Ford 8.0: Dunn to Celts with 3rd Pick

[footey]

Ford just released his 8.0 Mock, has us picking Dunn 3rd:

"The Celtics are looking at everything.

Trading the pick seems like the most probable route if they can fetch a young veteran in return. If they keep the pick, I think the field may be narrowing down to Dunn, Jamal Murray and a dark horse in Marquese Chriss.

Murray and Chriss fit obvious needs for shooting. Dunn seems like less of a fit until you realize that he would be the best pure point guard on the roster -- right away.

Marcus Smart can play off the ball. Isaiah Thomas, an All-Star, can be dealt. Having an elite distributor, especially one that defends like Dunn does, would be very appealing.

It's too early to know for sure which way the Celtics will go on draft night, but if the draft were today, I think Dunn would get the nod."

Has us grabbing Zizic at 16, and Diallo at 23.

Am surprised he thinks we would deal Thomas to make room for Dunn. That is nuts.

[esel1000]

I mean this is technically sell high time on IT... But I doubt he gets traded, with DA basically making him the face of the franchise it looks awful. I bet he's here at least one more year and if we can't attract FAs then I could theoretically see him traded before the next contract (personally I hope IT is here forever )

But... I wouldn't be surprised to see AB/Rozier traded and Dunn drafted for an IT, Smart, and Dunn combo. Making the all defensive first team was probably a "sell high now" alarm for DA.

It's also why Dunn's agents baffle me. They act like this roster is set... It's not, and your guy will get real playing time here

[Surferdad]

Ford just released his 8.0 Mock, has us picking Dunn 3rd:

"The Celtics are looking at everything.

Trading the pick seems like the most probable route if they can fetch a young veteran in return. If they keep the pick, I think the field may be narrowing down to Dunn, Jamal Murray and a dark horse in Marquese Chriss.

Murray and Chriss fit obvious needs for shooting. Dunn seems like less of a fit until you realize that he would be the best pure point guard on the roster -- right away.

Marcus Smart can play off the ball. Isaiah Thomas, an All-Star, can be dealt. Having an elite distributor, especially one that defends like Dunn does, would be very appealing.

It's too early to know for sure which way the Celtics will go on draft night, but if the draft were today, I think Dunn would get the nod."

Has us grabbing Zizic at 16, and Diallo at 23.

Am surprised he thinks we would deal Thomas to make room for Dunn. That is nuts.

Definitely agree.  Dunn would come off the bench anyway, at least at the beginning.  He would then have to blow everyone away for DA to consider dealing IT.

[saltlover]

This is Ainge putting a lot of noise out there so that a team who wants Dunn will make a serious offer for #3.  I am sure he would not trade IT to make room for Dunn.  But, hey, Sacramento -- don't call Phoenix thinking you can get Dunn.  He's not making it that far.

[A Future of Stevens]

Man I love IT but this exact scenario is what I think would be the best move for the celtics moving forward. I personally believe dunn is going to surprise people with his abilities.

On the IT front, there are some issues with IT and the future fit of a championship contender. I already made a post about his smaller than average window, and the assumption he will want to be payed like an allstar right when the decline begins. I won't rehash the specifics here.

If Teague can bring back a noel caliber player, imagine what IT could bring us. These are the kinds of moves that savy GMs make that set the team up for years to come.

The only caveat is that if ITs presence helps us land a Durant, then of course you don't move the guy.

I'm worried that the celtics have created this air of support for their players (aka we have your back) with bringing IT here and letting him blossom. Not to mention having him be the face of our team in the lottery. Might this stop them from making the savy play for the future? Maybe

[cltc5]

So tired of projections of guards or Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.in Power forwards

[TheSundanceKid]

It seems all the pundits are all over the place on us. Ford has Murray, Dunn and Chriss. DX have Brown, Bender and Chriss. Others have Hield in the mix.

Seems like DA is doing a good job of keeping his cards close to his chest. I don't think we're going to get a clear idea of who he will pick until the name is read out. It seems like he's trying to position it that when a team falls in love with a player he can claim to be picking that one, meaning they will have to trade with him

[saltlover]

Man I love IT but this exact scenario is what I think would be the best move for the celtics moving forward. I personally believe dunn is going to surprise people with his abilities.

On the IT front, there are some issues with IT and the future fit of a championship contender. I already made a post about his smaller than average window, and the assumption he will want to be payed like an allstar right when the decline begins. I won't rehash the specifics here.

