2021 NBA Pointless Trade Idea

Thunder get: Kristaps Porzingis (3yr/$100m); Mavericks get: Al Horford (2yr/$53.5m), Gabriel Deck (3yr/$11m/mostly non-guaranteed) 

Personally I think Al Horford took too much shit for his time in Philly--that team was a trainwreck and they overhyped their signing of a dude that wasn't really right for them. And in OKC the fear was he might actually win some games and was promptly sent home. I think Horford is ready to win, I think he's a solid do-what-it-takes crafty veteran, I think he fits with Coach Carlisle and Luka, I think he can do the middle of the lane game that Luka had going with Boban in the playoffs. Granted he's a little pricey but he's way cheaper than Porzingis, who has already shown he can't hang, and he's only on the hook for two more years rather than three. As for Deck, I have no idea who he is or what he does, but his contract looks to be very disposable, so if he fits keep him (if not, see ya). (*) This move brings back a player that can be useful as opposed to attaching assets to dumpe Porzingis. 

For the Thunder, they have no desire to win for the next two years anyway, so a wildly overpriced bust is perfect for them. Dallas needs a place to bury this body and OKC is open for business! I know this sounds glib but their eye is on the 2022 draft: OKC's pick is top 14 protected (they will absolutely suck, so that's a top 5 pick); they have the Lakers unprotected 1st rd pick (obviously the dream scenario is AD and Lebron both get hurt, the team goes into a tailspin and OKC is gifted another top 10 pick); and the Suns's top-13 protected pick (this should be, like #25, not great but not nothing). So for the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort are keepers, Bazeley, Pokusevski, Jerome, Maledon and Kenrich Williams are probably just filler but they've got two seasons to figure it out. 

The Thunder plan going forward: for 2021-22, let SGA become an all-star, let Porzingis do whatever (as long as it doesn't win games), pump Dort for DPOY or 6th Man, see if Pokusevki can hang, see what they got with the 2021 pick (say, Jonathon Kuminga), see if anyone blossoms from the bench. Roll heavy into the 2022 draft, run it all back in 2022-23, then give SGA a bunch of money, ride out the Porzingis contract, hope the youth movement pans out while holding a gajillion 1st rd picks. Winning any games at all next season would just be a waste of time and that will likely carry over another year after that, too. 

Horford is too useful to just not play in OKC, whereas Porzingis is precisely the kinda guy that looks like a star but won't damage the draft prospects. Win-win, don't even need to add 2nd rd picks or any of that crap, if I was Dallas I'd call this in right now. 

(*) Does this move keep them from re-signing Tim Hardaway? I don't think it affects Hardawy. It might keep them from bringing back JJ Reddick, Boban Marjanovic and/or Niccolo Melli....is that a problem? I'm not sure. Porzingis is the problem, not what replaces him. 

2021 NBA Pointless Trade Idea

Raptors get: 2021 Pelicans 1st rd pick (should be around #10), Steven Adams (2yr/$35m); Pelicans get: Rodney Hood (1yr/$10.8m (non-guaranteed)), Aaron Baynes (1yr/$7.4m player option), Raptors 2021 2nd rd pick

The Raptors really need to move on from Aaron Baynes and while Steven Adams has been the object of much ridicule for a while now (slow, clogs the lane, too expensive), I think even the worst of Adams' qualities are not a bad fit for the Raptors: I think Adams at the FT line, can work with Van Vleet, Anunoby and Siakam. And an edge of the lottery pick from New Orleans would give them two bites in the lottery this year (dude, I'd aim for Baylor players, I thought that whole team was amazing, they all looked like prospects to me), which replenishes their deep bench that has been so effective for the Raptors in recent years. 

