76ers, Celtics among bombshell 4-team, pre-draft trade proposal
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
With much conjecture surrounding the 2017 NBA Draft, here's a bombshell four-team proposal that can greatly enhance the prospects of several teams involved, including the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite holding the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, the motives of the Boston Celtics still remain unknown.
Similarly, the Philadelphia 76ers, holders of the No. 3 overall pick, have left their movements up in the air.
And it's not just the Sixers and the Celtics who are still undecided on their intentions. Whether it's trading down, trading up or simply retaining the pick, a number of teams with lottery selections this year have yet to finalize their plans for what is considered the strongest draft in over a decade.
For the sake of speculation and brainstorming, it's time to get weird with a bombshell, hypothetical four-team trade proposal leading into the draft.
The proposed deal includes the Sixers, the Celtics, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns. As you may notice, these teams hold many of the aces in the upcoming draft. But despite their high pecking order in the draft, they could make things even better for themselves with some pre-draft maneuvering to drastically improve their rosters.
With an alarmingly uncompetitive playoffs, teams across the league will soon be needing to think outside the box in order to keep up with the respective juggernauts in the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Without further ado, here is a proposal to get multiple fan bases thinking.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia 76ers
In: Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss, Kris Dunn
Out: No. 3 overall pick, Dario Saric, Jahlil Okafor
The Sixers could very easily stand pat at the upcoming draft, and walk away knowing they have secured a future potential stud. Forwards such as Duke's Jason Tatum and Kansas' Josh Jackson are likely to be two of the players available when the Sixers are due to select at No. 3 overall.
But they could also go an alternative route in reshaping the franchise in a very exciting manner. At this stage, the Sixers are uncertain as to the direction they are going to take, as president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo alluded to recently:
"It's good to be at three. We're excited about the pick. We think we're going to add a great player or we're going to have some leverage in discussions with other teams about certain situations that we might entertain."
Although he's just completed his second season, the Suns' Devin Booker appears destined for greatness. This season he averaged 22.1 points and 3.4 assists in 35.0 minutes per game. This was accompanied by his extraordinary 70-point performance towards the end of the season against the Boston Celtics. This represented just the 11th time in league history that a player has scored at least 70 points in a single game.
Therefore, if there was a remote chance of Booker becoming available this offseason, the Sixers would be negligible to not give it a serious thought. After starting his sophomore season slowly, Booker's game advanced noticeably as the season progressed. Overall, he scored 30 or more points on 14 occasions, and hit four or more three-pointers on 13 occasions.
Following an amazing 27-point second quarter during a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks this season, Suns head coach Earl Watson noted:
"It's like having a cheat code to a video game…Watching that reminded me of things that Kobe [Bryant] would do. Not just the athleticism and getting to the rim, but how Kobe was so skilled offensively he could just take over a quarter. Only an elite player can do that."
And he is still just 20.
The proposed deal consists of a significant sacrifice from the Sixers' perspective. The No. 3 overall pick could easily become a multiple-time All-Star. Dario Saric is currently in the running to be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year. And although he struggled this season, Jahlil Okafor is still just 21 and a former No. 3 overall pick himself.
The point is, although just 20, the league has seen what Booker is capable of producing, and he is only going to get better. From the Sixers' perspective, although the players departing are highly talented, there is no telling if any of them will eventually become an All-Star.
On the other hand, Booker has already entered the pantheon of highest scoring games in league history at JUST 20 YEARS OF AGE.
A nucleus of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Devin Booker would scare the lights out of opposing teams for the next decade.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics
In: Andrew Wiggins, Dario Saric, Dragan Bender, No. 7 overall pick
Out: No. 1 overall pick, Jaylen Brown
Earning both the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference and the No. 1 overall pick in the draft is certainly a rare accomplishment. And despite a 4-1 shellacking in the Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics' future looks awfully bright. But at the same time, the franchise is faced with somewhat of a conundrum.
The Celtics' resident All-Star, point guard Isaiah Thomas, comes out of contract this summer and will be awaiting a well-deserved hefty pay-day. The projected No.1 overall pick, Markelle Fultz, is also a point guard. Naturally, recent talk has centered around whether Thomas and Fultz can co-exist on the floor together, hence using their respective strengths for the betterment of the team.
But the play of Thomas this season, and the connection the city of Boston has with the diminutive superstar, made an immeasurable impression. The introduction of another dominant backcourt presence/ball handler could very easily have a detrimental effect on a player who averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game.
Granted, the Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has been known for his ruthless approach when it comes to making changes to his roster. The trade that brought this year's No.1 overall pick came at the cost of championship players Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
Thomas, however, could very well prove to be an exception to the rule. At the time of the trade, Pierce was 34 and Garnett was 37. Thomas is still just 28, and in the absolute prime of his career.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Celtics would be welcoming a former No.1 overall pick in Andrew Wiggins. Still just 22, Wiggins is improving each year and averaged 23.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game this season. The Celtics have been connected with current free agent Gordon Hayward, as well as Paul George, a free agent after next season. Although these two are proven All-Stars and would be terrific additions, they are both 27.
