If there’s a player the Boston Celtics have their eyes on who is projected to go a bit above the Celtics draft range, they have the resources to move with three first round and four total picks in the 2020 NBA Draft.
And not long after hearing word from Detroit Pistons beat writers that they might have a partner for such a maneuver drafting from the seventh overall pick, they might have picked up some leverage in deal-making with word spreading the New York Knicks might open to trading back as well.
Knicks beat writer Marc Berman of the New York Post shared that two NBA sources revealed to him that trading back might be on the menu for James Dolan’s franchise.
What options do the Boston Celtics have to gear up for a title run? https://t.co/pUTRTOSuS0
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 13, 2020
If neither Lamelo Ball or James Wiseman happen to slide beyond their expected top-three range to the eight pick — which unlikely but not impossible — New York may well decide to move back.
Unenamored with other prospects in this draft, they have taken an interest in Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey, currently projected to go between 12th and 18th on most mock drafts.
“At No. 8, the Knicks have staged internal talks about swapping back with a team in the Nos. 12-15 range,” notes Berman, “to gain a young player in his rookie contract while still making a lottery pick.”
Boston has reportedly met with Grant Riller – would he fit the Cs needs? https://t.co/39TpxyvE3j
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 13, 2020
With the 14th pick and an overabundance of rookies on their roster, would the Knicks bite at anything Boston would be comfortable sending out?
The No. 8 pick is valuable enough to need something a little more valuable than even an early second-round pick would bring to the table to warrant moving back, but a prospect like Romeo Langford, Grant or Robert Williams are all too good to include in such a trade.
Could perhaps Carsen Edwards and picks Nos. 14 and 46 or 30 be enough?
We’ll find out in a little more than a month when teams make their selections virtually on November 15th, but if these reports are true, then the Celtics’ odds of finding a tango partner on draft night just went up.
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