[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

When the initial deal went down I’ll admit that I was excited at the prospect of adding the #1 Pick and Markelle Fultz, he looked like solid Iso scorer at the very least and he could run the Pick and Roll with Embidd by all accounts based on his scouting report

I was always a huge Jayson Tatum fan and supported the idea of drafting him 3rd overall and using him as a 6th man or small ball 4 longterm

Seeing what we gave up to get Fultz and what a tragedy his jumpshot/confidence has become Im getting the impending feeling we should have just stayed put at 3 and drafted Tatum regardless of fit or team neex at the moment, I love Covington but was he worth not drafting Tatum?

Hindsight is always 20/20 and its still very early in regards to Fultz’ shot BUT I’d be lying if I said I wouldnt go back in time and Trust the Process and just take my chances with Tatum at 3 and the Draft Pick we traded away to the Celtics and that bandit Danny Ainge lol

 

 

 

 

 

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Still too early to say.

Plus if we stayed at 3 I think Boston would’ve followed through on their threat to take Tatum first.

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 I bet they would have followed through

Multiple people around the organisation including Tatum himself have said they would have taken him first

As a Celtics fan I would have been super pissed about it especially with a Markelle Fultz (Without the injuries and with a jumper available)

But of course now looking back we can see that that Fultz isn’t what transpired

 

 

 

[Celtics3178Participant]

 Tatum has super star talent written all over him he’s clutch, great NBA body and can score in multiple ways. His defense is much better then anyone expected. He’s not an alpha 1 but he’s a star 2’or third option in a few years. You can say he already is but the Celtics have so many guys who can drop 20 on any given night. Not drafting Tatum and giving up such a high pick doesn’t look good. 

The good thing not like your in a terrible spot Ben and Embiid are both beasts. That being said Stephen A smith said it best. Lavar ball is Fultz best friend. No one is talking about how bad of a pick he was because of lavars big mouth. Fultz needs to figure out his jumper quick. The sixers defensive guard play is terrible. They need his athleticism and he needs to shoot because having him and simmons who doesn’t shoot 3’s at the same time on the court will never work. Teams will just crowd the paint and face guard jj

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Maybe he’s a Paul Pierce type of player, but I don’t see that.  He’s too inconsistent and he’s not athletic enough.

Sorry but I’ve seen enough of Philly vs. Boston, to draw some conclusions about Boston.

Boston plays excellent defense you can thank Horford’s IQ and Marcus Smarts tenacity.

The jury awaits on Gordon Heyward but by all accounts Boston will be a force with him (just an overall very good player)AND…….

Kyrie.  The man should get consideration for MVP.  This team is very very average without him.  Having that go to scorer sets them apart.  Seals the deal. 

They’re a really nice couple.  Kyrie’s gravity, his offense, ability to get hot and get on a scoring streak, meshes really well with Boston’s team defense.  Its like both account for each other.

Having said that, Tatum and Brown are just average without Kyrie.  I bet even if Gordon Heyward joined them they’d still be just an okay team.  I.T. and now definitely Kyrie make the other players’ jobs very easy.

I don’t see Tatum as having Superstar potential.  Tatum’s shot is too inconsistent on his own, he has some nice measured moves, but all that space he is afforded is due to Kyrie.  His job is really easy with that coach and that superstar.

You switch his role with Pheonix I dont’ think anyone is saying Tatum has superstar potential but he is a nice player. 

I always liked Fultz and then Josh Jackson.  You put Josh Jackson on the Celtics he is much more praised.  He may not be the outside shooter but his defense would’ve made them better than they are now.  I don’t think Tatum can do it consistently enough.  

The whole point of this is that yes, the Celtics are a good team because of their defense and because of their coach but most importantly because of Kyrie.  This is a team that struggles to generate points, doesn’t really have a 2nd superstar (at least not this year and Horford is a really nice piece but he’s not a superstar).

What I saw out of Tatum today vs Philly I see in a lot of good players.  Thats what Tatum is to me, a good player but nowhere near a dominant player.  Yeah he scores and is dependable, but asking him to score while being the focus of an opposing team’s defense and putting up 20 shots consistently…no sir.  A James Harden he will never be.  I see him like a Rudy Gay.   He definitely is not worth being a #1 overall pick over the POTENTIAL of Markelle Fultz from college, who was a triple threat scorer that got to the rim.   

  

[markfitz14Participant]

 Paul Pierce was not as athletic as Tatum and it sure didn’t stop him from being "SuperStar".

