NBA Rumors: Philadelphia 76ers should walk away from Boston Celtics trade
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics are in deep discussions about a possible trade involving the Celtics No. 1 pick and the 76ers No. 3 pick according to NBA Rumors. But here’s the catch and why the 76ers must walk away. The Celtics are not willing to do a straight up trade pick for pick, meaning the 76ers will have to give up more than they receive.
Per reports from Bleacher Report— Marc Stein is reporting that the two teams are in heavy discussions about a possible deal.
League sources tell @ZachLowe_NBA and me that the Sixers and Celtics are in serious talks on a trade involving the No. 1 overall pick.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 16, 2017
As great as this deal may sound– how does it actually benefit the 76ers?
It will be the No. 3 pick along with future first rounders for a player the 76ers have no idea will actually pan out. The Celtics are clearly in the driver’s seat here as they currently host a team that won 50 games and earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season. Plus, what Danny Ainge is really trying to do is stockpile assets to gear up for a Jimmy Butler trade with the Chicago Bulls.
The 76ers are grasping at straws here and it will be a wise decision to just step back and keep their pick.
There is no need for the 76ers to make any quick decisions. The team is looking to be a surprise contender next season with the addition of Ben Simmons to go along with the production of Dario Saric, Joel Embiid and possibly Josh Jackson or Malik Monk. But with Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers saying he loves Markell Fultz’s game— Ainge may be trying to block his rival. Ainge knows the 76ers are in desperate need of a playmaker and giving the 76ers a chance to grab Fultz before the Lakers do, plus get additional picks for a player they DO NOT need is a win-win for the C’s. For the Lakers, it sends them back to the drawing board with the possibility of taking a player like Lonzo Ball they really have no need for.
Ainge is providing the Celtics one heck of a future at the expense of the Celtics oldest rivals.
If the 76ers make this trade with the Celtics it may improve their team but it will also hurt them down the road. There are no guarantees in the NBA Draft but the 76ers do have the luxury of picks at their disposal. There is no need to waste them on a player that has not shown what he can do in the NBA yet. Those extra picks Sam Hinkie lost his job for should be used to lure veteran players like Paul George or Jimmy Butler to the City of Brotherly Love, not push them away.
Ainge has a plan. He’s trying to pull another Billy King one-sided deal on the Lakers and 76ers.
Pick No. 1 for No. 3 and additional future first rounders for a team that’s only 2 picks back in order. I could see if the 76ers were in the New York Knicks spot at No. 8 and was in dire need of a franchise player but they’re not. “Trust the Process” is over but with a deal like this– the 76ers could find themselves right back at that starting point
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
