The draft was probably not the best time to trade Leonard or Davis for picks in this draft, for a couple of reasons.
Yes, our two rookies should make at least one of Leonard and Davis expendable, eventually. However, let’s wait and see how the rookies develop into their roles before we trade a vet away.
Then there is always the injury bug to watch out for. Let’s not leave ourselves short of veteran bigs until the rookies show what they can do, just incase someone gets hurt.
By the trade deadline, we should have some idea of how well the rookies are going to work out, and which players we can trade. Add in other teams that are looking to fill in roster holes dues to injuries, and both Davis and Leonard probably will have more trade value then than now.
Plus trading them for future draft picks reduces our team’s salary more than trading them for a pick in this draft would have.
I like what NO did today. He went after and got the player he wanted, and played it safe the rest of the way. And he left himself reasonable options going forward to improve the team.