2016 draft night scenarios for Ainge. What will trader Danny try to do with...?

[chambers]

Thought it would be an interesting discussion if we contemplated some potential moves for Danny Ainge on Draft night...
I think the main scenarios should surround what he'd do with a top 3 pick or top 5 pick and what opportunities may arise. We'd obviously have to get lucky to get #1 over Philly but it's definitely possible.

The idea that got me thinking about this was if Danny would trade down the #1 pick to Philly for something like the #3 pick +Nerlens Noel.
So we'd end up taking Jaylen Brown with Philly's pick #3 and asking for Nerlens Noel if the 76ers decided they had to have Ben Simmons.
Or if the Lakers wanted to swap their #3 or #4 + Julius Randle etc...
Or Nuggets would entertain #4+Mudiay for our #1.

Other than these trades I think the most likely star player attempt would be for Cousins with a top 3 pick.
I wonder if the Bulls would take the #1 pick for Jimmy Butler+McDermott?


Any ideas? Try and be reasonably 'possible' with these ideas!

[jmen788]

I have been thinking about this a lot, too... and I'm shamelessly and obsessively scoreboard watching Nets games haha.

I am trying to keep myself realistic by remembering that even if the Nets finish with the worst record (they probably won't with the 76ers and Nuggets, Lakers, etc.) that we will probably get the 4th pick with our luck.

I feel we should keep the pick if it is top 2 or 3, but if not, then we should consider trading it. There are a lot of intriguing prospects from 4 to 8 with Bender, Skal, etc., but I really believe in Ingram and possibly Ben Simmons and feel the others are more of a coin toss...

[A Future of Stevens]

I really like the nerlens idea, and that could be the type of return that would be worth simmons.

The lakers trade doesn't make much sense right now. You would be getting Bender (pf or Ingram  (sf/pf)) which would be redundant with Randles position. Also I just don't see us giving up a potential star in simmons for a slightly more athletic sully in Randle who can't shoot beyond 15 feet.

Another situation to watch would be the Pacers and their Paul George scenario. I honestly don't know how much Bird values him, but we would have to include some other assets which may be too steep, unless we could somehow swing multiple trades this offseason to get both PGeorge and Cousins.

[MBunge]

If you think Simmons is going to be a LeBron/Durant/Duncan/KG level player, you never trade that guy.  If you think he's on that next level, like a Blake Griffin or a Paul Pierce, a deal becomes much more tempting.  Adding Cousins or Noel and the #3 would probably also make Boston one of the top free agent destinations in the league.

Mike

[wiley]

It's a nice idea to swap the # 1 (let's say Simmons), for Noel or Cousins and the #3 (let's say Jaylen Brown.  But for that to happen one of two scenarios would have to happen:

1.  Ben Simmons would have to prove himself this year as a few leagues above Brown (and Ingram/Skal, etc..).  In other words mega star.

2.  The Celtics would have to include a bunch more in the deal to get it done.

If #1 is true, then you have to keep Simmons and keep building.  We have other firsts to build with as well, and even to trade up with maybe if Dallas cooperates.

If # 2 is true, it could be a painful trade unless Sacramento or Philly agreed to take a ton of future picks instead instead of Smart for example.  Give up too much and we wind up no better than Sacramento is now.

If Cousins (or Noel) is demanding a trade it would be easier to not give up the farm.

[Evantime34]

Draft Ben Simmons. Watch him become the next great Celtic. His ability to play point forward really fits this team. His ability to get to the bucket will be better than anyone we currently have.

[tarheelsxxiii]

If you think Simmons is going to be a LeBron/Durant/Duncan/KG level player, you never trade that guy.  If you think he's on that next level, like a Blake Griffin or a Paul Pierce, a deal becomes much more tempting.  Adding Cousins or Noel and the #3 would probably also make Boston one of the top free agent destinations in the league.

Mike

This defines the entire situation. In order for the moves mentioned above to work, the buyer(s) would need to think he is in the former camp -- a superstar talent.