Celtics: Trading the Third Pick is the Best Option

Trading the third pick is the best option for Boston

There is a clear discrepancy between the first two picks in the draft and the rest of the class. The draft isn’t as weak as people make it out to seem, however, it’s also not filled with potential superstars. Sure, there is still talent after Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, but is it enough for the Boston Celtics to keep the third pick?

The right deal may never surface on draft night, but there’s no doubt a lot of teams will be calling the Celtics to see what their asking price is. Whether it’s the Philadelphia 76ers asking if they’d swap it for Jahlil Okafor, or a team wanting to move up a couple of spots, it would be best for the Celtics to move the third pick if they get the chance.

It’s not to say that Boston should trade away the pick for anything, although it’s hard to believe that they won’t get one solid offer on June 23.

No matter what your opinion is on some of the top prospects in this year’s draft, it’s a crapshoot after the first two picks this year. Dragan Bender is being labeled as the Mystery Man because not many people know what to expect out of him. Jamal Murray says he’s the best player in the draft but his lack of athleticism and poor defense could say otherwise. Even Buddy Hield has questions surrounding how high his ceiling is, considering he’s 22-years-old.

There are a lot of good players in this year’s draft, but it’s hard to argue that Boston will land anything more than a solid starter this year. Leaving with a potential starter down the road is never a bad thing, however, you usually try to aim higher than that with a top-five pick, and there are few NBA-ready players at the top of the draft.

Dragan Bender should take at least a season before he’ll be able to start every night, and Jamal Murray could be benched if his defense becomes an issue. Hield should be able to make an impact right away, however, will his future NBA team utilize his ability to cut to the basket so he’s more than just a three-point shooter?

Also, Marquese Chriss is still very raw and won’t be able to step in right away and start. Jaylen Brown would add depth to the small forward position for Boston, but do the Celtics want to draft a backup with the third pick?

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The fact of the matter is there are a lot of good pieces in this draft that every championship team needs, the problem is Boston already has an abundance of those type of players. They need a star, or a player with star potential, and I’m not convinced they can find that with the third pick.

Maybe Dragan Bender could turn into a star within the next couple of seasons like some people are projecting, but is he worth the risk?

It’s hard not to think that Kristaps Porzingis‘ success hasn’t played a factor in the hype surrounding Bender. There is still a risk among international players who we’ve seen very little of, and sometimes they don’t pan out. We’ve seen very little highlights for a player who saw around 10 minutes per game for Maccabi Tel Aviv, so why isn’t trading for Jahlil Okafor a better option?

Okafor might not be the defensive anchor the Celtics are looking for in the paint, however, he was really impressive as a rookie and has All-Star potential. He adapted to the NBA game very quickly, and despite being one of the 76ers’ only options on offense, he still managed to average 17.5 points per game – 2nd among rookies. Not to mention his efficiency on the glass – seven rebounds per game.

It’s hard to find a player who is as consistent as Okafor was in the paint last season, especially at his age. Because of Karl-Anthony Towns‘ sensational rookie season, Okafor’s NBA All-Rookie First Team selection was brushed under the rug. If he becomes a better defender then he has the potential to be a multiple time All-Star as he’s already one of the better post players in the league.

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Even if the 76ers want to keep Okafor, the Celtics should try to trade down. The Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves – fourth and fifth pick, respectively – both have expressed interest in Bender.

If the Suns threw in T.J. Warren or Alex Len, or if the Timberwolves threw in Gorgui Dieng, it would be more than worth it to trade down a spot. Not only would the Celtics add an established player to their roster, they’d also still get their choice of either sharpshooter – Hield and Murray – and possibly a player like Jaylen Brown or Marquese Chriss.

With two more picks in the first round, the Celtics would still have a chance to hit big. Maybe they won’t get a player with as much potential, but there is no sure thing in this year’s draft outside of the top-two. It’s fun and exciting to add a rookie to the roster, however, it’ll be harder for an incoming rookie to find minutes than if an established NBA player was traded for.

Next: Jamal Murray Shines in Draft Workout

When it comes down to it, there isn’t a sure enough bet in this year’s draft that warrants the Celtics not trying to trade it for an established player or to move down a couple of spots. The Celtics have multiple players that could fill a hole on their roster, therefore, trading down a couple of spots wouldn’t do any harm, it would actually help.

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