Disappointed with #6 and want to trade it? Ask yourself this.

[BballTim]

I'm sure the Knicks and Cavs thought "It's the East!" This year, too.  Not to mention the Celtics team from two seasons ago which had a lot of talent and ultimately barely managed to finish at .500.  Making the playoffs is much easier in the East than in the West, but it's still harder than we often acknowledge around here.

Very young teams, as a general rule, don't make the playoffs no matter how talented.  It takes time to learn how to win together.  And teams without a top shelf scorer tend to struggle regardless of experience.

  We haven't really had a top shelf scorer since 2009 or so. We didn't exactly struggle over that time. We need better scorers, but we also need more consistent lineups to build some cohesiveness, as well as a healthier Rondo.

[Smokeeye123]

We lost a ton of close games this year, If we add Love I honestly think we win 10 more games.

[More Banners]

I hope DA holds tight to #6.  Teams will try to push him for it, but I hope he waits them out.  3 protected future 1sts is fine to give up, but #6 should bring in a top player in trade all by itself.  Since we have so many other picks on hand, keep 6 and trade the others.

Including Sully should hopefully be enough to take the lotto pick off the table.

Keep the Philly pick, too.  High 2nd rounders should be great for creating a stable of big guy prospects to stash around the world.  We got BBD in the high 2nd round, and that was a great pick.

[PhoSita]

I'm sure the Knicks and Cavs thought "It's the East!" This year, too.  Not to mention the Celtics team from two seasons ago which had a lot of talent and ultimately barely managed to finish at .500.  Making the playoffs is much easier in the East than in the West, but it's still harder than we often acknowledge around here.

Very young teams, as a general rule, don't make the playoffs no matter how talented.  It takes time to learn how to win together.  And teams without a top shelf scorer tend to struggle regardless of experience.

  We haven't really had a top shelf scorer since 2009 or so. We didn't exactly struggle over that time. We need better scorers, but we also need more consistent lineups to build some cohesiveness, as well as a healthier Rondo.

The team did struggle to score over that time.  I think Pierce counted as a top shelf scorer, though, at least in terms of what I meant by it -- I'm not saying you need Durant, Melo, Lebron, Kobe etc., though that's obviously ideal.  You at least need a proper lead scoring option and a couple solid auxiliary options.  Some examples in the East this year would be guys like Derozan / Lowry, Millsap / Teague, Wall / Beal, and Deron / Iso-Joe.

The experience piece is the most important part, though.  Experience in the league and especially playing together with a particular group.  That helps teams play solid defense and actually close out close games.

The Celtics at the moment have one or two guys who might count as good auxiliary options if they were backing up a really good #1.

[SuperCeltic92]

I wouldn't be opposed to holding onto the #6 pick. I personally like building through the draft, ala OKC. But, we New Englanders don't really have the patience. If the mindset is to truly hold onto our assets and continue to build through the draft and develop, I believe you trade Rondo and get something in return before he leaves for nothing. But, if you want to start winning games in 2014-15, you go out and get a guy that will make an immediate impact (Kevin Love).

I just want to propose a few thoughts, so bare with me.

Joel Anthony, Jerryd Bayless for Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison
Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, 2014 6th & 17th overall picks for Kevin Love, Chase Budinger & 2014 40th & 53rd overall picks

Re-sign/Match any offer for Avery Bradley.
Re-sign Jerryd Bayless
Sign Paul Pierce

1 - Rajon Rondo (C), Phil Pressey, Bryce Cotton (UDFA)
2 - Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce, Chris Johnson
3 - Jeff Green, Chase Budinger, Gerald Wallace
4 - Kevin Love, Kelly Olynyk
5 - Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Walter Tavares (40th)*, Patric Young (53rd)*

*One makes the team, other in the D-League.

[BballTim]

I'm sure the Knicks and Cavs thought "It's the East!" This year, too.  Not to mention the Celtics team from two seasons ago which had a lot of talent and ultimately barely managed to finish at .500.  Making the playoffs is much easier in the East than in the West, but it's still harder than we often acknowledge around here.

Very young teams, as a general rule, don't make the playoffs no matter how talented.  It takes time to learn how to win together.  And teams without a top shelf scorer tend to struggle regardless of experience.

  We haven't really had a top shelf scorer since 2009 or so. We didn't exactly struggle over that time. We need better scorers, but we also need more consistent lineups to build some cohesiveness, as well as a healthier Rondo.

