just putting this here....pre-lottery.
Warning/Note: I've not worked any of this out $-wise, but between the rising cap and the range of salaries we have I think anything is possible (cap-wise). I've also tried to focus on players that have some possibility of being moved (many on the list are 1-2%, but i think that's more than players like Giannis, etc.) and that I have some vague interest in.
It's just for fun... with a little thought put to it.
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With the NBA Lottery less than 12 hours away — and having done no reasearch about the different players available at those picks— here’s who I’d target with each of the #1-6 picks:
#1 or #2 pick:
DeMarcus Cousins
Blake Griffin
Ben Simmons
Anthony Davis
Paul George
James Harden
It sounds like Simmons or Ingram will be taken #1 and #2, in some order. I’m only interested really in Simmons.
It’s very unlikely that any of these players is even available. And certainly all of them would obvioulsy involve trading other picks & players. Something like:
Cousins, Belinelli, two future 2nds –> Bradley, Amir Johnson, Rozier, #1 or 2, #16 and two future #1 picks (say BKN 2018, BOS 2019)
FWIW it sounds like SAC is going to hold onto Cousins with Joeger on board as coach, but I’d give a lot to get him.
Griffin –> #1 or #2, #16 or BKN 2018 #1, Jerebko or Rozier or #31
Roc Divers has reportedly said he’ll bring the whole band back together, but this would allow them to rebuild their bench, get a young stud and replenish some of the picks they’ve traded away. LAC could use Jerebko as a 4 next to Jordan to stretch the floor like BOS did in the playoffs.
Anthony Davis –> #1 or #2, #16, #31, #35, BKN 2017 #1 pick, BKN 2018 #1 pick, BOS 2019 #1 pick, Amir Johnson or Jordan Mickey, Rozier, Young
There’s no indication Davis is on the market, but I’d go all in on the hopes that N.O. would be intrigued enough to build around Simmons.
Paul George or James Harden –> #1, #16, #31, BKN 2018 #1, Crowder (George) or Bradley (Harden)
Again no indication that either team would actually trade either player, but they’re both young superstars, who you’d have to consider trading a boatload to get if you could do it.
#3 pick:
Jimmy Butler
Derrick Favors
Butler, Dunleavey –> Bradley, #3, #16, #31, James Young + a future 1st if necessary
Perhaps this is the most likely of all these scenarios based on internet scuttle (which is always 100% accurate, right?).
Derrick Favors –> Bradley, #3, #16, #31, James Young + a future 1st if necessary
Another guy I don’t actually think is available but who maybe we could pry away from Utah with a bit of an overpay. They do have Trey Lyles as a potential 4 to play alongside Gobert.
#4 - #6 picks:
Kevin Love
Jabari Parker
Nerlens Noel
Jahlil Okafor
Carmelo Anthony
Gordon Hayward
Greg Monroe
I think some combo of the #4-6, a future first (or two) and a player (Olynyk, Rozier, Mickey) might get the conversation started here with these players.
Love - I think CLE trades Love or Irving if they don’t win the title; Lebron is best when surrounded by very good role players. #4-6 + #23 + #31 + Olynyk?
Parker - Doubt that MIL would be looking to move him, but Giannis is clearly the future in MIL and I’m not sure he and Parker fit long-term. Drafting a guy like Dunn at #4-6 would balance their roster a little bit.
Noel / Okafor - Jahlil Okafor was a player that Ainge was rumored to have made an offer for at the deadline and I’d still be ecstatic to add a big man with his offensive talent. PHI seems like they’d be wise to move one of Okafor or Noel, regardless of Embiid’s health. I think i’d slightly prefer Noel b/c of his ability to change the game from the defensive end (and b/c I think he could be had a little cheaper since he’s a year away from a possible extension). Is #4-6, a future pick and Rozier enough?
Carmelo Anthony - #4-6 is probably too much for a player his age, but maybe we could get the Knicks to do something dumb like include Robin Lopez and Jerian Grant, the latter to flip. Otherwise I wonder if #16 and #23 and a lottery protected 2018 BKN pick would be enough.
Gordon Hayward - I’m not totally sold on Hayward, and doubt that Utah would move him but he’s a dynamic offensive player, a Stevens “guy” and Utah is the type of team who needs to build primarily through the draft, so maybe #4-6, #16, Rozier and a future pick?
Topic: My pre-lotto plan for the picks #1-6 (Read 1542 times)