Wiggins' potential, meanwhile, is limitless. One such compliment relating to Wiggins' ability came this season from Memphis Grizzlies' head coach, David Fizdale:
"He's really turning into a Kobe Bryant type player."
Current teammate, Jordan Hill, echoed the Kobe sentiment:
"I feel if he got that Kobe mentality or that Russell Westbrook mentality to go out every night and just be fierceful — ain't nobody gonna stop him. He's just that good of a player….It's his third year in the league, he still hasn't gotten to that bright spot. He's gonna get there and shock the world."
Then there is Saric, coming off a terrific rookie campaign after averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds. Having just turned 23, Saric at 6-foot-10 represents the modern-day, versatile stretch 4 who would fit Celtics' system perfectly. In addition, the Celtics would welcome the No. 7 overall pick from the Timberwolves, and would also add second-year prospect Dragan Bender, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.
On top of the No. 1 overall pick, the Celtics would also be parting ways with forward Jaylen Brown, who demonstrated tremendous upside in his rookie campaign this season.
By pulling off this deal, the Celtics would be introducing cornerstones at the 3 and 4 spots, and still have the ability to go out and land a big-name free agent during the offseason. Therefore, the deal assists the Celtics greatly in both the short and long-term.
Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves
In: No. 3 overall pick, No. 4 overall pick, Jaylen Brown
Out: Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, No. 7 overall pick, Kris Dunn
The Timberwolves underwent somewhat of a transitional season under new head coach Tom Thibodeau. But despite the team being expected to improve noticeably under the guidance of Thibs, the Timberwolves only managed a 31-51 record — just a two-win improvement over the previous season. They were led by second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns, who averaged 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game while playing all 82 games.
The aforementioned Wiggins also played all 82 games, along with forth-year forward, Gorgui Dieng. Unfortunately, they lost promising shooting guard Zach LaVine to a season-ending ACL injury. In his 47 games, LaVine averaged 18.9 points and 3.4 rebounds while posting career-highs across the board.
Renowned as a defensive-minded coach, Thibodeau uncharacteristically saw his team rank 26th in the league with a defensive rating (opponents points per 100 possessions) of 109.1. In fact, the trio of Towns, Wiggins and LaVine had the three worst individual defensive ratings in the league for starters who averaged at least 35 minutes per game and started at least 45 games.
Thus far, it appears Thibodueau's message has not gotten through to his young Timberwolves squad. In the midst of this season, Thibodeau revealed as much:
"But the first thing I ask is, 'Are we doing it hard enough?' And then, 'Are we executing it properly?' And if the answer is yes to those two things and it is not working, then it is time to change it. But if the answer is no we are not doing it hard enough or we are not executing it properly….Oftentimes it (defense) is a lack of communication. Or it is back-pedaling instead of sprinting back and turning. To be honest, we have probably worked on defensive transition here more than I have with any other team."
Wiggins, for his part, admitted during the season that Thibodeau's defensive requirements were getting the best of him:
"Off the ball is very tough, for both of us (he and LaVine)."
With the title of both head coach and president of basketball operations, the proposed trade would allow Thibodeau to draft players which most suit his style of play. And ultimately, be able to mould them to form the type of team in which he envisions.
Josh Jackson of Kansas would be ideal under Thibodeau's system. A 6-foot-8 forward with the ability to switch between the 3 and 4 spots, Jackson's athleticism and wingspan would prove to be invaluable. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express provided the following scouting report on Jackson:
"He has very good size for the wing at 6'8, and is a quick-twitch and highly explosive athlete who plays above the rim with ease and covers ground seamlessly defensively….it is Jackson's defense and overall competitiveness that is one of his most attractive traits. He's a fiery guy who has been a two-way player his entire career, and showed the ability to guard anywhere from 1-4 in college.
"Jackson takes great pride in his ability to shut down opponents, and does an outstanding job of sitting down in a stance, sliding his feet and locking up players on the perimeter with his lateral quickness, often drawing charges. He's a physical player who throws his body around and isn't afraid to mix things up despite his lanky frame."
Another ideal fit for Thibodeau is De'Aaron Fox of Kentucky. A 6-foot-4, lightly framed point guard, Fox's height and length would provide him an envious advantage on both ends of the floor against opposing point guards. Draft Express provided the following report:
"On top of his size, Fox possesses great explosiveness as a leaper and a degree of speed and quickness that made him next to impossible to stay in front of at the college level with the ball on his hands….There's a lot to like about Fox on the defensive end as well, where his lateral quickness allowed him to apply ball pressure impressively last season….Fox has the makings of a very capable defender at the next level with his combination of speed and size."