The team did struggle to score over that time.  I think Pierce counted as a top shelf scorer, though, at least in terms of what I meant by it -- I'm not saying you need Durant, Melo, Lebron, Kobe etc., though that's obviously ideal.  You at least need a proper lead scoring option and a couple solid auxiliary options.  Some examples in the East this year would be guys like Derozan / Lowry, Millsap / Teague, Wall / Beal, and Deron / Iso-Joe.

The experience piece is the most important part, though.  Experience in the league and especially playing together with a particular group.  That helps teams play solid defense and actually close out close games.

The Celtics at the moment have one or two guys who might count as good auxiliary options if they were backing up a really good #1.

  I wouldn't really call Deron/Joe top shelf scoring. The Nets weren't a great offense either. In terms of experience, though, the Celts would have plenty if they were healthy. What they were missing in that area was continuity. The same guys (more or less) need to play together on a regular basis and the team needs reasonably set rotations to succeed.

[GreenWarrior]

1 - Rajon Rondo (C), Phil Pressey, Bryce Cotton (UDFA)
2 - Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce, Chris Johnson
3 - Jeff Green, Chase Budinger, Gerald Wallace
4 - Kevin Love, Kelly Olynyk
5 - Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Walter Tavares (40th)*, Patric Young (53rd)*

*One makes the team, other in the D-League.

looking at that lineup and I see a lot of "sucking" going on. we don't have that perimeter guy who can consistently score taking it to the basket. unless jeff green wakes up and realizes he has the ability to be good.

pierce wouldn't be expected to be that guy and shouldn't be. and avery has that mind set but never consistently takes it to the basket, more often than not he'll pull up for a jumper(early in the shot clock). we need that scorer from the outside who can iso & get his own shot.

[boscel33]

I just read this on ESPN and it is spot on:

"? For all the consternation about the Celtics landing the No. 6 pick in the draft, it's not a terrible spot. Sure, every team that missed out on a top-3 spot is kicking the dirt because of the talent available this year, but if the draft is as deep as it's made out to be, those in the 4-6 range stand to get what would normally be a top-3 talent in other drafts."

[michael 26]

 I'm happy with the sixth pick, because yes, it could have been better but this is what we have and there are still some great players in this draft. Both options of getting Love and trying to keep the pick we get seem pretty appealing to me. I think we're in a good situation!

[slamtheking]

I'll take my chances with Kevin Love over Ainge picking another Giddens, Johnson or Fab Melo.

Easy dilemma.

Trade the 6.

Yes, because he really struck out with Rondo, Big Al, AB, Sully, Powe, Gomes, BBD, Perk.  By all means, let's hold those late 1st round selections against him.  and all those other GMs, they're rocket scientists because every pick they've made has turned out to be an all-star. 

[SuperCeltic92]

What about keeping the picks? Kevin Love will opt out after this year and become a free agent in 2015. Maybe the T'Wolves hold onto to him for the year. If they're truly out of the playoff race, maybe we swing a deal at the 2015 deadline. I believe this is our best option. Hold onto this year's picks, in 2015 the free agency class has some big names, get a deal done with Rondo, hopefully a younger player blossoms and sign a top free agent.

At #6, we have a few options. Lot of talk of Jabari Parker slipping due to his weight and commitment concerns, although I don't buy that. But, I've began to take a liking to Aaron Gordon at #6. Then I would love to move up from #17 to the #13-16 range and take Nik Stauskas.

Then you look at free agency in 2014. I like Ed Davis and Ekpe Udoh who both are RFA's but there teams are willing to part with from what I've read. There both young, and especially Davis, he can still blossom with extended minutes. Jordan Hill is another young option at the 4/5 as well.

2014 Line-Up (No Trades)

1 - Rajon Rondo
2 - Avery Bradley, Nik Stauskas, Jerryd Bayless
3 - Jeff Green, Aaron Gordon, Gerald Wallace
4 - Jared Sullinger, Brandon Bass, Kelly Olynyk
5 - Ed Davis, Ekpe Udoh/Jordan Hill

I would look into Aaron Craft as a developmental PG. Rarely turned over the ball in college, conducted a beautiful offense with Jared Sullinger at OSU as well. Is a decent shooter, but great passer. Loved what Bryce Cotton did for Providence all year as well, although he's not a true PG, he's more of a less explosive Russell Westbrook type PG, who can create his own shot and is a scorer.

[CoachBo]

I'll take my chances with Kevin Love over Ainge picking another Giddens, Johnson or Fab Melo.

Easy dilemma.

Trade the 6.

Yes, because he really struck out with Rondo, Big Al, AB, Sully, Powe, Gomes, BBD, Perk.  By all means, let's hold those late 1st round selections against him.  and all those other GMs, they're rocket scientists because every pick they've made has turned out to be an all-star.