For the Pelicans this is about adding money to spend as opposed to bringing back a player. Hood and Baynes can be cut, so is it worth a 1st rd pick to free up $17m in cap space currently going to Adams (*)? The real question: do they want to re-sign Lonzo Ball and is he worth a top ten pick to keep him in house? I'd say yes all the way around. If they have to get rid of Adams to keep Lonzo, then do it and if it costs the #10 pick, then do it. What good is, say, Jalen Johnson (Duke) to them if they're stuck with two more years of Adams and don't have Lonzo? I'd rather plant my flag with Zion and Lonzo (and *gulp* Ingram!) and go from there. They've got future draft picks coming from the Lakers and Bucks, and I would suggest those picks would be best used as tools to remake their roster, rather than as a source of new players. 

Or if not Lonzo, is Lauri Markenen the kinda guy they want to give $17m to? I think Markenen (half shooter/half slasher) fits with Zion and/or anchors a 2nd string when Zion is out. Would the Bulls let him go? They added Vucevic ($24m) at the deadline and this summer is the time to give LaVine an extension (starting around $25m, I'd guess), so if the Pelicans throw Markenen 4yrs/$80m, do the Bulls lock up that trio or do they let the Pelicans snatch him away? (50/50, I'd say) 

I know giving up the #10 pick just to dump Adams just to re-up a guy they've already got sounds daffy, but I think its the right move for the Pelicans. And for the Raptors, an underappreciated veteran and two newbies is a great replacement for Hood and Baynes. 

(*) Would the Pelicans rather move on from Adams or Eric Bledsoe (at $18.1m next year)? I think they'd move either/both, if they could. But in this version of the deal, I think the Raptors can work with Adams, whereas Bledsoe doesn't pair well with Van Vleet. Is there $18.1m of disposable contracts they can get for Bledsoe? I doubt it.

2017-18 NBA Pointless Trade Idea

Wolves get 2019 #6 pick, Magic 2020 1st round pick, Aaron Gordon (sign and trade); Magic get SF Jimmy Butler, Coach Tom Thibodeau

The Wolves get three new talents to throw in the youth mix and a chance to get out from under what a disaster Thibs has been for their culture. For Minnesota this is about un-doing what Thibs built and trying to get back to what Flip left behind.

I've long thought that since the Magic have never been a destination for free agents they may as well invest long term in a coach to build a culture, so that every draft and every summer you know you're looking for a certain type of player. Personally I don't think Thibs is that coach, but other people might. There are players that want to play Thibs style, go ahead and bring him in and let him do whatever he wants for the next 3 years and remold the roster around his style, then extend him again even if you don't much care for what he's done. Jimmy Butler gives Orlando the biggest baddest star they've had since Dwight Howard left town. For the Magic this is a chance to be slightly better than the Denver Nuggets (well, I mean not right away but eventually....yeah).

(Actually, it's too late now, the Magic hired Steve Clifford as coach. Oh well, this was on my mind for a while, thought I'd go ahead and throw it out here anyway)

Pointless Trade Idea

Knicks get Lamarcus Aldridge; Cavs get Carmelo Anthony; Spurs get Kevin Love.

The salaries aren't perfect but they're just a few 2nd round picks away from being close enough. Think about it, it kinda makes sense all around.

NBA Deadline Recap

Man...I haven't written about NBA once this season...I'm off my game. I've been watching a ton still, just not writing down my observations due to a new job (and looks like an even newer job soon) and a new lovely in my life (no complaints on that one). I';m not as up on the salaries as in previous years but I'm ready to get back into it and the trade deadline is a good opportunity. Here we go.

Hornets get Miles Plumlee; Bucks get Roy Hibbert (stay tuned) and Spencer Hawes
The Hornets got rid of two not-so-important vets for a young guy (with Carolina ties) who gives them a little more life off their bench; not moving the needle but not a bad move for them. The Bucks get rid of a guy who is really expensive for a veteran shotblocker/trade bait and a low cost veteran off the bench; basically they're moving off future salary and adding a tad more perimeter scoring. This deal ain't shaking up the Eastern conference playoff standings in any way.

