WHY CELTICS SHOULDN’T AND PROBABLY WON’T TRADE 2017 NETS PICK

WEEI

By John Tomase

Duke recruit Jayson Tatum is considered one of the best prospects in next year’s NBA draft. (Brian Spurlock-USA Today Sports)

With the NBA draft three and a half weeks away, the Celtics’ ability to acquire an impact veteran has come into focus.

One school of thought has the C’s offering not only this year’s third overall pick, but next year’s New Jersey pick as well to acquire a veteran like Chicago’s Jimmy Butler.

Here’s why that approach is flawed — next year’s draft class is loaded, and might actually represent the team’s best chance at landing a franchise player.

ESPN draft guru Jeff Goodman told Bradford and Giardi recently that the Celtics shouldn’t trade next year’s Brooklyn pick, which could easily end up in the top five.

“I wouldn’t trade next year’s pick,” he said. “Absolutely no way would I trade next year’s pick. Next year’s draft is absolutely loaded.”

The consensus top three, not surprisingly, are all high school seniors, led by a pair of Duke recruits.

The first pick right now would probably be big man Harry Giles, a 6-foot-10 force who has committed to the Blue Devils. He’s considered an athletic marvel, though he has already undergone a pair of ACL surgeries.

Next is Kansas swingman Josh Jackson, a 6-foot-8 inch dynamo who might already be an NBA-level defender, followed by Duke’s Jayson Tatum, the 2016 Gatorade High School Player of the Year, a 6-9 scorer with a developing 3-point touch.

Add Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kentucky guard Malik Monk, and Arizona bomber Terrance Ferguson, and this has the makings of the best draft class of the decade.

So don’t be surprised if Ainge is hesitant to part with next year’s pick.

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What 5 teams will have the top 5 picks?

Do any of those top 5 projected players turn into Skal once they actually play next year?

If the Celtics get Butler and Durant is that enough to win or are they still a flawed team?

Dboss

I agree with that, one of the reasons in my many possible trade scenarios I always say one of our 2018 picks (nets our own or the Memphis pick).

I aslo will note that the Nets will likely be better by 2018 than next year, so the pick will likely be lower in the draft.

kdp59 wrote:I agree with that, one of the reasons in my many possible trade scenarios I always say one of our 2018 picks (nets our own or the Memphis pick).

I aslo will note that the Nets will likely be better by 2018 than  next year, so the pick will likely be lower in the draft.

The Memphis pick is 2019 or later.

•2019 — Owed first-rounder (top-14 protected through 2020, otherwise converts to a 2022 second-rounder) from Los Angeles Clippers (Jeff Green).

FYI Thon Maker was ranked #1 in that HS class until he moved to Canada two years ago. He still might be the best prospect from that class.

Here's a Celtics thread from 2014/2015 drooling over the possibility of drafting Thon Maker with our 2017 Nets pick

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=75652.0

bobc33 wrote:Can we somehow trade our pick at number three for a pick next year that likely is in the top 5?  Just speculating don't know if possible or realistic.

That is very risky.
You would be gambling that one team is going to be terrible and get lucky with the ping pong balls.
What team would you be comfortable making that trade with?

tjmakz wrote:

kdp59 wrote:I agree with that, one of the reasons in my many possible trade scenarios I always say one of our 2018 picks (nets our own or the Memphis pick).

I aslo will note that the Nets will likely be better by 2018 than  next year, so the pick will likely be lower in the draft.

The Memphis pick is 2019 or later.

•2019 — Owed first-rounder (top-14 protected through 2020, otherwise converts to a 2022 second-rounder) from Los Angeles Clippers (Jeff Green).

it's still an option, though a lesser one than an unprotected pick for sure

I made a mistake.
The Memphis pick is 2018 or later.
kdp is correct.

•2018 — Owe first-rounder (top-12, top-eight in 2019, top-six in 2020 and unprotected in 2021) to Boston (Jeff Green).

either way it does have protections on it, which does limits its value some what.