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Fansided

Winners and losers of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Draft Lottery
May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) looks on during player introductions prior to game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Boston Celtics

I mean, duh. Back in 2013, when the Boston Celtics sent Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and D.J. White to the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans and a 2014 first round pick, a 2016 first round pick, a 2018 first round pick AND the rights to swap first round picks in 2017, it seemed one-sided at the time.

The Nets were bringing in two Hall of Famers with championship experience, but they were heading toward the twilight of their careers. No one expected the Nets would fall off so quickly, but when they did, the value of all those first round picks skyrocketed to Danny Ainge-levels of excitement.

Up to this point, all the Celtics had to show for those selections were James Young (2014) and rookie Jaylen Brown. Now, in addition to Brown’s rapid progress, they can add the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft to the equation.

Whether that turns into Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson or a blockbuster trade for someone like Paul George or Jimmy Butler remains to be seen. Either way, the Celtics have an abundance of riches as the No. 1 seed in the East…with possibly another No. 1 pick coming next year.

Loser: Brooklyn Nets

Again, duh. The New York Knicks will always rule the Big Apple, no matter how terrible they are, much like the Los Angeles Lakers will always own L.A. But man, all the excitement over the new-age Brooklyn Nets and their relocation to the Barclays Center seems like a lifetime ago now.

Coming off a 20-win season, Nets fans should have had plenty to be excited about this season, with a 25 percent chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick. Thanks to that disastrous trade that will forever live in franchise infamy, they had to watch that Celtics logo flip up on the cue card for the No. 1 overall pick.

To be fair, the Nets still own two first round selections this year at No. 22 (via the Washington Wizards) and No. 27 (via Boston’s pick swap). But watching that No. 1 pick shuffle on over to Beantown makes Brooklyn an automatic loser here.