During the 2017 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics blew a golden opportunity to take the next step
Too much of anything is a bad thing.
That old saying resonates with the Boston Celtics right now, who have a ridiculous amount of resources but have yet to show anything for it.
Boston had a great year, finishing with 53 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They got by the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards before being swallowed by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- LeBron James working to assemble super team for USA Basketball in 2024
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
The Celtics had nothing to be ashamed of heading into the offseason, and with a myriad of assets they have all the tools to take their team to the next level. Heck, the No. 1 seed in the East had the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, before they traded it for…more assets.
Somehow, Boston had a bad Draft night.
After essentially trading Fultz for more assets, it seemed as though they were setting the table for a Jimmy Butler deal. Until the Minnesota Timberwolves beat them to the punch. The Wolves send Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and the No. 7 pick to Chicago for Butler, a package that Boston could’ve easily surpassed.
But what’s done is done.
Then, it was believed that Boston could save the night by stealing Paul George away from the Lakers. However, the move never came. Neither George or Butler ended the night as a member of the Celtics.
Finally, Boston flirted with the idea of trading for Kristaps Porzingis, who the Knicks were reportedly shopping. However, because of their steep price – New York reportedly wanted the No. 3 pick, next year’s Brooklyn pick, Jae Crowder and Jaylen Brown from the Celtics – the deal never came to fruition.
Instead, Danny Ainge kept the pick and drafted Jayson Tatum out of Duke University. Tatum is talented and he may even be a future NBA All-Star, but the Celtics have now created a bit of a log jam.
Boston could potentially have Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown and potentially Gordon Hayward (if he leaves Utah), along with Jayson Tatum, all at the small forward position.
Must Read: Top 5 steals, reaches, and undrafted prospects from the 2017 NBA Draft
In the end, the Celtics might have mismanaged their assets. They are a team that is ready to compete right now, but also in a position to be set up for the future. But, Boston blew it. The Boston Celtics have too many assets, and they don’t know what to do with them.