I don't see feel the love for Brandon Ingram (clear no. 2 pick) as others. Reason being is not because of his talent. He has clear skill and talent for his size. But any player that skinny would take 3 years to become a non-liability on defense. Unless you're KD and have the freedom to not worry about defense when your team can be bad for your first 3 years. Dragan Bender will have the same issue, and unlikely be able to play here for another couple of years anyway. It's obvious that Ben Simmons is the clear-cut top pick, any team will take him and play him immediately.

So what would we be able to get if we place a top-1 protection on Brooklyn's pick, if it was to be the centerpiece of a trade?

Would it get us a player like Gallinari? Beal? Blake?

never heard of top 1 protected but I want to say that get us better than Gallo or Beal, a top 1 in this draft should get us at least a star and not fringe stars. Blake yes, and even then I feel the Clips wants more than that. Love - possibly.

Back to the Ingram discussion, I feel most superstars drafted are usually skinny anyways if not, not as "built". LeBron, Dwight, and other superstars in the league right now aren't as BIG as they are now. LeBron easily put on 15-20 lbs since being drafted in 2003. KG was VERY skinny when he entered the league but even he was able to put on some weight.

I never seen Ingram play, most of the things I hear about Ingram or Simmons, I see from highlights and I think when those kids gets drafted, I want to say, they can easily put on 10 lbs, after a season or two.

I don't believe you can put protection on a traded pick. Believe it was mentioned in another thread

This is correct.

Quote from: Humble G on January 29, 2016, 10:45:43 AM

I don't believe you can put protection on a traded pick. Believe it was mentioned in another thread

This is correct.

It's correct that it was mentioned in another thread, but aside from posters affirming each other on Celticsblog, I have not seen that rule cited elsewhere.  I read through all of Larry Coon's info, as well as some other sources, and have not seen it.  If you think that not being able to put protection on a traded pick is correct, please cite something, somewhere.  I'd be really appreciative, because if it's true, my Googling skills have failed.

Quote from: Granath on January 29, 2016, 11:00:49 AM

Quote from: Humble G on January 29, 2016, 10:45:43 AM

I don't believe you can put protection on a traded pick. Believe it was mentioned in another thread

This is correct.

It's correct that it was mentioned in another thread, but aside from posters affirming each other on Celticsblog, I have not seen that rule cited elsewhere.  I read through all of Larry Coon's info, as well as some other sources, and have not seen it.  If you think that not being able to put protection on a traded pick is correct, please cite something, somewhere.  I'd be really appreciative, because if it's true, my Googling skills have failed.

Check the recent Nerlens Noel thread, a tweet from Coon was posted where he confirms that protections cannot be changed on traded picks. That would include adding protection to an unprotected pick.

since we can't protections on it for a mid-season trade, using it as a trade asset at the deadline should only be a last resort to acquire a top player in the league.  not a fringe all-star, but a legit top player that is under contract for at least the following year as well.

Personally, I don't think that level of player will be available so I'd hold on to it until at least draft night when we know what we have and may be able to use it in a deal by selecting a player for another team.  Example, some team may have the hots for Bender after watching Porzingis this season and if we ended up with 4, would agree to trade a top player they have if Bender is still available at 4.

I agree. Even a mid-season trade for a top 20 player won't result in a championship this season. That pick only grows better with age as teams get more desperate. That top-20 player trade will still be available now as it will be in june.