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NBA Trade Deadline: Every Team’s Most Untouchable Asset

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics: 2016 First Round Draft Pick (via Nets)

The Boston Celtics have a number of intriguing assets, but only one is truly untouchable. That’s how Brad Stevens, Danny Ainge, and company would have it, as Boston has built its foundation with blue-collar players who put the team first and sacrifice personal gain.

Unless the Celtics manage to get their hands on a genuine NBA superstar, dealing the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round draft pick would be a grave mistake.

Brooklyn is currently 14-40, which is tied with the Phoenix Suns for the third-worst record in the Association. In other words, the Celtics are on pace to have the third-best odds of landing the No. 1 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, via the Nets’ unprotected pick.

That’s the type of opportunity that Ainge and the Celtics cannot let slip away without an extremely attractive return.

If Boston manages to trade for a true superstar, giving this untouchable pick up would make sense. It’s already the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, which suggests that adding a new face of the franchise would push it into the realm of championship contention.

Unless that rare opportunity comes about, Boston should hold onto this pick and use it to find its new franchise player.

Next: Brooklyn Nets