Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
In the end, the Celtics’ lottery fate – like that of all the other teams with a chance to keep a lottery pick – was shaped by whether a machine sucked up the right combination of plastic balls. As the owners of the Brooklyn Nets’ selection, the Celtics entered the drawing with a 46.9-percent chance to land a top-three pick, including a 15.6-percent chance to grab the No. 1 overall selection.
They ended up with the No. 3 overall pick, just outside of the top tier of prospects – which includes Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, according to just about every analyst – but still in good shape to acquire a talented player. Boston also owns the 16th and 23rd picks in the first round, as well as five second-round picks.
MassLive – 2016 NBA Draft lottery results and order: Boston Celtics get No. 3 pick
Grousbeck admitted that No. 3 wasn’t the result Boston wanted, but felt like it was a positive night. After being in the draw room back in 2007 when Boston slipped to No. 5 after having the second best odds in another draft headlined by two players (Kevin Durant and Greg Oden), Grousbeck was happy that Boston maintained its spot this year instead of getting leapfrogged.
“I knew we needed the 3 ball. When the balls are drawn, you know what the combinations are and I knew we needed to hit a 3 or it was going to someone else,” Grousbeck said of Boston’s four-digit combinations in the draw room. “We hit the 3 at the end, so that was good.”
ESPN Boston – Isaiah Thomas, Celtics land No. 3 pick; turn attention to what’s next
The chance of winning Powerball is one in 175 million. The odds of the Celtics winning an NBA Draft Lottery aren’t nearly that high – but it sure feels like they are.
The lottery was instituted in 1985 and the Celts have never won it. After last night, they are 0 for 11.
Going into this year’s ping-pong-ball festival, many Celtics fans were optimistic that the Celts might get a break for once. After all, the only time the Cs have ever had the first pick in the draft was 1950. Sixty-six years ago! Weren’t we due?
Sure enough, as each team name was revealed in the draft order, our hopes got higher. Finally, it was down to three candidates – the Celts were guaranteed a top-three pick! Even Danny Ainge admitted later that he got his hopes up that Boston might actually come out on top. He was clearly disappointed to miss out on No. 1.
Indeed, we were all disappointed. We had hoped the lottery would start to bring clarity to the Celtics’ immediate future. Instead, their situation has become more complicated because, as Ben put it in his lottery recap last night, “In what is seen as a two player draft, the Celtics will pick third.”
So, the lottery is over but the waiting isn’t. For the next five weeks, until the draft on June 23, we’ll be on hold for the answer to one key question: What Will Danny Do?
Related: CSNNE – Danny Ainge Post Lottery Press Conference (video) | Celtics Still in Actionable Position Despite Landing No. 3 Pick in NBA Draft | Ainge: Never Expected A Pick This High When Making Nets Trade (video) | CBS Boston – Who The Celtics Could Draft With 3rd Overall Pick | Herald – Celtics settle for third pick in NBA draft | Bulpett: With draft order set, Danny Ainge ready to take offers | Globe – Celtics awarded the third overall pick in NBA Draft | MassLive – 2016 NBA Draft lottery: Boston Celtics have their eyes set on a handful of guys with No. 3 pick | 2016 NBA Draft prospects: Dragan Bender, Boston Celtics might be great combination | ESPN – Tales from the NBA draft lottery
On Page 2: The Little Guy comes up big
There’s no doubt about it: Isaiah Thomas was top-notch in representing the Celtics franchise at the lottery. Not only did he wear a green tie and socks, he brought a bag of Lucky Charms cereal as his, yup, lucky charms, and took the opportunity to perhaps suggest to Jimmy Butler (repping the Bulls) that Boston’s a wonderful place to play.
And then there’s this:
Moments after the Lottery, Isaiah Thomas gives a strong comment on what the Celtics could land with the No. 3 pick.https://t.co/c0W1lvPBrK
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 18, 2016
On Page 3: Perspective
“Here’s the thing about luck . . . you don’t know if it’s good or bad until you have some perspective.” – Alice Hoffman
In 1995, the Minnesota Timberwolves had the third-worst record, but were knocked down to No. 5 in the lottery. Then they watched three power forwards (Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace) plus Jerry Stackhouse fall off the board before Kevin Garnett fell into their laps. In 1998, the Clippers had the third-worst record, won the lottery and drafted Michael Olowokandi. That same year, the Raptors had the second-worst record, fell to fourth in the lottery, drafted Antawn Jamison and flipped him straight up for Vince Carter.
Boston.com – Celtics’ draft lottery luck is what Danny Ainge makes of it
If you’re bummed about not winning the lottery, just read this article (written prior to the lottery drawing) and you’ll feel better. Possibly.
And, finally: More perspective
No. 3 is OK. What’s not OK is our rivals getting draft slots 1 and 2. But this tweet from Terrance Knighton, a new member of the New England Patriots and a big-time Celtics fan, helped me feel better.
Lol every laker fan and sixer fan so hype right now, but there’s only one team in the top 3 that will be in the playoffs
— Terrance Knighton (@MisterRoast98) May 18, 2016
The Rest of the Links:
Boston.com – Revisiting the Celtics’ history of NBA Draft Lottery nightmares
