Would MIN accept Marcus Smart for the #5 pick?

[loco_91]

Need to attach the Number 3 to happen.

#3 plus Smart for #5? huh?

Right, then you get to shed Smart's toxic contract...

[CoachBo]

Nine picks in the draft instead of eight.

Keep it up, and we'll have ourselves an expansion team.

[LilRip]

LaVine/Smart/Wiggins/Dieng/KAT

That's a really solid starting lineup with a very promising future.

[oldtype]

If we're talking hypothetical Smart trades I think NOP at 6 is probably a much better fit.

[Bucketgetter]

I guess you guys haven't watched the wolves much because Smart is about as bad as a fit as you can get for that team. Their number one problem is shooting, and you propose to take their best spot up shooter, Lavine, out of the lineup for a bricklayer named Smart? Yes they had defensive woes last year, but that's what bringing in Thibs is for. You don't bring in a defensive mastermind just to go and get great defensive players, you bring him in to improve your defense and make bad defensive players better. If I coached a team of Rubio/Smart/Wiggins/Dieng/KAT, I would have them in the top 10 of defense.
So there is no way the wolves would do this deal, as they would need the shooting of Murray/Bender/Hield/Chriss much more than they would need the defense of Smart.

Who said anything about replacing Levine? Why wouldn't the two pair up in the Wolves backcourt?

Because Rubio is a better player than both of them. If you wanted to just bench Rubio, the wolves would just take Dunn. This trade just doesn't make sense for them.

[Beat LA]

I also don't see anyone at 5 who is likely to end up a better player than Smart. Murray will be a good shooter but he'll give up as many on the defensive end, Dunn is a poor mans Smart and Hield I believe will struggle to translate his success to the NBA.

They're not even remotely similar players.

[Ilikesports17]

I also don't see anyone at 5 who is likely to end up a better player than Smart. Murray will be a good shooter but he'll give up as many on the defensive end, Dunn is a poor mans Smart and Hield I believe will struggle to translate his success to the NBA.

They're not even remotely similar players.

They have similar strengths and weaknesses.

[adam.jones614]

Considering Smart is far better than anyone who will be available at 5....yeah I think Min would accept....and laugh at you...and i'd cry.....so there's that

[Beat LA]

I also don't see anyone at 5 who is likely to end up a better player than Smart. Murray will be a good shooter but he'll give up as many on the defensive end, Dunn is a poor mans Smart and Hield I believe will struggle to translate his success to the NBA.

They're not even remotely similar players.

They have similar strengths and weaknesses.

No they really don't.

[crimson_stallion]

Considering Smart is far better than anyone who will be available at 5....yeah I think Min would accept....and laugh at you...and i'd cry.....so there's that

Really?

It's pretty much guaranteed that either Hield, Dunn or Murray will be available at #5 - all three of those guys have a higher upside then Smart does.

Even Brown and Bender have a higher upside then Smart does, and it doesn't end there.

This draft is FAR better then the 14/15 draft, where Smart was taken at #6.  If I had the chance to trade Smart for the #7 pick or #8 pick I think I would very seriously consider it.  Trading him for #5 is a no brainer.
 

[crimson_stallion]

There is 0% chance Boston would do this... why turn a guy who they put in so much time into, is an elite defender, and has improved his shooting?

I take it you voted "yes".

The only part of this that's both true and relevant is that Smart is an elite defender. The Cs have other truly elite wing defenders, not to mention recent draft picks at Smart's position.

So, there are a variety of reasons they might. Two examples:

1) they find a nice deal for a veteran guard that includes the 3 pick but doesn't include Smart, but see a draft prospect they believe has high upside at 5.

2) they can't find a good deal for 3, take another guard with that pick because they deem him BPA, and still see a draft prospect they believe has higher upside than Smart at 5.

I don't buy the Cs wouldn't trade Smart because he's played there for 2 years. And I'd be absolutely shocked is Ainge and Thibs don't talk deal in some way shape or form before the draft.

