PICK OR TRADE? CELTICS FIND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR POSITION TO 2014 CAVS

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/pick-or-trade-boston-celtics-find-themselves-similar-position-2014-cleveland-cavaliers



PICK OR TRADE? CELTICS FIND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR POSITION TO 2014 CAVS



By A. Sherrod Blakely



May 29, 2017 6:30 PM



BOSTON – Even before the Boston Celtics landed the top overall pick in next month’s NBA draft, there has been talk about Boston potentially trading it away.

While Danny Ainge has made no secret about being open to all options involving the top overall pick, there are a couple of things to remember.

Moving the number one overall pick is not a decision that’s made lightly.

That’s why only twice since the ABA-NBA merge in 1976, has the number one overall pick not played for the team that selected him.

But in looking at the two instances when it did happen, 1993 with Chris Webber (drafted by Orlando, traded to Golden State) and 2014 with Andrew Wiggins (drafted by Cleveland, traded to Minnesota), the Wiggins deal best resembles the kind of situation that the Celtics now find themselves in with the top overall pick in hand.

In 2014, Cleveland wound up with the number one overall pick for the second straight year. In 2013, they shocked many in selecting UNLV’s Anthony Bennett which turned out to be a huge mistake.

But the following year, taking Andrew Wiggins out of Kansas with the top pick was more of a no-brainer.

The Cavs were soon faced with the kind of problem every team would love to have.

Just a couple weeks after the draft, LeBron James announced that he was taking his talents back to Cleveland.

The number one pick and James returning to Cleveland?

Does it get much better than that for a Cavs fan?

As it turned out … yeah. It got a hell of a lot better, actually.

While a James-Wiggins-Kyrie Irving Big Three will probably win you a lot of console championships, in the real world of NBA basketball it wasn’t going to work.

The Cavs knew this, which is why they made no secret about willing to part ways with the top pick (Wiggins) for the right player.

That player was Kevin Love, who had grown tired of all the struggles he endured with the Timberpups who never grew up enough to win enough games to get to the playoffs.  

Minnesota, understanding that they may be better off down the road without Love, decided to move him for a bunch of pieces centered around Wiggins who went on to become the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Cleveland’s motivation for making the deal had a lot to do with being in the best position to compete for a title right now, without having to do major work at the front-end of their rotation.

LeBron James. Kyrie Irving. Kevin Love.

Fill in the rest of the roster with good players who are great fits, and just like that ... you're a title contender.

Boston finds itself in a similar position to the Cavs in 2014.

Unlike most franchises with the top overall pick, Boston doesn’t need that player to come in and carry the franchise from Day One.

Remember, Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference finals this season with one of the younger teams in the playoffs.

Of the players under contract for next season, Al Horford – he’ll be 31 years old on Saturday – is the oldest player.

So with all that youth still developing their games, still figuring out how best to impact the Celtics, Boston knows they would be much better served if they can convert that top overall pick into a proven, established All-Star that can move them that much closer to title contention sooner rather than later.

That’s why Cleveland was so eager to trade the pick, knowing it would likely return a proven star for a team that at the time felt they were one piece away from being a true title contender.

Boston, which lost to the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals last week, is at least one high-impact performer (I believe two personally) from posing a stronger threat to the Cavs’ dominance than we saw in a conference finals that Cleveland ended in five games.

There are a few big names that the Celtics have shown interest in the past, and they could once again come into play this offseason.

Indiana’s Paul George is a player Boston has had its sights on for a while now. The only real concern the Celtics have with George is whether he’ll re-sign with them next summer when he becomes a free agent.

Rumors have circulated for a few months that the Palmdale, Calif. native is longing to be closer to home and play for the Los Angeles Lakers who have identified him as a primary free agent target when he becomes available.

Indiana might be motivated to move him sooner to ensure they’ll get something for him if he does, in fact, decide to move on.

But are the Celtics willing to risk giving up the number one overall pick (along with other key assets) for a player who may only be around for one season?

And while it is a long shot and on paper makes little sense, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis shouldn’t totally be discounted, either.

The Pelicans are a franchise right now that’s not going anywhere with their current allotment of talent, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

They gave up their first-round pick this year as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade, so they’re not on the clock until the 40th selection, or 10th pick in the second round.

It would take a significant amount of assets to acquire Davis, but considering his age (he’s just 24 years old), talent, and versatility at both ends of the floor, he becomes an instant game-changer if the Celtics can get him.

Boston also likes Jimmy Butler of Chicago, although the Celtics aren’t likely to need to give up the number one pick to get him.

The Bulls have been hesitant to move Butler for many reasons.

For one thing, he’s a hell of player.

In addition, his contract (he has three years left on a five-year, $92.3 million deal that began with the 2015-2016 season) is very team-friendly for a player regarded as being among the top-15, top-20 in the NBA.

With the salary cap steadily rising, Chicago would likely have to pay significantly more than that if they traded for say, Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, who each hit free agency in the summer of 2018.

No matter what direction the Celtics decide to go with the number one overall pick, there will be some risk involved.

But with that risk comes the tremendous potential to be rewarded with a great player who could be just what this franchise needs in order to bring home Banner 18.



bob
MY NOTE:  An interesting perspective on this.  Where I see a difference is that Wiggins and LeBron both played similar postions, so there was redundancy there as well as the need to get an elite front court player.  We really don't have a Markelle Fultz-like player.  There is no lights out SG on our roster nor is there a young'un-in-training for that.  Smart can't shoot for shit and Rozier is an Avery Bradley-like shooter, he'll get better like AB did but he'll never be elite because he has a defense-first mentality and that's where he expends his energies.  I like that about Rozier, and we certainly need players like him, but he isn't taking Fultz' place, not now not ever.  

