Boston Celtics: What are C’s lottery odds via Grizzlies’ pick?

The Boston Celtics own the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2020 first-round pick. It is protected for selections one through six, and in that case, the C’s would get Memphis’ 2021 first-round pick unprotected.

With the playoffs in full swing, the offseason isn’t yet on the minds of Boston Celtics fans just yet. Instead, the eyes are on the C”s now 2-0 series lead over the hapless Philadelphia 76ers after last night’s 27-point victory.

Luckily for Celtics fans, not only is the team still competing for the 2020 NBA Championship, but they will also be beneficiaries of the 2020 Memphis Grizzlies’ first-round draft pick. After losing to the Portland Trailblazers in the Western Conference play-in game between the #8 and #9 seed, the Grizzlies are now lottery-bound after appearing to be a legitimate playoff contender before the season suspension and the egg they laid in the Lake Buena Vista Bubble in Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex.

Per Ryan Goss of NBC Sports Boston, here are the different scenarios that can happen tonight during the NBA Draft Lottery, airing at 8:30 following the second game of the Milwaukee Bucks-Orlando Magic series:

"The Celtics own the Grizzlies’ 2020 first-round draft pick, but it’s protected for selections one through six. Therefore, if the Grizzlies get lucky and jump into the top four in the lottery, they will keep their pick in 2020 and instead send the team’s 2021 first-rounder to Boston unprotected. If the Grizzlies don’t vault into the top four, they will have the No. 14 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and that selection will go to the C’s."

And here’s the likelihood of each event happening:

–There’s a 97.6 percent chance Memphis doesn’t leap into the top four and sends the No. 14 overall pick to Boston.
–There’s a 2.4 percent chance Memphis jumps into the top four and sends an unprotected 2021 first-round pick to Boston.

Let the odds be ever in Memphis’ (Boston’s) favor tonight!