Ainge: Teams have begun calling about the Nets pick

[Phantom255x]

What's the over/under on how many articles and rumors will pop up involving the Celtics, Nets Picks, and star trade targets between now and February 23?

[tankcity!]

Have they not been calling about the Nets pick(s) since the trade happened?

Lol pretty much. I'm confident that pick has already been discussed this year in deals.

[Donoghus]

Have they not been calling about the Nets pick(s) since the trade happened?

This is my question.

I'm sure they have.  It's just due diligence. 

[tankcity!]

The only realistic options I give this years pick up for is Paul George or Cousins. When I say realistic, its probably a 10-20% chance that it actually happens. George is the best case scenario, and as the Pacers continue to tumble towards mediocrity heading towards the deadline - I'd say it goes from a 10% chance to maybe close to 30-40% that he gets dealt, especially if he continues to show his frustration a bit with the organization. Worse thing they did was fire Vogel.

In my opinion, the Pacers would be silly not to explore our 2017 pick as an option to replace George. So much premier talent coming out of that draft to build around.

2017 Nets pick, Grizzlies pick, our first rounder next year plus Crowder, Zeller, Rozier? George replaces Crowder in the starting lineup plus frees up minutes for Jaylen as the primary back up 3.

Umm. how many years on that PG13 contract? Markelle Fultz could be a star at a much more important position for 4 years, making way less than PG13. PG 13 is not a superstar, look at where his team is now after being way more hyped than ours. I think he's plateau'd.

Well if you look at his history, his teams are typically good. He had nothing but garbage on his team last year and they made the playoffs, took Toronto to 7 games and he had a great series. This year they fired their coach, and hired a really bad one. That team is really badly coached and Bird has never given George another perennial all star to play along.

I can't imagine Fultz ever being as good as George honestly. Seems like George is very underrated by you. He is def a top 8 player imo. Look at Derozan's stats against him last year in the playoffs. Goerge shut him down. He's a two way superstar who almost beat Miami in the playoffs.

[jpotter33]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

It's really hard to trade a possible #1 overall pick, though.

Unless you're getting (a) a franchise talent or (b) the finishing piece to your contender, there's too great a chance that the guy you get back won't make the kind of difference the pick could have made if you used it.

If Sacramento, Chicago, or Indiana call about the pick, Ainge should listen.  I wouldn't trade both Nets picks for any of the guys those teams have, though. 

If I were those teams, I would probably stick with the franchise player I have, anyway.  Especially with the new CBA.  Chicago's got Jimmy locked up for a while and both Cousins and George will likely get re-signed for 5 years at the max.

Cousins could very well stay, given that he's in line for the huge new max deal, along with the reports that he likes the whole "big fish in a little pond" environment.

Chicago also probably keeps Butler unless they have a terrible January, but that will be revisited at the draft when they're nothing but first round fodder or just miss the playoffs.

However, it's really hard for me to see George resigning. He wants to win, and Indiana is a really small market for a guy who has long been rumored to want a bigger market. They have virtually no way to improve themselves this summer, so I just can't see George staying there long term, which hopefully forces Bird to trade him.

[Ilikesports17]

The only realistic options I give this years pick up for is Paul George or Cousins. When I say realistic, its probably a 10-20% chance that it actually happens. George is the best case scenario, and as the Pacers continue to tumble towards mediocrity heading towards the deadline - I'd say it goes from a 10% chance to maybe close to 30-40% that he gets dealt, especially if he continues to show his frustration a bit with the organization. Worse thing they did was fire Vogel.

In my opinion, the Pacers would be silly not to explore our 2017 pick as an option to replace George. So much premier talent coming out of that draft to build around.

2017 Nets pick, Grizzlies pick, our first rounder next year plus Crowder, Zeller, Rozier? George replaces Crowder in the starting lineup plus frees up minutes for Jaylen as the primary back up 3.

Umm. how many years on that PG13 contract? Markelle Fultz could be a star at a much more important position for 4 years, making way less than PG13. PG 13 is not a superstar, look at where his team is now after being way more hyped than ours. I think he's plateau'd.

Well if you look at his history, his teams are typically good. He had nothing but garbage on his team last year and they made the playoffs, took Toronto to 7 games and he had a great series. This year they fired their coach, and hired a really bad one. That team is really badly coached and Bird has never given George another perennial all star to play along.

I can't imagine Fultz ever being as good as George honestly. Seems like George is very underrated by you. He is def a top 8 player imo. Look at Derozan's stats against him last year in the playoffs. Goerge shut him down. He's a two way superstar who almost beat Miami in the playoffs.

top 8?

Im not sure.

He pushed Miami to 7(very impressive) but while watching the series I never really got the impression that Miami really took them seriously. That said, still really impressive the other guys on that team that were thought of highly (stephenson and Hibbert) have fallen of a cliff since then suggesting George might have really carried them more than even initially thought.

