"The Celtics have the draft picks the Knicks need. Boston holds the right to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets in this summer?s draft, along with their pick in 2018 as part of the trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn in 2013. There?s a good chance the Nets pick this summer will be in the top five of the draft, and it?s fair to expect their 2018 selection to be a lottery pick as well."
Remember this when it comes to the LAC trade rumors.... a pick in 2021 and right to swap picks in 2022 may not sound ideal... but look at how that worked out for BOS.
It's better to obtain future picks from contenders who having aging roster, bc you're looking at high lottery picks.... game changers!
Now, would I prefer to trade Melo straight up for a player like Smart/Crowder/Brown and a pick this year (Take the BOS controlled BKLYN pick).... sure. Imagine drafting Jackson from KU and 1 of these top PG.....
Imagine this:
Stud 1st round PG
Rookie JAX
Jaylon Brown
KP
WHG
That would be our starting 5 hopefully for years to come....
But.... if rebuilding for the future is the goal.... then getting max value for asset is the key.... a lottery pick in 2021 is better than the 23rd pick this summer.
I just have this hunch that's pJaz is looking at BOs, as best trade partner. He's letting Ainge know that it's now or never.... NY might just give Melo to CLE or Lac....Ainge knows his team is a serious threat to win the EC if he trades for Melo, and while the price is costly it's also not a killer.
Smart, Brown, or Crowder and a top pick is not end of the work franchise back breaker..... they would be replacing the lost player with Melo.... and have plenty of picks anyway.
So, we wait 3 weeks. If Ainge seriously believes in this team, he will strike. If he doesn't, then he doesn't believe and he's just rebuilding like we are (and just using Horford and IT to build an org buzz).... or.... he snags a bigger fish.
But, again, if BOS deals Brown and a pick.... to get Melo? No-brainer
Ask yourself this: if you were BoS, and see that you are a few games away from the top seed.... With IT and Horford playing at their peak prime years.... do you wait and hope to build around Bradley, Brown, Smart? Or, Knowing most of the team is a free agent next summer, do you bring in melo and go for it now.... knowing you still have Nets 1st in 2018 plus 4-5 other 1st round picks next 2 seasons?
If I were a Bos fan, Id want to go for it....
So, for my money, I see Bos making a move soon.... Butler, a C, Melo? Who will depend on the cost.... right now, seems like Melo will cost the least.