What Should the Boston Celtics Do with the First Overall Pick in the NBA Draft?

By Djack

The Celtics have a big time decision to make before June 22nd, what to do with the #1 overall pick. There's several options with what they could do with the pick, well technically there's only really two, trade it or use it to pick a player. Within those 2 options there's a multitude of options, so really there's a lot that goes into this decision. The consensus choice of who to draft if they are to keep the pick is Markelle Fultz and the desired star they'd trade the pick for is Paul George or Jimmy Butler. What should the Celtics do?

The Celtics should trade the pick, it's really not even a question. That was my initial reaction, until I thought of something even better. Most want the Celtics to call up Chicago and Indiana and try to get Paul George or Jimmy Butler, but that's not the answer. Even with the addition of either of those guys the Celtics still won't be able to take down the Cavaliers. Yeah, maybe the series will go 6 or even 7 games, but I promise you the Celtics would never be in the drivers seat of the series. One guy just isn't enough when you're trying to take down the greatest player of all time and his two fellow superstar teammates. The Celtics will need at least two more players to get close to taking the Cavs out and there's a way they can do that this offseason.

The Celtics should draft Markelle Fultz with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. The kid can do it all, he's the best scorer in the draft, he passes well, and they could put him at the two while keeping Isaiah at the point. Fultz's size allows him to defend most shooting guards in the league. Maybe the Celtics back court would then become a defensive liability, however offensively they'd be a juggernaut. Brad Stevens is a smart enough guy, I'm sure he'd be able to figure it out. After they draft Fultz they sign Gordon Hayward in free agency to add the already solidified superstar that they so desperately need. Hayward already has a relationship with Brad Stevens since he coached him in college at Butler, so I can definitley see this plan coming to fruition. Fultz, Thomas, Hayward, and Hortford would be a nightmare for teams to defend. Hayward is great on both ends of the floor giving them someone who might be able to slow down Lebron a little bit. 

This is the Celtics best course of action because they get the solidified star they need all the while adding another young piece that can grow with this team. If they trade the pick they ensure themselves one great player, but that's all they'll be able to add, not enough to get by the Cavs, so why bother. Now, they still might not have enough year one with Hayward and Fultz, but they'll get another great pick next year since they have the Nets picks again, so they can continue to build this young core of talent while being highly competitive in the East. Hopefully, Danny Ainge doesn't completely butcher this, what a shame it'd be if all this picks went to waste, and the Celtics end up with nothing after all the lucky breaks they've got in terms of acquiring picks. June 22nd can't come soon enough.