Boston Celtics: 5 offseason roster moves they need to make
Boston Celtics offseason roster move No. 3: Draft wisely
Unless they make some moves this offseason, the Celtics have two picks in the upcoming NBA draft. The first pick they have is mid-first round, being the 16th pick which is going to be crucial for the Celtics as they have so little space left in their salary cap.
More from Boston Celtics
- Why the new and improved Celtics are a major threat
- These two Celtics will be crucial to unlocking Kristaps Porzingis’ potential
- The new-look Celtics are closer than ever to an 18th title
- 3 Reasons Boston will regret trading Marcus Smart
- Ranking the 5 best available power forwards in 2023 NBA free agency
There is a case for the Celtics to package the draft pick with a player to ease some of the pressure on the salary cap via trade. However, there is also a good case for the Celtics to retain the pick and use it to keep the pressure off the salary cap, meaning they do not have to sign a free agent to fill a roster spot.
Likewise, the second-round pick is mid-second-round being the 45th pick in the draft. The Celtics would prefer this pick to be traded this season, but they may need some collateral to move one of the larger contracts.
However, if the Celtics use the picks to select young talent, then they need to take a defensive-minded player. When Robert Williams was in the lineup against the Nets, he made it very difficult for them to score. If the Celtics can find one or two similar players in the draft, they could do a lot better next season.