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Getty Tari Eason #13 de los LSU Tigers.
The Boston Celtics do not have a first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft because they traded him in their deal to acquire Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 10, 2022. Without their first-round pick, Boston is entitled to only the 53rd overall pick in the draft. However, it appears their interest in LSU forward Tari Eason may be high enough that they are willing to trade their younger players to recruit him.
Zach Harper of The Athletic revealed that the Celtics are interested in drafting Eason and are willing to hang up some of their younger guys to get him in the first round. Harper also said that the higher they are in the draft order, the better their chances of getting Eason because the Houston Rockets have him high as well and can take him with the 17th pick in the draft.
“Sources have told me the Celtics are very interested in him and could be looking to get into the first round to catch Eason hanging on a young player like Payton Pritchard or Aaron Nesmith. They may have to get past No. 17 to do it, because Houston is also thought to love Eason at that pick if they end up keeping that pick.”
The Celtics could kick the tires on John Collins
Harper also revealed in the same article that Boston might have some interest in the Atlanta Hawks’ John Collins, although he notes that a trade for the 24-year-old center would be difficult to come by.
“There is also talk that the Celtics could be interested in a deal for Collins. Al Horford is 36 years old and has one more year left on his contract, which is not guaranteed. As good as he was for them in the postseason, the Celtics shouldn’t plan on him being a viable part of this rotation long term. Collins is only 24 years old, and putting him with Robert Williams III and Jayson Tatum up front would give the Celtics a young and dynamic trio up front. The problem is… who are you giving up for Collins in this scenario? It’s not Horford.
Harper points out that while Jaylen Brown alone would be enough to entice the Hawks to pull the trigger on a deal, Brown has proven to be a superior player, which would make trading him for Collins seem like overpayment by Boston.
“Would Jaylen Brown be in the mix here? This is where it gets pretty tricky. Brown is a much better player than Collins. Unless the Celtics have a guarantee at point guard that moves Marcus Smart to both, finding some version of a Collins-for-Brown trade doesn’t make much sense. Brown is from Georgia, so it would be a good homecoming for him. My guess is that Boston’s to-do list doesn’t have “getting Brown home” as a high priority. The Celtics were two wins away from a championship, and making small adjustments is a better operation here than an overhaul.”
Celtics looking to acquire a late first-round pick
The Celtics are exploring every possible avenue to acquire a first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Among the 2022 first-round picks potentially available to acquire comes from their most recent playoff opponent, the Golden State Warriors.
According to Heavy’s Sean Deveney, the Celtics are among the teams interested in acquiring the 28th pick from the reigning champions. Because Golden State already has young talent to develop, such as James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, as well as a high luxury tax bill to pay, they are listening to offers from interested suitors regarding their first-round pick. .
In addition to the Celtics, the New York Knicks have also inquired about the availability of no. 28 selection.
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