NBA Draft 2020: Final Scenarios For The Boston Celtics

The NBA Draft is finally here. Now, what should Boston Celtics fans expect Wednesday night with a million different rumors and possibilities swirling around the internet?

There’s a variety of scenarios in play, but it still appears Boston will make a strong push to trade up into the top-10. With the deadline on Gordon Hayward’s player option getting extended from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon, it’s become increasingly likely that the 30-year-old wing could be on the move. So where might that work into Danny Ainge’s draft-night plans?

If they’re able to work out a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks, which has been discussed, according to Yahoo’s Chris Haynes, the Celtics could target the No. 6 overall pick. It’s been widely reported that Atlanta is willing to part ways with that selection to move back, so if a sign-and-trade does become a reality, Boston could swap the No. 14 pick (and another first-rounder if needed) for No. 6, among other assets included in the deal. That hypothetical deal would give the Celtics some luxury tax help, but from a draft perspective, it would allow them to move into the top-10 to get one of their top targets.

So say they find a way to consolidate picks and trade up, with Hayward involved or otherwise — who might they target? Well, it depends on where they land. If it’s at No. 6, a few players to keep an eye on (if available) would be USC big Onyeka Okongwu, Auburn wing Isaac Okoro, Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton, Florida State wing Devin Vassell or Ulm guard Killian Hayes.

There’s also a possibility the Celtics attempt to move up without including Hayward in the deal, but I have a hard time seeing three first-round picks alone getting them into the top-10. If they want to go that route, it’ll likely have to include one of their young assets. Despite the buzz around a possible trade-up, staying put at No. 14 wouldn’t be a bad decision if the market doesn’t play out the way Boston would like.

The Celtics could elect to take a swing at R.J. Hampton at No. 14, or grab a solid backup point guard option in Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. if he’s still on the board. The bottom line is this: trading up isn’t the only positive option Boston has.

It’s possible the Celtics pick at No. 14 and then trade Nos. 26 and 30 for future selections. They could then use No. 47 to draft a potential two-way candidate, like they did last season with Tremont Waters. Keep in mind future picks have plenty more value than the picks in this particular draft, meaning it may be slightly more difficult to shift those assets around. If Boston is unable to do so, one of their late first-rounders will have to be a draft-and-stash prospect (see: Barcelona’s Leandro Bolmaro).

Another scenario that would be a win for the Celtics: Stay put at No. 14, make their pick and package Nos. 26 and 30 to move into the late teens, early 20’s. That hypothetical could allow Boston to take a prospect like Hampton at No. 14, followed by a player with a higher floor, such as TCU’s Desmond Bane, with the newly-acquired pick.

One final note on the Hayward rumors: Celtics fans should like the idea of Boston sending Hayward to the Hawks along with the No. 14 pick (plus an additional first-rounder) in exchange for Atlanta’s No. 6 pick and a role player. That would allow the Celtics to then use their full $9 million mid-level exception without the initial hard cap risk. And more than anything, it’s significantly better than Hayward opting out and signing with the Hawks in free agency — Atlanta is under the salary cap enough to pay Hayward.

The extension of Hayward’s player option deadline indicates that his camp is working something out with the Celtics behind the scenes, likely a sign-and-trade, but time will tell. It certainly won’t be a boring draft night, that much we know.