Sixers officially acquire #1 pick per Woj and Aldridge. Will get Fultz

[76ciology]

You guys need to have to realize that at some point we will have to overpay for talent to make quantum leaps for the team. This was the path we chose when we went into heavy BPA on drafts and asset hoarding. Fultz is one of the best options in the horizon. Probably the best. Other options are relying on luck that Westbrook or AD asks to be traded.

And quite frankly, the value of Kings & Lakers picks are quickly declining if you consider everything.

What's the alternative? Not doing the deal and waiting till 2019 and hoping that both picks turns into something special which as we have seen is more like a 50-50 than a sure thing despite having multiple top 3s picks.

[Locrian]

Agree..surely very excited about Fultz. But what we are offering now is like a reverse protection on the Lakers pick. If we cant give u a high pick this year, dont worry. We will give u another shot next year...its even worse than a non protected laker pick imo. Unless both lakers and kings turn out to be much better than we expected.

[76ciology]

I'd also like to add that we are still in position to get a fourth core player, and that is simething we should be focused on.

[ckchen]

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19683395/boston-celtics-danny-ainge-says-player-want-available-third-pick

Yes, we got Fultz. But we did overpay. Should have had better protections on the LAL pick and should have had protections on the Sac pick. This 3 + next year's 2 or 3 is a gross overpay.

That's just nitpicking. Even if it's true, the only reason Danny has to tell people this is to appease his fan base who think he should've gotten MORE in the deal. In any case, in the actual negotiation process you have no idea what else is on the table, who else is even involved, and at what point Boston just decides it's not worth it and keeps the pick themselves. In hindsight it's easy to say it's an overpay - but the fact of the matter is, there's no way NOT to overpay to make a trade like this. There were maybe statements/rumors coming out of Boston that they would have to be blown away by the offer to consider making the deal. Obviously that's trade bluster in order to drive up the price.

This isn't buying a car where you know how much it's going to cost ahead of time and can figure out how to get it for just slightly above MSRP. This is a silent auction where you don't know who the other bidders are, what they are offering, and how much it will even take to get the seller to actually sell.

[Simmons25]

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19683395/boston-celtics-danny-ainge-says-player-want-available-third-pick

Yes, we got Fultz. But we did overpay. Should have had better protections on the LAL pick and should have had protections on the Sac pick. This 3 + next year's 2 or 3 is a gross overpay.

I don't believe any of that for a single second. For one we know Sacramento were offering pick 5 and 10... which isn't a million miles away from the pick 3 and future first rounder we were offering... which could end up being around pick 10 (or even worse).

It's true that the Lakers pick could be in the 2-4 range (I don't think it will be... I think it will be outside that)... but it's equally true that the Sacramento pick could end up being nowhere near as good as they hope. I think Sacramento have a couple of nice assets and with Vivek there.. they are just the sort of team to throw out max money on a 1 or 2 year rental of a star... to make them a borderline respectable team... and even more so when they have no picks to tank for.

At the end of the day it's not out of the realms of possibility that we could end up with pick 1 next year with the Lakers (If you think they are that bad) and pick 1 in 2019 as well with the Kings (If you think they are that bad) and that the Celtics end up with an early to mid 20's pick. Sure it's not very likely... but not impossible either.

[Foshan]

Yeah i kind of think most likely scenario is we end up with keeping the LAL pick at 9 next year (i've been listening to too many LA fans), then the SAC pick comes in at like 12.

I'm okay with that as the price to move up.

[TheMadTopher]

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19683395/boston-celtics-danny-ainge-says-player-want-available-third-pick

Yes, we got Fultz. But we did overpay. Should have had better protections on the LAL pick and should have had protections on the Sac pick. This 3 + next year's 2 or 3 is a gross overpay.

I don't believe any of that for a single second. For one we know Sacramento were offering pick 5 and 10... which isn't a million miles away from the pick 3 and future first rounder we were offering... which could end up being around pick 10 (or even worse).

Sac 5 + 10 is huge amount less than what we just gave. Sac 5 + 10 may be around the value on paper to *just* our 3, but even then it's not equal for this trade. Boston only having to drop to 3 pretty much guarantees they get the F (Tatum/Isaac/Jackson) of their choice and it's clear Ainge definitely has his eyes set on one particular player. He doesn't get that player at 5. So our 3 > Sac 5 + 10 for this trade. And we just threw in a high chance at a superstar player next year.

