There is no denying just how important this offseason will be for the Boston Celtics and de facto GM Brad Stevens. The team will look to stay competitive for next season without Jayson Tatum, but also should consider the future by acquiring draft capital and younger players to give the organization the framework necessary for a small reset.
Parting ways with older and expensive players Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis would be a good start to turning the page for the next era of Celtics basketball. The team likely won’t win the championship without Tatum next season, so now would be a good time to re-tool the roster, see what they have in younger players, and set themselves up for future success when Tatum returns to the hardwood.
In this year’s NBA Draft, Brad Stevens has a golden opportunity to call up an old counterpart to inquire about any of the Utah Jazz’s four draft picks in next month’s event. The Celtics have a late first-round pick (No.28), and an early second-round selection (No.32), but could look to move up and select a player who has more of a chance to fill an immediate need. Or, they could trade down to acquire picks in future drafts.
If the team uses both picks, positions of need include power forward and center, knowing Al Horford and Luke Kornet are set to hit the open market when the NBA season concludes.
Celtics Have Golden Opportunity to Trade With Jazz
The Utah Jazz finished with the worst record in the NBA this season at 17-65, but the NBA Draft lottery threw a wrench in their ideal offseason plans when the team dropped to the No.5 selection in June. Utah had the best chance to secure the No.1 selection and win the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, but they will have to settle for No.5 as the ping pong balls didn’t bounce their way.
As a result of the Rudy Gobert-to-Minnesota trade, the Jazz have the No.21 selection as well, and then two second-round picks (No. 43 and 53) as GM Danny Ainge looks to improve one of the youngest rosters in the association. The team also poses two sought-after trade candidates in Lauri Markkanen and John Collins, leaving it up to the former Celtics GM to advance the Jazz rebuild heading into next season.
The Jazz’s plethora of draft picks and valuable players already on their roster could strike the interest of Brad Stevens before June’s draft. According to Jazz writer Sarah Todd, the team could be fielding offers for picks No. 21, 43, and 53, but will more than likely stand pat at No.5 given the talent available in this year’s draft class.
“The Jazz will be weighing all their options with all four picks and especially with picks 21, 43 and 53. While there are players that will be available in the 20s that are intriguing, the Jazz could look to trade that pick with one of their second-rounders or even a future pick in order to be one of the teams that moves up on draft night.”
Sarah Todd
Danny Ainge is no stranger to a blockbuster trade, as he pulled off one of the best trades in Celtics history, sending an aging duo of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce off to the Brooklyn Nets for two draft picks that would become Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
While Porzingis and Holiday might not be the types of players that Ainge is looking for, given the age and hefty contracts they’re on, Brad Stevens would be silly not to dial up Ainge’s phone to inquire about draft selections this year, or down the line. He would also be smart to inquire about the availability of Markkanen, a versatile stretch wing that would provide an answer to the Celtics’ looming uncertainty surrounding their bigs, Horford, Porzingis, and Kornet.
If the Celtics want to get a jumpstart on the future, they would be wise to have more of a presence in drafts starting this year, and the team will most certainly be tied with the Jazz all offseason, given the relationship between Stevens and Ainge.
