Boston Celtics extremely likely to keep 2017 first overall NBA draft pick
By Trey Daubert
The Boston Celtics won the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery, and it appears that their top draft pick isn’t for sale.
The lucky Celtics leprechaun was on full display Tuesday night as Boston won the lottery landing the first overall draft pick in 2017. This was the first time in the history of the storied franchise that they ever won the lottery.
The Celtics were represented by co-owner Wyc Grousbeck at the lottery, who appears thrilled to have landed the top pick in the draft.
According to Grousbeck, it appears very unlikely that the Boston Celtics will shop their coveted draft selection.
VIDEO - Grousbeck tells @FelgerandMazz: #Celtics keeping No. 1 pick unless blown away by trade offer https://t.co/aL4Kf0McfQ
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) May 17, 2017
"“I think these picks are very, very valuable,” Grousbeck said via an interview with Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti.“If you’re going to trade these picks for an established star making max, you’ve got to send max money out the door as well, so you’ve got to send more guys along, so this guy coming back had better be the second coming. What’s more, he’s going to be halfway through his career, whoever he is, and he’s going to be paid a lot of money, which restricts you in other ways.“So if you can get a really good guy with this pick, you’ve got him, you can build with him, you can coach him up. You get to max money eventually, five to six years down the road, but it’s a totally different thing.”"
The Celtics are in a terrific position heading into the future. Boston is able to be in this position thanks to the heist from the Nets that shipped out an ancient Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. In a deal that has brought back Jaylen Brown, the 2017 first overall pick, and much more has put Boston in a position to build a dynasty in the near future. Markelle Fultz from Washington appears to be the target with the first overall pick.
Next: 5 trade possibilities for Jimmy Butler
This news likely takes Boston out of the market for Paul George and or Jimmy Butler. In regards to Butler, we wrote earlier that the Celtics will likely target Gordon Hayward first in free agency considering the connection to Brad Stevens and the fact that they don’t have to trade for him.