The Boston Celtics were two wins away from winning their first NBA title since 2008. Looking to build off their successful campaign, it appears as though the front office is looking to make a big splash heading into the 2022 Draft.
According to a report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fisher, the Celtics are willing to part ways with a pair of recent first-round draft picks in order to obtain a late first-round pick in tonight’s draft.
Those two players are 2019 first-round pick Grant Williams, and 2020 first-rounder Payton Pritchard. Via B/R:
“Indiana, Utah, Boston and Detroit have all been described as teams looking to acquire picks in the back half of the first round.
“To do so, the Celtics appear willing to engage in conversations on rotation players like Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard, but only for the right price.”
The Celtics currently do not own a pick in the first round, having traded the 25th overall pick to the San Antonio Spurs last season as part of the Derrick White deal.
Grant Williams was selected 22nd overall in 2019. He’s played in 209 games through his first two seasons, starting in 35 of those contests while averaging 19.4 minutes, 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. He had a strong postseason for Boston, starting 5 games and averaging 8.6 points per contest.
As for Pritchard, he was taken 26th overall in 2020, and has averaged 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists while playing 16.6 minutes per game.
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It’s unknown exactly who the Celtics could be targeting late in the first round of this year’s draft, but it’s clear they feel that player will provide a larger contribution than what they’ve received so far from Williams or Pritchard.
The 2022 NBA Draft is set to take place tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, at 8pm ET.