If Teague can bring back a noel caliber player, imagine what IT could bring us. These are the kinds of moves that savy GMs make that set the team up for years to come.

The only caveat is that if ITs presence helps us land a Durant, then of course you don't move the guy.

I'm worried that the celtics have created this air of support for their players (aka we have your back) with bringing IT here and letting him blossom. Not to mention having him be the face of our team in the lottery. Might this stop them from making the savy play for the future? Maybe

If Dunn is better than IT as early as next year, then what should Dunn bring back?  Star free agents want to play with IT, not Kris Dunn.  They don't know who Kris Dunn is.

[TheSundanceKid]

This is Ainge putting a lot of noise out there so that a team who wants Dunn will make a serious offer for #3.  I am sure he would not trade IT to make room for Dunn.  But, hey, Sacramento -- don't call Phoenix thinking you can get Dunn.  He's not making it that far.

That sounds a lot like it. Same for Philly

[boscel33]

Yeah, I agree with Ford, Dunn goes #3 overall, but to Philly in a trade.

[A Future of Stevens]

Man I love IT but this exact scenario is what I think would be the best move for the celtics moving forward. I personally believe dunn is going to surprise people with his abilities.

On the IT front, there are some issues with IT and the future fit of a championship contender. I already made a post about his smaller than average window, and the assumption he will want to be payed like an allstar right when the decline begins. I won't rehash the specifics here.

If Teague can bring back a noel caliber player, imagine what IT could bring us. These are the kinds of moves that savy GMs make that set the team up for years to come.

The only caveat is that if ITs presence helps us land a Durant, then of course you don't move the guy.

I'm worried that the celtics have created this air of support for their players (aka we have your back) with bringing IT here and letting him blossom. Not to mention having him be the face of our team in the lottery. Might this stop them from making the savy play for the future? Maybe

If Dunn is better than IT as early as next year, then what should Dunn bring back?  Star free agents want to play with IT, not Kris Dunn.  They don't know who Kris Dunn is.

Correct. That's why I mentioned the Durant part in there. That's why you pick the BPA at 3, and can move him if we do snag a star free agent this year (Durant is really the only star in my opinion.) If not, try to use IT as a piece before it's too late and we are stuck with a bad contract on a declining 5'9 gunner.

[saltlover]

Man I love IT but this exact scenario is what I think would be the best move for the celtics moving forward. I personally believe dunn is going to surprise people with his abilities.

On the IT front, there are some issues with IT and the future fit of a championship contender. I already made a post about his smaller than average window, and the assumption he will want to be payed like an allstar right when the decline begins. I won't rehash the specifics here.

If Teague can bring back a noel caliber player, imagine what IT could bring us. These are the kinds of moves that savy GMs make that set the team up for years to come.

The only caveat is that if ITs presence helps us land a Durant, then of course you don't move the guy.

I'm worried that the celtics have created this air of support for their players (aka we have your back) with bringing IT here and letting him blossom. Not to mention having him be the face of our team in the lottery. Might this stop them from making the savy play for the future? Maybe

If Dunn is better than IT as early as next year, then what should Dunn bring back?  Star free agents want to play with IT, not Kris Dunn.  They don't know who Kris Dunn is.

Correct. That's why I mentioned the Durant part in there. That's why you pick the BPA at 3, and can move him if we do snag a star free agent this year (Durant is really the only star in my opinion.) If not, try to use IT as a piece before it's too late and we are stuck with a bad contract on a declining 5'9 gunner.

Yeah, declining 5'9" gunner does not accurately describe IT.  At all.  He's 5'9".  He also had the best PER, Win Shares, BPM, and VORP of his career.  So not declining.  He also had the highest assist rate of his career.  So not a gunner.  Please learn what you're talking about, and then post.

[PhoSita]

At this point I think it's clear the mock drafters are just shifting through every possible selection at three just to say at one point they called the right guy.

[CFAN38]

Interesting,

I'm not a fan of the draft Dunn to trade IT plan. This team is a 48 win team and losing IT would cripple the offense. However an interesting angle would be to jump into the 76ers and ATL trade with IT. Maybe instead of Teagur for Noel they consider IT for Okafor. I think this isn't feasible due to IT's status with the team and the lack of shooting would be a major negative.

However Dunn, AB , crowder, smart and Okafor would be an interesting core.

[ssspence]

NewsFlash: a backcourt of Dunn and Smart ain't gonna cut it on offense in today's NBA. If you pick Dunn, Smart is the more likely guard to be dealt over Thomas.