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

Is more consistent and balanced than Tatum.

Tatum may get better but I was never huge on him because of his lack of consistency.  Let me see him drop 30 as the alpha…I dont’ think he can because I don’t think he’s athletic enough…but we’ll see.

He reminds me of a Rudy Gay, who isn’t a bad player.  I don’t see him ever even becoming close to Kawhi.

Tatum is a very good role player.  

Paul Pierce was never considered a superstar either.  He was never really an all star starter but he was dependable as hell.  Paul Pierce’s game is more consistent and balanced.  

I see Tatum excelling due to Kyrie and the system.  

  

[markfitz14Participant]

Tatum could easily improve enough to drop 30 as the alpha. Yes he is def excelling becuase of Stevens system and Kyrie but who cares. Of course Pierce was more consistent in his prime. I would say their rookie seasons were pretty comprable. 

Depends what you define as a super star. If he has to be a top 3 player? Or top 10 player. I would say Pierce was a top 10 player in his prime for sure. 

Note Tatum is young still he has a couple years to get bigger stonger and faster. 

 

 

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

 I also stopped reading when I read Tatum is not a supersta and he’s just a paul piercetype of a player, Paul is a superstar before. Although he’s not that athletci enough in his last years of his prime, he’s pretty athletic enough to join the dunk contest before. IDK what year it is though. Tatum is sneaky athlete, and he’s IQ is off the charts like Paul, But I don’t know why you said Paul pierce is not a superstar, yes he’s not a LBJ or Durant type of a player that could change the game, but he’s a HOF

[The GoatParticipant]

To the best of my knowledge, Ainge was the only GM who had Tatum at 1. Markelle Fultz was a consensus #1. I believe the words echoing around the NBA were that  it’s a strong class but Fultz is the best player and “it’s not even close”. I was still surprised Philly traded up though, because the whole process was about collecting assets. It really shocked me they threw in a lottery pick to move up from #3 after all that effort to hoard picks. I thought wow, they just burned a lotto pick to go up 2 spots, how good do they think Fultz is?
Tatum is great, no doubt. I’m not writing off Fultz yet though. To me, in latest videos his pull up and free throws are now fixed, he just can’t shoot any further – yet. He will get his range back, and when he does, I can’t see how he would’ve lost the rest of his game. Fitting in with Simmons is another thing, cos I think both need to play point, but let’s see if Philly can get Fultz back to being the guy he was in college before we judge the deal and mark him as a bust.

[mowestenParticipant]

If you assert the Celtics would have taken Tatum No. 1 regardless,  then you’re conceeding that the 76ers outsmarted themselves and gave up assets for a player they could have had at No. 3. 

Whoops.

 

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

I mean basically a better version of Covington, but how much better does that make Philly?  Marginally at best.

The 76ers obviously gave up a lot, but it was understood the Lakers would take Fultz.

I would hope the Sixers would take Josh Jackson with #3 and NOT Lonzo Ball, who would be worthless as a fit in Philly.

Right now the Lakers pick is likely top 5 so you could’ve potentially added a Trae Young or Luka Doncic, but you took a gamble and assumed the Lakers would finally start winning and the pick woudln’t be a top 5 pick.

I’m going to assume they’d take Josh Jackson at 3 if it came down to Ball vs. Jackson (Tatum and Fultz gone, Phily retains Lakers pick).

You could have had Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic/Trae Young, Josh Jackson, Saric, Embiid 

vs Fultz Simmons Covington Saric Embiid.

I would’ve liked to see Trae Young and Josh Jackson on this team or Doncic if Saric tells you he’s an absolute stud..  But let’s Pray Fultz goes back to college form.  

Fultz is injury prone, has an awkard gait, isn’t physically imposing, but he can play.  he can be triple threat.  I wonder if Ainge saw that and htats why he decided to go with Tatum.  I bet Philly was so hyped by what they saw in college they failed to focus on the worrisome things during his workout iwth Philly that Ainge may have seen with a sharper eye.  

I don’t think Fultz shot was awkward during that practice/summer league, so who knows but I do remember him missing shots from video at that practice.

Philly drafted him and so would have the Lakers on the potential of him being another Kyrie type, he was also the ideal fit with Simmons and Embiid.  

Boston was smarter and traded for Kyrie.  They used to pose would you trade Fultz for Kyrie and back then I said no, because i wanted Fultz to grow with this team and didn’t just want a FA to complete teh process.

