There will be no Love in Boston!!! Because "The Maestro", Danny Ainge is about to orchestrate yet another blockbuster deal.
Before the Cavs can even let the words "Joel Embiid" roll off their lips, the Celtics will swoop in and give Cleveland their 2 first round picks plus Jeff Green, Joel Anthony, Chris Babb and Kieth Bogens for the rights to Embiid. the Cavs will have been given an offer they can't refuse and at about the same time Rondo will realize there is Christmas in June.
But wait, there's more........The C'S will load up in free agency thanks to those 5 picks in 2015. this team will then be loaded and ready to avenge last year's embarrassment.
Knowing this board you will all chime in as to why this can't happen, and then it will!!!
Intriguing idea - but is Jeff Green, (Julius Randle or some other pick at 6), and (PJ Hairston or some other pick at 17) worth 4 cost-controlled years and 5 RFA rights' years of a player who has the potential to be one of the most dominant big men in the game?
I guess you could make the case for Randle developing into a dominant player, as well, but Embiid looks darn good. I would be on board if DA traded up for him or Parker. Exum and Wiggins I would be indifferent on.
I just don't see Ainge putting the fans and especially his players through another season like the last one considering the team played their hearts out when he has the ability to make the C's a contender, RIGHT NOW!!!
I would much rather go through another season like the last one than overpay for someone like Love.
I don't think there's any chance that your original deal for Embiid happens. None. Sorry, but 6+17, an overpaid SF and a few contract fillers have no shot at bringing in a #1 pick who has the potential to dominate their position for years, whether it's Wiggins or Embiid. And if I'm wrong, I will happily take you to the drinking establishment of your choice and buy you drinks until you fall off the chair.
Ainge is a long-term thinker. Sure, he'd love to contend next year, but he'd much rather put the team on solid footing for the next decade. With all of our draft picks through 2018, three of which belong to the Nets (not including this year's) who are virtually guaranteed to suck for the next five years, we will likely have lottery picks coming to us in 2016, 17 and 18.
My guess is that Ainge is thinking 2020, not 2015. We need one more big player (I'm thinking Asik.) and then I agree with you; given all the draft picks we have coming up, we will look awfully good to free agents in the summer of 2015, regardless of our poor history in that department.
Mike