But that was a massive injury ago. Statistically he is a star but 22-7 on a .500 team is not top 8 player.

Lebron
Steph
Kawhi
Durant
Russ
Harden
Kyrie
Butler
Cousins
Davis
Giannis
Klay
Blake
CP3
 
are all guys you could argue are better than George.

[tankcity!]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

It's really hard to trade a possible #1 overall pick, though.

Unless you're getting (a) a franchise talent or (b) the finishing piece to your contender, there's too great a chance that the guy you get back won't make the kind of difference the pick could have made if you used it.

If Sacramento, Chicago, or Indiana call about the pick, Ainge should listen.  I wouldn't trade both Nets picks for any of the guys those teams have, though. 

If I were those teams, I would probably stick with the franchise player I have, anyway.  Especially with the new CBA.  Chicago's got Jimmy locked up for a while and both Cousins and George will likely get re-signed for 5 years at the max.

Cousins could very well stay, given that he's in line for the huge new max deal, along with the reports that he likes the whole "big fish in a little pond" environment.

Chicago also probably keeps Butler unless they have a terrible January, but that will be revisited at the draft when they're nothing but first round fodder or just miss the playoffs.

However, it's really hard for me to see George resigning. He wants to win, and Indiana is a really small market for a guy who has long been rumored to want a bigger market. They have virtually no way to improve themselves this summer, so I just can't see George staying there long term, which hopefully forces Bird to trade him.

And to add on top of that. Bird has really done this player a disservice for the roster he has put around him. Please just give him up already. I hope he realizes they're not going anywhere as a team in the next two years.

[tankcity!]

The only realistic options I give this years pick up for is Paul George or Cousins. When I say realistic, its probably a 10-20% chance that it actually happens. George is the best case scenario, and as the Pacers continue to tumble towards mediocrity heading towards the deadline - I'd say it goes from a 10% chance to maybe close to 30-40% that he gets dealt, especially if he continues to show his frustration a bit with the organization. Worse thing they did was fire Vogel.

In my opinion, the Pacers would be silly not to explore our 2017 pick as an option to replace George. So much premier talent coming out of that draft to build around.

2017 Nets pick, Grizzlies pick, our first rounder next year plus Crowder, Zeller, Rozier? George replaces Crowder in the starting lineup plus frees up minutes for Jaylen as the primary back up 3.

Umm. how many years on that PG13 contract? Markelle Fultz could be a star at a much more important position for 4 years, making way less than PG13. PG 13 is not a superstar, look at where his team is now after being way more hyped than ours. I think he's plateau'd.

Well if you look at his history, his teams are typically good. He had nothing but garbage on his team last year and they made the playoffs, took Toronto to 7 games and he had a great series. This year they fired their coach, and hired a really bad one. That team is really badly coached and Bird has never given George another perennial all star to play along.

I can't imagine Fultz ever being as good as George honestly. Seems like George is very underrated by you. He is def a top 8 player imo. Look at Derozan's stats against him last year in the playoffs. Goerge shut him down. He's a two way superstar who almost beat Miami in the playoffs.

top 8?

Im not sure.

He pushed Miami to 7(very impressive) but while watching the series I never really got the impression that Miami really took them seriously. That said, still really impressive the other guys on that team that were thought of highly (stephenson and Hibbert) have fallen of a cliff since then suggesting George might have really carried them more than even initially thought.

But that was a massive injury ago. Statistically he is a star but 22-7 on a .500 team is not top 8 player.

Lebron
Steph
Kawhi
Durant
Russ
Harden
Kyrie
Butler
Cousins
Davis
Giannis
Klay
Blake
CP3
 
are all guys you could argue are better than George.

Below are my rankings. I just don't agree with you. He's a two way player. He always guards the other teams top players. If he played on a better offensive system, he would be much better statwise. Look what Stevens has done for IT. Look what Dantoni has done for Harden. IMO George is a better player than Harden. He just needs to play for a better organization.

Lebron
Steph
Kawhi
Durant
Russ
Harden
George

[spikelovetheCelts]

I say keep this pick regardless. Trade 18 pick if you get value. We will get a. Good player even at 4. We may be able to trade down and get 2 core players.

[Granath]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

Now, It could've easily been Sacto calling about Cousins or it could've been Orlando saying "We'll give you Vucavic and Payton for that Brooklyn pick and Crowder", to which Ainge immediately slammed down the phone, but regardless, I have NO doubts he's gotten calls about it.

TP

Of course people are calling. Usually teams holding a likely top 3 pick are horrible and won't trade it for any reason. The Cs being willing to move it is a novelty. Any GM would be insane NOT to call given the position of the pick and the needs of the Celtics. That doesn't mean anything good has been offered but I'm sure Ainge's phone is ringing quite often.

