The NBA Draft takes place on June 25th. With that date quickly approaching, several rumors are flying around. The Boston Celtics have remained relatively quiet during this process. However, RG’s Grant Afseth recently reported that the Celtics are eyeing a first-round trade up with a point guard in mind.
“The Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Nets are among the most active teams exploring first-round trade-ups, Afseth reported. Boston holds picks No. 28 and 32 and has been discreet in its evaluation of point guard prospects.”
With the No. 28 and 32 picks trading up into the first-round is a realistic possibility for the Celtics. How high the Celtics can trade up is unclear, but getting a mid-first-round pick feels attainable. If the Celtics can trade-up, they’d have a plethora of prospects to target. Let’s dive into what this rumor means for the Celtics and some prospects they could be eyeing.
Latest Draft Rumor Should Delight Celtics Fans
Trading Up is Logical for the Celtics
With a historically high payroll, getting impactful rookies is vital for the Celtics. Drafting within the first-round gives you a better chance to find someone who can make an impact from day one and can fit into the franchise’s long-term plans. Afseth noted the Celtics have been evaluating point guards. Considering that the Celtics are likely to trade Jrue Holiday this summer, drafting a point guard would be wise. Luckily, there are a lot of point guard options in this class.
Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis offers size, playmaking, and shot creation. Similarly, BYU’s Egor Demin is a special playmaker with elite positional size at 6-foot-9. Michigan State’s Jase Richardson has an ideal combination of shooting and connective playmaking that would allow him to fit in seamlessly with Boston’s core. French guard Nolan Traoré has an exciting blend of downhill speed, size, and playmaking. Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears feels like an unrealistic target given Boston’s assets, but his elite scoring and upside would make him a dream trade-up target. Ultimately, there are plenty of trade-up targets for the Celtics.
Wing and Big Man Targets
While Afseth noted the Celtics’ interest in a point guard, there are several other positions and prospects they could target. Washington State’s Cedric Coward is the only late lottery to mid-first-round prospect the Celtics have worked out so far. If the Celtics are eyeing another wing with Jayson Tatum‘s injury in mind, Coward is a logical target. He has plug-and-play potential as a 3-and-D level wing, along with a high upside as an offensive creator. In terms of other wings, Colorado State’s Nique Clifford has a well-rounded skill set and is an NBA-ready prospect. South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles is an elite defender who can play multiple positions at the NBA level.
If the Celtics want to pivot and trade up for a big man, Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber should be at the top of their list. He offers immense two-way value and has plenty of upside. Upgrading their big men depth would be sensible, given Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet all have uncertain futures with the team. Overall, trading up would give the Celtics some much-desired optionality and would give them the best chance to add an impactful player.
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