The Boston Celtics hold the number sixteen overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Sure there are still going to be some fine options there for them but owner Danny Ainge has higher aspirations. There had already been reports that came in yesterday about the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers looking to change things up later in the first round. Ainge’s desire in the upcoming draft is 6’11” big man Myles Turner out of the University of Texas. There is one huge problem though, Turner is expected to fly off the board much earlier than the sixteenth pick and realistically Boston has no shot of landing him if they stay put. That’s where Ainge’s magic could do wonders and shake up the draft. According to RealGM, the Celts badly want the talented big man:
The Boston Celtics are actively attempting to trade up in next week’s draft in order to select Myles Turner, according to multiple league sources. The Celtics own the 16th overall pick in the draft and Turner is expected to be picked several slots earlier. One of the Celtics’ most pressing needs this offseason is a rim protector. Turner blocked 4.2 shots per 36 minutes in his freshman season at Texas.”
The most crucial part of that quote is the astounding 4.2 blocks per forty minutes. Boston could be considered “soft” in the lane at times due to their lack of a rim protecting stud. Turner would fit that role like a glove.
Turner would be a perfect fit in Boston. He won’t solve all the team’s problems, but there’s a great chance he eventually develops into the exact type of player they badly need. The only question is what team in the lottery is willing to trade out of it and give up on such a talented, promising prospect?
The Celtics had been rumored to be after someone to protect the paint in free agency, but why not snag him via the draft when the sky’s the limit? Fans across bean town are surely hoping Ainge can get the job done yet again.
