Boston Celtics 2019 NBA Draft pick update: Which picks can they expect?

The 2018-19 regular season ends in less than a week, so let’s take stock of where the Boston Celtics’ draft picks currently stand.

Typically waiting to see where your team’s draft pick lands has almost everything to do with hoping for as talented a player as possible to add to the squad’s core. Over the past five seasons, that’s how Celtics fans have operated, but this year is different. The Celtics could have as many as four first round picks, making it nearly impossible to keep all of the selections on the roster.

There’s the added caveat of hoping to trade those picks for a big name, say Anthony Davis, but given the Celtics’ inability to finalize a trade for him before this year’s draft, having as many future firsts as possible is ideal. Sure, if the Celtics and Pelicans can agree in principle to a deal before the draft and select the players New Orleans would want, having two lottery picks would help with salary matching. It just makes things more complicated, and superstar trades are already incredibly complicated.

With three-ish games left for every team in the league, here’s where the Celtics’ draft stash stands.

Round 1, No. 9 (From Memphis): Pick will convey if outside top-8

The Grizzlies want to give the Celtics their pick this year so they don’t have to worry about giving it up next year or the year after. Memphis is a half a game ahead of the Wizards and Pelicans in the standings with games against Dallas, Detroit and Golden State to end the season. If they lose two out of the three the Celtics should be in good shape to have that pick in their pocket for next year.

Round 1, No.14 (From Sacramento): Pick will convey if it is not No.1 overall

This one is basically a lock to convey to Boston, and a late lottery pick isn’t the worst thing to have if the Memphis pick carries over to next season. The Kings are a half a game ahead of the Heat in the standings who are still fighting for a playoff spot. Sacramento has two games left (vs NO, @POR), so C’s fans should hope for two losses to improve the pick just a smidge.

Round 1, No. 20 (From LA Clippers): Pick will convey if outside top-14

This is locked in to convey and should be in the 18-22 range. There was hope the Clippers would miss the playoffs and this pick would carry over after the Tobias Harris trade, but the Clippers have played exceptional basketball since the trade deadline (17-8 with ninth best net rating). All the Celtics can hope for are losses to the Jazz and Warriors to make the selection better.

Round 1, No. 22 (Celtics own pick)

After taking care of the Pacers last night, the Celtics are most likely locked in at 22. They’ll have the Magic and Wizards to close the season, where one win will secure home court in the first round of the playoffs.