The Boston Celtics have placed themselves in a very enviable position.
This is a team owner's wet dream-to have young players, a wealth of draft picks, a brilliant coach and most of all, being able to compete and have another team tanking for you.
Boston does not have to suffer the media indignation, loss of revenue and paltry attendance that the Philadelphia 76ers need to endure in order to get a high draft pick.
However, if DeMarcus Cousins is really being offered in exchange for the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected first round pick, the Celtics, contrary to the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett's opinion that it should be "out of the question."
ESPN's Chris Forsberg stated that "if I'm Ainge, I'm willing to use the pick in trade if I can get an impact talent in return. There's too much risk and uncertainty with pingpong balls and picks, especially when no one wants to deal on draft night."
If a player like Cousins would be attainable with the Nets' pick (paired with David Lee and other players to match salary), the Celtics should pounce on that deal. There are some solid reasons to support this position.
The first reason is that the Nets are not guaranteed the no.1 pick even if they end up with the worst record in the NBA. The NBA draft lottery only guarantees them not lower than 4th.
Corollary to that, the Brooklyn Nets are unlikely to finish with the worst record. Brooklyn is the Atlantic Division, and that means they will meet the Sixers four times. The Sixers are motivated to lose for their own pick, the Nets are not. In fact, Brooklyn fans want their team to make the playoffs just to spite the Celtics.
Also, the Nets have Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, two real NBA players that the Sixers, or even the Lakers, for that matter, cannot currently compete with. The Nets could probably end up with the third worst record, fourth if Anthony Davis is actually injured.
If the Nets finish with the third worst record and they are not lucky enough (odds: 15.6%) to win the lottery, their pick would range from 3rd to 6th. The 2016 NBA Draft is projected to have two absolute gems: LSU's Ben Simmons and Kentucky's Skal Labissiere. A third overall pick keeps them out of reach.
Other possible picks in the top five like Brandon Ingram, Dragan Bender and Jaylen Brown would probably not develop to what Cousins is now-a genuine top 10 NBA talent.
Besides, as Dan Favale of Bleacher Report pointed out, it's not limited to Cousins. He proclaims: "that Brooklyn pick is enough to get Boston in negotiations for any sure thing (read: superstar) who might become available." His final tease: "Are the Oklahoma City Thunder entertaining trade proposals for Kevin Durant these days or nah?"
Nothing is beyond the realm of possibility. If the Thunder does not meet expectations and they feel that Durant may walk, Danny Ainge and Sam Presti might find themselves discussing a league-changing blockbuster trade (like they did to send Ray Allen to Boston) again.