Lottery Past, Draft Future

Posted by Randolph Charlotin May 21, 2008 at 10:33 pm

It was about last year when the heart was torn from the chest of Celtic Nation at the NBA Draft Lottery. With the best chance for the first pick overall, Boston got bumped down to fifth overall. In a draft with only two franchise players (Ohio State 7-footer Greg Oden and Texas small forward Kevin Durant), a bad Celtics team was in position for a player that probably would keep the franchise in rebuilding mode.

What a reversal of fortune as that disappointment was turned into unlimited optimism. That fifth pick, along with G Delonte West and F Wally Szczerbiak, was traded for Seattle’s All-Star G Ray Allen and the SuperSonics’ second round pick (which became Glen “Big Baby” Davis). Later came the crown jewel, Kevin Garnett. It took a lot of youth (PF Al Jefferson, SF Ryan Gomes, PG Sebastian Telfair, G/F Gerald Green), a veteran contract (C Theo Ratliff) and a 2009 first round pick (top-3 protected), but Danny Ainge got what he wanted.

It was a painless experience this year as Chicago leap-frogged to first overall and the right to choose between Memphis PG Derrick Rose or Kansas State F Michael Beasley. The Celtics have the Eastern Conference Finals to worry about. But the upcoming draft will have significant importance for the Celts.

Five players are scheduled to become free agents at the end of Boston’s playoff run. PG Eddie House and G/F James Posey both signed for one year. Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown were added for the stretch run and experience for the playoffs. And the Celtics declined Tony Allen’s option or an additional year to his rookie contract.

Brown was talked out of retirement and probably will hang it up for good. Cassell or House won’t accept being the third PG on a team. Tony hasn’t developed as a player and doesn’t appear to be in Boston’s future. Posey wants to win and could go to another championship-caliber team offering better pay.

That’s a lot of holes to fill. A free agent or two will be signed. Maybe F Brandon Wallace is brought back after a year in the D-League. He would add athleticism, defense, rebounding, and energy to the bench.

Otherwise Ainge will have to mine for late-round gems again. Forwards Leon Powe and Glen Davis are finds. Can Danny do it again?

A scorer at the G/F position to relieve Paul Pierce and Ray Allen should be on the list, as well as a C/F to back up K.G. and Kendrick Perkins.

It’s early, but nbadraft.net projects PF Nikola Pekovic and C Sasha Kaun as rookie additions. That will change as the draft gets closer. Whoever Boston drafts, they could play an important role in the team’s future.

In the meantime, we’ll watch the Green Team try to add a 17th banner to the rafters.

But it would be so much better if the new additions help the team to banners 18th or 19th.