The Celtics are currently holding eight selections in June, including three in the first round, not bad for a squad that leads the East in scoring, but the good news for the fans who crave a championship — some of those picks will likely be used in a trade or two as general manager Danny Ainge looks to add some veteran leadership to this young squad.
It’s no secret Ainge wants to make some deals this summer, reports have the ex-player looking to move upwards of six picks to get an All Star player in his lineup. This franchise also has room under the salary cap to take a shot at landing Kevin Durant or Hassan Whiteside this off season.
One thing is clear, the Celtics are ready to make some big changes this summer and depending on what the accomplish in free agency, it will have an impact on the choices the make when they take the clock at the NBA Draft.
Adding some size in the paint is the top priority and the latest mocks have the front office looking at International player Dragan Bender with their top pick. The seven-footer isn’t the most polished player available early in the opening round, but his size and athleticism make him hard to pass on when finding a big body for the front court.
Another youngster who has climbed up the latest player rankings with his play in the NCAA Tournament is Domantas Sabonis on Gonzaga. At 6’10” and 240 pounds, he already has the size of a power forward at the next level and demonstrated his ability to score in the paint, but also take his game outside with a solid jump shot.
Ainge and his staff will have a busy summer, but with the right moves, this franchise could become one of the best in the league and help shift the power in basketball back to the East.
