Boston Celtics: A Simplified Guide To Understanding The Celtics’ Draft Picks
By Greg Chin
Boston Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge’s obsession with draft picks has reached an all-time high. This week, he traded away one of the longest tenured Celtics left on the roster in Jeff Green to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for another first-round pick. Rumor has it that Ainge is still looking to deal away anyone on the roster not named James Young and Marcus Smart.
And with that trade, the Celtics increase their collection of draft picks to 27 over the next three NBA drafts. That’s quite a lot of picks, with protections and clauses to navigate around – which is why this right here is the guide you will need to simplify the Celtics’ draft picks over the next three seasons.
2015 NBA Draft
- Boston Celtics’ own first round pick
- Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round draft pick: unprotected.
- Dallas Mavericks’ first-round pick: The Celtics receive this pick if it falls between selections 4-14 in 2014, or 8-30 from 2016 to 2020. It becomes unprotected in 2021.
- Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round draft pick: The Celtics receive this pick if it falls between selections 13-30 in 2015 and 2016. It becomes an unprotected second-round draft pick in 2016 if it isn’t conveyed in the first round.
- Philadelphia 76ers’ first-round draft pick: The Celtics receive this pick if it falls between selections 15-30. If not, the 76ers will give Boston a second round pick in 2015 and 2016.
- Boston Celtics’ own second round pick.
- Washington Wizards’ second-round pick: The Celtics receive this pick if it falls between sections 50-60. If not, the pick isn’t conveyed.
The most likely outcome here is that the Celtics will have two first-round picks in the next draft. The Mavs’ pick will be in the 20s, while the 76ers and Timberwolves are sure to have lottery picks.
2016 NBA Draft:
- Boston Celtics’ own first round pick
- Brooklyn Nets’ first round pick: unprotected
- Cleveland Cavaliers’ first round pick: The Celtics receive this pick if it falls between selections 11-30 in 2016 – 2018. It then becomes unprotected in 2019.
- Cleveland Cavaliers’ second round pick: unprotected
- Dallas Mavericks’ second round pick: unprotected
- Miami Heat second round pick: unprotected
- Minnesota Timberwolves’ second round pick: unprotected
- Philadelphia 76ers’ second round pick: unprotected
The Celtics should receive all their picks they’re owed for the 2016 NBA Draft. It is unlikely that the Cavs will be a lottery team next season (barring a mass exodus). Plus, the Mavs’ protected pick from 2014 should be conveyed this season (top eight protected), and the second-round picks from the 76ers and the Timberwolves.
That brings the total to four first-round draft picks, and seven second-rounders.
2017 NBA Draft:
- Boston Celtics’ own first round pick: which can be swapped with the Brooklyn Nets’ first rounder. The Celtics must convey their second rounder if they do so.
- Memphis Grizzlies’ first round pick: The Celtics receive this pick if it falls between selections 11-30 in 2017, 13-30 in 2018, 9-30 in 2019, or 7-30 in 2020. It becomes unprotected in 2021.
- Boston Celtics’ own second round pick: unprotected.
- Minnesota Timberwolves’ second round pick: unprotected
- Cleveland Cavaliers’ second round pick: unprotected
- Los Angeles Clippers’ second round pick: unprotected
The Celtics can swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets in this draft, but must convey a second-rounder if they do so. The Grizzlies must give their pick to the Denver Nuggets before the Celtics can have theirs, which looks likeliest to happen in 2017 (when it is only top-five protected).
2018 NBA Draft:
- Boston Celtics’ own first round pick
- Brooklyn Nets’ first round pick: unprotected
- Boston Celtics’ own second round pick.
The 2018 NBA Draft is quite straightforward, but the real gem here is the Nets’ unprotected pick. If the Nets decide to undergo a rebuild, this could still be a lottery pick for the Celtics. Expect more picks to arrive via trade, as Danny Ainge won’t stop hoarding assets.