Remember those heady days when the under-manned Boston Celtics occupied first place in the pathetic Atlantic Division?
Yeah, well those days are long gone and Danny Ainge and the Celtics are in full tank mode for the loaded 2014 Draft that will likely feature Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, Dante Exum and Aaron Gordon.
Even with Rajon Rondo’s return slated for Friday night, the Celtics are riding a nine-game losing streak and have one of the NBA’s worst records (13-26).
With Wednesday’s trade of Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks, the Celtics continued to create salary cap flexibility and add to their plethora of draft picks.
“Danny has done this job better than anyone,” one rival NBA executive told SNY.tv.
“And he’ll use [the picks] well. In the right hands, it is a great strategy. In the wrong hands, it’s extended years of futility.”
According to Celtics.com, the Celtics will now have at least eight, and as many as nine, first-round draft picks in the next five NBA Drafts. They will also have at least three, and as many as seven, second-round picks during that same time.
In 2014, the Celtics have their own first-round pick plus that of the Brooklyn Nets.
As Tommy Beer of HoopsWorld pointed out, the Celtics have more picks in 2014 and ’15 than the Nets and Knicks have combined over the next five years.
“I’m not privy to every part of every decision management makes,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday. “But I trust them. With all of these picks, we’ll have flexibility.”
The Celtics are now poised to take advantage of the 2014 Draft, potentially landing as many as two of the 2014 studs — depending on what happens with the Nets.
Moreover, Boston will have two, and maybe three, first-round picks in 2015.
They have their own plus that of the Los Angeles Clippers.
If the Philadelphia 76ers — who are getting Nerlens Noel back soon and also have two first-round picks in 2014 — make the playoffs next year, the Celtics will get a third first-round pick in 2015.
And that 2015 Draft?
It’s not so bad, either.
Right now, DraftExpress.com has a top five in 2015 of bigs Jahlil Okafor, Myles Turner, Cliff Alexander and Trey Lyles and point guard Emmanuel Mudiay.
Moreover, if guys like Andrew and Aaron Harrison don’t come out in 2014, they would also be eligible for the 2015 Draft.
“I love the idea that we’re really looking with the vision of being as good as we can be for as long as we can be,” Stevens said.
Photo: Celtics.com