Blazers get Jusef Nurkic, Nuggets 2017 1st rd pick; Nuggets get Mason Plumlee, Blazers 2018 2nd rd pick
I'm still a fan of Nurkic, a cartoonish big man who fell out of favor after the rise of Jokic but I'm not sure his low block dominance is a better fit than Plumlee, who isn't much of a scorer but is a solid ball handler for a big man. Given that the Blazers are way off where I thought they'd be, perhaps they'd rather look toward the future with a young big and a 1st rd pick than try to make it work with another passer. The Nuggets no longer needed Nurkic and I guess a good passer fits nicely in their rotation. Not a huge upgrade for either team but not a step back either.

Hornets get Chris Andersen, cash; Cavs get Hornets 2017 2nd pick (top 55 protected)
Andersen is hurt, isn't he? And he never plays anyway. Clearly the Cavs would rather have room to bring in a vet that might actually contribute. The Hornets get nothing, give nothing, but pick up a coupla bucks for the end of the year office party.

Raptors Serge Ibaka; Magic get Terrence Ross, Raptors 2017 1st rd pick
This is a nice pick up for the Raptors (although Ibaka may do nothing more than clog the bench on his way to somewhere else), adding a competent veteran who contributes on both sides of the court gives them a counter to Love and/or Lebron come playoff time. Ibaka was never gonna last in Orlando but I'm sure the Magic were hoping he'd be a better trade chip than this. That said, I've always liked Ross and this should be a good draft, even a pick in the bottom third might still could yield a plum and since Ibaka was always just bait, I think the Magic did pretty well here (which is not something I've said about them for the last few years).

Pelicans get Demarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi; Kings get Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, Tyreke Evans, 2017 Pelicans 1st rd pick, 2018 Pelicans 2nd rd pick
Here it is, the big one. The Kings finally give up on the guy they've been unable to please for a handful of future prospects and an expiring contract...isn't that always the deal that was gonna happen? We've been waiting for a Boogie Blockbuster for years now and while this seems anticlimactic, the Kings were never gonna get as good a player back, so this looks kinda normal to me. The Kings get Hield (me and Vivek like him better than everybody else, but I still think he can be a top notch shooter), Galloway (a hard working young ballhandler, not the most talented guy but the Kings need all the self-motivated players they can get), Evans (I suspect he gets waived, on his way to...Atlanta? Cleveland?), a 1st rd pick in a good draft and a 2nd rd pick because...hey, people like 2nd rd picks. Could they have done better? Almost certainly but they could've done worse (this is the Kings we're talking about, I guess that caveat goes without saying). Also, it helps them tank now, bulking up their own draft pick. (Ironic, right, that they covet draft picks when they're only two good picks in the last ten years just got swapped for each other?) As for the Pelicans, it'll take time to gel and they're still soft on perimeter scoring but at least I get I get to watch my two favorite Wildcats miss the playoffs on one team instead of two. An underrated part of this deal is Casspi, an occasional deadly outside shooter, which the Pelicans need very much. Can the Pelicans sneak into the playoffs? Ehhhh, maybe. I like them to get past the Kings and Blazers now but I think the Nuggets and Grizzlies hang in there. (The upcoming free agency period should be quite a bit more exciting in New Orleans, though)

Rockets get Lou Williams, Marcelo Huertas; Lakers get Corey Brewer, Tyler Ennis, Rockets 2017 1st rd pick (and shook up their front office) (two separate deals but I'm squishing 'em)
These deals were clearly dreamed up by an accountant somewhere because I'm not seeing much change for either side. The Rockets had to upgrade Brewer but I'm not convinced Williams is that guy. And the Lakers had to...uh...I dunno, not sure what they get out of this. I can see them moving on from Williams but Brewer isn't part of their future, Ennis is still young enough that maybe he gets some run but I don't see him as a long time Laker either. The Lakers get an extra late 1st rounder and move off some veteran salary, while the Rockets get a more reliable scoring option off the bench. Neither of these are earth-shattering deals.

