The Boston Celtics haven’t played the lottery since 2020, thanking Memphis very much and selecting Aaron Nesmith at 14. But league sources are telling Heavy Sports the club would like to buy a ticket for the Wednesday night drawing.
Currently holding the 28th pick, the Celts are said to be trying to make a trade to move up in the draft, with particular interest in projected lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis, a 6-foot-6 point guard from Illinois. The Lithuanian turned 19 on May 29th and averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his one season with the Fighting Illini.
“It remains to be seen whether Boston can get up where they’d need to be to draft him, but there are definitely teams up high that are looking to trade back,” said one front office source as his and other clubs prepare for Wednesday’s first round of the draft. “The question is how far back those teams are willing to go and what Boston is willing to offer to get them to do it.
“With this draft, there’s so many teams talking trade, nobody knows who’s going where. And that’s just the first round. The second round? That’s even harder to figure.”
An NBA Exec Says He’s Heard Kristaps Porzingis’ Name ‘Thrown All OVER the Place’
Brian Fluharty/Getty An NBA executive says they’ve heard Kristaps Porzingis’ name thrown all over the place.
The Celtics are clearly a franchise in motion, having agreed to send Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second round draft picks. (We’re told Holiday isn’t a fan of the transaction, but more on that below.)
Still some $14 million over the dreaded second apron, the C’s and Brad Stevens will no doubt be making more moves this offseason. Prior to his being dealt to Atlanta in a three-team trade, sources were telling Heavy Sports that Kristaps Porzingis has been a hot topic. His vital stats are 7-foot-2 (height) and $30.7 million (2025-26 salary).
“Man, I’ve heard his name thrown all OVER the place,” said one personnel executive. “It’s crazy.”
He added (again, this was before the Tuesday afternoon deal that netted the C’s Georges Niang), “If they do trade him and he’s healthy, they’re going to have a hard time replacing what he does for them. In fact, I don’t think you can fill his role with just one player. There aren’t many who can do all the things he can. But they’re in position to know his medical history better than (any other team), so that might be a factor here. Plus, that second apron is really scary because of how it can handcuff you.”
A Source Say Jrue Holiday Is ‘Pissed’ He’s Going to Portland
Maddie Meyer/Getty A source tells Heavy that Jrue Holiday is not happy about being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Holiday was also expected to be a casualty of second apron concerns, so he had to know the possibility was very real that he’d be dealt away from Boston, a place he’d developed ties with both the team and the community.
According to one source close to the situation, Holiday is “pissed” he’s going to Portland.
“Now, if he winds up staying there, I’m sure he’ll be the professional he’s always been and make a positive contribution,” said the source. “But he’s not happy with this deal. I’ll be surprised if Portland doesn’t move him on if they can, because right now he does not want to go there.
“I’m sure if he has to go to Portland, he’ll end up going and it’ll be OK, but right now they want to be somewhere else. But with that contract, it’s not going to be that easy.”
At least one team still has Holiday rated in the top 10 at his position, but there are others who characterize him as “fading” — which, his having turned 35 two weeks ago, would bear out at least from an actuarial standpoint.
Then again, added one coach, “I wonder how much of what we see from him is impacted by how they’re playing at any given time. Because when Boston is playing its best ball, Holiday sure seems to be a big part of their success. When the ball is sticking and they’re doing their iso s***, he’s not as involved.”
Added a scout, “When all they want to do is go iso and shoot 3s, that’s not Jrue. That’s not Jrue at all.”
It’s fair to wonder how the Celtics will look as they prepare for Jayson Tatum’s prolonged absence from Achilles’ tendon surgery. Are players for next season’s rotation currently residing on other teams — or waiting to be taken by the Celts in the first 14 picks Wednesday night?
