Kurosawa0 wrote:Tai wrote:sixers238 wrote:Posted this on the sixers board. Fair?
BOS out: #1, BKN 2018 1st, Smart or Bradley
BOS in: Butler
CHI out: Butler
CHI in: #3 (Jackson), BKN 2018 1st, LAL 2018 1st, Okafor
PHI out: #3, LAL 2018 1st, Okafor
PHI in: #1 (Fultz), Smart or Bradley
I don't get it; the original talks had the Celtics getting the Sixers #3 pick as is, and you're saying they don't even get that in this scenario? If all the Celtics are getting is Butler anyway, why not just trade with the Bulls straight up?

The Celtics aren't going to trade the #1 pick just for just Jimmy Butler, let alone the other Brooklyn first rounder. I think what Boston is doing is moving back so they can get a top prospect and still keep a big trade asset. If they get another likely lottery pick from Philly along with the #3 pick, they basically get that #3 pick for free considering where they started before the draft lottery. Say they get the 2018 Lakers pick along with the #3 pick, that leaves Boston with three first rounders in 2018 (Brooklyn, Lakers and their own) to be able to pull off a deal for Butler or some other star.
It has to be that kind of win for this to make sense for Boston. If it were me I'd just take Fultz and not get cute.
And that's more or less where I'm at. Like a sap, I probably would be OK (not great) about the above deal if it just gave the C's the #3 pick from the Sixers, but the reality is the Celtics still say no.
That said, people claim to not buy the speculation on Butler (even tho a verified reporter already said he could be what the Celtics are really after), but only that really explains why the Celtics would be willing to trade Fultz. Like you said, the Celtics may be looking to get Butler while still having a top prospect in this draft + another really valuable pick (2018 Lakers 1st or 2019 Kings 1st), even if that means it's not Fultz. Working out Fultz means the Celtics can sell as high as possible on him in trade talks. That sounds like a much better overall deal, and much better logic than the Celtics suddenly falling out of love with Fultz.