Celtics fielding calls for No. 1 draft pick

The Boston Celtics own the first overall pick, so when it comes to the NBA draft, that means they also own all the power.

But exactly how enamored are the Celtics with No. 1? Apparently, that's what other teams are hoping to find out.

And team president Danny Ainge being Ainge, he's clearly always ready to at least listen.

Per The Boston Globe:

Ainge said he has yet to identify the prospect he would select. And, most importantly, he is prepared to sift through all options that come from being in such a prized position. He said “a handful of teams” has already expressed interest in acquiring the No. 1 choice from the Celtics, and those suitors are probably just getting started.

“The only thing we know for certain is we have the No. 1 pick,” Ainge said in a telephone interview from Las Vegas. “What we don’t know for certain is who that person is yet and what sort of value the pick can get us if we choose to go another direction other than just drafting that pick.”

That last part may raise some eyebrows -- although it's not really a surprise that the Celtics are keeping all options open.

Former Washington guard Markelle Fultz is said to be at the top of their list when it comes to draft prospects, but this is a team that finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

So the Celtics would like immediate (and big time) help to theoretically put them over the top.

Veteran stars who have been linked to the team include Blake Griffin (LA Clippers), Paul George (Indiana), Jimmy Butler (Chicago) and especially, Gordon Hayward (Utah). Hayward's name has been mentioned most because he played his college ball under Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

In other words, this is a big offseason for Boston -- an offseason in which a team on the cusp can take a huge step. Using the No. 1 overall draft pick as leverage would only make sense.

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