NBA prospect analyst thinks the Celtics might struggle to trade up in the draft

By foxsports
Published

Chad Ford has been "The Draft Guy" about as long as Bill Nye has been "The Science Guy." In a recent dot com chat, ESPN's prospect analyst commented on the potential of the Celtics moving up in the draft to target Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Reader: If the Celtics wanted to move up to get WCS, what team might be a target to move down?

Ford: Orlando (pick No. 5), Sacramento (No. 6), Denver (No. 7) and Detroit (No. 8) is the sweet range. All would be willing to consider trading their pick. The issue? I'm not sure what the Celtics have that would really entice them. All want an established young player that could help them now. But at the 5-8 range, they're going to have to be really good. Marcus Smart could get them there, but I think he's untouchable. Not sure there's anyone else on the Celtics roster (even when you factor in future picks the Celtics can offer) that get them that high.

The Celtics will select 16th in June's draft. The first 14 selections obviously won't be finalized until Tuesday's lottery takes place. 

If Boston does get lucky and makes a deal to pick higher, prioritizing Cauley-Stein, who recently changed his middle name to "Trill," is something that would make sense. Boston plays capable defense because of its schemes and abilities on the wings, but it has been in dire need of rim protection all season. Cauley-Stein provides that and more, while acting as a rebounder and finisher around the rim who could be an intuitive fit next to one of the Celtics' three-point shooting power forwards.

Ford's latest mock has Boston taking Arizona wing Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with the 16th pick.

(H/t to MassLive's Jay King for the find.)