Now, I’m a darn fool.  Kyrie is flat out a stud.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 To be honest this one of those drafts where you had to time it just right as it was very deep. I personally thought there were to many angles being out there..

Celtics were never taking Futlz-The leaks after his work out and Futlz panicing and taking more than 1 work out proved that much he must have gotten that vibe from them…It was between Taytum and Jackson all along.

Lakers: Weren’t taking futlz -See D russell issues they just traded that away why would they want a slighlty more athletic version of him. It was more smokescreens to make sure no one took Ball or be forced to trade up to get him-Who it was obvious that Magic wanted him from day 1..

76ers just got to panicing and shot the shot a little too early and traded away a Asset which Hinkie got them…P.S Bryan C sucks balls as a GM..

Now onto the question  Taytum over Futlz…

The answer is most likely this: Lets see a full season of Futlz and a season of Taytum playing when Hayward is back before commenting on this. As Taytums team isn’t what it would be normally and we don’t know what Futlz will be-A starter or a bench player full time..As we don’t if the injury was what had him coming off the bench rather than starting or if it was him..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

If Boston had taken Tatum first, Fultz could well have fallen to Philly at 3 if the Lakers were dead set on Ball. I always wondered what would have happened if Philly or Boston had used first pick to take Ball and seen how Lavar reacted. Lavar I doubt would be allowed near Boston’s by Ainge and co and likewise at Philly.

[The GoatParticipant]

Yeah i think the Celtics dangled the bait to suck a draft pick out of someone cos the word was out Fultz was the consensus top pick with other GMs. Ainge would’ve taken Tatum at 1 regardless. He did a good job.

Im not sold the Sixers guy would’ve been there at 3 though, which is why they overpaid to get to #1. I personally think the Sixers burnt a lotto pick, it was too much to move up just two spots cos I didn’t see the major jump in talent to justify it, but they must’ve…. They were pretty sure Fultz was the one, cos they didn’t want to risk the Lakers taking him.

I can’t question their scouting – it’s proven to be spot on so far. Ball and Jackson mustnt have been considered good fits – they were right, they wouldn’t have been – and the other top rookies aren’t guys that they would’ve taken at 3 – Mitchell, Kuzma, Markkanen.
So, looks like Philly could’ve stayed pat and got someone they didn’t want at 3, trade down (with hindsight would’ve been a better call) or trade up using surplus assets and take a chance that Fultz was the star the scouts said he was. They may still have made the right move. The injury and shooting form don’t look good, but hes far from a bust right now.

If Philly didn’t make the trade, they’d probably have Lonzo at the point and have Simmons off the ball, likely struggling to find a way to be effective with no jumper.

[vulture711Participant]

 One has played and looks good.  One hasn’t so much other than appear in video clanking jumpers.  Sixers were guard focused coming in – not sure if Simmons was a full time guard and needing a 2 guard.  Fultz was a player who could cover both needs.  Having seen Covington produce so little since he signed his contract – Tatum surely would be a nice fit starting at 3 giving them an isolation scorer who is probably right there with Covington from 3 and on D.  Have to see which Fultz shows up – Washington Fultz, or I want my mommy hang your head Fultz.  I’m hoping for more of the former 

[holefillers1Participant]

 I cant argue with the fact the 76ers targeted their guy and made an aggressive move to get him.  I wasn’t as high on him as others but his skillset coming out of college was that of a scorer and this is exactly what the Sixers needed…still need.  I did not want Lonzo Ball so I was fine with the move to get Fultz even though the Sixers may have given up a top five pick.  This draft was deep but no one player stood out above another.  

 

If you are going to MMQB this thing it really isn’t fair to do so before Fultz gets on the floor for some significant time.  We have a young kid who is struggling through a physical injury and now has to overcome what appears to be a mental hurdle.  I doubt this hitch in his shot remains for his entire career.  

 

Now for shits and giggles, lets play Captain Hindsight on a bunch of Sixers moves…Roco was a bad signing he is a streaky shooter that takes ill advised shots and either turn it over when he puts the ball on the floor or boots a layup because he is too cool to dunk.  Saric needs to be traded unless they move him to the bench and he assumes the role of playmaker as he did at the end of last year.  If Fultz and Simmons never develop a shot then they let the best two-way wing in the draft slip right through their fingers and still have not addressed the need for a scoring gaurd.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cuseflynn10Participant]

I was against the trade from the start. I felt that the forwards in Tatum and Jackson would be better prospects in the NBA than Fultz and Ball, and with the Lakers likely to take Ball, there was no reason to trade the #3 pick and the future first rounder just to move up one spot. They should have stayed put and taken whoever fell between Tatum and Fultz. Granted, Fultz has only played 76 minutes and may turn out to be just as good or better than Tatum, but still, they overpaid for him by giving up the future first rounder which may be a top 2-5 pick this year in a draft with arguably 5 players good enough to go #1 (Ayton, Porter, Bagley, Young, and Doncic). No matter how good Fultz turns out, he won’t be as valuable as having Tatum plus whoever the 76ers would take with the Lakers pick this year (assuming it’s forfeited to the Celtics).

