Woj Celtics more than likely keeping pick

[tarheelsxxiii]

Brown is a freak of nature, bright, articulate, intriguing, interesting personality...

but I'm still not convinced that his priority is to be a basketball player.

[CoachBo]

Not seeing it. All indications are that he'll trade it, even if it's for something like Noel and Covington or something like that. I could see us taking Dunn and not necessarily trading him on draft night, but later on this summer or something, perhaps after he impresses in summer league.

Agreed. I'm fine with taking Dunn tomorrow night and establishing a guard market. Want Dunn? Here's what it will take, Philly? Okafor or Noel, Covington and a lottery protected first. Don't like that? Here's what it will take to get Smart. Bradley.

Puts Ainge in a position of power with at least two clubs - unless it hasn't dawned on him that these assets have a finite, limited value. I suspect it already has.

I strongly suspect this report from the alleged Oracle of the NBA is little more than Ainge saying, "You want Dunn and don't want to trade today. We're going to take him and you can trade with us later."

[CoachBo]

Brown is a freak of nature, bright, articulate, intriguing, interesting personality...

but I'm still not convinced that his priority is to be a basketball player.

Brown is OK. Still doesn't strike me as a basketball player. Great athlete, but not a basketball player.

I'd view him in the context of Rozier - project that may or may not develop. At least he has more potential to develop than Bender does.

[nickagneta]

would love to see the Celtics trade for Nerlens Noel and while he is on the Celtics Nerlens transforms into a 16/11/3/3/2 player that makes mulpitle All Defense teams

[mmmmm]

Woj is now stating that the Celtics are more than likely going to keep the pick. And its between Bender Dunn and Brown

http://greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/2016/06/22/adrian-wojnarowski-more-likely-scenario-is-celtics-make-pick-at-no-3-rather-than-trade/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Those have always been my top three, so I'm good with that.

If Danny & Co. consider it a 'tie' between those three, I have to think it will be Brown or Bender, though.   At some point, BPA ties have to give a nod to roster fit.

[mmmmm]

Whether or not fans like this or not isn't the story here.  A lot of fans may like this news and would prefer to keep the pick anyway, but the fact is, that's not what Ainge wants.  Ainge wants badly to trade this pick. 

And if more deals continue to be done before the draft tomorrow and we are continually turned away or turned down from offers, it'll be incredibly sobering.

I think Danny wants to do what is best for the organization.

Certainly, I agree that Danny's preferred, "Plan A" had to always be to pull off another KG like deal that transforms the Cs into a contender again.

But Danny is a realist.   And I expect he's had to consider "Plan B" (use the #3 pick) has been highly probable for some time.   The reports way back during the NBA Draft Combine were that the Celtics were shopping all their picks by not expecting to deal the #3 pick.    Brad Stevens stated that they would only trade the #3 for an impact player.

So there was plenty of foreshadowing that the #3 pick might not get moved.

In the end, even though this is Woj reporting, this still isn't, actually the end.   We still  have some 23 hours before the draft starts and things can change rapidly.   So Plan A could still be in alive.

I wouldn't buy a Brown/Bender/Dunn Celtic jersey just yet.

[mmmmm]

All things being relatively equal, wouldn't DA be influenced by the interest he's getting from teams around the league?  If Dunn seems to be the target of affection for many teams, doesn't that effectively make him the most valuable pick at #3?   Danny likes value.

That would be true if he sees a trade that involves Dunn that can happen now.

Otherwise, Danny has to consider future value.  If he sees Brown or Bender as more valuable down the road (whether as Celtics or for trade to another team) then he has to consider that.  Especially if he's not seeing significantly attractive enough offers for Dunn right now.

In other words, while more teams (in need of PGs) may be making calls to get Dunn than teams calling to get Brown or Bender, if they aren't offering enough then they aren't offering enough.  So that means a deal isn't going to happen right now.

So future value becomes more important than immediate value.

[Phantom255x]

Hopefully tomorrow:

Woj: "Celtics and [insert team] working on trade involving #3 for [insert player]"

Stay patient guys lots of deals can happen in very short time. I bet Ainge already has some offers or he has put out some offers but if any of them are executed they will likely be when the Celtics are on the clock.

[PhoSita]

Unless a perennial All-Star / top-5-at-his-position guy under age 28 becomes available for a package headlined by the 3rd pick -- and it sounds like that will almost definitely not happen -- I'd much prefer for Ainge to simply take one of the highest upside guys available at 3 and try to develop that guy into a high value piece.

Really not interested in trading #3 for a year or two of a decent but not great player like Hayward or Middleton.

[mmmmm]

Unless a perennial All-Star / top-5-at-his-position guy under age 28 becomes available for a package headlined by the 3rd pick -- and it sounds like that will almost definitely not happen -- I'd much prefer for Ainge to simply take one of the highest upside guys available at 3 and try to develop that guy into a high value piece.

Really not interested in trading #3 for a year or two of a decent but not great player like Hayward or Middleton.

I agree about Hayward, who will opt out and be a free agent next summer -- if we want him, we should just wait and sign him then rather than burn the value of the #3 pick.

But Middleton is (a) only 24 years old and (b) locked up in a fantastic contract through 2019.  He's a way above average outside shooter AND iso scorer who can create his own shot as well as facilitate.  And he is also a plus defender.  And he still has upside as he is still likely 2 or 3 years from his peak.   It would take a package to balance each side of it, but he's someone I would definitely consider moving the pick for.

[Timdawgg]

Unless a perennial All-Star / top-5-at-his-position guy under age 28 becomes available for a package headlined by the 3rd pick -- and it sounds like that will almost definitely not happen -- I'd much prefer for Ainge to simply take one of the highest upside guys available at 3 and try to develop that guy into a high value piece.

Really not interested in trading #3 for a year or two of a decent but not great player like Hayward or Middleton.

I agree about Hayward, who will opt out and be a free agent next summer -- if we want him, we should just wait and sign him then rather than burn the value of the #3 pick.

But Middleton is (a) only 24 years old and (b) locked up in a fantastic contract through 2019.  He's a way above average outside shooter AND iso scorer who can create his own shot as well as facilitate.  And he is also a plus defender.  And he still has upside as he is still likely 2 or 3 years from his peak.   It would take a package to balance each side of it, but he's someone I would definitely consider moving the pick for.

I agree, Middleton is greatly underappreciated on here. He is just starting to breakout...

[Ilikesports17]

ESPN says Dunn is favorite for the third pick. Great Danny leak.

translation: come and get him Chicago and Philly

[max215]

ESPN says Dunn is favorite for the third pick. Great Danny leak.

translation: come and get him Chicago and Philly

Yeah, I have a hard time believing that all this Dunn stuff is anything but an attempt to get someone to trade for him.

[jpotter33]

ESPN says Dunn is favorite for the third pick. Great Danny leak.

translation: come and get him Chicago and Philly

Yeah, I have a hard time believing that all this Dunn stuff is anything but an attempt to get someone to trade for him.

Yep. He's got to make it known that he won't get past three, should either of them try to swing a deal a little later in the lottery.

[jpotter33]

So, Minny is also supposedly in love with Dunn. At the very least, couldn't we trade down with them and pick up some extra assets in the process? I'm not sure what we could get though (don't really have interest in Dieng anymore).