Boston Celtics: 3 ways NBA draft lottery impacts Cs

The long-anticipated 2021-22 NBA draft lottery took place Tuesday night, and the results could have some major ramifications for the Boston Celtics.

Both the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder were supplanted in the top-4 by the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the top-2 picks were not much of a surprise, some of the lottery shakeups could change the way the Cs operate this season.

Impact No. 1) Toronto at 4th overall thursts Boston Celtics into win-now mode

While you may not think much of the Raptors after they had such a disappointing season, the last thing you should do is forget them. They still have the likes of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and plenty of other young pieces to fill out the roster.

That said, originally projected at eighth in a deep draft, they are now in the highly-touted top-4.

Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley are all but guaranteed to go with the first two picks, but the choice of either Jalen Green or Jalen Suggs is an amazing “problem” to have.

With the likely departure of long-time Raptor, Kyle Lowry, Toronto will not be missing a beat, possibly getting the next great point.

So who is a better choice, Suggs or Green?

Not that they have the choice — being they are picking fourth and not third — but what do both of those picks mean for the division rivals?

Jalen Suggs just guided his Gonzaga Bulldogs to a 31-1 overall record, let’s start with that. He is an elite playmaker, possibly the best in the draft, as well as being a top-2 defender at the point guard position.

He is the ultimate two-way guard, standing at 6-4, 205 pounds with a plus wingspan.

He is probably the best option to fundamentally replace Lowry, being a very similar player to the 6x All-Star, but with a much more athletic approach to the game.

I am not sure if Suggs has the capability to be the number-one option on a successful team, but he would not have to be that on a loaded Raps squad.

Now, being a number-one option is a challenge for some, but not for Jalen Green.

Green is probably my favorite prospect in this draft outside of Cunningham. He is not as complete a player as Suggs, but his potential is country-miles higher.

He is an extremely special finisher, being able to use his Westbrook-eqsue athleticism to viscously dunk in the lane, or use that same vigor to do a crafty reverse-layup.

He can also shoot the ball very well, both from deep and from the midrange, which are very important assets to come into, and succeed in this league with. While his playmaking has shown flashes, and his defense needs work, he has the potential to be a James Harden-type scorer and could jolt the Raps back into contention when he pans out.