The answer to the question posed in topic is very simple........
The answer is "a whole crapload more than if we had the 10th pick" (or the #1 or #2 if we got real lucky like Cleveland did last year).
If that is Danny's desire to move into the top 8 to get someone he really likes, he is going to have to give up substantial assets that could have been used in other trades to bring established players here. You can spin this making the playoffs thing anyway that you want (and there are some really inventive spins on here), but in the long and short run, it's gonna cost us more than it's worth, except maybe to the vendors at the Garden and ownership from the 2 playoff games at the Garden .
But, oh wait, I forgot, our young assets will be worth so much more because their value will go up so much when they get annihilated by the Cavs, and we'll have those to trade up to maybe the top 4-5 because those assets will have appreciated so much. And the "playoff experience" they will get by having their arses handed to them will be so good for them.
Our kids are likeable, gutsy and fun to watch. They played so well the last two months, their value has appreciated already.
Yep the top 10 pick would have been nice. But who says a star player will be available for a trade by the time those Brooklyn picks come to suffice?
This is the reality we are facing now- the injuries to other teams are a huge part of why we are in this playoff hunt. Bringing in Isaiah Thomas got us a few more wins- but he's a valuable asset in a trade down the line too because of that scoring he's provided.
And if moves are made like trading Bradley, or trading Sully on draft night then we may find that with some healthier Eastern Conference teams next season that we fall back into the top 10 draft picks.
Pistons will have Reggie Jackson, Pacers will have Paul George, Nets will start the season with their entire starting 5 healthy for the first time in 2 years, and the Heat will have Bosh, Whiteside, Anderson, Dragic and Wade all healthy and ready to go, so next year won't be the cinderella story we've witnessed this season.
Of course we could sign Kawahi Leonard or Jimmy Butler (unlikely but who knows).
But Danny will prepare correctly and he now knows how good Stevens is as a coach.
Let's take a few random examples:
-We may trade Sully+a Brooklyn pick to the Kings for Willie Cauley Stein or Porzingris.
-We may trade Bradley and our own pick for Mario Heznoja if he's there.
Leaves us with:
Smart
Young
Heznoja
Olynyk
Willie Cauley Stein/Zeller
Thomas
Crowder (re signed)
That's a bottom 8 team in 2015 but it's got serious talent under Brad Stevens wing.
Anyway, I'm just saying it's not all doom and gloom just yet. We have a ridiculous amount of picks and assets to get this team some real potential talent, and we'll also have some cap room.