If Ainge said "Philly paid just a little more" you would then say we paid the perfect price? I think some people want Fultz so bad they don't want to feel we over paid for him. The top 3 of next year's draft are better than the top 3 of this one.

LAL last 4 draft positions.
2017 - 2
2016 - 2
2015 - 2
2014 - 7

Pretty decent chance it ends up in top 5 whether by natural record or slightly jumping in the lottery.

I'm excited for the reality of having Fultz. But that doesn't change that we overpaid.

[phifans]

What do you expect Ainge to say ? Say he got robbed by BC ?
He said he could still pick the one who he attempted to draft at first before the deal then why don't he just stay put and pick that guy at first ? Because he knows he is not worth it

[phifans]

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19683395/boston-celtics-danny-ainge-says-player-want-available-third-pick

Yes, we got Fultz. But we did overpay. Should have had better protections on the LAL pick and should have had protections on the Sac pick. This 3 + next year's 2 or 3 is a gross overpay.

I don't believe any of that for a single second. For one we know Sacramento were offering pick 5 and 10... which isn't a million miles away from the pick 3 and future first rounder we were offering... which could end up being around pick 10 (or even worse).

Sac 5 + 10 is huge amount less than what we just gave. Sac 5 + 10 may be around the value on paper to *just* our 3, but even then it's not equal for this trade. Boston only having to drop to 3 pretty much guarantees they get the F (Tatum/Isaac/Jackson) of their choice and it's clear Ainge definitely has his eyes set on one particular player. He doesn't get that player at 5. So our 3 > Sac 5 + 10 for this trade. And we just threw in a high chance at a superstar player next year.

If Ainge said "Philly paid just a little more" you would then say we paid the perfect price? I think some people want Fultz so bad they don't want to feel we over paid for him. The top 3 of next year's draft are better than the top 3 of this one.

LAL last 4 draft positions.
2017 - 2
2016 - 2
2015 - 2
2014 - 7

Pretty decent chance it ends up in top 5 whether by natural record or slightly jumping in the lottery.

I'm excited for the reality of having Fultz. But that doesn't change that we overpaid.

If #3 > #5 + #10 then #1 > #3 + #5 so we just need to pry neither La nor Sac's pick fall into top 4 (unless they win the lottery).

[Kova]

Just wanted to give props to Bryan for this deal. He has redeemed himself for Noel trade (even though I didn't think it was as bad, since we wouldn't pay him what he will demand anyway), so lets keep an eye on what he does next in FA and trades.

Boy, this core is special. Don't worry about next years pick if it lands 2 or 2019 if it lands 2. You got to cash in the chips sometimes.

I don't care if we don't have a first rounder on a roster in 2018, or 2019. We have two number 1 picks playing for the first time, and 3rd pick playing his 2nd season.
At some point, you got to let these guys develop, build around them and stop making high picks year after year.

Also, what point does it make to stockpile these high draft picks when you are not going to be able to extend them all in the long run. We already have that situation with Noel.
Embiid, Simmons and Fultz will likely be max guys down the road, and Roco and Dario will demand big contracts too. You got to think 4-6 years down the road.

[Chris76]

Just wanted to give props to Bryan for this deal. He has redeemed himself for Noel trade (even though I didn't think it was as bad, since we wouldn't pay him what he will demand anyway), so lets keep an eye on what he does next in FA and trades.

Boy, this core is special. Don't worry about next years pick if it lands 2 or 2019 if it lands 2. You got to cash in the chips sometimes.

I don't care if we don't have a first rounder on a roster in 2018, or 2019. We have two number 1 picks playing for the first time, and 3rd pick playing his 2nd season.
At some point, you got to let these guys develop, build around them and stop making high picks year after year.

Also, what point does it make to stockpile these high draft picks when you are not going to be able to extend them all in the long run. We already have that situation with Noel.
Embiid, Simmons and Fultz will likely be max guys down the road, and Roco and Dario will demand big contracts too. You got to think 4-6 years down the road.

Good points. I agree Bryan did a good job. Fultz helps in a few ways, position of need with huge potential, saves cap space, and let's us evaluate how everything fits before making next move.

