If we are lucky enough to get pick 14 and can trade up for a guy who falls a bit, I'd go for (in order):
1. Okongwu
2. Halliburton
3. Toppin
4. Avdija (only if Hayward is not predicted to stay after next season).
Otherwise, hope for Patrick Williams (or could trade up a spot or two if necessary) at 14. Next choice at 14 Achiuwa and finally Kira Lewis.
At this stage if we trade up I'm all aboard the Kira Lewis train (unless Okongwu falls), because I doubt we can trade up high enough for Haliburton. Lewis reminds me of a faster Dennis Schroder.
Haliburton is my binkie this season. He strongly reminds me of SGA. I believe he has the potential to become the best player in this draft! Where do you think he's gonna get drafted? The highest I've seen him go in the mocks is at #6.
Problem with Haliburton is we already got 2 starting-caliber PGs in Kemba and Smart. It seems to me that we shouldn't be focusing on yet another PG. At the very least, I'm really not sure whether we'll have enough minutes to develop both Haliburton and Langford.
PG: Kemba (31) -
SG: Brown (34) - Smart (32)
SF: Hayward (33) -
numbers in parentheses = minutes each of these players averaged during the 2019-2020 season
That leaves us with 14 minutes of playing time for Haliburton/Langford. Alternatively, we could go super small and use one of Hayward/Brown/Smart at the 4, but in this case we won't have enough minutes to develop both G-Will and Time Lord.
With this in mind, I wouldn't be against the idea of sacrificing anybody of Langford/G-Will/Time Lord (+picks) for Haliburton.
On the subject of rotation, I suspect this roster will go largely unchanged this off-season. My prediction is Wannamaker isn't retained and we see most of his minutes shifted to Romeo with Waters most likely picking up a few minutes behind Kemba and Smart. I suspect we see Kemba placed into a load management situation from now on.
As for Haliburton I really like him as a future NBA player and think he would be a great fit with the Celtics. I have seen a few people use the SGA comp and think that is misguided.
First SGA is much longer then Haliburton. SGA has a 6'11.5" wingspan. Haliburton was measured last off-season to have a 6'7.5" wingspan. This has been misrepresented in the media. Haliburtons measurements are almost identical to Delon Wright.
On the court while SGA is clearly an attaching combo/point guard in the mold of a taller longer less athletic Westbrook/D Rose. In college per 36 he had 5 FTA per game. At a usage rate of 22 he had 4.9 shot attempts in the paint per game. Haliburton I view as more of a connecting player on the court. A great passer who ranks up traditional assists and hockey assists moving the ball around the court. He isn't a player you want in isolation with the shot clock running down. Stylistically he is very similar to Lonzo Ball. Compared to SGA Haliburton shot 2 FTA per 36 and at a usage rate of 21 2.8 attempts in the paint per game.
While Haliburton is inferior to SGA in size, athletic ability, and off the dribble creation he is a superior shooter this coupled with is passing and high IQ makes him a great candidate to have a long successful career playing on winning teams. My fear for Haliburton is that he gets drafted by Detriot/NY and is handed the ball and expected to be their primary initiator. This will be a disaster. If he can land on a team that has either a PG or Wing who is the primary scoring option and along side other shooters Haliburton should thrive. The Celtics are an example of this type of roster.
Depends on who we draft, in terms of how ready he will be to play. Kira Lewis, though young, has already completed 2 years of top college ball, and should be ready to play into the rotation, especially back up PG minutes. More so than Romeo, who does not have the handle to play that role.
Nesmith also a sophomore, and should be able to get into rotation, given his elite shooting skill.
Xavier Tillman just confirmed he is staying in draft. He would definitely factor into getting minutes for Celtics. Very experienced and high IQ big, Brad would probably trip over himself trying to get him minutes.
Other guys who could come in and get minutes quickly: Grant Riller, Elijah Hughes (NBA Draft.Net has us taking both of them, for what that's worth) and Tyler Bey likely would be able to get minutes next season, although maybe not rotation minutes.
You may be right that the rotation won't change much for next year. But with 3 first round picks, and several very experienced guys available to draft, I wouldn't bet on it.
Barring a trade up of picks, I could see Celtics taking a high upside guy (Poku) and a ready to play guy (Tillman), along with a guy who is a bit of both (Lewis). I'd be pretty happy with that outcome.