The Celtics benefited from subtraction Tuesday night, thanks to a fortuitous lottery bounce for Memphis. The Celtics will have rights to Memphis’ first-round pick next year, which will be top six protected, after the Grizzlies struck gold and moved up in Tuesday night’s NBA lottery to the second overall spot and a choice between players […]
The Celtics benefited from subtraction Tuesday night, thanks to a fortuitous lottery bounce for Memphis.
The Celtics will have rights to Memphis’ first-round pick next year, which will be top six protected, after the Grizzlies struck gold and moved up in Tuesday night’s NBA lottery to the second overall spot and a choice between players like Murray State’s Ja Morant and Duke’s R. J. Barrett.
New Orleans snared the top choice, and now has an opportunity to convince Anthony Davis that he’s best served sticking around to play with Duke’s Zion Williamson, the presumptive No. 1 choice.
New Orleans’ rise in the lottery will have fascinating, if unknown, impact on the Celtics’ hope of trading for Davis.
The Celtics would have ended up with the Memphis pick had it fallen outside the top eight, and now have a far more valuable asset tied to next year’s draft, either to trade or keep for their own. Should the pick bounce to 2021, it will be unprotected.
“It would have been good to move up, but the Celtics are happy with how this turned out,” said assistant general manager Mike Zarren, who was sequestered in the so-called war room with the ping pong ball dispenser while Celtics president Rich Gotham sat outside on the podium.
