2019 NBA Mock Draft: The Boston Celtics clean up

Okay, now for the Celtics breakdown you were all promised. But first, a prediction: Boston can acquire Anthony Davis via trade and cap off their grand plans this summer to keep Kyrie Irving happy and turn into a title contender without giving up prized asset Jayson Tatum.

Think about it. The Celtics can offer a very young, raw prospect like Doumbouya, who returned this month from a thumb injury and picked up where he left off using his huge frame and incredible athleticism to impact the game up and down the box score. They can offer young talent such as Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier and Robert Williams as well as next year’s Memphis first-round pick (top-three protected) and the other two first-rounders they own this season (Los Angeles’ and their own, as noted above). A package of Brown, Rozier, Williams, Doumbouya, Tre Jones and Jontay Porter plus the Grizzlies’ 2020 pick and several of the Celtics’ own picks down the line is at least competitive with what the Lakers reportedly offered at the trade deadline.

Stacking the salaries this way (Rozier would be part of the deal as a sign-and-trade) will help Boston avoid the salary-matching issues worried about in the past when they envisioned trading for Davis. At one point, including Al Horford or Gordon Hayward was the only way to concoct a deal that worked with New Orleans. Now, with Rozier getting a pay raise and so many young first-round picks potentially being added into the deal, Boston can make it work. Doing the trade in the summer when fewer players are on contract also makes this easier.

So while Doumbouya as the centerpiece of a deal is silly, it’s worth noting that those who are optimistic that the Lakers missing the playoffs might sweeten their offer for Davis are forgetting this pick, which Sacramento owes Boston, and the fact it will likely be higher than that of the Lakers.