Few teams in NBA history have found themselves in the Celtics’ current position. Boston is not only one of the four teams still alive in the playoffs, but also has landed the No. 1 overall pick in what’s considered a very strong 2017 draft.
The Celtics’ showing this season, which included earning the first overall seed in the East, is proof that the team isn’t too far away from being a serious title contender. However, if Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals was any indication, the team may not just be one player away from seriously threatening LeBron James‘ Cavs.
That creates an interesting dilemma for the Celtics, who have stashed away three extra first-round picks beyond 2017, including the Nets’ unprotected 2018 selection. Boston has enough young players and future assets to continue taking its time in building a contender, perhaps waiting out LeBron’s peak. However, that stash of extra picks and assets, along with an already-talented roster, provides a unique opportunity — the C’s could move the No. 1 pick this year for a star, improve their roster immediately, and still be well-positioned to keep their window of contention open for years.
There’s no obvious answer for the Celtics, with some NBA observers arguing in favor of trading the pick and some insisting they need to keep it. The probable No. 1 pick, point guard Markelle Fultz, plays the same position as the team’s current MVP, Isaiah Thomas. What would it mean for Thomas’ long-term future if Fultz joins the mix in Boston?
Conversely, if the C’s were to trade the pick, what kind of player could they land? Jimmy Butler and Paul George have been frequently mentioned as targets, but are the Bulls ready to trade Butler? Would George, on track for 2018 free agency, be willing to commit to an extension with the Celtics? Is there another player – perhaps someone like Kristaps Porzingis – who might be available for the No. 1 pick, and who would appeal to Boston?
What do you think the Celtics should do with the first overall pick? Place your vote below, and then jump into the comments section to share your thoughts!
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Most definitely use the pick. They can always trade the selection like the Cavs did with Wiggins, but I honestly think keeping the player (especially if it’s Fultz) would do wonders for the team, both now and like 4 years from now.
Use the pick on Fultz, sign Heyward. Let Olynyk, Green, Johnson and Zeller go. Put Crowder, Rozier, Bradley, next years first on the trade block for a big man
You cannot even spell Hayward’s name correctly. You don’t deserve him.
Hayward isn’t a guarantee. U can’t put all of your title hopes into free agency. Trade butler for this years pick and jaylen brown/ Marcus smart and Avery Bradley and contend for a championship. They have to many young players as it is who aren’t getting a chance to develop. Adding butler and a rim protector in free agency would turn this team into a top 3 in the league. Also they have a decent amount of cap space so they could add Hayward and Butler. They would just have to be creative about it. Dump onlynk and zeller and among others. Even if u just get butler tho. They have a window of at least 4 years considering the ages of butler isiah and horford. Not to mention they have a good chance of the number 1 pick again next year. Another good draft class. Butler can rebound defend and create his own shot. They need a star like that. Butler can help isiah defensively and can guard lebron. (See the game the bulls ended Miamis 27 game win streak as evidence for that)
Dude you are delusional if you think Butler is worth that much, you talking like this is Kobe. Butler isnt that dam good
I saw Bradley completely outplay Butler head to head in the 1st round, and people wanna empty the vault for 2 years of him.
Can’t bank on Hayward coming here though. Utah still is very tempting and also on the up and up just like Boston. I agree a trade likely will come though with one of those three and even include Smart. Salary might impact what Boston does this offseason.
If you can get a guaranteed star like Butler or Porzingis, then make the deal. The draft pick, even the #1 overall, is still an unknown quantity. Yes he might be a superstar, but he might be fairly mediocre as well. Top 5 point guards have a spotty history. A weak to mid-range team can afford to take the gamble, but a #1 seed team like the Celtics need someone to help them now.
The # 1 pick is a known quantity. It’s 1. 1 player.
Kwame Brown was a 1-1 player
I think he’s being an idiot and intentionally misinterpreting what he said. Sure, you know if you take a player with the pick, the quantity is 1 player. But his point was the quality, which is not known. We know what Paul George is. We know what Butler is. Porzingis has not reached his full potential yet but has a higher chance than Fultz based on growth already.
We need to make the pick and take Fultz. Bradley becomes an expendable asset. We save money by having a rookie play instead of someone who we’d have to pay more money. Bradley packaged up with our first next year and maybe Rozier could get us a big man to pair with Horford
Bradley can shoot and defend Something isiah needs as he’s far below the average defensively
However the scenario you talked about could get you someone like Hassan whiteside which would be a great addition. So maybe
The only way Bradley gets expendable is if you fear re-signing him after next year. No way you’re trading Bradley otherwise.