[sixers hoops]

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19683395/boston-celtics-danny-ainge-says-player-want-available-third-pick

Yes, we got Fultz. But we did overpay. Should have had better protections on the LAL pick and should have had protections on the Sac pick. This 3 + next year's 2 or 3 is a gross overpay.

Ainge already said he needed an unbelieveable offer to move the pick, and our future first (top 1 protected) isn't very unbelievable. We gave up a future protected 1 to move up two spots and get the top pick. Not really a king's ransom for the #1 pick.

He needed to stay in the top 5 if he wasn't getting a star in return, and he didn't have a deal for an established vet, so the market was basically us, Lakers, suns, and kings. And the Lakers and kings have their hands tied regarding future firsts. So he was only going to trade with us or suns. His market was limited and we had the 3 plus future firsts of bad teams available.

So of course he was going to say that because he needs to present that a team blew him away with an offer, but it was only one future pick. If our offer was best by a significant margin, then what were the other offers? Trades without a future first? Maybe pick 4 for pick 1 straight up?

The reality is he got an average, fair deal that most columnist are rating a C. He got a future first that could be in the top of draft. Nothing outstanding, but a fair haul to move down from one to three for a player who is not a can't miss talent and horrible fit on their roster filled with guards.

Don't focus on Ainge's "significant margin" comment made to deliver a message to celtics fans. You know the trade details. You can figure out that he didn't get more than a fair deal to move out of the #1 pick.

[Simmons25]

If Ainge said "Philly paid just a little more" you would then say we paid the perfect price? I think some people want Fultz so bad they don't want to feel we over paid for him. The top 3 of next year's draft are better than the top 3 of this one.

I think we paid a reasonable price. This wasn't about getting a guy at 1 that was wildly more talented than 3. It was about getting a guy that was the perfect fit with what we hope are 2 bonafide stars in Embiid and Simmons.

We needed shooting badly and someone that could create their own shot yet handle the ball. Fultz was perfect. The other guys in the top 3 or 4 were not even close to what we needed. So yeah we could have gotten a Josh Jackson who can't shoot and will probably never be able to shoot... but would that help us? No. It would help us as much as getting Noel and Okafor did... when we decided "best talent" was more important than "best fit".

Also I am seeing the top 4 ranked by ESPN for next year are a 6'10" SF, 2 x 7ft centers and a PF. Not a shooting guard to be seen. The 1st shooting guard on the list comes in at pick 7.

LAL last 4 draft positions.
2017 - 2
2016 - 2
2015 - 2
2014 - 7

Pretty decent chance it ends up in top 5 whether by natural record or slightly jumping in the lottery.

I'm excited for the reality of having Fultz. But that doesn't change that we overpaid.

The past means nothing. Lakers have 3 fairly nice pieces. Russell, Ingram and Randle you'd expect to take a step up. Randle is maturing and has lost a heap of weight.

http://www.slamonline.com/nba/julius-randle-body-transformation-3-weeks/#su5IHO5bZhb0gypD.97

Last year they were 10-10 before crapping the bed and then ultimately going into tank mode. They started trying again at the end of the year when the tank was safe... and unleashed Russell, Ingram and Randle into the starting lineup... and finished the year winning 5 in a row before dropping that last game just to make sure.

Unlike others... I don't see the Lakers being a bottom 4 club next season. I see them in the 5-10 range which at the end of the day is a meh pick. We aren't guaranteed anything in that range. I am actually hoping they end up with the 5 pick... so that the pick translates. I think it's wishful thinking though to think it's definitely going to be a top 3 pick that we've missed out on. Maybe the ping pong balls bounce that way.... but you don't plan your entire future based on the ping pong balls.

End of the day we gave up a future draft pick which MAY be high... but unlikely to be top 3. Instead we get the #1 pick in the draft now that is the perfect fit... instead of rolling the dice in the hope not only something happens in the future with the Lakers and Sacramento pick... but that the players available to us at those picks were what we needed. The odds of that happening were far less. It was worth the trade in every sense.

[nitocobola]

Ainge noted that Philadelphia's trade offer was the best Boston received for the No. 1 pick and "by a significant margin."



The top 3 of next year's draft are better than the top 3 of this one.

