With the NBA Draft Lottery airing at 8:30 P.M. EST on ESPN, it was revealed that the Boston Celtics stood pat, still holding 14th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Throughout the day, multiple outlets displayed a hope that the Celtics would move into the top-four of the upcoming draft but there was a 95.6 percent chance that Boston would remain at the 14th spot. However, there was great news for the Celtics with the Memphis Grizzlies getting the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. The pick was top-8 protected for 2019 but is top-6 protected in 2020 and unprotected in 2021. OFFICIAL: The Celtics own the following picks in the first round of the 2019 #NBADraft No. 14 No. 20 No. 22 * MEM now owes Boston its top-six protected pick in 2020, or, if it doesn't transfer, its unprotected pick in 2021 — Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) May 15, 2019 Boston also received good news in that the top overall pick was conveyed to the New Orleans Pelicans rather than the New York Knicks, who received the third overall pick in the draft. Now, the Knicks don’t have the ability to draft Duke University’s Zion Williamson or trade for Pelicans’ center Anthony Davis using the first overall pick as the centerpiece of a trade package. That could make New York a less appealing destination for impending free agent Kyrie Irving, who has long considered the Knicks a potential destination, and keep him in Boston although Irving is also said to have interest in the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. Nonetheless, per ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, there’s a foregone conclusion that Irving and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will sign with the Celtics this summer.<doc-sep>Back on April 12th, the NBA settled a handful of tiebreakers heading into tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery and June’s NBA Draft. The Celtics lost all three coin flips and went from potentially 12th to 14th, 18th to 20th, and 21st to 22nd. Their luck (kinda) changed tonight. With a chance for a top-4 pick, the Celtics did not move into the top-4 with the Kings’ pick, but because the Lakers (#4), Grizzlies (#2), and Pelicans (#1) moved up, the Memphis pick does not convey this season. Heading into the lottery, here were Boston’s chances at moving up to #2, #3, or #4 (not #1 because if the Kings won the lottery, the pick would have gone back to the Sixers and the Celtics would have receive Philadelphia’s #24 instead). Via David Sparks, Boston’s Director of Basketball Analytics and Mike Zarren, Assistant General Manager and Team Counsel: “...it turns out that entering the lottery, with 10 combinations, the Celtics have a 1.1% chance of getting the 2nd pick, a 1.2% chance of getting the 3rd pick, and a 1.4% chance of getting the #4 pick. This means that entering the lottery, we have a 3.7% chance of receiving a top 4 pick.” Some of the NBA Draft order on June 20th had already been predetermined before tonight. The Celtics own the Clippers’ pick at #20 and their own pick at #22. It's no secret that the Celtics would have preferred to keep the Grizzlies' pick in layaway with the protections loosening in 2020 (top-6) and 2021 (unprotected). The Kings' pick was supposed to be a bigger chip, but with no incentive to tank, Sacramento nearly made the playoffs. Nonetheless, Danny Ainge and the Celtics will now head into the June draft and free agency in July with three picks in hand. Boston currently has only six players under contract (Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward, Guerschon Yabusele, and Robert Williams). Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, and Aron Baynes have player options to return next season. Terry Rozier, Daniel Theis, and Brad Wanamaker are entering restricted free agency. Marcus Morris is an unrestricted free agent. Depth was a strength (or weakness, depending on how you look at it) of this team last year and Danny Ainge will either have a chance to replenish it in the draft or use those picks as trade chips when the off-season officially starts on July 1st. There are many decisions to be made between now and the start of next season, and now with the draft order determined, the Celtics can now start scouting players or discussing packaging these picks in a potential deal down the road.<doc-sep>The Boston Celtics cannot come away with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night. But there still is plenty on the line for the Green in Chicago. Boston already is locked into the No. 20 slot (via the Los Angeles Clippers), and their own draft slot at No. 22. But the C’s own a couple of other assets that will be involved in the lottery proceedings. The Celtics are due to receive the Sacramento Kings’ first-round pick in next month’s draft, so long as it does not come out No. 1 overall in the lottery. In that case, the pick would go to the Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston would get Philly’s pick at No. 24. This year, the top four slots of the draft will be selected through the lottery. Sacramento sits 14th, the final lottery slot, and has a 1 percent chance of jumping up to No. 1. But there is a 3.7 percent chance that Boston could walk away somewhere between picks 2-4. Here is a breakdown of everyone’s odds of grabbing the top slot: Extremely helpful NBA Draft lottery odds table pic.twitter.com/8Roo5EsvVf — 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) May 13, 2019 There is another pick the Celtics will be keeping their eyes on. Boston will get Memphis’ first-round pick should it fall out of the top eight. The Grizzlies ring in eighth in the lottery’s pecking order. Should things stay put, the Celtics will get the Grizzlies’ 2020 pick, which could very well end up being a top-five pick. Thumbnail photo via Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports Images<doc-sep>With the Celtics’ season coming to an end last Wednesday, the focus now shifts to the off-season. The work does not stop for this franchise as the off-season looks to be full of dramatics. Before we get to that all important July 1st date of free agency, the franchise will have their attention set on the NBA Draft. The Celtics will