Let's be honest here, fans get too attached to our own players.
If the C's had drafted Bender, or Dunn, or Murray, or Chriss at #3, many C's fans would think they're untouchable instead. I think most probably wouldn't even trade whoever the C's took at #3 for Ingram at this point. Had the C's drafted one of them though, I think the overwhelming consensus here would be there's no way the C's should trade whoever they drafted at #3 for Jaylen Brown because the player the C's drafted has star potential!
There's definitely some impartial people out there who think Brown would have gone #8 or #9 if the C's didn't draft him (see here and here). Had the C's gotten Brown at #8 or #9 instead, suddenly I think some people around here wouldn't think Brown had the same potential. I wouldn't trade a guy drafted #3 for Butler, but a guy drafted at #9 doesn't have the same potential, so ya I might consider trading him for Butler.
If the C's had Jimmy Butler, I doubt most here would trade him for Brown (well except for the few who always seem to want the C's to tank).
It's similar to Marcus Smart. Many of the fans wouldn't trade Smart for Aaron Gordon or Julius Randle either. But had the C's drafted one of them instead and now asked if we should trade one of them for Smart, again most people here would say no way.
It shouldn't matter what # the guy was drafted at or by whom, you want to get the best player. Very few NBA players no matter where they're drafted turn out as good as Jimmy Butler. I would definitely trade Brown for Butler. I don't want to wait and see how Brown develops just because the C's drafted him or he was taken #3, I just want the best player (both now and in the future).
And don't forget for every Joe Johnson for Rodney Rogers or Billups for Kenny Anderson trade, there's a Jeff Green for Ray Allen, a Crowder for Rondo, and a Jefferson/Telfair/Green for Garnett trade.
I agree with you that to some extent we are all homers. We wouldn't take enough time to post on this site if we were not. I don't want to trade Brown for Jimmy Butler. Here's a quick glance into why:
1. We already have really good swings, Jae Crowder, and Avery Bradley (though I will admit they are not the level of Jimmy Butler, they are not far off).
2. We would have to give up some serious assets to do so, BKL picks, and probably assets like Smart or Brown. What kind of upgrade is Butler over Crowder? I mean, clearly an upgrade, but beat the Cavs in 7 games upgrade? If not, why sacrifice the future?
I followed the draft and prospects very closely, and I will agree with you that the pundits had Brown going anywhere from 3-9. They also had Hillary winning the election. Point is, talk is cheap. Malcolm Brogdan who was not even on the radar until the combine is on top of the rookie ladder (leaving Embiid out here for obvious reasons). We are trying to have our cake and eat it too, try to win now, and have a bunch of great young prospects to give us longevity. Not an easy task. I would trade Brown for a difference making upgrade at a position of need (Cousins).