YEAH, like every year

[Ugly Duckling]

Uhh, maybe you guys arent getting what Im trying to say?

I said Fultz was a good player, but noth worth moving up to get.

I said that playing defense was entirely optional in the Pac 12 this year, where most of your Fultz highlights come from

I said that he lacked elite athleticism, which he does. He doesnt blow by defenders, he coasts by as they basically were letting him score so the game would end faster anyway.

I get it, nobody wants to hear anything Anti-Fultz right now because nobody wants to entertain the thought that this guy wasnt worth the pick but Im gonna go ahead and stick to my guns here:

Markelle Fultz was not worth trading a pick for. I wouldnt have even taken him #1 if it was our own pick

Shots fired

[Alatan]

Uhh, maybe you guys arent getting what Im trying to say?

I said Fultz was a good player, but noth worth moving up to get.

I said that playing defense was entirely optional in the Pac 12 this year, where most of your Fultz highlights come from

I said that he lacked elite athleticism, which he does. He doesnt blow by defenders, he coasts by as they basically were letting him score so the game would end faster anyway.

I get it, nobody wants to hear anything Anti-Fultz right now because nobody wants to entertain the thought that this guy wasnt worth the pick but Im gonna go ahead and stick to my guns here:

Markelle Fultz was not worth trading a pick for. I wouldnt have even taken him #1 if it was our own pick

Shots fired

I am super curious to read who would shawn_hemp pick in this draft.

Fultz is not an elite athlete but is better than average. He can blow by defenders because he does have bursts of speed (go watch his highlights) and a good handl.

They were letting him score ? Well that can be said for any prospect. Maybe Fultz is not a lazy defender maybe he was letting others score to speed up the game.... Ridiculous...

[Alatan]

And noone was letting Fultz score, he was double teamed almost every time and had little space to operate in the first place due to lack of shooters on his team.

[Unbreakable99]

Uhh, maybe you guys arent getting what Im trying to say?

I said Fultz was a good player, but noth worth moving up to get.

I said that playing defense was entirely optional in the Pac 12 this year, where most of your Fultz highlights come from

I said that he lacked elite athleticism, which he does. He doesnt blow by defenders, he coasts by as they basically were letting him score so the game would end faster anyway.

I get it, nobody wants to hear anything Anti-Fultz right now because nobody wants to entertain the thought that this guy wasnt worth the pick but Im gonna go ahead and stick to my guns here:

Markelle Fultz was not worth trading a pick for. I wouldnt have even taken him #1 if it was our own pick

Shots fired

I am super curious to read who would shawn_hemp pick in this draft.

Fultz is not an elite athlete but is better than average. He can blow by defenders because he does have bursts of speed (go watch his highlights) and a good handl.

They were letting him score ? Well that can be said for any prospect. Maybe Fultz is not a lazy defender maybe he was letting others score to speed up the game.... Ridiculous...

I think his burst is overstated. I don't see much burst. I'm still nervous about how he will translate to the NBA.

[Ben]

Fultz has been the guy I've wanted most, so I don't mean to cast any shade on him. But since conversation on the Fultz front has died down and we still have a couple of nights before the draft, I'm gonna toss out the following hypothetical:

We all know that D'Angelo Russell just got traded to Brooklyn for 1 year of Brook Lopez, a late 1st rounder, and the ability to dump Mozgov's contract. My question to y'all is: assuming the Sixers could have beaten Brooklyn's offer, would you have preferred to acquire Russell and remain at #3?

Russell + [Mozgov's contract] + Josh Jackson + Sixers retain the future draft pick (LAL or Sacto) - assets to get Russell
(New core becomes Russell, Jackson, Simmons, Embiid, with Saric as more peripheral)
vs.

Fultz and - future draft pick (LAL or Sacto) (keep the assets needed to get Russell)

I ask b/c I remember that a lot of posters wanted Russell during his draft year.

I would stay the course with Fultz, but my curiosity is piqued. Russell has some real talent, and is still quite young. And apparently he was available quite cheaply (to a team with capspace and a few assets).

Just curious about the rest of you.

[LongLiveHinkie]

Nope. Want no part of Mozgov's contract and want no part of Russell either, he's not that good. Just get Fultz who's better than Russell and not have to eat that salary that could hurt our cap flexibility.