The Boston Celtics Should Consider Keeping All Three First-Round Picks

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mortenjensen/2020/03/07/the-boston-celtics-should-consider-keeping-all-three-first-round-picks/#578322a242b1




The Boston Celtics Should Consider Keeping All Three First-Round Picks



Morten Jensen
Morten JensenContributor
SportsMoney
I cover a wide variety of subjects within the NBA.




PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrate ... [+] GETTY IMAGES




The Boston Celtics have frequently been rumored to give up one or two of their four draft picks this June, in large part due to roster constraints. While subject to change as the season progresses, the Celtics are currently slated to select 17th via Memphis, 25th via their own pick, 30th via Milwaukee and 46th via Brooklyn.

On the surface it does make sense to consolidate some of those picks to either move up in the draft, or to acquire a veteran who can help them win next season. However, several aspects, ranging from the quality of the draft class, to Boston's window of winning, as well as their current core, should factor in to any decision they make on draft night.

Let's tackle Boston's roster first. Their two primary pieces moving forward are Jayson Tatum, who just turned 22, and Jaylen Brown who is 23. They do have two other crucial players in Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward, both of whom will turn 30 this spring.

Boston is currently good enough to warrant win-now status given how both Tatum and Brown play beyond their years. But eventually their co-stars Walker and Hayward will produce less, and thus the team could risk finding themselves in a situation where they need to stock up on age-appropriate talent to ride the wave of Tatum and Brown futher.

With three first-rounders available this year, stocking up now might be the best course of action.

Granted, it would undoubtedly mean a trade-off in terms of how much Boston can fully embrace the concept of becoming championship contenders next season, as rookies aren't exactly known for their winning ways. It could be a step back in immediate production, and that also means potentially wasting years of especially Walker's final prime seasons.

That brings us to Boston's window of winning. As currently constructed, the Celtics should have at least two-to-three years of being one of the elites of the East, pending Hayward sticks around and the foursome of him, Walker, Tatum and Brown remain.

Would Tatum and Brown alone be enough to catapult Boston into that conversation after Walker and Hayward age out? It's possible, but why risk it?

With players such as Grant Williams (21), Robert Williams (22), and Romeo Langford (20) already on the roster, it might behoove the Celtics to embrace a more committed youth movement via the draft this year and try to build a team that age-wise could find themselves deep in the playoffs for a window of 10-12 years. You'd need some of those picks and players to work out and exceed expected production based off draft slot, but with three bites at the apple, those aren't necessarily bad odds.

Let's turn our attention to this year's draft class, which projects as a bad one. Normally a poor draft would mean teams should try to avoid having multiple selections in it, but there's a twist this year. There is very little consensus on who is good, and who is not, going into the draft. Players who are slotted to go in the mid-lottery today, could find themselves get drafted in the late 20's come June, and vice versa.

That lack of draft order could greatly benefit the Celtics. Given that they draft in mid to low areas, in a draft that's even more of a crap shoot than usual, the Celtics are free to swing for the fences.

You want to draft a freakishly long and athletic wing, who is two years away from influencing the game? That's fine, you can afford that wait.

You want to go traditional and find a defensive-oriented center in the late first round that will cost you very little in terms of salary, but could help you close out games? By all means, go get that guy.

The Celtics have an abundance of freedom with these selections, and trading them away would make any selection they keep more crucial to hit on. This is the old Sam Hinkie mentality speaking, of course, given how the former Philadelphia 76ers executive decided to look at draft picks as bulk items. The more you have, the better. While ultimately simplistic, it’s not a wrong way to look at it.

It’s also worth noting that the Celtics could stash a few of these selections if need-be. Theo Maledon has developed nicely at ASVEL - maybe he would be inclined to agree to another year of maturing in the French Pro A league before heading over to the States in 2021.

Of course, if the Celtics believe there is a guy, projected to go higher on the draft board who they feel is worth moving up for, then that avenue should certainly be explored. It would seem unlikely to be the case this year, however, as there are huge question marks hovering over virtually every prospect. It’s based on that premise - that no draft prospect really pops as a potential franchise guy - the Celtics should decide to, for a change, concentrate on quantity and more swings of the bat.

It also helps that Boston is generally a good drafting team. Outside of Tatum and Brown, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, E’Twaun Moore, and Avery Bradley are all noteworthy players who the Celtics have made players out of.

Ultimately for the Celtics, this is about creating something long-term to best assist Tatum and Brown, who are their pillars for the next decade. Should just one of these picks hit and become a significant addition to that duo, it’s worth it. So why not increase those odds?



bob
MY NOTE: My opinion is that we are already too young, 3 more draft picks isn't going to correct that.



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NYCelt wrote:Tough call either way.

They could use at least one of those picks to go after a center or a PG in the draft. Having a little more youth for future development at those two positions wouldn't be bad. From there it's Let's Make a Deal time to try and sign FAs or make trades for bigs and bench help.

We’ve got Kemba, Smart, Wanny and Waters at point, I don’t know if we need another young/project point, a mobile big that can do more dirty work is always a good asset. I’m actually souring on Wanny lately, too many mental errors, but so to is Kemba....

NYCelt wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:

NYCelt wrote:Tough call either way.

They could use at least one of those picks to go after a center or a PG in the draft. Having a little more youth for future development at those two positions wouldn't be bad. From there it's Let's Make a Deal time to try and sign FAs or make trades for bigs and bench help.

We’ve got Kemba, Smart, Wanny and Waters at point, I don’t know if we need another young/project point, a mobile big that can do more dirty work is always a good asset. I’m actually souring on Wanny lately, too many mental errors, but so to is Kemba....

I figure Wanamaker isn't a keeper and while I like Waters game, he's just too small. Smart is a true combo guard, but may be best suited to the two. I think a long-term backup to Walker is needed, and there are a few decent PGs that should be available in this year's draft. There should also be a good quality big around with our top pick, which is why I make it a tough call on dealing away first round picks.

All the good points, we can cut ties with Wanny, too many mental errors, I just don’t want another Rozier either, where it takes him 3 years to develop. Maybe just sign a heady vet, a George Hill type would be perfect. On Waters, I haven’t seen his size be exploited on defense like IT, kid is cagey and competes, very good defender actually. I’m more worried about his offense, if he can get a reliable 3 point shot down, he could be our guy, has a lot of slick offensive moves actually, I think his passing can be developed further too, there’s something there.