Wizards get Bojan Bodanovic, Chris McCullough; Nets get Andrew Nicholson, Marcus Thornton (waived), Wizards 2017 1st rd pick
I think the Wizards got the best of this swap. Bojan is a solid shooter, McCullough could still be a fine young big man and all they give up is a late 1st round draft pick, which I think is a good enough move. The Nets need all the youth they can get so I guess every draft pick is valuable to them but they gave up (to my mind) the two best players in this deal for a salary dump and the hopes they can turn that pick into someone like....oh, I dunno....Chris McCullough.

Hawks get Ersan Ilyasova; Sixers get Tiago Splitter, 2 Hawks 2nd rd picks
Ilyasova (which is actually Turkish for 'Chris Gatling') has now played for every team in the league twice--in just the last 3 years. Man, it just wouldn't be a trade deadline with Ersan in the mix. He's a reliable (if unspectacular) rotation guy, thought he kinda worked for the Sixers, not sure what he brings to the Hawks. Splitter has been injury-plagued in recent years but clearly this is a salary dump for the Hawks, not sure what he brings to the Sixers (except two more 2nd rd picks to throw on the last of the Hinkie haul).

Mavs get Nerlens Noel; Sixers get Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut, Mavs 2017 1st rd pick
The Sixers have been trying to unload Nerlens for ages now and I think this isn't a bad deal for them. I like Justin Anderson and this pick should be a pretty good one for a guy they didn't really need (I assume Bogut will be waived). The Mavs get a rim protector to build around going forward and while I kinda like Anderson, they've now got a tantalizing piece to lure free agents this summer. The Mavs are currentl 12th in the West and this deal doesn't change that but this move is about next year.

Nets get KJ McDaniels; Rockets get....well....nothing
I forgot McDaniels even played for the Rockets (I guess because he didn't). Remember his 15 minutes back in Philly a few years back? He had a brief run as a high flying shot blocker and crazy wing shooter that got him promptly traded away. The Nets got nothing better to do, might as well see if he's got another nice run in him.

Thunder get Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott; Bulls get Cameron Payne, Anthony Morrow, Joffrey Lauvergne
The Thunder get a veteran leader off the bench and the perimeter shooting they've been dying for for years. The Bulls get younger and cheaper and continue to peel off one more of Thibodeau's soldiers. Taj was so important to the Bulls but I'm not sure he means that much to the Thunder and McDermott is talented but hasn't exactly set the world on fire, will either of them get more opportunity in OKC? I'm not sure. Some are down on Payne but I'd already put him ahead of Rondo and MCW, so I look forward to seeing him get some playing time. Lauvergne is a nice young player, we'll see if he fits in there, I guess Morrow can get some of McDermott's time but hardly a move for the future.

Nuggets get Roy Hibbert; Bucks get Nuggets 2017 2nd rd pick
The Nuggets can offer Hibbert one last shot at being the down low presence he used to be and it sounds weird but Jameer Nelson is the kind of crafty veteran that can get the most out of him. The collection of youngsters in Denver is exciting to watch and I think Hibbert can give them a bit of veteran presence (or perhaps he's already been waived, either way).

Suns gets Mike Scott; Hawks get cash
All I know about Mike Scott (and I would certainly never say this to his face): goofiest looking tats I've ever seen in my life. Looks like he gave a kindergarten class some sharpies and let them go to town on his torso. (And didn't he get busted for selling weed last summer?)

Raptors get PJ Tucker; Suns get Jared Sullinger, 2 Raptors 2nd rd picks
The Raptors get a hungry forward to step in do some dirty work (should platoon nicely with Patrick Patterson) and give up only a guy that wasn't working out for them anywhere. The Suns get a Hinkie-ish collection of picks and can offer some playing time to see if Sullinger can actually become something.

