The Boston Celtics have interest in trading for the No. 6 pick of the 2020 draft controlled by the Atlanta Hawks, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
It isn’t exactly news that the Celtics are trying to trade up given their current crunch of rookies already on their roster in a season of intended contention for an NBA title with three first round picks in need of roster space.
But until now, most intel leaking from around the NBA media sphere have been more in the abstract; whereas this links Boston to a specific team on draft night next week, which falls on November 18th.
Sources: The Timberwolves are attempting to acquire a second lottery pick. They’ve had talks with the Hawks for #6. A possible deal could include Jarrett Culver and #17.
A number of teams are interested in Atlanta’s #6 pick—the Pelicans and Celtics being among them, sources say.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 11, 2020
According to O’Connor, the Minnesota Timberwolves are competing for it in their hunt for another first round pick, presumably to move back for wing Patrick Williams or guard Tyrese Halliburton.
A proposed package might include wing Jarrett Culver and the 17th pick to get to the 6th held by the Hawks, an offer Boston might be able to best depending on what Atlanta was after — as well as the New Orleans Pelicans, who are also reportedly interested in the pick.
For now it seems merely a thought exercise with prohibitions on any deals ahead of the draft unable to be completed until the lifting of the moratorium, projected to be on November 16th.
