On a recent edition of Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective, the venerable NBA reporter for ESPN shared that he doesn't expect any changes to the trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors.
That would be good news for the Celtics. If the Clippers' 2028 first-round pick lands anywhere in the top 16, Boston can seize it via a pick swap.
After the NBA brought the hammer down on the Clippers, Los Angeles could have attempted to rework the deal that ships Leonard north of the border. Maybe they could have netted a first-round pick in exchange for absorbing Jakob Poeltl's bloated three-year, $84 million salary.
Instead, when this transaction finally becomes official, it doesn't appear that this seemingly cursed franchise will have begun replenishing its draft capital to gain some needed flexibility.
Clippers' chaotic future could gift Celtics a 2028 golden ticket
Windhorst said that he was scolded for even pondering out loud whether the terms of LA's trade with Toronto could be renegotiated.
Granted, down the road, the Clippers could take Poeltl off the Raptors' hands for the aforementioned price. They could also execute this concept with another team to gain a first-round pick. However, it seems like the window is about to close on the opportunity to do so in this trade.
So, here they are, down five first-round picks, with their owner suspended for a year, and Lawrence Frank, their president of basketball operations, on leave for six months. If there's a lack of trust between the two, Frank may have already worked his last day with the franchise.
Los Angeles's other NBA team is in chaos. Calling this the league's version of the death penalty seems dramatic, but hope's hard to find at the moment. As cruel as it may be, Boston needs it to stay that way for as long as it has the Clippers' 2028 first-round pick. Fortunately for the Celtics, it probably will.
The Clippers' bleak outlook is great news for the Celtics
Los Angeles isn't projected to have cap space next offseason. That severely limits the organization's ability to operate aggressively in free agency. Their clearest path to growth before the 2028 draft lottery relies on the development of lottery pick Keaton Wagler. Ideally, for them, they also help Darius Garland recapture his past All-Star form and get the most out of Brandon Ingram.
However, as far as external additions go, helping teams shed unwanted contracts in exchange for draft capital shouldn't do much, if anything, to hurt the value of their 2028 selection.
The Clippers could flip any picks they acquire for immediate help. But prioritizing their present over their future would be a head-scratching decision after the penalties delivered. They may get a pick or two back down the line, but even that shouldn't arrive in time to deflate the value of their first-round choice in 2028.
It's a potential golden ticket that Boston could either cash in as part of a trade for a new co-star for Jayson Tatum, or hang on to in hopes of landing a top prospect two drafts from now. Either way, what happens with this pick could play a significant role in the Celtics' ability to raise Banner 19.
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