2019 NBA Mock Draft: When simulating the lottery gets wonky

METAIRIE, LA - MARCH 14: David Griffin, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, talks to the media during an introductory press conference on April 17, 2019 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA - MARCH 14: David Griffin, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, talks to the media during an introductory press conference on April 17, 2019 at Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /
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18. . G. North Carolina. Coby White. 9. player

The Celtics’ roster figures to change dramatically this summer one way or another. They stayed mostly static heading into this season, believing they could compete for a NBA championship, and have mostly been proven right. However, with many core players headed for free agency and their main trade target Anthony Davis expected to be on the market, Boston is going to be making moves.

Here’s how things stack up heading into an important summer:

Terry Rozier, 25 years old, $9.151 million cap hold

Kyrie Irving, 27 years old, $21.3 million player option

Al Horford, 32 years old, $30.1 million player option

Aron Baynes, 32 years old, $5.4 million player option

Marcus Morris, 29 years old, $10.2 million cap hold

As it pertains to White, the North Carolina guard who soared from the late first-round to the mid-lottery over the course of the season, the guard rotation is all that matters in Boston. We can expect Marcus Smart, fresh off a big new contract, and Brad Wanamaker, whom the Celtics brought in last year to shore up their depth, will be big parts of next year’s rotation.

White, however, is a slightly different player than either guy. He is a lot closer to the Isaiah Thomas/Rozier mold the Celtics sought out before trading for Irving — a springy guard who can shoot from distance and compete on defense (far more than Thomas).

It’s tough to say for any of the Celtics’ picks if they might be included in a draft package for Davis, but White is worth keeping considering the questions facing Boston’s backcourt.

Check out our full scouting report on Coby White.