Jaylen Brown also provides Thibodeau an additional talent and elite athlete on the perimeter, not to mention a player who improved noticeably over the course of his rookie season. As Celtics head coach Brad Stevens noted during the season:
"….he's proven that he can pick things up on the fly and that he can play at a high level. I know there's going to be ups and downs with anybody — and certainly with a 20-year-old — but he's got a chance to be pretty darn good."
A quartet of Towns, Jackson, Fox and Brown give Thibodeau an incredible core to build around for the coming years. Furthermore, it would provide him and the Timberwolves to completely build a team in his own image, picking up the from the success he displayed over multiple years with the Chicago Bulls.
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Suns
In: No. 1 overall pick, Zach LaVine, Jahlil Okafor
Out: No. 4 overall pick, Devin Booker, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss
The fourth and final team is the Suns, who land the coveted No. 1 overall pick in this mega, pre-draft transaction. Following this year's draft lottery, the Suns landed the No. 4 overall pick, marking the second consecutive year landing this pick, having selected Dragan Bender fourth overall in 2016.
The wide consensus is that Markelle Fultz of Washington will be chosen with the No. 1 overall pick. With his amazing combination of size, speed, skill and overall basketball IQ, Fultz is simply a can't miss prospect.
Along with Fultz comes the aforementioned LaVine and 21-year-old Sixer Jahlil Okafor. Naturally, many will be wondering if it's necessary to makes the sacrifices necessary to get a player such as Fultz. In particular, Booker and the No. 4 overall pick.
Here's just a portion of Fultz's glowing scouting report from Draft Express:
"Fultz is a tantalizingly gifted shot-creator, sporting an extraordinary combination of body control, ball-handling, footwork and pace. He changes speeds, directions and uses both hands innately, spinning off opponents, splitting ball-screens frequently, and finishing with euro-steps.
"He combines his ability to get wherever he wants on the floor with outstanding shot-making prowess off the dribble….He is highly creative and unselfish in terms of getting teammates easy baskets, and enjoyed quite a bit of success as a distributor despite not having ideal talent around him or enjoying great spacing, often sharing the floor with two non-shooting big men."
But back to Booker. Playing devil's advocate, Booker is still a highly inconsistent shooter for someone considered to be near the elite in this category. For the season, he shot just 42.3 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from behind three. Furthermore, Booker scored 15 or fewer points on just 30.6 percent shooting from the field and 22.3 percent from three-point range in 20 of his 78 games this season.
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And after all, Booker was selected 13th overall in a good, but not great, draft class. Having had some relatively high draft selections in recent seasons, the chance to land an outright stud with the No. 1 overall pick would provide great relief to Suns' general manager, Ryan McDonough, who has gone through a number of highs and lows during his short time in charge.
Additionally, the forfeiture of the No. 4 overall pick also brings with it some inherit risk, as the Suns are essentially giving up Booker's potential and an unknown potential star for a 19 year-old-point guard. But this can be offset to a degree with the inclusion of LaVine, an explosive athlete who recently turned just 22. The Suns' incumbent point guard, Eric Bledsoe, still has some worthy currency and could be used in a future deal at a later date.
On top of Booker and the fourth overall pick, the Suns will be parting ways with last year's top draft selections – Bender (No. 4 overall) and Chriss (No. 8 overall).
However, the upside that can be realized by obtaining a talent such as Fultz is simply too much to knock. Just ask the man himself:
"I actually want to be the best to ever play this game. And I think I have a pretty good chance to do that."
For a 19-year-old entering the NBA, that's some confidence.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
General manager time
The exciting thing about the proposed deal is that it gives the respective fan bases of each team something to really look forward to once the 2017-18 season rolls around.
The Sixers will roll out a lineup featuring three possible mega-stars in Embiid, Simmons and Booker. If they can add a high quality free agent on top of that, this would represent the most hope Sixers fans have held in years.
The Celtics, already on the precipice of the elite, will be adding some outstanding young talent in Wiggins and Saric. In addition, they will also field the seventh overall pick.
The Timberwolves will be in a position where they can build from the ground up, adding two elite young talents to the already formidable Karl-Anthony Towns.
And then there are the Suns, who despite sacrificing some outstanding young talent, land themselves the coveted No. 1 overall selection.
Here's how the trade pans out overall:
Celtics get Andrew Wiggins
Dario Saric
Dragan Bender
No.7 overall pickTimberwolves get No.3 overall pick
No.4 overall pick
Jaylen Brown
With the 2017 NBA Finals on our doorstep, and the NBA Draft a mere few weeks away, the coming weeks are going to bring a great amount of scuttlebutt as teams try to reshape their rosters in an attempt to hunt down the respective powerhouses in the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The four teams involved in this proposal have the chance to significantly improve their prospects this offseason. This deal represents one of many ways in which this can be accomplished.