[Boris Badenov]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

Now, It could've easily been Sacto calling about Cousins or it could've been Orlando saying "We'll give you Vucavic and Payton for that Brooklyn pick and Crowder", to which Ainge immediately slammed down the phone, but regardless, I have NO doubts he's gotten calls about it.

TP

Of course people are calling. Usually teams holding a likely top 3 pick are horrible and won't trade it for any reason. The Cs being willing to move it is a novelty. Any GM would be insane NOT to call given the position of the pick and the needs of the Celtics. That doesn't mean anything good has been offered but I'm sure Ainge's phone is ringing quite often.

This is an interesting turnabout, I think. I would bet that in years past, Danny has made the call rather than taken the call, about 90% of the time.

If nothing else it might reduce the eye-narrowing "this guy's going to try to fleece me" reaction that has probably killed more than a couple recent Ainge proposals.

[saltlover]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

Now, It could've easily been Sacto calling about Cousins or it could've been Orlando saying "We'll give you Vucavic and Payton for that Brooklyn pick and Crowder", to which Ainge immediately slammed down the phone, but regardless, I have NO doubts he's gotten calls about it.

TP

Of course people are calling. Usually teams holding a likely top 3 pick are horrible and won't trade it for any reason. The Cs being willing to move it is a novelty. Any GM would be insane NOT to call given the position of the pick and the needs of the Celtics. That doesn't mean anything good has been offered but I'm sure Ainge's phone is ringing quite often.

This is an interesting turnabout, I think. I would bet that in years past, Danny has made the call rather than taken the call, about 90% of the time.

If nothing else it might reduce the eye-narrowing "this guy's going to try to fleece me" reaction that has probably killed more than a couple recent Ainge proposals.

That said, I'm sure some people in past years have turned down either the 2016 or 2017 Brookyln pick and now have some regrets.

[droopdog7]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

It's really hard to trade a possible #1 overall pick, though.

Unless you're getting (a) a franchise talent or (b) the finishing piece to your contender, there's too great a chance that the guy you get back won't make the kind of difference the pick could have made if you used it.

If Sacramento, Chicago, or Indiana call about the pick, Ainge should listen.  I wouldn't trade both Nets picks for any of the guys those teams have, though. 

If I were those teams, I would probably stick with the franchise player I have, anyway.  Especially with the new CBA.  Chicago's got Jimmy locked up for a while and both Cousins and George will likely get re-signed for 5 years at the max.

Phosita, your logic is all kinds of backwards.  Almost all the risk is the pick, not the player.  The pick MIGHT be number one but odds are it will not be.  That player MIGHT be a star but frankly, the odds are not as high as you make it appear to be.  So the team taking most of the risk is the one taking the pick, not the celts.  We'd be getting an established star, which is more likely to better than any pick. 

That's why we'd actually have to give up more in the way of picks than some would think.  That's why cousins the talent (not necessarily the player because I hate who he is) is worth MORE than both nets picks.  Much more.

You're taking like the guy than wouldn't give up a lottery ticket for $10 because of the chance to win a lot more.  The expected value of the lottery ticket is probably less than a penny.

[Boris Badenov]

People really think he's lying? For real?

Brooklyn is in the #1 slot for a pretty loaded draft while Boston, who owns the pick, has been trying to make a big trade for 3 years. You REALLY think no ones called about that pick? Of course they have. It's almost a lock for the top 3. If you were even considering moving a big name guy on your roster, your first call has got to be Ainge to see if you can get a legit shot a #1 overall pick.

Now, It could've easily been Sacto calling about Cousins or it could've been Orlando saying "We'll give you Vucavic and Payton for that Brooklyn pick and Crowder", to which Ainge immediately slammed down the phone, but regardless, I have NO doubts he's gotten calls about it.

TP

Of course people are calling. Usually teams holding a likely top 3 pick are horrible and won't trade it for any reason. The Cs being willing to move it is a novelty. Any GM would be insane NOT to call given the position of the pick and the needs of the Celtics. That doesn't mean anything good has been offered but I'm sure Ainge's phone is ringing quite often.

This is an interesting turnabout, I think. I would bet that in years past, Danny has made the call rather than taken the call, about 90% of the time.

If nothing else it might reduce the eye-narrowing "this guy's going to try to fleece me" reaction that has probably killed more than a couple recent Ainge proposals.

That said, I'm sure some people in past years have turned down either the 2016 or 2017 Brookyln pick and now have some regrets.

That's what I'm saying. If you believe the rumored packages for some deals that fell through, which were seemingly initiated by Danny, it's possible that as a buyer, Ainge was pushed into offering more than he may have to now, as a seller.

[mctyson]

I think we should trade the 2018 pick.  I have a feeling Brooklyn will at least be back-end of the lottery next year.