Many consider the Boston Celtics one of the biggest losers of the 2016 NBA draft because the team landed No. 3, meaning Danny Ainge and the front office miss out on Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.
It’s a fair assessment, but ignores the fact Providence’s Kris Dunn is one of the best point guard prospects to come out in years.
Now, Boston doesn’t need any help in the backcourt. The team has Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley as starters with high-upside guys like Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier rotating in to help. But what the Celtics could do, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Jake Fischer, is grab Dunn and then move him:
The Sixers, Timberwolves and Pelicans are all enamored with Kris Dunn, per sources. If Boston picks him at No. 3, expect a trade to follow.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 23, 2016
This is just how it goes. Boston has talked with the Philadelphia 76ers about moving the third pick for one of the team’s big men such as Jahlil Okafor, but nothing has gone down just yet. The Minnesota Timberwolves wouldn’t mind Dunn because it could remove a reliance on the erratic Ricky Rubio. The New Orleans Pelicans, on the other hand, need to get Anthony Davis as much help as possible.
Yet Boston hasn’t seen an offer the front office has liked so far. Going ahead and nabbing Dunn, who played all four years with the Friars and averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game last year, means the Celtics can continue the bidding war throughout the draft.
And if nobody comes with an offer the Celtics like, well, the rich just got richer and the team still has two more picks to spend in the first round, not to mention five more in the second.
It’s a good day to be the Celtics, who continue to see the hard work of the front office paying off in major ways.
