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Boston Celtics: A look back at NBA Draft history before 2017

By Kenneth Teape

Sep 25, 2015; Waltham, MA, USA; Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge (left) and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, during media day at the Boston Celtic Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2015; Waltham, MA, USA; Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge (left) and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, during media day at the Boston Celtic Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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How have the Boston Celtics fared when selecting No. 1 overall prior to the 2017 NBA Draft?

The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. They have won the championship 17 times, the most of any organization in the NBA. A big reason for the Celtics’ sustained success throughout their existence is how well they have drafted.

The Celtics have had a ton of Hall-of-Famers don their jersey. While some of those players were acquired via trade or free agency, a large portion of them have come via the NBA Draft. Drafting well is the easiest way to remain a successful organization, and the Celtics have done that.

They will look to continue that strong draft tradition in the 2017 NBA Draft. Despite earning the No. 1 seed in the East and losing in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston is sitting pretty in the draft this year. The Celtics own the No. 1 overall pick in the draft courtesy of a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

Back in 2013, the Celtics pulled a heist on the Nets. Boston would trade Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, and D.J. White to the Nets. In exchange, the Celtics received Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Kris Joseph, Gerald Wallace, and first round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018. In addition, the Celtics have the right to exchange selections with the Nets in 2017.

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2017 is now upon us and the Celtics are cashing in. The Nets had the worst record in the NBA for the 2016-17 season. All they will have to show for it is the 27th pick as the No. 1 overall pick was relayed to the Celtics.

The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft is quite an asset for the Celtics. They can dangle it in trade talks to try and land a veteran to help push them closer to contending with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They could keep the pick and add yet another young building block to their roster.

Whatever the Celtics decide to do, they will be in a great position for years to come. They will either have another young player to add to grow with last year’s No. 3 pick Jaylen Brown, or a veteran to push them closer to contenders. If they hold onto the pick, they know they will be getting a great player.

This year’s draft class has two players, Washington’s Markelle Fultz and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, ranked as a first-tier prospect by ESPN’s Chad Ford. The only other players to land in the first tier since 2009, when they began the practice, are Ben Simmons, Karl-Anthony Towns, Blake Griffin, John Wall, Anthony Davis, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Jabari Parker.

Outside of Simmons, who has yet to play in an NBA game, they have all exhibited the potential to be All-Stars and franchise cornerstones. The Lakers are hoping to land that with the first selection this year.

While selecting first overall doesn’t guarantee a surefire superstar, the potential is there as you have a chance to select whomever you want in the draft class. There is no shortage of players selected No. 1 with storied careers, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Oscar Robertson and Shaquille O’Neal have the highest career win shares among players selected first overall.

This will be the second time that the Celtics will be making the first selection of the draft. The first time came all the way back in 1950, just the fourth year the draft was in existence. With the first pick in 1950, the Celtics selected center Chuck Share out of Bowling Green State University.

Share would never actually take the court for the Celtics. Share was sent to the Fort Wayne Pistons for Bill Sharman, but some sources say the Celtics purchased Sharman from Fort Wayne the previous year.

In his own right, Share wasn’t a horrible No. 1 overall pick. Out of the 70 players picked first overall, Share ranks 36th in Win Shares. With that being said, it did turn out to be a good deal for the Celtics.

Sharman would be named to the All-Star team eight times and All-NBA team seven times with the Celtics. He helped the team win four NBA championships, and was the MVP of the 1954-55 All-Star Game.

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Sharman averaged 18.1 points per game for the Celtics and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice. He was inducted as a player in 1976 and as a coach in 2004.

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