Celtics Positioned for a Top Second-Round Pick

The Celtics haven't picked in the first round since Brad Stevens became their president of basketball operations, but they'll have a pick just outside of it this year.

The Celtics have traded three-straight first-round picks since Brad Stevens took over for Danny Ainge as the franchise's president of basketball operations.

Boston brought back Al Horford, acquired Derrick White at last year's trade deadline, and added Malcolm Brogdon over the summer. The first two moves proved pivotal to reaching the NBA Finals last season. All three are essential to why the defending Eastern Conference champions finished with the NBA's second-best record (57-25) and ranked in the top five in points scored (117.9) and allowed (111.4) per game this regular season.

But adding young talent on rookie contracts makes building a sustainable title contender easier to accomplish.

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As Stevens conveyed while discussing the recent signing of 21-year-old wing Justin Champagnie before the Celtics' 120-114 win over the Hawks on Sunday:

"Right now, for us, it was, okay, let’s see if we can find a younger guy who we really like whose upside is good, that understands what this is about as far as team and what his role is in that. Then, (let's) see if we can invest our time and energy into him and find somebody. We have to do some of that, especially with where we are. We haven’t made a first-round draft pick in a while."

Fortunately for the defending Eastern Conference champions, they're poised to have a top-35 pick in this year's draft.

A trade made in 2020 sent a conditional second-round selection from Houston to Boston. That pick is top-32 protected. But the Rockets ended the 2022-23 campaign on a three-game winning streak and finished tied with the Spurs for the second-worst record in the Association (22-60).

At the NBA Draft lottery on Tuesday, May 16, if Houston has a higher first-round selection than San Antonio, the Celtics will get the 33rd pick. If it's the other way around, the Rockets retain their second-round pick, but Boston will still be in good shape.

Thanks to the 2021 deal that sent recent Lakers signing Tristan Thompson to the Kings, the Celtics have the Trail Blazers' Round 2 selection. Tanking, Portland lost nine of its last ten tilts, finishing the season 33-49, the fifth-worst record in the Association. As a result, Boston's guaranteed a top-35 pick this year.

As detailed when the Celtics acquired Mike Muscala at the trade deadline, if they get the 33rd selection, they'll re-route the 35th pick to the Thunder. If Houston keeps its pick, Boston does the same with the 35th selection.

In that scenario, the Celtics would send the 48th pick (via the Heat) to Oklahoma City to complete their trade for Muscala.

Either way, Boston's poised to add a pseudo-first-round pick and could add someone later viewed as a player who should've gotten drafted in Round 1. Parlaying that pick into at least a rotation player would prove tremendously valuable for the Celtics.

Further Reading

Ime Udoka Reportedly a Top Candidate for Multiple Head-Coaching Vacancies

The NBA Announces When the Playoffs Start for the Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hawks: Boston's Three-Point Barrage Propels Hosts Past Atlanta

Brad Stevens Provides Update on Celtics' Star Jaylen Brown's Injured Right Hand

Jayson Tatum is Ready for the Challenges that Await the Celtics in the Playoffs: 'We've Not Been Waiting for it But Working for it'

Jaylen Brown Shares What Winning the Red Auerbach Award Means to Him: 'I've Put My Everything Into This Team, I've Put My Everything Into This City'

Celtics Discuss Malcolm Brogdon's Sixth Man of the Year Candidacy

Joe Mazzulla Reacts to the Celtics Clinching the Two Seed in the East

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'