Smart is a guy loved by Team USA, lauded for his impact on defence, out of this world competitive, young and already a more solid pro than most draft picks turn into. It would be illogical to trade him for a draft pick of a guy who might pan out better. I can see the logic behind using him in a deal for a star but not to trade up in a draft that is apparently short in superstar talent

Thinnest post I've read lately. You're a fan. That's great. But just because you don't want him traded doesn't make it illogical to do so if the Cs feel a better player is available.

Regardless, the poll question is regarding how the Wolves may value Marcus. Clearly you see him as worthy of such a deal, so appreciate the feedback.

Well luckily everything that coach Stevens and Ainge have said indicates that the Cs value him high enough not to trade him for a draft pick.

I definitely think him worthy of that deal, in fact as you may have guessed I think the deal undervalues him.

I understand that "we need shooters" and whatnot but that doesn't equal "sell our guys on the cheap". Anyone with doubt about his shot can look to Bradley as an example of his projected improvement. I don't really see other downsides to him apart from the flopping which I hope goes away.

I also don't see anyone at 5 who is likely to end up a better player than Smart. Murray will be a good shooter but he'll give up as many on the defensive end, Dunn is a poor mans Smart and Hield I believe will struggle to translate his success to the NBA.

Dunn is a poor man's Smart?  What on earth are you smoking?  Dunn is infinitely superior to Smart in absolutely every aspect of the game beyond MAYBE defense - and even that is a big maybe.

Dunn has the same type of size, intangibles and defensive ability that Smart has but he's an elite ball handler, an elite passer, an elite athlete and a solid (if not great) shooter.  He is so much better then Smart that it's not even funny.  I would give up Smart and #16 and #23 if it would get me Dunn - and I wouldn't even have to think about it.   

I'm not one of those resident CelticsBlog Smart haters either - I actually really like him.  Dunn is just THAT good.

[jpotter33]

Good Lord it's amazing how many people overvalue these potential draft picks during draft season.

[crimson_stallion]

Considering Smart is far better than anyone who will be available at 5....yeah I think Min would accept....and laugh at you...and i'd cry.....so there's that

hahaha

Everybody projected to go top 7 is a significantly better prospect then Smart.  Simmons, Ingram, Bender, Hield, Murray,Dunn, Brown - all of them. 

I'm not even sure if Marcus Smart is even significantly better then Malik Beasley to be honest.,  They are pretty Similar players except that Beasley is a better athlete and a better shooter and is projected to go in the 15-30 range. 

[jpotter33]

Considering Smart is far better than anyone who will be available at 5....yeah I think Min would accept....and laugh at you...and i'd cry.....so there's that

Really?

It's pretty much guaranteed that either Hield, Dunn or Murray will be available at #5 - all three of those guys have a higher upside then Smart does.

Even Brown and Bender have a higher upside then Smart does, and it doesn't end there.

This draft is FAR better then the 14/15 draft, where Smart was taken at #6.  If I had the chance to trade Smart for the #7 pick or #8 pick I think I would very seriously consider it.  Trading him for #5 is a no brainer.

That 2014 draft was much, much better than this draft.

Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid all have perennial All Star potential.

Exam, Smart, Gordon, and Randle all have multiple-time All-Star potential.

Simmons MIGHT be in that first tier with Wiggins and them, but everyone else in this draft is in the second tier with Smart, if that.

It's crazy how people just go absolutely crazy over these players and overvalue them during draft season. I've seen this especially with Dunn this year.

[jpotter33]

Considering Smart is far better than anyone who will be available at 5....yeah I think Min would accept....and laugh at you...and i'd cry.....so there's that

hahaha

Everybody projected to go top 7 is a significantly better prospect then Smart.  Simmons, Ingram, Bender, Hield, Murray,Dunn, Brown - all of them. 

I'm not even sure if Marcus Smart is even significantly better then Malik Beasley to be honest.,  They are pretty Similar players except that Beasley is a better athlete and a better shooter and is projected to go in the 15-30 range.

That's just so far out there it's not even funny lol