It looks to me like the Raptors were big winner of this year's trade deadline, which is a pleasant surprise considering their usual stand-pat style. Tucker will play for them and Ibaka has a chance to be a really good player again and basically all they gave up was Terrence Ross (but they've got enough wing scoring) and a so-so 1st round pick. Not bad. The Pelicans and Kings are radically changed but neither will affect this year's playoff race. The Wizards and Mavs are upgraded but not much else seems meaningful looking around the league, a lot of bean counting moves but nothing on the court. The 2nd half of this season doesn't look it will be terribly different from the 1st half.

Pointless Trade Idea

Suns get Demarcus Cousins (3ys/$47.2m) and Kosta Koufos (4yrs/$33m; 4th year player option); Kings get Tyson Chandler (4yrs/$52m), Markieff Morris (4yrs/$32m), Archie Goodwin (2yrs/$3.2), 2 2016 1st rd picks (currently #4, #28).

The Kings then try to figure out how to get Marcus Morris away from Detroit (would that be worth Willie Cauley-Stein to them?), giving them a veteran core of Rondo, Gay, Chandler and the Morris twins to go with McLemore, the intriguing Goodwin and three 1st round picks this year. (The Suns currently have #34, if I'm the Kings I think I'd go ahead and take that one too) Sure, they'd rather have a nameable star for Cousins but this deal is a mix of solid vets and future potential. And, man, they're the Kings, it doesn't matter what they do, it'll be the wrong move.

Obviously the Suns are the big winner because they get the best player. This gives them a starting lineup next year of Bledsoe, Booker, Tucker, Warren and Cousins with Knight and Len coming off the bench. For next year, I'd bring back Teletovic and try to move Koufos. (I threw in Koufos because its the Kings' worst contract and it brings back Markieff; I don't dislike Koufos but I'm not crazy about that contract) This is an interesting core of young talent and definitely one that can lure in free agents.

Then the Suns call up John Calipari and offer him the house. I'm personally not a big fan of the GM/Coach combo but with the horrible moves the Suns front office has made in recent years, I think offering full power is probably a necessity. If the money is right, it all comes down to whether Cal really wants to be back in the pros because honestly that is as ideal a roster Cal could hope to have. (Hell, I think he should send Josh Harrelson, Deandre Liggins, Alex Poythress and the Harrison twins to summer league, bring in Chuck Hayes to shore up the end of the bench and is Terrence Jones gonna be available this summer?) Does Cal look at this lineup of his proteges and see a team he can work with or are these boys that have grown up without him? Do they respect him or is he a ghost from a different time and place? I dunno. But if the Suns front officer gets out of the way, I think full power with Cousins and Booker would get any coach's attention.

A Procedural Question

Can a team trade the protected portion of a previously traded pick?

For example, the Sixers held the Lakers 2015 1st round pick but it was top 5 protected (which came to pass: the Lakers got the 2nd pick overall which means their 2016 1st round pick goes to the Sixers).  Now that the Lakers possess that pick they can trade it or they can trade the player drafted with that pick.  But before the draft lottery had taken place, could the Lakers have traded (to, let's say, the Nuggets) their 2015 1st round pick #6-30 protected?  Top 5: 2015 pick goes to the Nuggets, 2016 goes to the Sixers; not top 5: 2015 pick goes to the Sixers, 2016 reverts to the Nuggets.  (That made sense to me...does that make sense to anyone else?)

A minor detail that I guess no one has noticed yet.  I don't see why its not possible and I don't see why teams wouldn't employ that every once in a while.  But I don't know if its actually possible to do.

