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NBA Draft Rumors: Boston Celtics to draft best player available at No. 17 overall

By Josh Hill

Sep 28, 2012; Waltham, MA, USA; The Boston Celtic logo on the hardwood floor during the media day at the Celtics training facility. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2012; Waltham, MA, USA; The Boston Celtic logo on the hardwood floor during the media day at the Celtics training facility. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics are owners of two first-round draft picks this year and as a result they’re going to have the luxury of drafting for both need and best player available. Already the team has shown an interest in the likes of Marcus Smart, Dante Exum and Julius Randle but those are picks that will be made in the lottery and near the very top of it.

Boston should be most excited about owning the No. 17 pick, by way of the Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry trade from last summer, as it affords them the luxury of taking which ever big name player they want. That’s exactly what the team plans on doing too, as Danny Ainge noted at No. 17 the team drafts for want and not need.

Per the Boston Globe:

"“There’s some good talent in that pick,” he said. “Yeah, we’ve got to make the right ones, get the right guys. We don’t take needs. We take the best players available.”"

We don’t know who will be there at No. 17 but the likes of Jermi Grant, Kyle Anderson and many other intriguing names are expected to be there for the picking. Boston has options and if they play this draft right they may bounce back in a big way in 2014-15.

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