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5 Predictions For NBA Draft Night

By Ryan Blackburn

Feb 20, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston keeps the 3rd pick, along with four others, and drafts Kris Dunn

For those keeping score at home, the Boston Celtics own the rights of the third, 16th, 23rd, 31st, 35th, 45th, 51st, and 58th selections in the NBA Draft. They also have nine guaranteed contracts, according to Basketball Reference, along with aspirations to lure Kevin Durant to Beantown.

That simply doesn’t add up, meaning the Celtics have some serious consolidating to do. That being said, it may be more difficult to do than most people think.

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These are the exact kinds of players that the Celtics should be targeting, but they are likely using the third pick as the main part of the deal. In a two-player draft with so much uncertainty, it’s been difficult to sell a team as what amounts to “the best pick of the rest.”

Because the Celtics are unwilling to part with their veteran pieces, they will likely be forced to use the third selection, and at this point, the most immediate contributor is Kris Dunn.

He will step onto the court as better than Terry Rozier, a potential backup and be the main relief for Isaiah Thomas.

As for the rest of the picks, I believe that Boston will be able to sell off three other selections, most likely to teams without any draft picks. That means they will draft four other players. most of those will likely be stashed in Europe to free up roster space.

The Celtics will be the ones to set the table for chaos in the rest of the draft, but I suspect that they won’t be able to turn water into wine here and simply take the best player they can.

Next: The Timberwolves sell their pick first

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