Butler Trade to Boston Proposed by ESPN's Insider Kevin Pelton

[Real World]

If the Celtics could acquire Butler for the '18 Nets pick, then it would leave the '17 Nets pick for any potential Cousins trade.   Totally hypothetical, but I'd imagine a team built around Cousins, Butler, IT, Horford, and the supporting cast that remains, would be a title contender with decent window of contention.   

[Moranis]

Just to be clear, this is not a trade rumor, just one that he said works for both teams. Personally I am not a fan of giving up 2018 Nets pick for Butler.

Wait, what?

We get to Keep the 2017 pick (high pick in a deep draft), Brown, and Smart? That 2018 pick is not guaranteed like this years. They might be the worst team this year but look at Philly this year after getting the worst record in 15-16.  I don't think it can get much worse for Brooklyn.

I doubt Chicago does this deal anyway so it doesn't matter.

The Nets' 2018 season looks just as dismal.  Unlikely to get a big FA signing given the new CBA.  In addition, the top end of the draft in 2018 fits better for our long term needs than the 2017 draft. It has several incredible bigs who are lacking in this draft.  I do not give up that asset easily, certainly not for a Jimmy Butler.  Seems like most others disagree with me, though.

What if New Orleans trades Holiday and its 1st for Brook Lopez (just as an example)?  That 1st might end up pretty good and Holiday could easily re-sign in Brooklyn.  What if the Nets then overpay for someone like Noel in free agency and continue to get growth from their younger players.  Sure the Nets won't make the playoffs in that scenario, but could certainly be better than the worst team in basketball. 

You don't give up the 2017 1st for Butler, but you would be crazy not to give up the 2018 1st, especially when keeping all player assets.  Of course that is why Chicago would never do that trade.  ChiTown needs more than just the 2018 BKN pick and the Memphis pick to even consider trading Butler.

Why the heck would NOP trade for Lopez?!

They are looking for an offensive oriented center to pair with Davis, same reason they are kicking the tires on Okafor.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

[playdream]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

They have to trade Butler in order to rebuild so we have the leverage
With his stock dropping i think 3 non Nets pick + AB should be enough

[Phantom255x]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

They have to trade Butler in order to rebuild so we have the leverage
With his stock dropping i think 3 non Nets pick + AB should be enough

There is absolutely no way you can get Butler without surrendering at least one Nets pick OR Brown.

If you could, Danny would have made the deal already.

Judging by current talks, Bulls want something like Smart/Crowder/BOTHNETSPICKS.

Not happening, BUT I doubt they will just decide to go down to like non-Nets Picks + Rozier/Bradley even if they don't have the leverage.

[colincb]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

They have to trade Butler in order to rebuild so we have the leverage
With his stock dropping i think 3 non Nets pick + AB should be enough

There is absolutely no way you can get Butler without surrendering at least one Nets pick OR Brown.

If you could, Danny would have made the deal already.

Judging by current talks, Bulls want something like Smart/Crowder/BOTHNETSPICKS.

Not happening, BUT I doubt they will just decide to go down to like non-Nets Picks + Rozier/Bradley even if they don't have the leverage.

What current talks? I doubt Bulls expect any package that rich.

[wdleehi]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

They have to trade Butler in order to rebuild so we have the leverage
With his stock dropping i think 3 non Nets pick + AB should be enough

There is absolutely no way you can get Butler without surrendering at least one Nets pick OR Brown.

If you could, Danny would have made the deal already.

Judging by current talks, Bulls want something like Smart/Crowder/BOTHNETSPICKS.

Not happening, BUT I doubt they will just decide to go down to like non-Nets Picks + Rozier/Bradley even if they don't have the leverage.

What current talks? I doubt Bulls expect any package that rich.

No, I doubt the Celtics will pay that much.


I have no doubt that's what the Bulls may be looking for.  I doubt they trade.  In the past, it seems that they wait to long looking for a big deal.

[Phantom255x]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

They have to trade Butler in order to rebuild so we have the leverage
With his stock dropping i think 3 non Nets pick + AB should be enough

There is absolutely no way you can get Butler without surrendering at least one Nets pick OR Brown.

If you could, Danny would have made the deal already.

Judging by current talks, Bulls want something like Smart/Crowder/BOTHNETSPICKS.

Not happening, BUT I doubt they will just decide to go down to like non-Nets Picks + Rozier/Bradley even if they don't have the leverage.

What current talks? I doubt Bulls expect any package that rich.

