Thank you Danny

[Jiri Welsch]

With that said, I am warming up to the trade Danny made last night. I like Fultz and wish we could have kept him. However, Philly paid a steep price to move up two spots by sacrificing the 2018 Lakers pick and 2019 Kings pick. Essentially, the Celtics increased their negotiation power now AND the future because they can either keep two potential lottery picks in 2018 along with their own pick and continue to build for the future while having those chips in the between time for the potential "fireworks" deal.

Until otherwise and the trade fails Danny, I believe he must know what he is doing and therefore I am not one to judge his long-term, or short-term, motive.

It's or, not and

[footey]

Here is something I've been thinking about.

Why didn't Philly just trade the 3rd pick and the Lakers 2018 pick for Butler?

Butler would've helped them much more than Fultz.

they are not ready as a team .....greatbtalent does not not mean immediately translate to suscess ,  look at T wolves loaded with talent ,  you have to develop team ...this takes years of playing together ....Lebron had to,play years with Heat and Cavs to get Rings . 
Butler does not want to be tossed into a mess of rookies and a so so coach with no winning record ......LOL......

Butler is like Hayward ...looking for a team that is closer to ready to compete .
Philly can even keep a healthy team on the floor .  athey have barely played a gew games together

Philly is not ready coach wise , team wise , for FAs ..older stars to want to play there....maybe in 3-5 years yes.

IF Embiid healthy all season, Philly is a playoff team next season with or without a Fultz.

[dwlefty13]

With that said, I am warming up to the trade Danny made last night. I like Fultz and wish we could have kept him. However, Philly paid a steep price to move up two spots by sacrificing the 2018 Lakers pick or 2019 Kings pick. Essentially, the Celtics increased their negotiation power now AND the future because they can either keep two potential lottery picks in 2018 along with their own pick and continue to build for the future while having those chips in the between time for the potential "fireworks" deal.

Until otherwise and the trade fails Danny, I believe he must know what he is doing and therefore I am not one to judge his long-term, or short-term, motive.

It's or, not and

Fixed it, Jiri. Thanks for catching that.

[Roy H.]

I agree that Fultz isn't "generational".  But, if he's "only" a perrenial all-star, it's still not a good trade.

[Celtics18]

I agree that Fultz isn't "generational".  But, if he's "only" a perrenial all-star, it's still not a good trade.

Obviously that also depends on how good the guy we get at number three--presumably Jackson or Tatum--ends up being.

[crimson_stallion]

I have no idea who will be good coming out of this draft. Fultz is the only one that has intrigued me though. The rest when I read about them either can't shoot, can shoot but not athletic, weird mechanics ...

I will say I was not high on Brown last year and right now I think he's better than all these guys!

My point is I don't like the trade because of the return. Every time I hear Danny tries to trade up teams want the farm. But when we trade down all we get is a protected future pick?? I think the rest of the league is laughing at us.

Tatum and Fultz are both impressive talents.  Both guys are very versatile and capable offensive players who can score in a variety of ways,  can handle the ball,  have solid court vision and basketball IQ, and are good rebounders.

Both have been described as good kids who are highly coachable, very professional,  and have strong work ethic.

Both have the physical tools to be able to play and defend at least two NBA positions.

The thing that makes all of the above especially impressive is the fact that both guys are 19 year old Freshmen, because it's extremely rare for players at that young an age to already be this skilled across such a wide variety of areas.   Both guys are without any major faults, and i struggle to see either failing to become an all star.

My only real criticism of Fultz is that in interviews,  he just doesn't come across that confident considering his hype and place in the mocks.   For somebody who's been almost unanimously expected to go #1, he's seemed a little hesitant and uncertain of himself in a lot of the interviews ive seen.   Almost seems like he doesn't believe he should be there.

Jackson on the other hand has the opposite problem - he sounds cocky to a fault,  a bit like Randle did as a prospect.   He talks as if he thinks he's god's gift to the world,  and has a n air of arrogance about him that really puts me off.

Tatum I like.   He seems confident, assertive and sure of himself,  but at the same time modest and respectful. Seems like the type who would respect his opponent,  but still battle him to the death.   I like that.

[Ogaju]

I have no idea who will be good coming out of this draft. Fultz is the only one that has intrigued me though. The rest when I read about them either can't shoot, can shoot but not athletic, weird mechanics ...

I will say I was not high on Brown last year and right now I think he's better than all these guys!

My point is I don't like the trade because of the return. Every time I hear Danny tries to trade up teams want the farm. But when we trade down all we get is a protected future pick?? I think the rest of the league is laughing at us.

I feel exactly like you do. We offered Charlotte all of our Brooklyn picks for a shot to take Winslow and they said no. We turn around and accept this crap?

Well, in retrospect was Charlotte not stupid to say no?

[Ogaju]

Danny has been consistent ...... he actually accepted the type of offer that he has made to teams in year's past. So people should stop the criticism that Danny is always trying to fleece trade partners. It is now clear that all this time Danny has felt he made fair offers.

The proof is that he just accepted a deal similar to offers he had made in the past for Winslow.

Further proof is that if those teams had made those deals with Danny they would have won those trades.

[Geo123]

Here is something I've been thinking about.

Why didn't Philly just trade the 3rd pick and the Lakers 2018 pick for Butler?

Butler would've helped them much more than Fultz.

Because Fultz is only 19, cheaper, and is flat out more skilled than Butler who has peaked.

He's better than an All Star day 1?  I don't think so.
[/quit

An all star whose numbers have gone up every year has peaked?  How do you know this let alone why would you think Futtz  is a better all around player?  Butler is one of the best all around players in the league.  Fultz has done NOTHING yet.

[coco]

Beautifully written.

