(Originally Suns pick. Traded to Hornets. Traded again to Celtics for 12th and 27th picks)
The Boston Celtics hold two first round picks in the 2020 Draft thanks to a trade back in 2015 that will net them the Grizzlies selection this year. They are in win-now mode and have been for some time, so taking two projects at the back end of the first round of a weak draft seems very un-Celtic-like.
What does sound more like Danny Ainge is packaging those two picks and moving up for a player that they feel can help them right away, and RJ Hampton might just be that guy.
Hampton was a five-star recuit at this time last year and had his potential college destinations narrowed down to Kansas, Memphis, and Texas Tech. He was a widely considered a top-5 recruit behind Wiseman, Anthony, Edwards, and Isaiah Stewart. Ultimately, he decided to take his talents overseas, and signed a contract to play professional ball in New Zealand. His numbers certainly don’t jump off of the page from his 15 games with the Breakers, but his talent level is well known. The Celtics will need someone who can contribute starting on opening night, and they may be enticed by the player who already has a season of professional basketball under his belt.