NBA Off-Season

Now think of all the trades Danny Ainge can almost make with those assets

 

Can somebody explain pick swaps?

 

The teams may swap pick positions, with one team guaranteed to get the better of the picks.

 

Does Ainge hypnotize the other GMs when he makes these deals, or has Cleveland's GM simply not seen Mitchell play? This is an absolutely stupid trade from Cleveland's perspective.

Ainge has fleeced two GMs this offseason. I don't get it.

 

Jazz sign Sexton 4/72

 

I’m laughing at how this trade is being played on ESPN’s website (like a minor transaction) compared to how it would’ve been played if it was the Knicks who made the trade.

Not that I think it should be any different, but Stephen A. would’ve been helicoptered into Pittsburgh to parachute down to the 50-yard line to scream out his take if this was the Knicks.

 

I mean, Mitchell is pretty good. He's 25, averaged 25.9 PPG this past season, PER of 21.6 this year and 21.3 last year. It's not like Utah was full of shot creators, so maybe his efficiency ticks up, and his defense gets a bit better too, if he doesn't have to create constantly on offense. His top comparable on B-R is Dick McGuire, a guy from the 1950s, but #2 is Mitch Richmond, followed by Rod Strickland, Marbury, Damon Stoudamire and Wesley Matthews, although at lower scores (all under 90 percent). The price of draft picks was high, but given how young Cleveland's core is, they'll probably only "regret" the last one, last two being in the deal.

 

It's about the pieces they want to put around Mobley.

 

Cleveland is never going to attract a Mitchell-level free agent. If Mobley really is a KG-level player, those picks will not be good ones.

I think this is a win-win trade.

 

Thanks. I thought that was it, but then I thought you were not allowed to trade consecutive No. 1s, but imagine if you're trading for another No. 1, that doesn't count.

 

I'm just generally not as high on him. Mitchell is a volume shooter. He shoots ballpark of 44% from the field which is ok, not great for his position. He's not an elite three point shooter. He's not a particularly willing passer. It's hard to judge his defense because he's never attempted to play defense. He got absolutely torched by the Mavs in round one.

On the plus side -- he's a guy who can absolutely get his own shot, which is really valuable.

The big question to me: how willing is he to play off the ball? Because I want the ball in Darius Garland's hands. If Mitchell will be an occasional ballhandler and a catch-and-release shooter it's a solid upgrade to the starting five. If Garland and Mobley become side players in the Donovan Mitchell show, I don't like this at all.

And worth remembering: Collin Sexton is pretty good. He's not Mitchell but the gulf isn't that big.... and they gave up two decent players, five first rounders and two swaps to make that upgrade.