#3 pick

[celtxman]

Work with Philly on swapping #3 for Okafor - Dunn makes sense for Philly.

[bwgood77]

Boston has a well-known interest in Dragan Bender, for what it is worth.

According to what? I mean, I think everyone in the top of the lottery outside the top 2 probably has a well-known interest in what he can do.

[Parliament10]

Work with Philly on swapping #3 for Okafor - Dunn makes sense for Philly.

While I like Okafor, I'm getting kinda sold on Bender.
Okafor, doesn't shoot 3's.

Bender, is supposed to be able to play the 3, 4 & 5.

[celtxman]

Work with Philly on swapping #3 for Okafor - Dunn makes sense for Philly.

While I like Okafor, I'm getting kinda sold on Bender.
Okafor, doesn't shoot 3's.

Bender, is supposed to be able to play the 3, 4 & 5.

I agree it is possible that Bender could have more upside, but I just don't know enough about him. I think people get swayed by Porzingis last year. If Porzingis was a bust, Bender would not be this high in the lottery even though he would be the same player in any case. I think there is upside for Okafor and it is already established he will not be a bust. To me worst case scenario with Okafor is you have Al Jefferson. If he can learn with a real team and coaching in Boston, he could be an All Star for many seasons

[rzzzzz]

Work with Philly on swapping #3 for Okafor - Dunn makes sense for Philly.

this is the (discredited?) move we heard about before the trade deadline. from tonight's twitters it seems that Noel is more likely the odd man out there. hell of a pick-up for somebody. just not sure what price he would command.

[bwgood77]

Boston has a well-known interest in Dragan Bender, for what it is worth.

According to who, if you don't mind?

I will attempt to find specific sourcing really quick, but Boston has sent scouts to watch Dragan Bender on multiple occasions throughout the past two years.

Well I found this when the results came out, http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=80801.0

because as a Suns fan I kind of want Bender, but we are having the same arguments about him in our threads as those here.

[bwgood77]

Bulls are interested in Dunn. You guys may try for Jimmy Butler.

Once Butler is in, you guys may attract big time FA in offseason.

Source?

Funny I came up with that possibility on the Suns board...they were saying Boston might trade the pick for a star and that team would take Bender....I said the only team I can see trading a "star" for the pick and more would be Chicago and Butler, and they already have Portis, Mirotic and McDermott and without Butler and a declining Rose, they would likely take one of the three guards there.

[London2Boston]

I think we will end up with Butler.

This please. I think it will end up being a crazy overpay if it happens, but I so badly want him on Green

[Domejandro]

According to who, if you don't mind?

I will attempt to find specific sourcing really quick, but Boston has sent scouts to watch Dragan Bender on multiple occasions throughout the past two years.

Well I found this when the results came out, http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=80801.0

because as a Suns fan I kind of want Bender, but we are having the same arguments about him in our threads as those here.

I am choking big time on finding the source. I'll try to find it tomorrow, I am almost certain that I remember reading about Boston being highly interested in him back in early 2015, but I could mistaken.

[bwgood77]

I will attempt to find specific sourcing really quick, but Boston has sent scouts to watch Dragan Bender on multiple occasions throughout the past two years.

Well I found this when the results came out, http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=80801.0

because as a Suns fan I kind of want Bender, but we are having the same arguments about him in our threads as those here.

I am choking big time on finding the source. I'll try to find it tomorrow, I am almost certain that I remember reading about Boston being highly interested in him back in early 2015, but I could mistaken.

I imagine it all comes down to workouts and interviews at this point....and Celtics will first seek a trade. Suns may as well. I do think the Celtics would view the risk/reward, possible wait on Bender in a better light than the impatient Suns owner and lame duck GM who is forced to get to playoffs immediately. I'd hate for the Suns to pass on Bender if the Celtics do (though maybe if he slides it's for good reason). Sorry to mention Suns being we are in the Celtics forum, thread....as a Wolves fan, I imagine you might be wondering if Bender will slide as well, though I think the Wolves are pretty much ready to go and should add a shooter like Hield or Murray (or Dunn if they want to eventually move Rubio or just have backup insurance). Towns and Dieng play well together. OK, now I guess I will apologize about derailing now about the Wolves.

This will all be interesting for sure.

[Ed Pinkney]

Draft Bender, trade for Marc Gasol (if healthy) and go all out for an inside/outside Euro front court.

[reload141]

Well I found this when the results came out, http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=80801.0

because as a Suns fan I kind of want Bender, but we are having the same arguments about him in our threads as those here.

I am choking big time on finding the source. I'll try to find it tomorrow, I am almost certain that I remember reading about Boston being highly interested in him back in early 2015, but I could mistaken.

I imagine it all comes down to workouts and interviews at this point....and Celtics will first seek a trade. Suns may as well. I do think the Celtics would view the risk/reward, possible wait on Bender in a better light than the impatient Suns owner and lame duck GM who is forced to get to playoffs immediately. I'd hate for the Suns to pass on Bender if the Celtics do (though maybe if he slides it's for good reason). Sorry to mention Suns being we are in the Celtics forum, thread....as a Wolves fan, I imagine you might be wondering if Bender will slide as well, though I think the Wolves are pretty much ready to go and should add a shooter like Hield or Murray (or Dunn if they want to eventually move Rubio or just have backup insurance). Towns and Dieng play well together. OK, now I guess I will apologize about derailing now about the Wolves.

