Vecenie talked about the DDR trade on his podcast today. He has some questions about how it all will work but generally likes the acquisition (other than the pick swap). He said with all things considered he would rather have DDR than BI if he was the Kings. He also said he thinks we should trade Kevin for Beef Stew.
I can only think the dramatic aversion to pick swaps is evolutionary. Like, our lizard brains consider it worse to give someone the power to take something of ours and force us to take back something worse than it is just to willingly give them that thing wholesale with nothing in return.
I read this article in The Ringer from a few years ago by Zack Kram that stated based on data and crunching numbers, a pick swap is worth no more than the 36th overall pick.
Link: Real Value of Pick Swap
I don’t really understand the process they took to determine that, and even after Google, I don’t know who Zack Kram is, but it supports my stance, so I’m quoting them.
Taking out the variable of projecting team success, on the surface, a pick swap only has a 50% chance of conveying at all, and even when it does, you still have a first round draft pick.
By all measures a swap is far better than outright trading a pick, or even a protected pick.
But our lizard brains hate the thought of chancing into being bullied on draft night.