Not necessarily "current", BUT that was supposedly the asking price on Draft Day last June, and it seems with the same core + Nets picks going forward, the Bulls could explore a trade with Boston again (reported by KC Johnson, a reliable Bulls reporter).

Obviously it won't be that rich and I'm sure the Bulls will lower their price a bit, but no way they do a Butler deal without at least one BKN pick.

[Moranis]

I still think it takes 2 of the 3 best assets (Brown and the 2 Nets picks) for Boston to acquire Butler

[saltlover]

Don't think Chicago would even be interested in that deal.

I believe we'd have to include Jaylen Brown if we aren't dealing the 2017 1st. It would make sense for Chicago to get a valuable prospect in return.

They have to trade Butler in order to rebuild so we have the leverage
With his stock dropping i think 3 non Nets pick + AB should be enough

There is absolutely no way you can get Butler without surrendering at least one Nets pick OR Brown.

If you could, Danny would have made the deal already.

Judging by current talks, Bulls want something like Smart/Crowder/BOTHNETSPICKS.

Not happening, BUT I doubt they will just decide to go down to like non-Nets Picks + Rozier/Bradley even if they don't have the leverage.

What current talks? I doubt Bulls expect any package that rich.

Not necessarily "current", BUT that was supposedly the asking price on Draft Day last June, and it seems with the same core + Nets picks going forward, the Bulls could explore a trade with Boston again (reported by KC Johnson, a reliable Bulls reporter).

Obviously it won't be that rich and I'm sure the Bulls will lower their price a bit, but no way they do a Butler deal without at least one BKN pick.

Since last June, of course, the Nets have become an even worse team, greatly increasing the value of their picks.  At draft time, they had managed to finish with the 3rd-worst record, but were as close to having the 7th-worst record as they were the first.  In advance of what was expected to be a very active free agency period, there was some risk (not all that much in my opinion, but some) that they could improve enough to make that pick much less valuable.  Not only has that not happened, they're instead 7 games clear of anyone challenging them for the worst record.  The Nets pick is guaranteed to be top 4 this year, and it's tough to see it not being at least top 5 next year, given the relative weakness of this free agency class and the Nets inability to improve via trade or draft.

Not to mention, this year Jae Crowder has taken a huge step forward to become an elite shooter, so his value has increased too.  If the rumored trade was too much for Ainge to consider last year, it's even moreso the case now.

[Denis998]

What if we add AB to that list. Would that even out the trade a bit?

[GreenEnvy]

I would do that trade then push all-in with the '17 pick for Cousins.

That would give us 3 bonafide all-stars under 28 along with another one in Horford. Add Smart, Crowder, and Bradley that makes us a very talented and deep team ready to contend for a long time.

Or we can keep the picks. Doesn't matter to me. I can't recall a team in Boston's position, ever. Ainge has done a masterful job. He's reached the proverbial fork in the championship road: go all-in or slow play it. I think both roads lead to 18 and 19. One sooner than later, but the latter may deliver us 20-21-22 as well.

[SHAQATTACK]

I d do it ,  pretty quick too.

Bulls won't 

[green_bballers13]

Just to be clear, this is not a trade rumor, just one that he said works for both teams. Personally I am not a fan of giving up 2018 Nets pick for Butler.

Wait, what?

We get to Keep the 2017 pick (high pick in a deep draft), Brown, and Smart? That 2018 pick is not guaranteed like this years. They might be the worst team this year but look at Philly this year after getting the worst record in 15-16.  I don't think it can get much worse for Brooklyn.

I doubt Chicago does this deal anyway so it doesn't matter.

The Nets' 2018 season looks just as dismal.  Unlikely to get a big FA signing given the new CBA.  In addition, the top end of the draft in 2018 fits better for our long term needs than the 2017 draft. It has several incredible bigs who are lacking in this draft.  I do not give up that asset easily, certainly not for a Jimmy Butler.  Seems like most others disagree with me, though.

I agree. I don't want to give up the following 4 assets: BKN 17 and 18, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart. I like Jimmy Butler, but I don't think he is a top 10 player in this league. The Celtics should be in no rush to compete with this version of the Golden State Warriors, so I think player development is the name of the game to get us back to competing for a title in 5 yrs from now.

Toronto is kind of screwed in the sense that they are built to win now. They will likely be rebuilding before winning a championship.

[kraidstar]

Chicago probably wants

Nets 17
Crowder
Rozier

.....and that's just for Butler. They probably squeeze another non-brooklyn pick out of us if they add Gibson. They love the guy.