2017 NBA Draft: How Markelle Fultz would impact every lottery team
By Max Holm
Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn) – 25% Chance of Winning Lottery
When the Boston Celtics stole all those draft picks away from the Brooklyn Nets, getting a player through the draft like Markelle Fultz is exactly what they had in mind. The Celtics already have a strong core and the emergence of Isaiah Thomas has given the team its first star since the Big Three were in Boston. However, this team likely isn’t good enough to beat Cleveland or win the NBA Finals. What Fultz gives them is one of two things.
The first would be a future All-Star to carry the team. Boston could play Fultz off-ball or even off the bench to maximize Isaiah Thomas’ prime. Most of Boston’s core is under 30 and Fultz could come into his own as LeBron James and the Warriors start declining.
But the Celtics could also opt to trade Fultz in a package for an established star, which is probably the better option. Fultz would be one of the most enticing young pieces in the entire league. They could return to Chicago with a monster offer of Fultz, Jaylen Brown, and Jae Crowder for Jimmy Butler.
Either way, Fultz allows Danny Ainge to stay flexible in his decision-making. However, why accumulate all those picks and not package them for a star? Fultz could be the guy who finally gets Ainge to pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade.