We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com. Here are this week’s inquiries:
Where do you see the Raptors going with the No. 9 pick? If they trade it, it will likely be for a stretch four with a couple years under contract. I like Thaddeus Young and Brooklyn has no picks. Who else do you think is in play? — Enio Pippo
Young would be a nice fit in Toronto, but new Nets GM Sean Marks has let it be known that he considers Young and Brook Lopez the foundation of the team and he doesn’t plan to trade either one. Brooklyn would like to move into the first round, but probably not badly enough to give up Young and set off a Sixers-style rebuilding project. This year’s draft is well stocked with power forwards, and the ideal scenario would be if either Jaylen Brown, Marquese Chriss or Dragan Bender slides to the ninth spot. If not and the Raptors can’t find the power forward they want via trade, they will be choosing from Domantas Sabonis, Skal Labissiere and Henry Ellenson.
You are Danny Ainge, trying to make a move, but just like last year, you get stonewalled and are unable to make a trade during the draft. What do you do to build a team? Who do you try to sign? — Tyler Norton
The obvious answer is to see how the Kevin Love situation plays out in Cleveland. If the Cavs decide Love isn’t the right fit and they want to unload his contract for luxury tax relief, Boston should be first in line as a trading partner. The Celtics could give up a package centering on Jae Crowder and a couple of young athletes who fit Tyronn Lue’s up-tempo style in Cleveland. If that doesn’t work out, Boston has nearly $42MM in cap space this summer. Ainge can afford to pursue every big name free agent on the market, starting with Kevin Durant. If he stays in Oklahoma City, Al Horford would be a good alternative.
Could the pick Boston has at the top of the second round be a valuable commodity to use in trades? — Richard Barnett
Many teams find second-round picks enticing because they don’t come with guaranteed contracts. GMs are willing to take more chances because they aren’t bound to the players they draft if they wind up being washouts. The Celtics have three picks in the first round and five in the second round, so they’ll surely be in a trading mood. It won’t be hard to find a taker for the 31st pick or the 35th or 45th. Most likely, Ainge will try to package a few of those selections and maybe some players in a bid to get an established star.
GOOO CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!’
Congrad Cleveland now I don’t here that crap about Cleveland any more . But now you will have the bullseye on you let see how he handle it and by the way James is still not best player ever that still Jordan
The guy has always had a bullseye on him. After his first stint in Cleveland. After his first two championships in Miami. And another one on him after last year. So it’s not like anything changes. And obviously LeBron isn’t the best player ever…the guy still has plenty of years left. He might not be the best player ever when he retires either but he still has time to make his case.
Also this mite give wizards more momentum to get Durant to come home . They can now show to him that coming home you can win a champion and if he does go home Cleveland mite only hold title one year and James ownership of eastern title could also come to end . Will see . Now the fun begins . Please mr Durant come home , wall, Beal, Durant , Anderson , cousins , curry ,
LeBron winning the title doesn’t really have any effect on Durant. Yeah, it might give Durant some thought about trying to win one for his hometown, but I’m sure that’s always been in the back of his mind, the Cavs winning it today isn’t affecting his decision. Plus, how are the Wizards getting (presumbly) Ryan Anderson and DeMarcus Cousins? They barely have enough cap space to sign Durant, let alone Ryan Anderson while also keeping Beal. Besides the fact that absorbing his contract would be impossible if they signed Durant and Anderson, they don’t really have enough to offer for Cousins. A deal for Cousins to the Wizards would involve Beal, Oubre and Porter Jr. They’d also have to throw in a couple of firsts and/or Morris/Gortat.