The Celtics Should Go Hard After Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram

Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram have separated themselves from the rest of the prospects in this year’s draft, and the Celtics need to try to land one

It is such an easy thing to say, and surely something that every team is thinking. Getting Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram would make any team instantly better, and would do wonders for a team like the Boston Celtics. There’s little doubt that they will be the first two selections in the upcoming draft. Both Simmons and Ingram are two of the safest players in a draft that is considered weaker than usual.

It seems like wishful thinking to even fathom the idea of trading up for either of these college stars. The Boston Celtics currently are projected to hold the fourth pick in the draft, could they possibly slide up to one of the top two slots to land one of these young studs?

For most teams the obvious answer would be no, however, the Celtics hold an amazing amount of assets. Boston has more than enough draft picks, young players, and bonafide veterans to move up two spots. A mixture of all three could be enough to sway a team away from a top two selection. The question is, what would it take to make a deal happen?

To go along with a probable top-five selection, the Celtics also own the Dallas Mavericks‘ pick as well as their own. The Celtics will be drafting around 23rd to 25th overall, while the Mavericks’ pick is falling closer to the lottery as we speak. Dallas is on a downward spiral and if they miss the playoffs the Celtics would then own two lottery selections. That would be huge as two lottery picks, even with one being at the back-end, would be enticing for a struggling team. Besides, it’s unlikely Boston holds onto all three selections as they have a full roster as it is, and drafted three players last season.

Two picks won’t get the job done, obviously, the Celtics would have to add multiple players. The Celtics have many young players that could be added into the deal. James Young, R.J. Hunter, Jordan Mickey, and Terry Rozier would all become easily expendable, and even if they asked for Marcus Smart, Danny Ainge would have to think about it. Boston has a lot of young players, however, with a couple of big free agent signings expected this off-season and their surprisingly great play this season, there aren’t a lot of minutes to go around to the young guys.

It may seem irrational to give up any amount of your recent draft picks who haven’t had time to prove themselves, but Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram have the potential to be once in a lifetime players, and make an instant impact.

The biggest part of the deal would be trading away an already established veteran on the team. A young, rebuilding team would most likely look towards either Avery Bradley or Jae Crowder. Both Crowder and Bradley have made huge strides in their games this season, and are key components to this team. Could the Celtics afford to lose one of them and trust that a rookie could pick up the game fast enough?

In my opinion, it would be worth the risk. With the cap space that the Celtics own this upcoming off-season, they could go out and try and get someone like Nicolas Batum or Harrison Barnes to fill the void, and then have Simmons or Ingram develop off the bench for a year or two.

Either Simmons or Ingram could develop into a star that the Celtics have been searching for to go along with Isaiah Thomas. Plus, if the Celtics go out and sign a big man, like Al Horford, they could have one of the best trios in the league in the near future.

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Jae Crowder or Avery Bradley, a mixture of young players (which could include Marcus Smart), and the Nets’ and Mavericks’ draft picks, seem like a steep price to pay to move up two spots in the draft. Although, Ben Simmons is one of the best college players in the recent memory, and Brandon Ingram has proven to be one of the prospects with the most potential in the recent years.

Simmons can do it all. He averages 19.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game. He is a 6’10” power forward who has the mobility of a small forward, and effects the game in every way. LSU has been disappointing this season though, which makes people wonder if he has that killer instinct that makes players great. He also doesn’t have a great mid-range shot, and only shoots 33.3 percent from behind the arc. But, Simmons’ ability to pass is unlike anything we’ve seen from someone that size, and being a triple-double threat is rare at the college level.

Brandon Ingram didn’t come into college with as much hype, but has proven his worth this season and has led Duke to a good season. Averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game is impressive, however, his 41.3 three-point percentage is the staple to his game. Ingram is one of the best shooters in the game, and can also get in the lane at will. He needs to bulk up a little to reach his full potential in the NBA, but at 6’9″, he has the height to succeed as a shooting guard or small forward.

Moving up two spots in the draft will cost the Celtics, and will not be an easy task, however, when considering the type of money the Celtics have this off-season, and how much potential these two players have, it would be worth it. Boston has a lot of young players with potential, but none of them look to be a potential starter in the future.

Right now the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns are all ahead of the Celtics in the lottery. All those teams would love an extra mid-first round pick, along with a top-five pick, and getting a two-way player, like Bradley or Crowder, would also help speed up their rebuilding.

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It would be perfect if the Celtics got lucky and landed in the top-two, however, that seems unlikely. It may not happen, the Celtics may not want to give up what another team is asking, but Boston should at least show interest.