How about this: One pick Ainge bought turned into an All-Star.

Jefferson is an above-average NBA player, despite his defensive inadequacies.

Bradley - role player.

Sullinger - conditioning issues, promising but jury still out. Definitely not an All-Star.

Powe - gone.

Gomes - scrub.

Davis - didn't draft him, scrub.

Perkins - as overrated as the day is long. Slightly above scrub status.

The rest - game show, called "Name That Scrub."

Tony Wroten would have helped this club significantly - 13 ppg last year. And if Ainge was intent on drafting a big, Miles Plumlee would have been a HUGE improvement.

Instead, poor Danny had to feed his attracttion for 7-foot stiffs and select Fab Melo, the first 5 off the bench on my All-Scrub Celltics all-time team - although I've moved Vin Baker to the 4 to make room for the suckitude that is Fab Melo.

Ainge's status as a draft genius is one of the great myths of this board, along with Rondo's defensive prowess and our immediate need to exhume the rotting, fetid corpse that is Kendrick Perkins' career.

Make all the lame excuses for Ainge you want - the Celtics are better off with Ainge trading picks than they are with him using all of them. The record is abundantly clear.

[nostar]

Sullinger - conditioning issues, promising but jury still out. Definitely not an All-Star.

I'd just point out that Sully's per-36 rebounding and scoring numbers were better than Ibaka's this year and his WS% was higher than Cousins. I think the phrase "definitely not an all-star" is a little premature considering it's his sophmore season and he's on a losing team. Let him play along side a couple of top tier players and I bet his %s go up. Saying he's won't be an all-star ever when he's only 22 is just short-sighted.

Anyway Ainge has a very good draft record, there are a couple of threads on here outlining that.

2 years ago the #6 pick was Damian Lillard. I'm not sure I'm for trading it unless we get a top-15-20 player back and even then I would have to think about it. For instance I wouldn't move it for Kyle Lowry (13th in PER last season) or Goran Dragic (19th). I would for Kevin Love (4th) or Noah (14th), Griffin (15th) or Lillard (16th).

[LooseCannon]

I'd just point out that Sully's per-36 rebounding and scoring numbers were better than Ibaka's this year and his WS% was higher than Cousins. I think the phrase "definitely not an all-star" is a little premature considering it's his sophmore season and he's on a losing team. Let him play along side a couple of top tier players and I bet his %s go up. Saying he's won't be an all-star ever when he's only 22 is just short-sighted.

I believe 23-year-old Avery Bradley still has a shot at becoming a borderline All-Star who averages 18ppg and is named first or second team All-Defensive.  I was probably saying the same thing a year ago when he was 22.

[86MaxwellSmart]

I'll take my chances with Kevin Love over Ainge picking another Giddens, Johnson or Fab Melo.

Easy dilemma.

Trade the 6.

Yes, because he really struck out with Rondo, Big Al, AB, Sully, Powe, Gomes, BBD, Perk.  By all means, let's hold those late 1st round selections against him.  and all those other GMs, they're rocket scientists because every pick they've made has turned out to be an all-star.

How about this: One pick Ainge bought turned into an All-Star.

Jefferson is an above-average NBA player, despite his defensive inadequacies.

Bradley - role player.

Sullinger - conditioning issues, promising but jury still out. Definitely not an All-Star.

Powe - gone.

Gomes - scrub.

Davis - didn't draft him, scrub.

Perkins - as overrated as the day is long. Slightly above scrub status.

The rest - game show, called "Name That Scrub."

Tony Wroten would have helped this club significantly - 13 ppg last year. And if Ainge was intent on drafting a big, Miles Plumlee would have been a HUGE improvement.

Instead, poor Danny had to feed his attracttion for 7-foot stiffs and select Fab Melo, the first 5 off the bench on my All-Scrub Celltics all-time team - although I've moved Vin Baker to the 4 to make room for the suckitude that is Fab Melo.

Ainge's status as a draft genius is one of the great myths of this board, along with Rondo's defensive prowess and our immediate need to exhume the rotting, fetid corpse that is Kendrick Perkins' career.

Make all the lame excuses for Ainge you want - the Celtics are better off with Ainge trading picks than they are with him using all of them. The record is abundantly clear.

You forgot the parts, where Ainge drafted Gabe Pruitt---instead of Marc Gasol...or JR Giddens--instead of Deandre Jordan....he also passed on drafting Chandler Parsons, because he drafted Marshon Brooks.