Simmons laid out his case: “Everybody says this draft sucks. The Celtics are so deep… anyone in this draft isn’t going to play for them. Why not take Bronny and you basically hold him hostage? Because all these other teams want him, right?.. The Lakers, you want him? Well, we took Bronny, give us Max Christie. How bad do you want him? I would say Bronny the asset at 30 as a trade thing is worth more than anyone they could get here.”

Simmons’s suggestion hinges on the Celtics’ depth and the perceived lack of impact players in the draft. By selecting Bronny James, Simmons argues, the Celtics could leverage his value as a coveted asset, particularly by teams like the Lakers, who may desire the young prospect due to his lineage and potential.

However, the idea has sparked controversy. Critics point out that Bronny, who didn’t start on his college team, averaged just 5 points per game, and his team didn’t make the tournament, might not be the most logical first-round pick. Drafting him in the first round would guarantee him a two-year contract, securing him around $7 million, which some view as an overinvestment given his current performance metrics.

Despite the debate, Simmons’s proposal underscores a strategic approach to the draft that focuses on long-term value and trade potential rather than immediate on-court contributions. Whether the Celtics will consider this unconventional tactic remains to be seen.

Wow, just wow. Danny Ainge is pushing the chips in the middle of the table and going for it with the Kyrie/Hayward/Tatum core and Cleveland is quietly poised for another deep run and if they cannot retain Love, Thomas or Lebron the Nets pick steps right into the rebuild.

So the Cavs got a MVP candidate, a solid big, and a lottery pick for Kyrie. Not bad.

Here is the trade breakdown:

The Celtics traded:

2017 #1 overall (Markelle Fultz)

The 76ers traded:

2017 #3 overall
2018 1st rounder via LAL – unless it falls between 2-5 then…
2019 1st rounder via SAC

This gives the 76ers a guaranteed asset going forward locked into a rookie deal with Joel Embiid going into his last contract year. It also gives them an explosive back court and a guard to complement last year’s #1 draft pick Ben Simmons.

#TrustTheProcess

Many people want to blame the lack of excitement in the regular season and playoffs due to Durant switching teams but the man himself has other thoughts on the situation.

According to KD you should blame the Nets for trading all their draft picks to Boston:

“Like I’m the reason why (expletive) Orlando couldn’t make the playoffs for five, six years in a row? Am I the reason that Brooklyn gave all their picks to Boston? Like, am I the reason that they’re not that good (laughs). I can’t play for every team, so the truth of the matter is I left one team. It’s one more team that you probably would’ve thought would’ve been a contender. One more team. I couldn’t have made the (entire) East better. I couldn’t have made everybody (else) in the West better.”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2711962-kevin-durant-says-hes-not-to-blame-for-nbas-parity-concerns

Is he right or wrong?

Who am I kidding? We all just want to see where BIG BALLER BRAND’S LONZO BALL is headed and how his dad Lavar will react to the lottery. Can you imagine Lonzo in a small market? Or what if Charlotte got a top three pick? The drama really writes itself.

What’s interesting is that top picks are sending a message loud and clear.

Multiple players are flat out refusing to work out with the Kings due to mistrust of the front office:

So far, the effort is coming up empty. Multiple NBA agents told me that they were determined to keep their clients from working out for Sacramento. Heading into the lottery, the Kings are slotted to pick both at No. 8 and No. 10 (via New Orleans).

“It would be malpractice to let my clients play for them,” one longtime agent said. “I’ve had clients there. It’s still the most dysfunctional front office in the league, by a mile. How can you trust those guys with one of your players? It’s going to take a long time to build that trust.”

I’m not sure they’ll get any of the top 20 in for workouts unless someone caves.

Players are also avoiding the Celtics due to the overwhelming roster depth:

The Celtics are loaded with players at every position. The fear is that — much like No. 3 pick Jaylen Brown saw this year — their clients would have to spend the next few years coming off the bench. That’s not what most top prospects in the draft want. They want a chance to start and lead a franchise right away.

“I have deep respect for the Celtics,” one agent said. “They may have the best GM and head coach in the league. But I’d have to understand what the plan would be for my client before I let them come. They are loaded at every position. There’s a real danger that they take a player and either he plays a limited role of the bench, or he becomes an asset to be traded to a situation that we’re uncomfortable with. It’s tough.”

What do you think? Will the BIG BALLER look good in Sacramento’s purple and silver or what?

Mind you the C’s are also linked to Kevin Love’s opt out. We’ll have a much clearer picture of what is going to happen if and when the Lakers draft D’Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor.

The Boston Celtics are prepared to send a significant trade package to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 if Jahlil Okafor slips.

Okafor is in play for both the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 1 and particularly the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 2. The Lakers are also considering D’Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porzingis with the second overall pick.

What do you think? Will the Celtics be giving up too much for the big man? Or should they stay put and convince Kevin Love to come to the green and white?

According to Sporting News the C’s are going to attempt to free up a large trade exemption using Paul Pierce and then acquire Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith:

Boston must either trade Paul Pierce or decide to buy him out. They have until June 30 to inform Pierce of such a move.

As for the rebuilding sure to follow the dismantling, that is contingent on what happens with Pierce. If the Celtics can unload Pierce to a team with enough cap space to absorb his salary, they will get a trade exception worth Pierce’s salary, or $15.3 million. And if that happens, the plan is already in place. According to a source, the Celtics have a sign-and-trade offer ready for Atlanta forward Josh Smith that would be the top priority in free agency.