If I'm Bryan Colangelo trading high lottery talent like Noel or Okafor its got to be for the Nets 2017 or 2018 pick assuming the trade is Boston Direct with no 3rd team involved.
Truth is both Boston and Philly would probably be happy to use their assets trading with some other team out of division rather than with each other.
Avery Bradley is also probably a fair-ish trade for Noel but I would be reluctant even there to trade to Boston. If I’m Philly I don’t want to see a revenge motivated Nerlens Noel coming back many games a season to throw down lob after lob and reject shot after shot helping my division rival win games against me.
Then again maybe Bradley has a little chip on his shoulder to hand back to Boston.
I also don’t want to get knocked out of the EC playoffs against Boston because Okafor scored 35/10 and got my front line in foul trouble.
Either big man is likely to look much much better in Boston immediately with the more experienced and proven roster in Boston.
Boston fans also don't want to see some 2017 draft stud come back to haunt them every year as they develop a new rivalry with Philly but at least they don't have to worry about that for a couple of years and they could be playing in the NBA finals before that really kicks in against a developing young stud.
Boston would have to overpay me at least a little but if I’m Ainge, I don’t rule it completely out.
The trade could make sense for Boston unless some bigger deal like Cousins our such comes along quickly. The Celtics are a Right Now team that shouldn't waste entire seasons of opportunity waiting strictly for future draft studs. Boston is not as much a rebuilding team at this point. They are knocking on the door of contention right now with 2 All-star quality players in IT and Horford along with a solid supporting cast.
A high stud draft pick to develop a year or 2 from now is great but this Celtics team window is open right now.
A player like Noel already has some NBA development and definitely puts that team much closer to threatening the Cavs which has to be the target for Boston.
A defensive savant like Noel to go with Bradley/Smart/Crowder etc. could make it worth selling off a future value for now value. That's starting to look like a defensive nightmare for opponents once the rim protection is locked in.
Philly on the other hand is still a rebuild. The improved guard and wing talent has jumped from D-league level to NBA average levels immediately with Rodriguez/Bayless/Henderson.
For upside young guard/wing they have a nicely developing TJ McConnell on a good contract and they just drafted 2 promising wings in Luwawu and Korkmaz who many thought could go much higher in the their draft.
At this point most Boston players that their fans want to trade like Rozier/Smart etc. are in the same general talent range of what the Sixer's already have in roster or coming and that's before they even draft again or hit the next free agency. In other words the Sixers only need shots at real future studs not players that very well get released anyway because they are beat out by current Sixers.
A Brooklyn pick would make sense only for that reason. A low level 1st is mostly good for future Philly trade fodder. The Brooklyn 17 might be a bit of an overpay with the draft potential but Boston still gets All-star capable young big man and could be making a run at the NBA finals before Philly even gets to see the pick.
Sixers give up talent now for a shot at a stud later while Boston gets a stud where they need it on the front line and when they need him, right now.
Add Pick Swap in Trade?
If Philly gets a player + a pick swap right of Philly’s #1 for the Brooklyn 17 that could bridge the gap between the Celtics concern in missing out on the big 2017 class and the Sixer's concern about getting beaten badly in a deal that helps Boston.
In the event the Sixers lottery pick is lower than Brooklyn’s this year which is quite possible, Boston would still be getting a lotto pick in a deep ’17 draft. Given Philly's improved roster along with what players they might bring back in the trade the Sixers could easily be drafting significantly lower next year than the Nets.
As things are shaping up though it seems even a mid to low pick in the '17 lottery will have plenty of potential to give back to the Celtics.
I mean this guy is currently ranked only #11 on Draft Express!