CBS Mock Draft suggests Celtics/Pacers trade...

[saltlover]

I've proposed trading Fultz for George before, but no way I do it at the draft and no way I take back Jefferson.  The point of acquiring George is after Hayward, Griffin, or Millsap signs in free agency.  You then add George to the team at that point to make the team a real contender.

How on earth are you going to pay for that roster after giving Isaiah a new contract in 2018? You're talking about a payroll of over $200m, unprecedented in the NBA and the possibility of the owners making a big loss even if we did win the championship

I wouldn't give Thomas a max contract, if he leaves so be it, with George and Hayward (or Griffin), plus Horford I don't think it matters.  I've also gone on record many times saying I'd rather keep Bradley than Thomas.  I just think Bradley is a better fit and will cost less to keep.

It doesn't really matter if you max IT or George in 2018 -- that team still is too expensive to be second-fiddle to Golden State.  And if it isn't too expensive, it's way too shallow, since acquiring PG in a trade means you have to have moved Fultz and at least one useful salary (AB, or combinations of Crowder, Smart, and Brown) on top of letting other players go to make room for the max free agent you signed (Olynyk, Rozier).

Here are your choices.  In free agency, you can let everyone walk, including Olynyk, and dump Rozier to make room for a max (this might require the max player to give us a couple hundred thousand discount, or not, depending where the cap falls between $101 and $102 million).  Or you can trade AB for no 2017-2018 salary obligations, and get your max while keeping Olynyk.

Then, having done that, you can get George by sending out at least $14.5 million in salary.  So this can be Fultz+Crowder+Rozier (if you didn't move Rozier), Fultz+AB (if you didn't move AB), Fultz+Crowder+Smart, Fultz+Crowder+Brown, or Fultz+Smart+Brown.  Which combination are you taking?  I'm curious.

Salty, I have a question. Is Zeller eligible to be traded on draft day for the value of his salary or because he is unguaranteed next year is he not eligible to be traded on draft day?

He's eligible to be traded on draft day.

[saltlover]

I've proposed trading Fultz for George before, but no way I do it at the draft and no way I take back Jefferson.  The point of acquiring George is after Hayward, Griffin, or Millsap signs in free agency.  You then add George to the team at that point to make the team a real contender.

How on earth are you going to pay for that roster after giving Isaiah a new contract in 2018? You're talking about a payroll of over $200m, unprecedented in the NBA and the possibility of the owners making a big loss even if we did win the championship

I wouldn't give Thomas a max contract, if he leaves so be it, with George and Hayward (or Griffin), plus Horford I don't think it matters.  I've also gone on record many times saying I'd rather keep Bradley than Thomas.  I just think Bradley is a better fit and will cost less to keep.

It doesn't really matter if you max IT or George in 2018 -- that team still is too expensive to be second-fiddle to Golden State.  And if it isn't too expensive, it's way too shallow, since acquiring PG in a trade means you have to have moved Fultz and at least one useful salary (AB, or combinations of Crowder, Smart, and Brown) on top of letting other players go to make room for the max free agent you signed (Olynyk, Rozier).

Here are your choices.  In free agency, you can let everyone walk, including Olynyk, and dump Rozier to make room for a max (this might require the max player to give us a couple hundred thousand discount, or not, depending where the cap falls between $101 and $102 million).  Or you can trade AB for no 2017-2018 salary obligations, and get your max while keeping Olynyk.

Then, having done that, you can get George by sending out at least $14.5 million in salary.  So this can be Fultz+Crowder+Rozier (if you didn't move Rozier), Fultz+AB (if you didn't move AB), Fultz+Crowder+Smart, Fultz+Crowder+Brown, or Fultz+Smart+Brown.  Which combination are you taking?  I'm curious.

I'd dump Rozier and KO and then trade Fultz, Smart, and Crowder for George and Seraphin (I believe that works).  My optimal free agent signing would actually be Griffin.  Leaving a starting 5 of Thomas, Bradley, George, Griffin, and Horford.  You have Brown, Zizic and Seraphin on the bench before any other moves (Yabu stays overseas because you need that room).  I'd re-sign Green at the vet minimum exception (if he'd come back at that price).  I'd make the same offer to Amir, who may just be willing to stay for the minimum.  I'd do the same thing with other vets (you know the David West's of the world) and would fill in the roster with 2nd round picks and other young guys on rookie minimum type deals. 

The bench would be thin, but that starting 5 would be incredible and would give Boston a real shot at winning the title next season.  Obviously it likely can't keep all 5 guys on huge dollar contracts, and a real decision needs to be made regarding Thomas and Bradley, but having the 3, 4, and 5 all locked in for multiple years is a risk worth taking (that of course assumes George re-signs, which clearly Boston would believe or it wouldn't make that trade).  Boston would still have the BKN 18 and basically all of its future draft picks (and LAC and MEM) for adding young depth to transition the starting five (plus Brown, Zizic, and Yabu).

Seraphin seems like a bit of a random name, but I'm sure he's not untouchable as far as Indy is concerned.  I'm just glad his giant snake doesn't live in DC anymore.

