NBA Draft 2012: 5 Teams That Should Trade Their Draft Picks for Veteran Help

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It truly is one of the age-old questions in professional sports.

When do you decide to rebuild, and when do you decide to make one more run at it with a veteran crew?

Sometimes, this question merges, and a general manager decides that an infusion of a young player or two will actually benefit an aging roster.

On the flip side, sometimes a team full of young players needs a veteran or two to instill leadership and stability.

Here are five teams that, for various reasons, should trade their pick for a veteran player.

Boston Celtics

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Obviously, nobody knows for sure, but it seems like the Boston Celtics are probably going to make another run at it with their veteran crew.

Kevin Garnett will likely re-sign, and at a drastically lower salary than last year's $21 million.

It's too soon to tell if Ray Allen will be back, but he also will be destined to make less than his current $10 million.

Paul Pierce is still under contract, as is Rajon Rondo.

Much of the supporting cast will remain with the team.

But Boston probably will not have a ton of cash on its books to bring in another veteran player.

This leaves them with very few assets to secure a difference-maker on the trade market.

However, Boston does have two decent assets that will never have more value than they have right now.

It currently owns the 21st and 22nd picks in this year's first round.

Historically, picks this late in the first round are notoriously hit or miss.

And more often then not, they do not offer immediate help.

However, if it could package these two picks for a solid big man such as Chris Kaman or Samuel Dalembert, it might be able to make some noise next year.

Another option could be a physical shooting guard, or an instant offense swingman.

Washington Wizards

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The Wizards are an extremely young team that lacks any true identity.

They need another young player on this roster full of unrealized potential like I need another five pounds on my gut.

Now, the tricky thing is getting equal value for this pick.

There are certainly a handful of teams that are salivating at the thought of grabbing Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or maybe even Thomas Robinson.

Therefore, Washington really could name its own price.

It would have to be a very good veteran player, plus a future draft pick.

But if Chicago offered Joakim Noah and a future first-round pick, the Wizards would have to listen.

Of all the teams on here, this one is the longest shot, as it is so hard to get equal value for the third overall pick

But it should at least be explored.

Chicago Bulls

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Speaking of Chicago, it also should look at trading its pick, but for vastly different reasons.

First off, the Bulls are an elite team that has a pretty decent window of opportunity here.

They also are likely going to be without their star point guard for the entire year.

The Bulls need to gin up some excitement for their upcoming season. They have a fanbase that is stunned right now.

Therefore, they need to parlay their first-round pick into a decent point guard.

There are plenty of good, if not ideal, point guards available that should be able to step right in and help out.

Darren Collison to me would be ideal.

He isn't the best player out there, but he is quick, and in the right system, could be a stud.

Look at what he did in New Orleans when Chris Paul went down.

Another option could be Eric Bledsoe from the Clippers.

Portland Trail Blazers

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There is a sense of urgency around Portland.

It has gotten rid of a couple general managers over the past few years, it has seen its once-promising franchise turn into fool's gold and it is suddenly becoming the second-most popular team in town behind the MLS Timbers.

It needs a veteran presence to bring this team together.

It also has two lottery picks.

I'm not saying it should trade them both, but it needs to explore dealing one of them for someone that can help out immediately and drum up some excitement.