This will all be interesting for sure.

I respect both your views and posting a lot, I hope it will be a trade friendly draft unlike last year when nothing happened... I WANT ACTION GOD DAMNIT!

[Domejandro]

Well I found this when the results came out, http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=80801.0

because as a Suns fan I kind of want Bender, but we are having the same arguments about him in our threads as those here.

I am choking big time on finding the source. I'll try to find it tomorrow, I am almost certain that I remember reading about Boston being highly interested in him back in early 2015, but I could mistaken.

I imagine it all comes down to workouts and interviews at this point....and Celtics will first seek a trade. Suns may as well. I do think the Celtics would view the risk/reward, possible wait on Bender in a better light than the impatient Suns owner and lame duck GM who is forced to get to playoffs immediately. I'd hate for the Suns to pass on Bender if the Celtics do (though maybe if he slides it's for good reason). Sorry to mention Suns being we are in the Celtics forum, thread....as a Wolves fan, I imagine you might be wondering if Bender will slide as well, though I think the Wolves are pretty much ready to go and should add a shooter like Hield or Murray (or Dunn if they want to eventually move Rubio or just have backup insurance). Towns and Dieng play well together. OK, now I guess I will apologize about derailing now about the Wolves.

This will all be interesting for sure.

I'll try to not completely derail, but really quick, I am really hoping Dragan Bender slides down if we do not trade the pick. I am really nervous about him going into a situation in which he would immediately start, but given Minnesota's position, being able to develop him slowly behind Gorgui Dieng, Towns, Nemanja Bjelica, KG, and even the broken down Nikola Pekovic could yield Andrei Kirilenko like results in the future (he is not nearly as mobile/athletic [which slightly lowers his defensive and offensive versatility], but could be a better long-range threat); he also seems like a great dude. I am fascinated with him as a prospect, I would definitely like him to slide downwards.

[Domejandro]

Draft Bender, trade for Marc Gasol (if healthy) and go all out for an inside/outside Euro front court.

To make it a true party, you should sign Sasha Vujačić and trade for José Calderón to really "beef-out" your front-court; I hear Marko Jarić is on the market.

Seriously though, Marc Gasol would be amazing on the Boston Celtics.

[celticfan42487]

If Ainge uses the #3 pick to get Hield, I'll be very upset. At the very least, he should trade down if he wants Buddy.

If Ainge picks Hield and can't see he's an undersized shooter that doesn't even jump. Can't pass, can't create his own shot, can't defend.

Then we very well will be seeing the end of Ainge in 2 to 3 years after he blows the next Nets pick.

Buddy Hield is a great college guy and won't be much more than a Ben Gordon at his absolute 1 in a million chance over achieving potential in the NBA. And that's being generous that he develops any where near the handles Ben Gordon had back in the day.

[Taget]

Given those choices you'd trade the pick. But I doubt we'd get any of those three with #3.

Still a lot we don't know and we have yet to see who will impress in workouts. For all we know Bender could be the next Michael Olowokandi and zoom to the top purely on unknown "potential." We've seen players get hot and players fall before. The best example of course being the Kandiman draft where someone unexpected rose to the top and someone who was #2 on a lot of mock drafts (Paul Pierce) fell to #10.

Danny Ainge has shown some adeptness at finding diamonds lower down in the draft. Hopefully he'll be able to do the same right near the top. I can't even pretend to have an informed opinion right now. I have read some very good arguments for and against a half dozen or so players. I can only hope Danny has a better grasp on this than I do.

[ParticleMan]

i don't think Hield is even on ainge's radar, not enough of a backcourt defender. ainge loves his big strong backcourt defenders. a bit too much sometimes. that's why dunn is the natural pick.

bender i know absolutely zero about, but he looks damn intriguing i must say. i'd propose trading 3+16 to the suns for 4+13 and take bender at 4, except that the suns probably want bender at 3 too.

workouts are going to be huge for us.

[Duke4life831]

Work with Philly on swapping #3 for Okafor - Dunn makes sense for Philly.

This. The #3 pick (especially in this draft) is not good enough to be the centerpiece for a Cousins or Butler trade. But it's good enough for a guy like Okafor or Gallo. Okafor may not shoot 3s but the dude can score, once he got Ish Smith as his PG he averaged like 17 points on 60% shooting. I don't think Ainge keeps the #3 pick

[CavemanDoctor]

i don't think Hield is even on ainge's radar, not enough of a backcourt defender. ainge loves his big strong backcourt defenders. a bit too much sometimes. that's why dunn is the natural pick.

bender i know absolutely zero about, but he looks damn intriguing i must say. i'd propose trading 3+16 to the suns for 4+13 and take bender at 4, except that the suns probably want bender at 3 too.

workouts are going to be huge for us.

Sincerely hope you're right.

[Murta]

This is probably the best outcome for us when it comes to 3rd picks and trade value. Sixers have already stated they want to pick while Simmons will have to devote a lot of his energy to steering towards Lakers which means there will be more obligations for them and he could be very dissatisfied if they traded their pick.
If some random franchises had won 1&2, or it was #1 Lakers, #2 Sixers, Simmons would be much less tied to the context and higher picks would be more tradeable.