Now, why do I still feel like we got taken?   DA just gave Philly the keys to the Atlantic division - three yrs from now.

...and we get to keep the no-so-young shortest backcourt in the league.

[aingeforthree]

I agree that Fultz isn't "generational".  But, if he's "only" a perrenial all-star, it's still not a good trade.

Out of the Big 4, Tatum was the only one who looked 'generational' last year imo. Definite perennial all star potential.

I think he's the best player in this draft and I'm not sure why he's even behind some of these kids after the year he had last year. He showed it all.

I truly believe Tatum is at the top of the Celtics big board and has been there since last December.

[crimson_stallion]

I agree that Fultz isn't "generational".  But, if he's "only" a perrenial all-star, it's still not a good trade.

Out of the Big 4, Tatum was the only one who looked 'generational' last year imo. Definite perennial all star potential.

I think he's the best player in this draft and I'm not sure why he's even behind some of these kids after the year he had last year. He showed it all.

I truly believe Tatum is at the top of the Celtics big board and has been there since last December.

I hope so...

In some ways I actually liked Tatum even over Fultz,  but if I were in that seat is probably still take Fultz at #1 - he's just to good not to.

But Tatum is #2 for me and always has been.

[kozlodoev]

I agree that Fultz isn't "generational".  But, if he's "only" a perrenial all-star, it's still not a good trade.

Out of the Big 4, Tatum was the only one who looked 'generational' last year imo. Definite perennial all star potential.

I think he's the best player in this draft and I'm not sure why he's even behind some of these kids after the year he had last year. He showed it all.

I truly believe Tatum is at the top of the Celtics big board and has been there since last December.

I hope so...

In some ways I actually liked Tatum even over Fultz,  but if I were in that seat is probably still take Fultz at #1 - he's just to good not to.

But Tatum is #2 for me and always has been.

I will be a lot happier with Tatum than with Fultz. I don't think I could stand the SF version of Marcus Smart muddling through the next several seasons.

Then again, I'm not sure how excited I feel about rolling the dice on another so-so prospect. Tatum seems to come with the same question marks about defensive effort/intensity, so in many ways it will feel like we're choosing to draft an inferior version of Fultz just because he's a SF with size. Can't help but be a bit meh about the whole thing if it happens.

Also, if this is indeed happening, my sense is that this is a framework which says "We draft Fultz and you can have him if the guy we want is on the board at #3". Otherwise we'll just keep. Or at least I hope so...

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Here's my things with Markelle Fultz...

1. The kid's offensive game is as polished as a pro can be. He has the skill NBA teams clamor for, the ability to control pick and rolls and dictate pace and tempo.

2. 23/6/5 on 47% FG, 41% 3PT. Great numbers coming out.

3. The Washington problem could be an issue, but really, who else on the Washington team is an NBA caliber talent? IT had Quincy Pondexter, CJ Wilcox, Justin Holiday and Terrence Ross in Washington, who did Markelle had to help him?

4. His lack of desire to win could stem from the fact that he's just looking towards the NBA. When your team is that bad, and you know you're leaving for the NBA already, wouldn't you?

He may not be a generational talent, yes, but he has the tools, the skills and the talent to be a multiple time All-Star. Damian Lillard isn't a generational talent, but you'd want to have him on your team, Fultz could be a bigger Lillard with the skills that he has. That's who we are passing on.

The rest of the field have their red flags themselves, why not just take the best one with the minimal weakness?

[crimson_stallion]

Here's my things with Markelle Fultz...

1. The kid's offensive game is as polished as a pro can be. He has the skill NBA teams clamor for, the ability to control pick and rolls and dictate pace and tempo.

2. 23/6/5 on 47% FG, 41% 3PT. Great numbers coming out.

3. The Washington problem could be an issue, but really, who else on the Washington team is an NBA caliber talent? IT had Quincy Pondexter, CJ Wilcox, Justin Holiday and Terrence Ross in Washington, who did Markelle had to help him?

4. His lack of desire to win could stem from the fact that he's just looking towards the NBA. When your team is that bad, and you know you're leaving for the NBA already, wouldn't you?

He may not be a generational talent, yes, but he has the tools, the skills and the talent to be a multiple time All-Star. Damian Lillard isn't a generational talent, but you'd want to have him on your team, Fultz could be a bigger Lillard with the skills that he has. That's who we are passing on.

The rest of the field have their red flags themselves, why not just take the best one with the minimal weakness?

I agree...but Danny is Danny.

My heart is saying "dont sweat it,  he's doing this deal because those extra picks are going to be used to bring Butler /George/Other here in a trade!!".   My head is saying "it's Danny Ainge - be prepared for the harsh reality that maybe he just likes Jackson better".

That doesn't make sense Ti me though.   

1) Philly I believe liked Jackson too, and didn't Fultz work out poorly for them?  Why woukd they give up a pick just to guarantee they get him at #1, when it seems they were pretty happy with Jackson as it was?

2) There's a lot of speculation that the Lakers aren't that happy with how Ball's workout went...and a lot of talk that they're interested in Jackson as their #1 option.   Why would Boston give up on Fultz to move down to #3,  purely because they like Jackson so much, when there's a very real chance the Lakers could take Jackson at #2? You'd never take that risk of Fultz / Jackson are the guys you see as 1a and 1b.

3) If Boston is THAT in love with Jackson, wouldn't they hold on to the pick so as to guarantee that they get him?  Or work a trade with the Lakers to move down to #2 do that they are guaranteed to have a shot at either Fultz or Jackson?

Makes me think that they can't be THAT obsessed with Jackson,  or they'd not take the risk of trading down only to lose him to the Lakers.   

The idea going around (that Boston likes Jackson, Tatum and Fultz equally makes most sense.