be going into this draft with either three or four draft picks. The picks are: The Celtics’ own pick at #22 The Clippers’ pick at #20 The Kings/76ers’ pick at (most likely) #14 If conveyed, the Grizzlies’ pick at #9-#12 The first main event of note is the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night for the Kings/76ers and Grizzlies picks. This is where all the top-14 picks are decided based on a ping pong ball lottery system. Each of the 14 spots have individual odds of which selection they will land. Everyone has at least a shot of a top-4 overall pick. Sacramento Kings/ Philadelphia 76ers’ Pick This will be the first pick of the night that will be decided for the Celtics. It is the pick that the Celtics received in the 2017 Draft Night trade with the Philadelphia 76ers of the number one overall pick (Markelle Fultz) for the number three overall pick (Jayson Tatum) and this 2019 first-round pick (which was originally from the Kings). The pick at the time was much more valuable because no one knew the Kings were going to notch it up to the next level this season. There is a 95.2% chance that this pick ends up at #14. If this happens, the Celtics get the pick. Easy as that. Now if you want some drama and if the 4.8% of a chance wins out, two things could happen. First, if the pick is the number one pick overall, the pick then goes back to Philadelphia. That is only a 1.0% chance of happening, but it is still worth mentioning. The other and best scenario for the Celtics is if the pick lands from #2-#4, and then the Celtics get a much better lottery pick than what is likely to happen. This pick will be the first pick they announce on Lottery Night. If a Sacramento Kings logo comes up first, the pick goes to the Celtics. If not, that is great news and will guarantee the pick will be a top-4 selection. Memphis Grizzlies’ Pick The other draft selection that all eyes will be tuned into is the Memphis Grizzlies’ pick. This one is much more uncertain than the first and has a few different possibilities. It is the pick which was received in a 2015 deal for Jeff Green. The pick was heavily protected at the time, and this is it’s first year with a chance to convey. For the 2019 draft, it is top-8 protected meaning that if the pick falls between the #1-#8 pick, the Grizzlies keep it, and if it is #9-#12, the Celtics get the pick. The funny part about this pick is that neither team wants it this year. From the Celtics’ perspective, there are two main reasons why the team should root against it conveying. First, the team already has three other draft picks. It is difficult, if not impossible, to draft four young rookies to the team for the following season. Without trading any of the picks, the Celtics would have to draft a European player’s rights and keep him overseas until the roster spot opens. Second, and more importantly, the pick will roll over to next year if it is not conveyed and with less protections on it. For 2020, it is top-6 protected and for 2021, it is unprotected. That is an incredibly valuable unknown that could be used in any type of trade, especially for say, maybe, an All-Star power forward who is a generational talent. The Grizzlies’ attitude towards this pick is also negative. Even as they are transitioning into a new era, they are trying to rid itself of old debts to pay around the league. The franchise wants to convey this pick this year and not have to worry about giving the pick away down the road. Even ex-GM of the Grizzlies, Chris Wallace, told the media that they were trying to convey last season as well. So, on Lottery Night, it will be two teams hoping they will not get this pick. The Grizzlies currently sit in the eight spot in terms of odds with a 26.2% of top-4 and a 31.2% of the #8 spot. This leaves the Celtics currently with a 42.6% chance of getting the pick either at #9, #10, #11 or #12. Everyone should be crossing their fingers hoping they do not see the Grizzlies logo before pick #8 of the night. Even with the season ending in a disappointing manner, the next step is to look forward to the future. No matter how these picks are handled, it will be a good change of pace. The fans and team alike can start putting this season behind them and look forward to next year, starting Tuesday with the NBA Draft Lottery.<doc-sep>
The ping pong balls have spoken, and now the the NBA draft order has been set. We know New Orleans will have the number one overall pick and the right to draft Zion Williamson out of Duke. Here are all the picks Boston landed in the draft lottery and their financial impact on the Celtics. Pick #14 This is the pick the Celtics acquired from the Sacramento Kings via the Philadelphia 76ers in the Markelle Fultz-Jayson Tatum deal. The 14th pick in the draft is slotted at $2,878,300 on the NBA rookie scale. Because first round picks can sign for 120 percent of the slotted value, and because the Celtics generally pay that 120 percent, the expected salary paid to this player is expected to be $3,453,960 Pick #20 This is the pick the Celtics acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers. The 20th pick in the draft is slotted at $2,149,100 on the NBA rookie scale. Because first round picks can sign for 120 percent of the slotted value, and because the Celtics generally pay that 120 percent, the expected salary paid to this player is expected to be $2,578,920. Pick #22 This is Boston’s own pick. The 22nd pick in the draft is slotted at $1,980,600 on the NBA rookie scale. Because first round picks can sign for 120 percent of the slotted value, and because the Celtics generally pay that 120 percent, the expected salary paid to this player is expected to be $2,376,720 Boston also has the 51st overall pick in the draft, which is in the second round. Second round pick salaries are not guaranteed so whomever is selected in this spot has no bearing on the Celtics cap unless he is signed to a guaranteed deal. The pick from the Memphis Grizzlies, which was top-8 protected, did not convey. It now rolls over to next season, where it is top-6 protected, meaning if Memphis’ pick falls in the 1-through-6 range, it carries over to the 2021 draft, where the pick is unprotected and comes to Boston regardless of where it lands.