The madness started when reports surfaced stating the Celtics were in serious trade talks with the Philadelphia 76ers about the No. 1 pick.
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Boston has the No. 1 pick, and it’s been expected GM Danny Ainge would take Markelle Fultz and have him as part of – and ideally lead – their young core into the future. The Celts were no match for the star-studded Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, however, losing the series in five games.
The Lakers are not the only team who is interested in trading for Fultz. Since Boston already has a great point guard in Isaiah Thomas, them being willing to move the pick makes a lot of sense. Meanwhile, the Lakers have heard from prospects they would like playing with Ingram.
Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz have received most of the interest around the league, but Ford’s sources says that the Kansas product is the type of player that Ainge gravitates towards most. When the C’s traded away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in 2013, they did not receive their first first round draft pick from the Nets until the following year (2014).
When asked about competing against Ball, Fultz said, “I’m a competitor”.
Therefore, if nothing else, the Celtics will be willing to listen to trade offers (or make a few phone calls of their own) to see about acquiring talent enough to try and take that next step towards a Championship.
Afterward, Fultz and his family had lunch with some of the Lakers’ brass and also visited the new practice facility that will be unveiled later this summer.
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Jackson canceled a workout with the Celtics earlier this week, but Ford speculates it’s a move that Jackson made because the Los Angeles Lakers or Philadelphia 76ers would give him a larger role. In other words, they could chase Gordon Hayward or Blake Griffin without needing to deal either Avery Bradley or Marcus Smart, just by letting go of all their nonguaranteed contracts/free agents. The Celtics still have the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick in 2018 that will likely be a high pick next draft, too.
