Would you trade the #1 pick (Ben Simmons) for Blake Griffin?

[D Dub]

Smart, Johnson, Olynyk + two non-BKL first round picks. 

that's a great offer for Blake, as it lets Doc stay in win-now mode with really useful players to put alongside Paul and DJ.

Marcus Smart would be an absolute monster in the Western playoffs vs. Curry, Westbrook or Harden.  For a team like LA trying to get over the hump, he's the exact type of player they should be targeting.

[PhoSita]

I'm firmly in the "WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PICK?! EITHER WAY THAT'S AWESOME!" camp.

[Chris22]

No knuckleheads.

[celticsfan8591]

No, but I'd trade the Brooklyn pick now before we find out where it is.  I'd happily do Crowder, Bradley, Sullinger, BKN 2016, and DAL 2016 for him. 

[sofutomygaha]

What is Blake, like, the 10th best player in the NBA? I think that trading the top pick for the 10th best player in the league, if the latter is reasonably young and someone that you can keep under contract, is almost always a winning proposition.

I think I would do it, though I'm sympathetic to the opposition given that Simmons is such a special talent.

[KeepRondo]

I would forever hate Blake Griffin and Danny Ainge if we did.

[PhoSita]

What is Blake, like, the 10th best player in the NBA? I think that trading the top pick for the 10th best player in the league, if the latter is reasonably young and someone that you can keep under contract, is almost always a winning proposition.

I think I would do it, though I'm sympathetic to the opposition given that Simmons is such a special talent.

Agree.  Simmons is an exciting talent, and it would be awesome to watch Brad Stevens get to mold a young star like that from Day 1.

Still, Blake Griffin is basically an automatic ~20-10 guy who has steadily improved other areas of his game since he entered the league.

On Twitter, somebody made the comparison to trading for Kevin Garnett.  Well, the Celts traded for Garnett when he was entering his 13th season.  Blake will be entering his 7th season.  Even if he doesn't age as well as Garnett, Blake should have plenty of really good years left.

Like I said above, I don't think you can go wrong.  Keep Simmons and build a fun team around him, or trade for Griffin and get a perennial All-NBA type guy.  Win-win.

[loco_91]

Good question, TP. It's close.

The main reason to take Simmons over Griffin is because he fits our timeline better. Blake doesn't put us over the top the next couple years, what with the trio of GSW, SAS, and the Cavs. Then he becomes a free agent, and he could leave, or his play could start to decline (he'll be 29 at that point).

So if Simmons was guaranteed to be as good as Griffin, you keep Simmons for sure. But he's not. He looks like he'll be really good, but there are still questions about his shooting and defense, and it's not clear that he can be as dominant in the post and the PnR as Griffin is to make up for it.

By the way, Griffin is actually a compelling upside comp for Simmons. If he can be like Griffin with better passing ability and worse size, that's a really valuable player.

So the question becomes, do you make the trade given that Simmons becomes very good but not quite as good as Griffin? That I think is a really tough question. I lean toward yes.

The last question about DeAndre Jordan I think is a clear no. Jordan is a great player, but he has such glaring flaws (FT shooting, spacing on offense, maturity) that I wouldn't consider giving up the Nets pick for him, especially if the Nets are bad enough this year for us to get the #1 pick. Then if you're adding AB and KO on top of it, there's no question - bad deal.

[Eja117]

If I had the #1 pick? No

[86MaxwellSmart]

Trading for Griffin might actually be a possibility...which sounds weird to say...I think Danny and Doc have a great relationship---and maybe Doc might owe Danny a favor or two.

[wdleehi]

If it only cost the Nets 1st (#1), yes.



But the chances are that will not be enough.  Just look what Love cost the Cavs.




But if that could take place, that is the start.  A chance to open the flood gate of stars coming to Boston.  Just like it took both Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston for KG to agree to come to Boston. 

[KeepRondo]

Wow. I thought we were suppose to be some of the smarter bball fans.

I can't believe people are actually considering Simmons for Griffin.

[KG Living Legend]

 No way. Simmons is actually a young Blake Griifin, except he's not an idiot, and he's also a 6'10" Jason Kidd. So No.

[wdleehi]

Wow. I thought we were suppose to be some of the smarter bball fans.

I can't believe people are actually considering Simmons for Griffin.

Why?   One of them is a top 10 NBA player. 


What do you hope for when you pick number 1? 

To develop into a top 10 NBA player. 



I would take the sure thing who is only 26 years old. 

[MBunge]

Wow. I thought we were suppose to be some of the smarter bball fans.

I can't believe people are actually considering Simmons for Griffin.

Why?   One of them is a top 10 NBA player. 


What do you hope for when you pick number 1? 

To develop into a top 10 NBA player. 



I would take the sure thing who is only 26 years old.

Simmons is currently blowing away Griffin's college stats.  Do you take a guy who is top 10 right now at just 26 or do you take the unproven kid who, if he pans out, could be a lot better?

Mike