[holefillers1Participant]

 Got that right

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Still to soon to say. People are way to reactionary.

As of right now the Lakers pick is more likely than not to stay with the Sixers. Especially since after the All Star Break a lot of teams are going to be tanking but the Lakers wont be. They will pick up a ton of cheap wins. If the Lakers finish with the 6th worst record the Sixers have an 87% chance of keeping the pick. The odds only improve the better they finish.

Yes as of right now things aren’t looking that great but it’s way too soon to right off Fultz.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I actually think the ideal fit with Simmons and Embiid would have been Kyle Kuzma.  More of a catch and shoot guy than Tatum and a killer from 3.  He could play either the 3 or the 4 as a PERFECT 3rd option.

Philly could have had him with their second pick.

Ironically, they could have ALSO had another rookie sleeper with their third pick in Jordan Bell.  He would have been a great rotation big man for them with his energy, motor, rebounding, shot blocking, dunking, and passing skills either next to Embiid, as Embiid’s backup or with Saric in small ball front court rotations.

Simmons, Covington, Kuzma, Bell, and Embiid would be one NASTY lineup!

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Markkanen might have been the best fit position wise.  Could combo with Embiid and would give them a great 3 big man rotation with Saric.  With Simmons at point and Covington at the 3, I don’t really see a great fit for them at the 2 (if Fultz turns out to be a bad fit/pick).

That being said, Michael Porter, Jr. looks like an ideal third option with Neon and Butch.  Ok, move Covington over to the 2 or play Porter at the 4, but he would give Philly a top notch scoring/shooting option.

 

 

 

[HazelParticipant]

Do you know what gets really old?

Waiting on health.

Philidelphia-Embiid, Simmons

Clippers-Griffin

Utah- Hood, Exum, Gobert

OKC when KD lost those two years hurt

I don’t know how good Fultz will be eventually, but I do know this.  Phily already has two players that are supposed to be stars who have missed 60% of the possible games they could play. 

If I am Phily, I regret the pick because availability is more important than ability. (LeBron that is one of many things that makes you great) I am sick of unknowns. 

So…I would take Tatum or Mitchell without question.  

Tatum is a rookie who is shooting and defending at incredible levels for a rookie. 

 He has an amazing bball IQ and he is an amazing teammate/team player.  Those factors are not considered as much as they should be.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[BlueRivers25Participant]

 Warriors waited on Curry to get healthy and it paid off. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Does Philly TRADE Fultz or at least shop him for a draft night deal?

IF he comes back and looks bad his value will PLUMMET.  If they sit him out though he might still have value on draft night as a potential star 6th man as a baseline scenario.

I am thinking they can use their OWN pick plus Fultz ALONG WITH maybe Saric to get a guy like Porter, Jr. or Jaren Jackson Jr. if the Lakers’ pick conveys to Philly and they use it to select Porter, Jr. as their third option of the future.

I think they need to see what they can get for Fultz/Saric.  Philly has two unicorns. They need AT LEAST one more.  They need to shorten their potential core since they threw some pretty big money at Robert Covington (a fifth guy disguised as a fourth guy).   Everybody other than Embiid and Simmons is expendable.  If they draft a 3 and have to move Covington either to the 2 or to the bench, then that is what they gotta do.  

I think I would be MORE LIKELY to trade my own pick plus Fultz/Saric to move up in the draft if I DO end up with the Lakers pick.

So, then you get a shot at getting TWO unicorns.  Maybe Porter, Jr. AND Trae Young or Bagley.  If you get Trae then you move Simmons to the 3 or he at least plays small forward more.  Or, you play "small" with Simmons, Trae, Covington, Porter, Jr. and Embiid.  Not sure who guards whom, but that lineup looks UNSTOPPABLE on offense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 Who would fit better with Simmons and Embiid?   Tatum or Mitchell?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I would go with Tatum between those two.  But, man Kuzma would have been the guy…  

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