Paul George and Jimmy Butler (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics could be the biggest player in the offseason as they can dictate the direction of the draft with the no.3 pick.
There seems to be no argument on who will be chosen with the first two picks. Based on the latest reports and speculation from proclaimed experts, the Philadelphia 76ers will take Ben Simmons and the Lakers will take Brandon Ingram. Since the start of the college season, those two were locked at the top two spots.
The fun starts at no.3 with the Boston Celtics. There is still no clear choice for that pick and also, the Celtics have a myriad of option on what to do with it-including a trade.
The most popular option in the rumor mill is trading the pick for Sixers center Jahlil Okafor. It makes a lot of sense as the Celtics want a big man and Philadelphia is gunning for another top 6 pick, as ESPN Insider Chad Ford tweeted.
They'd prefer to move Okafor. For either a Top 6 pick or a young guard. - @chadfordinsider
https://t.co/9aT3Gps4io— ESPN Insider (@ESPNInsider) June 10, 2016
However, as expected of the Celtics, they would shoot for something better. Boston does need a big man, but what they need more is a star. This is what Dalen Cuff of CSNNE pointed out.
"Therefore, the trade you want now isn't for Okafor. It's for Jimmy Butler or Paul George. Trading for Okafor would only be something to be mildly celebrated, and only after all other options and avenues to get Butler or George were exhausted," Cuff declared.
Ainge is most likely working on that now with the draft on June 23 as a deadline. While Cuff's scenario is centered on selling Dragan Bender's potential, the reality is that both the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls need a point guard and Kris Dunn has been very impressive.
Dunn has been compared to John Wall and that is someone whom the Pacers would need, as Gregg Doyel of IndyStar clearly illustrated.
"Show me that guy (Pacers point guard). No, don't show me the smallish guards on roster, guys who look like point guards. Show me the guys - show me the guy - who plays like a point guard. You can't. The Pacers didn't have one. Not most of the season, anyway," Doyel declared.
Late in the season, after he was waived by the Houston Rockets, the Pacers took a chance on Ty Lawson, whom Doyel described as "a living, breathing, playmaking monument to the glaring hole on the Pacers' roster."
The Pacers would definitely need someone like Kris Dunn, but for Paul George, the Celtics need to add to the package. Another big man like expiring Amir Johnson (for salary purposes) or Kelly Olynyk and a guard who can defend, like Avery Bradley or Marcus Smart could sweeten the pot for Indiana.
Ainge could tell his old pal Larry that since he has done a great job of developing George, he could develop Dunn in tandem with Myles Turner's development. The other pieces also fill holes on the team (thin frontline, perimeter defense).
It's taking a step back but the chances of the Pacers getting a prime point guard (Mike Conley) in free agency is slim, and they are drafting way too late since this draft class is thin at the "one" spot.
A similar package could entice the Bulls to trade Butler, and they also covet a point guard for their future if Derrick Rose could no longer return to form. The Celtics could shop the package to both teams, and see which one would bite.
