Okay lets think about this for a moment here... Here are some of the comparisons Markelle Fultz has gotten:
Dwyane Wade
James Harden
Kyrie Irving
Russell Westbrook
Brandon Roy
No matter who you want to compare him to chances are that most of us here agree that this kid has a GREAT shot at being a Superstar. He might be the best PG prospect since Kyrie.
Now we've all seen the reports of the deal Danny Ainge is working on with Philly. The Celtics #1 overall pick in return for Phillys #3, the Lakers 2018 1st round pick, and either Sacrementos 2019 1st round pick or a 2021 Philly 1st round pick.
The first thing that comes to my mind is the fact that the 76ers haven't even seen this kid work out yet (he's working out for them as I write this) and they're willing to give up all this for him? The Lakers and Magic Johnson are supposedly "in love" with him after he supposedly "murdered" his work out with them and it was the best work out they've seen.
Speaking of work outs has anyone mentioned the fact that the Celtics haven't even had Josh Jackson in for a work out yet? Now I know that workouts aren't the be all end all that there is only so much a player can show you in a individual workout, but what if this kid has the worst workout out of anyone they've brought in so far? Not to mention the fact that this kids shooting ability is suspect at best.
Obviously none of us know what Danny is thinking, obviously he must have other idea's in mind, maybe it's to trade the 3rd pick for Jimmy Butler or Paul George. Maybe it's to sign Gordon Hayward or Blake Griffin. But here is my thought: What if none of the above happens? What if Gordon Haywards stays loyal to Utah, Blake Griffin is too enticed by money and the LA lifestyle and returns to LA. What if the Bulls once again decide against trading Jimmy Butler, and Paul George is pegged for the Lakers. Which by the way is probably far more of a likely scenario than the Celtics getting any of them. You now have lost out on a Superstar level prospect that could take over Isaiah Thomas's role should he leave in Free Agency next summer, or he could play along side him for years to come in the 2 Guard spot. But instead you now have Josh Jackson who isn't a good shooter that is going to sit on the bench behind Crowder, Brown, and Bradley. He doesn't help you with your scoring or rebounding problem. So basically you are looking at this current Celtics squad with maybe a few bench upgrades, Jackson, and Zizic. When at least at the minimum you could have had Fultz who could of immediately been a lethal scoring weapon off the bench for you, with enormous potential.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, yeah but now next year we could have 2 top 5 picks in the draft. But wait hold your horses. Latest reports from Woj earlier were that the 76ers and Celtics were going over protections for the pick. So if the 76ers protect the pick well it's most likely top 3, 5, or 10 protected. And honestly what's a 10th pick in the NBA get you? A nice bench player maybe? Possibly a 6th man or average starter. So basically you've traded a potential SUPERSTAR for a potential STAR (big difference between a Superstar and Star imo.), a potential 6th man, and a potential bench piece (assuming the 76ers pick ends up either late lottery or early 20's.) That's also assuming that the Lakers even get you a top 10 pick. I think Russell, Ingram, and Randall could all take steps forward in their production to help make the Lakers a late lottery team. That also doesn't take into account whoever they Draft at 2 whether it's Ball, Jackson, Fox, or someone else. And that also doesn't account for the fact that they could just trade For Paul George themselves and that would probably vault them into the late lottery or even like an 8th seed in the playoffs (depending on what else they did.)
I mean think about it all it would take is the Lakers winning say 10 more games and they go from 2nd pick this year to approximately the 11th pick in the draft. With the addition of say Lonzo, and improvement from their key players I could see it happening.
I think the talent drop off from pick 1 - 3 this year (a likely Star player with a ceiling of a Superstar, for a guy with a floor of a bench player to a ceiling of a Star), to only gain possibly a bench player next year and most likely a bench player in 2021 from the Phillys draft is way too big of a risk to take. If the Celtics draft Fultz and miss out on Hayward, Griffin, and Whoever else I'm not that mad, if they don't take Fultz and wind up with no one I'm fuming. Too big of a risk to take in my honest opinion, what is yours?
Topic: Biggest Gamble of Ainge's Career? (Read 6362 times)