The 2016 NBA Draft is coming up on June 23, and rumors are starting to circulate as to what could happen on draft night, or even sooner.
One of the teams involved in more rumors than others has been the Boston Celtics. CSN’s Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely said that they might be looking to move the third overall pick:
“[I’m] hearing that No. 3 pick overall is the one that they are really shopping, trying to be as aggressive as possible in trying to move that pick, because they want to get a difference-making, impact player right now. And they believe using that No. 3 pick, and maybe some other players and/or picks, might be the best way to [make] that happen.”
“The guys that they want are the guys that everybody wants. We’re talking about [Kevin] Durant, we’re talking about Jimmy Butler, those type of players. And those guys are going to be at the top of their wish list until those guys say, ‘We don’t want to come to Boston.’ “
It makes sense that the Celtics would want to move that pick for a big time franchise centerpiece. They were able to put together the third best record in the Eastern Conference, going 48-34 with a roster full of pieces, but no true superstar. Landing a Kevin Durant or a Jimmy Butler would definitely be a game-changer for the Celtics and head coach Brad Stevens.
Stevens on his extension: "The biggest thing, we want to strive to compete to fill in that blank banner up there." pic.twitter.com/74mEx9hAKG
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 1, 2016
If they keep the pick, there’s many different ways for the team to go, which makes moving the pick for a proven franchise player more attractive. This year’s draft isn’t quite as deep as last season’s, but that’s not to say the Celtics couldn’t find value at No. 3, that would be crazy.
They certainly have a great opportunity to capitalize on not only having talent, but being able to acquire a superstar (we’re looking at you, Kevin Durant) to really contend at the top of the NBA.
[CSNNE]
