, Kings or Pistons right now... you'd probably insist that the 2014 1st rounder they included was unprotected. 

It's not a silly question.

I don't understand your point; I'm saying that it's a silly question because the premise is flawed.  We can't "cash in" on the pick right now in the way that you suggest because other teams are just as aware as we are that the team, though terrible, is still just a few games out of the playoffs.

[fitzhickey]

Anthony Davis, KD, Lebron, Demarcus, Kevin Love, PG24, Hibbert (maybe) and Drummond, off the top of my head. the likelihood of any of those players being traded for our unprotected pick is next to nothing, but what the heck. Maybe trade it for Russell Westbrook if Rondo doesn't resign.

[tyrone biggums]

I would trade it for Melo provided that he agreed to opt in. Putting him next to Rondo AB and a good young nucleus would make the Celtics an instant threat. Then obviously you get a guy like Asik who is a defensive minded center and now you're really talking.

Or trade Green for Monroe.