Thoughts on Two Trades

The Cavs upgraded considerably in two quick and painless moves.  They brought in JR Smith and Iman Shumpert (for Dion Waiters, a 2nd round pick and two expiring contracts) and Timofey Mozgov (for 2 1st round picks that didn't even belong to them).  I like both moves for the Cavs--add in the subtraction (of Waiters) and that's like double positive...or something.  Shumpert will give them more perimeter D than Waiters and he'll score some points without hogging the ball and Smith will do what he does but as long as he hits the 3 or 4 shots they really really need from him in the playoffs, he'll be a success.  Shumpert is a free agent at the end of the year, Smith has one year left at $5m, not a greal deal but not a backbreaker, especially is he scores at all.  The 1st round picks the Cavs gave up came from OKC and Memphis and they still have Miami's 1st rounder this year; embarrassment of riches in Cleveland and they finally got a defensive stopper inside.  I like Mozgov, big body guy that moves well, handles the ball okay, fiery personality, I think he'll fit well with Love and Lebron and Coach Blatt.  Cavs pick up a big guy, a wing defender, and a 3-ball specialist and gave up the Waiters headache, a 2nd round pick and nothing else.  Great deals for the Cavs.

Waiters goes to OKC which is probably a good spot for him.  Waiters' problem is that he's a ballhog; playing with Westbrook and Durant should cure him of that habit; unfortunately that will also inhibit his scoring habit.  As a 2nd string gunner I guess he's better than Roberson or Lamb (I feel like Perry Jones, when healthy, is probably tradeable).  Waiters is a low risk investment and as for the 1st round pick and expiring contracts they gave up, well that's what they're there for.  Good deal for OKC.

The Knicks get rid of Shumpert (wasn't gonna get re-signed anyway) and Smith (not a killer contract but not one the Knicks need) for 3 guys I assume they'll waive and pick up a 2nd round pick as a party favor.  Remember when Jordan became GM of the Wizards?  First thing he did was trade away anybody that made any money at all and cleared the books (he was doing a brilliant job...til we realized he was doing that so he could come back and pad stats for a coupla years; lame).  That's where Phil is at with NYK: Melo is signed, everyone currently on the roster is expendable, every available player in the NBA is available to the Knicks, save money to spend money next year.  Besides Phil might like to have his very own #1 pick to groom from clay, why bother to win games when losses are way more valuable?  Good deal for the Knicks.

The rare win-win-win deal we never see enough of.  *deep breath*  Feels good.

Thoughts on a (former) rumor

The buzz is that Rajon Rondo (along with a large trade exception) is going to the Dallas Mavericks for Jameer Nelson, Brandon Wright, Jae Crowder, a 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick.

First thought: I don't like it for the Mavs.  The Mavs currently have the highest rated offense in the league, how much better does Rondo make that offense?  I say none  He'll take the ball out of Monta Ellis's hands without giving any FT or outside shooting.  Dallas is not a great defensive team, how much better does Rondo make them?  I say none.  I always thought (Kentucky fan here, I've watched his WHOLE career) Rondo was overrated on defense: he gets steals by a combination of over pursuing the backside and slacking on fronting the ball.

Wright is shooting at a phenomenal percentage and is the only big guy off the bench on the team and Nelson is exactly the veteran presence the Mavs needed.  Some of the stats thrown out as Mavs PG needs are illusory: Mavs PG are last or near the bottom in the FG%, points per game and assists per game.  So what?  They get their scoring from the SG (Ellis) and their PF (Dirk) with everyone else just pitching in; Rondo won't help the % or the PPG anyway--and he'll get his assists to the consternation of Ellis.  And his rebounding, which has always been great for a PG, won't replace Brandon Wright's production, so I see NO upside to this move for the Mavs.  The Mavs offense is based on moving the ball around whereas Rondo is a slowdown ball hog.

What does this do for the Celtics?  They save a little money, they throw a coupla more draft picks onto the pile and they have now freed themselves the headache of not resigning Rajon Rondo.  With the addition of Wright, they can now try even harder to trade off Brandon Bass.  The addition of Nelson gives them an affordable steadying force for Marcus Smart.  I assume Jae Crowder will get waived.

