With the NBA Draft Lottery airing at 8:30 P.M. EST on ESPN, it was revealed that the Boston Celtics stood pat, still holding 14th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Throughout the day, multiple outlets displayed a hope that the Celtics would move into the top-four of the upcoming draft but there was a 95.6 percent chance that Boston would remain at the 14th spot.
However, there was great news for the Celtics with the Memphis Grizzlies getting the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. The pick was top-8 protected for 2019 but is top-6 protected in 2020 and unprotected in 2021.
Boston also received good news in that the top overall pick was conveyed to the New Orleans Pelicans rather than the New York Knicks, who received the third overall pick in the draft.
Now, the Knicks don’t have the ability to draft Duke University’s Zion Williamson or trade for Pelicans’ center Anthony Davis using the first overall pick as the centerpiece of a trade package. That could make New York a less appealing destination for impending free agent Kyrie Irving, who has long considered the Knicks a potential destination, and keep him in Boston although Irving is also said to have interest in the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Nonetheless, per ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, there’s a foregone conclusion that Irving and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will sign with the Celtics this summer.