A couple more questions, if you'll humor me: What is the most you're willing to give AB and what is the most you're willing to give IT?  We'll assume the other one walks in 2018.  Also, where do you think the Brooklyn pick ends up?

[Moranis]

I've proposed trading Fultz for George before, but no way I do it at the draft and no way I take back Jefferson.  The point of acquiring George is after Hayward, Griffin, or Millsap signs in free agency.  You then add George to the team at that point to make the team a real contender.

How on earth are you going to pay for that roster after giving Isaiah a new contract in 2018? You're talking about a payroll of over $200m, unprecedented in the NBA and the possibility of the owners making a big loss even if we did win the championship

I wouldn't give Thomas a max contract, if he leaves so be it, with George and Hayward (or Griffin), plus Horford I don't think it matters.  I've also gone on record many times saying I'd rather keep Bradley than Thomas.  I just think Bradley is a better fit and will cost less to keep.

It doesn't really matter if you max IT or George in 2018 -- that team still is too expensive to be second-fiddle to Golden State.  And if it isn't too expensive, it's way too shallow, since acquiring PG in a trade means you have to have moved Fultz and at least one useful salary (AB, or combinations of Crowder, Smart, and Brown) on top of letting other players go to make room for the max free agent you signed (Olynyk, Rozier).

Here are your choices.  In free agency, you can let everyone walk, including Olynyk, and dump Rozier to make room for a max (this might require the max player to give us a couple hundred thousand discount, or not, depending where the cap falls between $101 and $102 million).  Or you can trade AB for no 2017-2018 salary obligations, and get your max while keeping Olynyk.

Then, having done that, you can get George by sending out at least $14.5 million in salary.  So this can be Fultz+Crowder+Rozier (if you didn't move Rozier), Fultz+AB (if you didn't move AB), Fultz+Crowder+Smart, Fultz+Crowder+Brown, or Fultz+Smart+Brown.  Which combination are you taking?  I'm curious.

I'd dump Rozier and KO and then trade Fultz, Smart, and Crowder for George and Seraphin (I believe that works).  My optimal free agent signing would actually be Griffin.  Leaving a starting 5 of Thomas, Bradley, George, Griffin, and Horford.  You have Brown, Zizic and Seraphin on the bench before any other moves (Yabu stays overseas because you need that room).  I'd re-sign Green at the vet minimum exception (if he'd come back at that price).  I'd make the same offer to Amir, who may just be willing to stay for the minimum.  I'd do the same thing with other vets (you know the David West's of the world) and would fill in the roster with 2nd round picks and other young guys on rookie minimum type deals. 

The bench would be thin, but that starting 5 would be incredible and would give Boston a real shot at winning the title next season.  Obviously it likely can't keep all 5 guys on huge dollar contracts, and a real decision needs to be made regarding Thomas and Bradley, but having the 3, 4, and 5 all locked in for multiple years is a risk worth taking (that of course assumes George re-signs, which clearly Boston would believe or it wouldn't make that trade).  Boston would still have the BKN 18 and basically all of its future draft picks (and LAC and MEM) for adding young depth to transition the starting five (plus Brown, Zizic, and Yabu).

Seraphin seems like a bit of a random name, but I'm sure he's not untouchable as far as Indy is concerned.  I'm just glad his giant snake doesn't live in DC anymore.

A couple more questions, if you'll humor me: What is the most you're willing to give AB and what is the most you're willing to give IT?  We'll assume the other one walks in 2018.  Also, where do you think the Brooklyn pick ends up?

I'd give both Bradley and Thomas somewhere in the 20 million range.  If it took a bit more, I wouldn't lose both, but I'd give neither one the max so if that is what they both wanted I let them walk (unless George made it clear he needed at least 1 back to re-sign himself).  If either was willing to sign for lower, I'd try to keep both and frankly if they both took around 20 million I might do that anyway as at that price both could easily be moved if needed later on. 

Assuming Brooklyn doesn't land any real marquee free agents, I would expect Brooklyn to again be a bottom 5 team.  They certainly could make moves that makes that less likely, but I just don't see it as likely that they are better then at least 5 other teams.  I don't think we can count on them being the worst team in the league again (though that could certainly happen).  Then you have the whole lottery thing, but even if Boston is totally unlucky I can't see that pick outside of the top 10 and frankly top 8 seems all but assured (again pending something weird happening in free agency). 

[Bobshot]

Makes no sense for Ainge to make any trade for George unless George is willing to sign a long range contract with the Celtics.

[boscel33]

I'd rather sign Hayward and draft Fultz.

I agree.  The question I have for all of the people who understand the cap better than I do is, can we draft Fultz, then sign Hayward,  then trade the '18 nets pick and the '19 Clips pick, plus players (AB/Crowder/others) to the Bulls for Butler?

I kind of think we come out with Butler, Fultz, and Hayward because we still have four first rounders in the next two years, plus Smart, AB, Jae, Rozier, yabu, Zizic, etc.....

[Bobshot]

I'd rather sign Hayward and draft Fultz.

Do we know how much cap space / exception(?) we would have to add to the frontcourt in the event we sign Hayward?

No, but we can be sure Ainge knows.