Other than Anthony Davis, whom I think we'd have to pry out of NOP's cold, dead fingers, every elite BIG is flawed.  Cousins has his attitude issues, Griffin is becoming very injury-prone, Green and Kawhi aren't available for love or money.  Ibaka?  Maybe but there's no need to trade for him, he's a free agent and Danny could go after him directly if he wanted him (although that would end the pursuit of Hayward, it would be either or, I think).  Toronto's problem is that their payroll was $108M last year and that was with Ibaka making only $12M.  Kelly Olynyk will make $12M+, so Serge Ibaka certainly will.  PJ Tucker made $5.3M and is a free agent.  Kyle Lowry is a free agent and is talking about leaving.  The Raptors could be blowing up this off-season as they might have to choose between re-signing Ibaka or Lowry.



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KDP mentioned trading the first pick to Sacramento for Numbers 5 and 10 plus Cauley-Stein in another tread.

I see this possible trade getting us two top ten picks and a much needed, young center who might have been the first overall pick if he were in this year's draft.

We certainly need a lane protector, and there are no quality free agent centers around. Please, I do not want to even think that guys like Javale McGee are potential centers for our Cs where we are in the rebuild.

The idea of getting Davis from NO is not very likely without stripping many of our draft picks and many players from our team's core. Such a move would push the rebuild back about two years as you can only change a few guys each year to keep the entire team moving forward even if Davis is a top 5% NBA player.

"Boston finds itself in a similar position to the Cavs in 2014."

I now already see the effects of the recreational marijuana law passing in Massachusetts. How else could this writer think the 2017 Celts are in a similar position to the 20-14 Cavs?

Oh yes, 1945 Japan was in the same position as the USA, except America had two atomic bombs. That's the type of logic this guy is spouting.

The 2014 Cavs having LeBron makes their situation an entirely different kettle of fish than the 2017 Celts.

As Danny said, "We have a lot of good players. We need some great players." Drafting and keeping #1's is the best way to get and retain them.

worcester wrote:"Boston finds itself in a similar position to the Cavs in 2014."

I now already see the effects of the recreational marijuana law passing in Massachusetts. How else could this writer think the 2017 Celts are in a similar position to the 20-14 Cavs?

Oh yes, 1945 Japan was in the same position as the USA, except America had two atomic bombs. That's the type of logic this guy is spouting.

The 2014 Cavs having LeBron makes their situation an entirely different kettle of fish than the 2017 Celts.

As Danny said, "We have a lot of good players. We need some great players." Drafting and keeping #1's is the best way to get and retain them.

Worcester,

Wiggins was drafted in late June.  The free agency signing period didn't start until July.  The Cavs didn't know they were going to sign LeBron on draft day.

Once LBJ signed the Cavs were obviously going to trade Wiggins.  That is a weaker negotiating position, like Philly with Noel and Okafor.  Everybody knew one had to go.  A comparable situation might be if Danny picks Jackson.  Everybody will know either Crowder or Brown has to go and that's a weaker negotiating position.

Once LBJ was signed the Cavs became immediate contenders, and whomever Wiggins brought in trade would only make them stronger. We were the #1 seed in the EC and made it to the EC Finals. Whatever Fultz brings, either personally or in trade, will make us stronger, just like Cleveland.


bob


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Yes, but we are not looking to trade Fultz as Cleveland did Wiggins. Thus quite a different scenario.

Also, I seriously doubt that Cleveland did not know of LeBron's plans to return headed into the draft.

worcester wrote:Yes, but we are not looking to trade Fultz as Cleveland did Wiggins. Thus quite a different scenario.

Also, I seriously doubt that Cleveland did not know of LeBron's plans to return headed into the draft.

Never say never, Worcester, not with Trader Danny prowling the sidelines.


bob


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I did not say never, and Fultz straight up for Anthony Davis would make my day.

I really do not agree with the Cavs comparison

I do not think Lebron would have returned to Cleveland if Irving was not already there. Adding Love completed their big 3.

We do not have a big 3 even if and when we add that special piece. We would still need to upgrade our frontcourt and secure another reliable shooter/scorer off the bench.

I guess I have become far too patient as I prefer acquiring talent through the draft provided there are elite level players available.

There are only 3 ways to have elite players on your roster. Draft, Trade and FA. The least costly option is through the draft.

It would take a top 5 player to prye This year's pick away. And I have seen nothing to suggest that those teams with a top 5 player are looking to make a deal.

Dboss

Dboss, I agree. No way are we getting Anthony Davis for Fultz now, and perhaps in five years there would be no way we would trade Fultz for A Davis. Patience grasshoppers. Let Danny spin his webs.

It's a nice position to be in, for sure. Anyone heard that DET may be looking to trade #12 for a vet? I think AB or Crowder would do the trick. Markennen, Collins, Leaf, Kuzma or Allen may allow us to let OLY walk, and maybe trade for George. Hayward is still my #1, but IND may get desperate

worcester wrote:Dboss, I agree. No way are we getting Anthony Davis for Fultz now, and perhaps in five years there would be no way we would trade Fultz for A Davis. Patience grasshoppers. Let Danny spin his webs.

True.