Call it the luck of the Irish or shrewd negotiation but the Celtics 2013 trade with the Nets that sent Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn has paid a huge return. Celtics Governor and owner Wyc Grousbeck was in attendance in NYC on Tuesday evening when NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum opened the final envelope revealing the Boston Celtics as owners of the #1 pick in next month’s draft. The Celtics, who are currently in the eastern conference finals, are sitting in a very good place.
The 2017 draft class is very deep and talented, with names like Fultz, Ball, Fox, Monk, Jackson, Tatum and Isaac. You can never predict who will turn into a franchise changing star but the ceiling with this class is high and with the #1 pick Boston is poised to build a long-term contender. Grousbeck was quoted a few days ago saying that the Celtics like at least 4 players in this draft class and now they can zero in on the man they want. Following tonight’s lottery, Grousbeck spoke to the media and said:
We got a lot offers in February and I’m glad we didn’t trade the pick. You can write that! It’s a great time to be a Celtics fan.
The top draft pick gives the Celtics another young top flight asset on a team friendly contract. With the salary cap set to spike and tradable pieces they can go after a top-tier wing player to pair with guard Isaiah Thomas.
No matter what direction the Celtics decide to go next month, their short and long-term future is indeed bright. Good ownership/management (Ainge will have a job for life based off that 2013 haul for Pierce and Garnett), good coaching, and talent. A mix of young cheap talent, veterans, they’re just missing that max top-tier player. It’s not Thomas. As good as he is, you are not winning a title with your star player being 5’9″. Something tells me it won’t be too long before the Celtics get one.
