Boston Celtics Should Trade Up in the Draft
The Boston Celtics have far too many draft picks for them to effectively utilize them individually. The Celtics simply do not have the roster space to accommodate their 8 total picks in this draft and they can put them to much better use. The Celtics still do not know if they will need to trade the Nets pick in order to get their top player. The Celtics do, however, have the assets to make sure they can trade up for any player they want, no matter where they land in the lottery. And, if the Celtics are comfortable with the lottery results then they have a great opportunity to trade back into the top 10.
It is their next two first round draft picks, combined with any of the 5 second round draft picks, that give the Celtics that opportunity to trade back into the top 10. The Celtics may also opt to use their draft picks as part of a packaged deal for an established player. Making that kind of blockbuster trade, however, is much more difficult then finding ways to move up in the draft. Even if the Celtics find the player they want, that is on a team that is willing to trade them (looking at Jimmy Butler or DeMarcus Cousins), they may have to give up more than just draft picks.
The Celtics are in a unique position where they stand to benefit even if they overpay. If the ping pong balls don’t fall their way and the Nets pick is outside of the Celtics’ desired range, they surely have the assets to get their guy in a trade. If the Celtics have that one particular player in mind, then they would be wise to exercise all options with their draft picks to get their guy because they do not need to pick 8 times in this draft.
If the Celtics are a little uncertain with the top tier talent, and do not have that one player they believe can transform there franchise, then trading back into the lottery is the best option. The Celtics may have multiple players they think have the potential to change the franchise and it is extremely rare that a team has an opportunity like the Celtics do to get more than one of their top options.
The Celtics have done their job in accumulating the draft picks they need to properly rebuild. Now, they need to find the best way to use those picks and that means trading up. The Celtics have finally reached a point where long term future may not be the only priority. The Celtics traded away a core of star players that included Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and even a coach in Doc Rivers. The Celtics roster suffered tremendously but they now have an opportunity to finally catch up to the necessary talent level.
The Celtics need to start using their assets in order to get the top end talent that they are lacking. The Celtics have done such a fantastic job with their draft picks that packaging multiple later picks together to move up still does very little harm to potential long term value.
After the season ended Brad Stevens spoke about two jumps that need to be made as a team. It is one thing to be a part of a top 15 that are able to consistently get into the playoffs, and it is completely different to be a true title contender. The Celtics appear to have made that first leap into the top 15 but that means nothing until they become a true contender.
The Celtics already have more youth and prospects than they can handle and using all their draft picks to trade up in the draft or using those picks to trade for a superstar is the fastest way to take that next step that Stevens spoke about. The Celtics have enough young talent that may have the potential to become a top tier player in the future. The Celtics need as close as they can get to a sure thing and that will help solidify what can quickly become one of the stronger and deeper cores in the NBA.
The Celtics cannot bank on a top free agent joining them. Other than Kevin Durant, who is likely return to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Celtics will have much better options of getting talent through a trade. Free agency is too much of a mystery for the Celtics to expect the talent to fall into their lap. Because of their number of draft picks, the Celtics have an opportunity to acquire that talent themselves.
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Danny Ainge has yet again promised a busy offseason but if they rely only on free agency then it may be a disappointment. Ainge has been a willing trader his entire career and if he truly wants to make the splash that he has spoken about then the Celtics will need to use their incredible collection of draft picks in a trade.