Jones: In Search For Stars, Trading 3rd Pick Won't Be Easy For Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Celtics own the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. There are still some talented players available but no blue-chip prospects like the presumptive top two picks, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. Is the 3rd overall pick valuable enough for the Green to package in a trade for a proven star player, like the Bulls' Jimmy Butler?
Adam Jones and Joe Murray discussed the likelihood of trading for a stud using the 3rd pick in the draft. Jones does not like that the Los Angeles Lakers, in particular, ended up with the No. 2 pick, which puts them in an easier position to make a big trade in an "arms race" with Boston.
"To me it's significant that [the Lakers] now have the inside track to acquire [DeMarcus] Cousins, Butler, [Paul] George, player X that we don't even know about ... Even with all the draft picks the Celtics have, even with all their young players, the Lakers have the inside track. Because of the way the stupid ping pong balls bounced [for the Celtics]."
As far as players whom the Celtics could trade in a package with the 3rd pick, Murray says Marcus Smart is the player in the team's crowded backcourt that would get you the most value. Jones wants to see the team try to move Avery Bradley.
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