Going forward, Dallas now has to find a big man to replace Wright (what's Emeka Okafor's phone number?) and presumably they'll max Rondo this summer.  Considering they'll want to re-sign Tyson Chandler too, I think that's too much money for an aging (overrated) ball hogging PG.

The Mavs are the #1 offense in the league, why the need for the shake up?  Is this truly an improvement?  I say its not, I think the Mavs overpaid for a guy they don't really need and they're going to overpay even more next year.  The Mavs are currently sitting at 7th in the West, I don't see them finishing any higher than 5th with or without Rondo.  Not a good move, Mavs.

A suggestion to the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs have the #1 pick (never have the ping pong balls been so predictable).  The consensus best prospect in the draft is Joel Embiid, whom I suspect the Cavs are planning on drafting with that pick.  I'm sure they're exploring a possible trade for Kevin Love or some such big shot but I'm guessing the odds are better than 50/50 the Cavs end up with Embiid.  But let me suggest another avenue for the Cavs.

Trade the #1 pick to the Bucks for the #2 pick, the #31 pick, Milwaukee's 2015 1st round pick (top 3 protected), Milwaukee's 2017 1st round pick and (just for good measure) Milwaukee's 2nd round picks for 2016, 2018 & 2019.   Milwaukee takes Joel Embiid.

Then trade the #2 pick to the Sixers for the #3 pick, the #10 pick and Philly's 2017 & 2019 2nd round picks.  Philly takes Andrew Wiggins.

Then trade the #3 to the Jazz for the #5 pick, the #35 pick and the Jazz 2015 1st round pick (top 3 protected) and Alec Burks.  Utah takes Jabari Parker.

Orlando takes Dante Exum,

After that keep calling whoever wants the #5 pick.  Who wants Julius Randle?

Will the Celtics throw in the expiring contract of Brandon Bass and a future 1st rounder along with the #6 pick or will they settle for Noah Vonleah?  The Lakers would love to swap #7 but the Lakers don't have much to have to sweeten the pot (seems to me).  Would the Kings be willing to toss in the expiring contract of Derrick Williams or a future pick to move up from #8?  Would the Bobcats be willing to throw in a future pick along with the #9 pick?

If one of those teams bites, then keep trying to trade down.  If you can't trade the pick, then select whoever is available: say, Randle at #5, Gordon at #6, Vonleh at #7, Harris at #8 or Smart at #9.  Then take the best pick at #10 (say, Doug Mcdermott).  With the 3 early 2nd round picks, draft whomever you've got your eye on (Deandre Daniels, PJ Hairston or Jarnell Stokes, for example) or nab Europeans that can be stashed overseas.

The Cavs could turn that #1 pick into 2 top ten picks, 2 early 2nd round picks, 2 lottery picks in 2015, a 1st round pick in 2017, six 2nd round picks over the next 5 years, and Alec Burks--and maybe more.  (Way more if they're willing to throw Waiters, Thompson and Varejao into the trade talks)  This is one of the most anticipated drafts of my lifetime and while it may be the most overrated, it seems to me that the #1 pick has extraordinary value.  And so does the #2 pick and the #3 pick and the #4 pick.  If the Cavs are smart and/or lucky they could maximize the hype of this draft by wringing future considerations out of one single pick.

Would that new GM rather build steady growth through the careful use of a trove of draft picks or just hope Joel Embiid is as good as advertised?  Or that Kevin Love is worth the big big money you're gonna have to lay out for him?  Incidentally the plan for the #1 pick I just laid out could be undertaken by whoever ends up with the pick; perhaps Minnesota could flip Kevin Love for the right the future draft picks of a half dozen other teams.

Is it better to have Kevin Love, Joel Embiid or 14 random players?  In basketball you'd rather have the best individual talent than the most 'nice' players.  Every NBA team has a lot of 'nice' players and in this scenario you'd like your chances of getting a good player in the future but its so more tempting to grab the good player that is in front of you right now.