"Look at the best assets in the NBA right now. We have seven superstars: LeBron, Davis, Durant, Kawhi, Curry, Harden and Westbrook. (None were available this week.) We also have six untouchable 25-and-under studs: Jokic, Giannis, Kyrie, Towns, Porzingis and Embiid. (None were available this week.) After that, you’re looking at this “not completely untradable, but you’d have to bowl us over with a ludicrous offer” threesome: George, Butler and John Wall. After that, there are seven crucial stars on playoff teams who wouldn’t be available anyway: Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Marc Gasol and Isaiah Thomas (especially because of his cheap contract), then Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Kyle Lowry (downgraded slightly because they’re free agents). After that, a group of players who might be worth that pick in a one-on-one swap (or close), but it wouldn’t have made sense at the deadline for a variety of reasons: CJ McCollum, Rudy Gobert, LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Mike Conley, Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan, then Gordon Hayward and Paul Millsap (downgraded because they’re free agents), then Boogie Cousins (who just got dealt for 40 cents on the dollar). After that: six more just-about-untouchable young guys who aren’t worth as much as that Brooklyn pick: Andrew Wiggins, Ben Simmons, Devin Booker, Myles Turner, Aaron Gordon and Brandon Ingram."














