Has Trading the First Overall Pick in the NBA Draft Fared Well Historically?

Number One

To the 1980 Golden State Warriors – The First Pick (Joe Barry Carroll) and the 13th Pick (Rickey Brown)

To the 1980 Boston Celtics – The Third Pick (Kevin McHale) and Robert Parish

Any Celtics fan worth their salt should automatically consider this a win, and a good example of how trading a number one pick in the right situation can have significant benefits.

This trade cemented the Celtics as one of the most dominant teams in the 80s, a move which ultimately brought the team three championships.

Joe Barry Carroll was good for the Warriors, but Kevin McHale and Robert Parish were better for the Celtics. Not much more needs to be said.

To Trade or Not to Trade

The trades I’ve deemed successful, the deals numbered four through one, all have something in common, something that might be telling in trying to figure out whether it’d be beneficial to pull the trigger on moving a number one pick.

This common factor is that all the aforementioned teams were advantageously positioned to make championship runs. In other words, they all had good foundations in place and just needed to add a few key players.

The 90s Magic had Shaquille O’Neal. The 50s Celtics had Bob Cousy and would later grab Bill Russell. The Cavaliers, as we unfortunately know, had Kyrie Irving and LeBron James prior to attaining Love. And, last but definitely not least, the 80s Celtics had none other than Larry Bird.

Next: Are Lack of Jackson and Ball Workouts a Concern?

The Celtics are currently coming off a 53 win season and a deep playoff run. It seems likely that Ainge thinks the Celtics are advantageously positioned and is trying to stockpile assets to trade for a key player or two. It’s possible that in trading the first overall pick, Ainge is prepping to win now.