Boston Celtics getting some help from the Lakers for the 2018 NBA Draft
The Boston Celtics are one of the best teams in the league but they still could end up with a top-5 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Boston Celtics may be the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they may land a top-5 pick in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. That would be amazing.
Currently, Boston sits at 31-10, with the second-best record in the NBA behind only the 30-8 Golden State Warriors. The Celtics destroyed the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, and they are simply on a roll. Kyrie Irving is
Kyrie Irving is clearly the Celtics best player, but the entire team is a part of this success. Terry Rozier was Wednesday’s leading scorer for Boston even. Young guys are getting it done, and another could be on the way soon. The Celtics made another move for the future when they made a deal with Sixers this offseason. The final piece of the deal that sent the #1 overall pick (Markelle Fultz) to Philadelphia in exchange for the #3 pick (Jayson Tatum) is another draft pick. If the Los Angeles Lakers 2018 first round pick falls between #2 and #5, it will be sent to Boston from Philly. If that picks falls at #1 or between #6 and #30 though, it stays with the Sixers and Boston would receive the better of the Sixers or Sacramento Kings pick’s in 2019. So, either way, Boston should end up with a solid return from that deal.
Jayson Tatum has been incredible in his rookie season, and now the Lakers have fallen down to earth and have the second-worst record in the NBA. Celtics fans now have some hope that Boston will receive their pick in 2018, not 2019. Both the Boston and Philadelphia fan bases will be watching the Draft Lottery closely this year. There is a ton of talent at the front end of this draft, and Boston could potentially add an All-Star type player in the form of a big man to create a young core for years to come. The Lakers pick has an 80.1 percent probability of landing between #2 and #5 right now, and that would be huge.
In mock drafts across the internet, players like Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton, Duke’s Marvin Bagley, Luca Doncic, and Texas’ Mohamed Bamba are all big men expected to go early. Both Ayton and Doncic seem like perfect fits for the Celtics too.
Here’s what Sports Illustrated has to say about the 6’8″ Doncic in their latest mock draft.
"“Doncic continues to do his thing for Real Madrid, with superb playmaking skills and basketball smarts that serve as the foundation for his well-rounded game. He leads the entire EuroLeague in PER with a 30% usage rate, and has bolstered his team in a number of ways. He’s the most individually accomplished European teen ever and a great fit for where the pass-shoot-dribble NBA is headed. Doncic’s average athletic ability may preclude him from dominating in any one area, but he’s given teams little reason to doubt the impact he can make at the NBA level. If this Lakers pick conveys to the Celtics, Doncic could slot right into Boston’s rotation as another oversized ballhandler.”"
Sporting News has Ayton heading Boston’s way in their latest crack at the 2018 NBA Draft.
"More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win“Ayton is a 7-1 prototype of a basketball player with a refined offensive game for such a young player. He features heavily in pick-and-pops at Arizona where he’s displayed a comfortable midrange jumper and a developing 3-ball. He can score at will against smaller opponents in the post as well. Ayton still needs to develop his face-up game off the bounce and his roll game, but he has the potential to be the best offensive center in the league at some point during his career. Al Horford isn’t going to be around forever, and Ayton gives the Celtics a long-term solution in the frontcourt. Plus, the two of them should be able to share the floor together in the short-term, and although there are doubts about Ayton’s defensive upside, there are few coaches I’d trust more to find his ceiling than Boston’s Brad Stevens.”"
Next: Celtics draft targets include bigs and wings
So Boston Celtics fans, keep on rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers to lose and get ready for a great playoff run, Draft Lottery, and 2018 NBA Draft. This team’s future is extremely bright.