Could Danny Ainge trade for Joel Embiid or Nerlens Noel this offseason?


For a team in a full rebuild, you'd think landing the 2014 Rookie of the Year would be something to hang your hat on.

Not if you're Philadelphia apparently.
The 76ers trading away point guard Michael Carter-Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks for an eventual 1st round pick was surprising, even to him, but what went under the radar on deadline day was Philadelphia's willingness to trade anyone on their roster pointed out by Mark Heisler of Forbes.com.

In an unnoticed development at last week’s trade deadline, the 76ers were still trying to trade up for a top pick in this draft, indicating a willingness to talk about Joel Embiid or any player on their team, an NBA source told Forbes.com.

So if Philly is willing to talk about the number 3 overall pick in this years draft in Joel Embiid or the guy who they gave up an All-Star point guard for in Nerlens Noel, should Danny Ainge pick up the phone and find out that price?

The answer: Yes, Yes and hell yeah!

We still have no idea what Joel Embiid will be in the NBA and the Celtics would be buying based on potential alone, but who cares.  It's a risk the Celtics should be willing to take.

In Noel's case he's been pretty much as advertised in his rookie season: a solid defender averaging nearly 2 blocks a game and a project on offense at almost 9 points a game. But it would be fun to watch a hometown kid from Malden, MA be a building block for the team he's rooted for all his life.

Embiid has the higher price tag and would require a few of their prized Brooklyn picks to get a deal done and Noel won't come cheap either, but if 7-eleven... I mean the 76ers are open for business then Danny Ainge should be their top customer.

For Boston, similar to the "luring a free agent argument", they will have to overpay to bring in these types of players.

Again, who cares?

The Celtics need to take that risk to get better because if they do live up to their potential, you won't, except for maybe Noel, be on their list come free agency.

Come the offseason, Ainge's first call should be to Philly GM Sam Hinkie.

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