Understandably, Boston Celtics fans probably don’t have the NBA Draft at the front of their minds right now.
The Celtics just traded Marcus Smart, the longest-tenured active player and soul of the franchise, to Memphis in a stunning three-team deal that returned standout big Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards.
Those changes will receive plenty of analysis and discussion. But Boston also sent Washington its No. 35 pick in this year’s draft, while receiving both the No. 25 pick and a 2024 first-rounder from Memphis.
Suddenly, the Celtics have seriously altered their leverage on Thursday, trading up ten spots after years of trading down or out.