Robb: Taking Stock Of Celtics' 2016 Draft Picks As Season Nears Its End
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's a lovely time of year if you happen to be a Celtics fan. Not only do you have the benefit of rooting for a team that is in contention for home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference, but there is also a long list of teams to root against (guilt-free) as the Celtics await the riches of several owed draft picks in 2016.
With three first-round picks and five second-round selections awaiting Danny Ainge this June, it is fairly evident Boston won't be using all of those picks. Still, where those picks land in the draft is incredibly important for the franchise as it attempts to wheel or deal them for another big addition or look to add a young core piece.
So where exactly will the Celtics be picking from on draft night? Let's take a look at where things stand with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Brooklyn pick
The prized piece of the 2016 NBA Draft haul is the Nets pick. Currently, it's slated for No. 4 in the draft lottery, a spot it should not fall from with the Wolves four games back in the standings with the NBA's fifth-worst record. Over the final two weeks, Brooklyn and Phoenix will be battling it out for the No. 3 lottery spot in what could be an entertaining tanking showdown from the Phoenix standpoint.
The Suns currently hold a one-game edge, but the Nets only have a couple of decent chances of winning games left on the schedule, coming against the Knicks and Pelicans this weekend. If Phoenix can steal a win or two down the stretch, the Nets could slide into the No. 3 spot if they can't add to their 21-win total, strengthening Boston's odds of landing a top 3 pick to 46.9 percent.
Dallas pick
While the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade may be the biggest heist of Danny Ainge's tenure, the Rondo trade last season could end up having a strong case for second place. Not only has Jae Crowder turned into arguably the team's second best player, but the Mavericks pick acquired for this season has a good chance of turning into a lottery selection.
Currently, Dallas is tied for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference with a 37-38 record, but they are one game away from falling out of the postseason with a very tough schedule down the stretch. With the Wizards, Bulls and Rockets all within a game of Dallas in the overall standings, Boston has a solid chance of acquiring the No. 12 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Worst-case scenario? Mavericks make the playoffs and hand over a pick in the 16-17 range.
Boston's own pick
Just like the team's own playoff position, this selection is unsettled as the team battles Miami, Charlotte and Atlanta down the stretch. Yet the range right now the pick is settled on is in the early 20s, a spot that could held Boston jump up a couple of places in the draft if they include it in a potential deal elsewhere.
Second-round picks
Boston has five of them coming their way via five different teams (Philadelphia, Minnesota, Dallas, Miami, Cleveland). The notable picks in play here are the first two, since the Sixers and Wolves are among the worst five teams in the league. That will give the Celtics two picks in the early 30s (31, 35), a spot that is historically good for finding steals, as was the case with Jordan Mickey last summer.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