No he gets expendable if you take Fultz because you can’t keep Fultz, Thomas, Bradley, Smart, and Rozier. That’s 4 guards who should be playing at least 20 minutes a game, more for most, 10 for Rozier. You can’t pay Thomas, Bradley, and Smart anyway. You’d have to pick two so trading one for some value now makes sense, plus Smart has more potential than Bradley if he can figure out his shot.
If i have to vote one of those guys off the island to make room for Fultz, its Smart. You’re a way better team with bradley than him
Fultz could still learn from Bradley for a while though. I’m not so sure he immediately starts if he’s drafted.
I think, as much as it sort of hurts to say it, Rozier is by far the most expendable of the five.
If the conference finals (only 1 game in) has shown anything, it’s the Celtics aren’t even in the Cavs atmosphere now. I’d trade the pick for an established all star. How many young good players can you use? For everyone saying keep the pick, idk how a Fultz IT backcourt would look offensively with them both being ball dominant, but defensively they’d be anemic and that would only be compounded if you trade your 2-way guard in Bradley. I’d test every team in the league that had a player I like. Why not?
Except IT doesn’t exactly dominate the ball too much. IT actually plays off the ball a ton. It could be very feasible to pull off.
The defense point is spot on though. It would be absolutely anemic and ridiculously bad if you trade Bradley and don’t add a rim protector which wasn’t important this year for who knows why…
Look at Toronto. They made these trades to ‘load up’ and they got swept. That was it. That was the raptors peaking. Look at game 1, you really think a ‘rim protector’ would have made a big difference this year? Their 1st priority should be finding a 2nd scorer. They’re hoping to have rim protection in the pipeline already, his names Ante Zizic.
They can both play off ball. They can both play on ball. Thats a good thing. Everyone making these automatic final judgements should at least know what they’re talking about first.
Draft Fultz; he’s insurance against Thomas leaving aftyer next season. Sign Heyward. Trade for Drummond.
Melo,lee,and next year number 1 for 1st overall and crowder
Please god no…
Put the crack pipe down.
Trade it for the Unicorn
A straight up one for one trade, I like Porzingis the most. He is young, affordable and under team control for a long time. Butler is not old, but I would rather keep the pick and make a run at Gordon Hayward or another free agent than give up the pick and pay a max contract. Building a young team that looks solid for the long term and is inexpensive makes the Celtics a more attractive free agent destination. another trade that has been ‘rumored’, though I think it might be more just wishful thinking is a trade with Philly, with the main pieces being swapping 1st for 3rd, (Celtics take Jackson), and philly sends the 2018 Lakers pick, or a young big man back. With some other players involved from either side to balance things out.
Danny already said if its not the second coming he’s not trading it. Butler,Hayward, and George are not “second coming” players. Second coming is Curry,Lebron,Davis,Durant, and Westbrook. Porzingis has second coming potential and I’m a Knicks fan willing to move him for a shot at Fultz.
Draft Fultz trade Bradley for a top 13 pick and get Zack Collins or Jarrad Allen and possibly sign Heyward so you have a lineup of Thomas Fultz Heyward Horford and either Collins or Allen(I like Collins better) or Thomas Fultz Crowder Horford and Collins or Allen. Both of those are dangerous lineups that can challenge the Cavs
Unless you play Fultz and Thomas in the same backcourt together, it’s a wasted pick. Both players need the ball to be effective, plus you run into height/length problems that make you susceptible defensively. In short, having two athletic point guards in your starting five won’t work. Trade the pick for an impact veteran.
Celts first pick to Sixers for Okafor. Book it
OK4 is worth maybe a mid- to late first-rounder. He doesn’t even start for one of the worst teams in the league.
You desperate for attention my dude
If in Boston. I offer NY the #1 pick and the Nets unprotected ’18 pick. How popular would that be in NY ? Screw the Nets, get Fultz or Ball and a probable top 3 pick next year (Nets) Great start to a much needed rebuild and the assets to trade Carmelo for more picks.
That trade would be for Pornzingis
Probably going to make a free agent deal with Gordon Heyward too. Brad Stevens Butler guy. Book that
I don’t see any attractive pre-draft deals materializing (other than a swap within the first 4 picks or so), so just take Fultz. Hayward is a longshot.
Keep the pick and take Fultz.
Trade Smart to Philly for Saric; might need to throw in a pick or another asset to get the deal done.
Go all in on Hayward and if that doesn’t pan out, plan for the future when Lebron’s reign is over. You can make a deal with someone like Ibaka for 3 years to remain competitive while Fultz, Brown, Saric, and the Nets ’18 pick develop.
Trade the #1 and Amir Johnson for PorzinGod