I see a lot of people making predictions of who the Celtics will draft. A have a question for you all.
Assuming no AD trade, do you think that a team trying to compete for a title is going to keep Williams and 3-4 not top of the draft draftees in a weak draft all on the roster next year?
The only way I see the Celtics keeping and making all 4 picks in this draft(5 if the Memphis pick miraculously gets moved to the 9th pick) is if they are expecting to take a major step backwards.
Assuming we don't get the Memphis pick I see us consolidating some of the other picks to move up the lottery a little. I could see Minnesota as an example sitting at #10. Offering #14 and #20 is fair value. Then grab either a point guard like White or Garland or getting Nassir Little.
#22 could be used on someone who drops on draft night or to pick a draft and stash player. I think it much more likely that spare roster spots net year are going to vets who can plug gaps as opposed to more draft picks. So if I were to estimate the number of draft picks we end up with on our roster next year it would be 2.
Without the memphis pick or an AD trade it makes the most sense for the Cs to draft 1 player, draft and stash 1 and trade away 1 pick for a future pick. This type of scenario is not ideal and really work DA into a corner but it will essentially be the same as the Brown/Zizic/Yabu draft with the 2nd round picks being moved.
With picks 14,20, and 22 I do not see a lot of value or potential for trading up from 14. I have the early draft tiered as follows
#1 Zion
#2 Morant, Barrett
#3 Reddish,Culver,Hunter,Garland
I think those are the top 7 picks. If the Cs cant trade into those picks I don't believe there is any value in trading up.
The only player I can see value in trading up for would be Doumbouya if he is willing to draft and stash for the next season. I could see a trade like
#14 +#20 to T-Wolves for #10 + #42
or
#14 + #20 to Hornets for #12 + #36