Best player available for #5

[tidho]

Garland is the easy target.

I don't think CLE would consider that straight up. If they do Garland for a pick it has to return a vet that will contribute at least directionally to the staying in the hunt. Like Garland -4- CJMc & #7. Is Garland going to get the #5 & George or #5 & Sexton? If not they probably aren't going to even consider a Garland for #5.

[MasterIchiro]

Yea I'd do AD for #5 in a heartbeat. Dallas should really reach out to Cha, Utah, and Washington to gauage interest. Id' imagine none would eb interested, but if they were probably in that order.

Then be shrewd, if the rumors of BKN really wanting Fears are true. Trade down to #8 and get more picks for the pleasure. Rebuild this the right way.

What's stopping Charlotte from directly dealing with the Nets? BKN offered the GM job to our GM during negotiations. He has ties there.

How does Dallas jump into our position and capitalize on the premium Nets may be willing to pay?

Our GM would be aware of it.

[LightTheBeam]

I like Lamelo and/or Brown. Utah has plenty of assets that if they are going to go all in, they can probably go for 2 of these guys.

Utah out: Collins, Sexton, Clarkson, Martin, Hendricks, Williams, #5, #21, 2 additional future 1sts*
Utah in: Lamelo, Jaylen Brown
Use MLE on NAW.
Lamelo - NAW - Brown - Lauri - Kessler
Collier - George - Sensabaugh - Flipowski

Celtics out: Brown
Celtics in: Clarkson, Collins, #5
Get #5 and save 12-13 million. Collins can easily be re-flipped for more savings

Charlotte out: Lamelo
Charlotte in: Sexton, Cody Williams, Hendricks, Martin, 2 or 3 of #21 + future picks
Get 2 recent 1sts + multiple additional 1sts. Rebuild around Miller and Edgecombe

[Wizop]

Assuming OKC wins the finals, I can see Mathurin being available although our needs are a backup 5 and a 2026 FRP so the Jazz might not be the best trading partner. their #5 could be too high for what we want to give up and the 21 is too low.

[nykballa2k4]

Assuming Jazz is going in the opposite direction everybody thinks, it means building a playoff team around Lauri and Kessler.
Which player can be acquired by #5? It should preferably be a guard.

Some from the top of my head:
Trae Young
Keegan Murray (not a guard)
Booker (with Utah adding more value and assuming Phoenix goes full-rebuild)
Austin Reaves
Jaylen Brown (not a guard, more value from Utah)
LaMelo Ball
Bane

Any thought?

The only one on that list I would consider is Ball. He has upside to be an all-star. OTOH, you have to add other pieces with other draft assets or it's pointless.
You need a true 2-way wing. Can you get Grimes (sign and trade) from Philly? Maybe target a Pacers player like Mathurin? Nembhard?
Assuming Collins opts in, can he be moved for Wiggins from Miami?

[Wizop]

Maybe target a Pacers player like Mathurin? Nembhard?

Nembhard is probably untouchable. Pacers fans would also happily draft his brother in the second. But Mathurin or Walker might be available.

[nykballa2k4]

Maybe target a Pacers player like Mathurin? Nembhard?

Nembhard is probably untouchable. Pacers fans would also happily draft his brother in the second. But Mathurin or Walker might be available.

Totally get that. I just figured your trio (Nesmith, Nembhard, Mathurin) would make a good example.

[Laimbeer]

Maybe it's me but it seems crazy that Dallas would consider Anthony Davis or Boston would consider Jaylen Brown for pick 5. You are just hoping that player would be close to as good as one of them

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[Tim Lehrbach]

Maybe it's me but it seems crazy that Dallas would consider Anthony Davis or Boston would consider Jaylen Brown for pick 5. You are just hoping that player would be close to as good as one of them

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At first I had the same thought, but the situations might be special enough to see something radical like that go down. Both teams lost their other star to major injury and have different motivations for pivoting to a draft pick with their (relatively) healthy remaining star. Dallas, to fully invest in the rebuild effort with Flagg in the fold, and Boston, to save massive money and retool the roster.

Now, I don't think the Boston case is compelling enough, but their management might. It reminds somewhat of Dallas moving Antawn Jamison for Devin Harris. Mind you, Jamison was not nearly as good as Brown is, but he was coming off a Sixth Man of the Year campaign and wasn't as painful to the Mavericks' payroll as Brown may be to Boston's. Is it a good idea? Probably not. But it's worth kicking around the Boston front office for a few minutes. It might start to look for palatable when considering what they, in turn, might trade #5 and matching salaries for. But maybe not.

I don't know what to make of Dallas' situation, but I am going to throw a few cents in anyhow. I think they could get more than one pick, even if it's top five, for AD. I like the AD to Charlotte idea. The Mavericks should be really good once healthy, but they do not have enough, or enough time, to make championship runs with this core. Pivot to Flagg and go full rebuild? I probably would, but then again I'm not the one that has to live with dumping players like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving to make it happen.

[SkyHook]

Assuming OKC wins the finals, I can see Mathurin being available although our needs are a backup 5 and a 2026 FRP so the Jazz might not be the best trading partner. their #5 could be too high for what we want to give up and the 21 is too low.

I'm a Mathurin fan, but this is how I see the situation as well. 21 + what else gets it done?

[SkyHook]

I like Lamelo and/or Brown. Utah has plenty of assets that if they are going to go all in, they can probably go for 2 of these guys.

Utah out: Collins, Sexton, Clarkson, Martin, Hendricks, Williams, #5, #21, 2 additional future 1sts*
Utah in: Lamelo, Jaylen Brown
Use MLE on NAW.
Lamelo - NAW - Brown - Lauri - Kessler
Collier - George - Sensabaugh - Flipowski

Celtics out: Brown
Celtics in: Clarkson, Collins, #5
Get #5 and save 12-13 million. Collins can easily be re-flipped for more savings

Charlotte out: Lamelo
Charlotte in: Sexton, Cody Williams, Hendricks, Martin, 2 or 3 of #21 + future picks
Get 2 recent 1sts + multiple additional 1sts. Rebuild around Miller and Edgecombe

Cut the Charlotte part of the deal and I'm in.