Report: Celtics 'very open' to trading up in NBA draft, could target Cauley-Stein
The Boston Celtics, who have draft picks galore, could be a major player when the 2015 NBA Draft takes place on June 25 at the Barclays Center.
With four 2015 draft picks, and a slew of young talent on his roster, general manager Danny Ainge is in prime position to put together an enticing package to potentially acquire a lottery pick.
The Celtics are "very open" to moving up in the draft, with Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein being a prime target, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
The Celtics currently hold the 16th, 28th (via Los Angeles Clippers), 33rd (via Philadelphia 76ers) and 48th picks.
As the draft currently stands, though, Cauley-Stein will almost certainly be gone by the time Boston makes a selection. DraftExpress.com has the 7-foot prospect projected to land with the Sacramento Kings at No. 6.
The 21-year-old had nothing but kind words about the team after meeting with their personnel at the NBA Draft Combine earlier in the week.
“The organization, the way they’re running, they’re on a tight ship,” Cauley-Stein said. “They got a lot of young guys, but a lot of young talented guys. To be that young and to be where they’re at is really amazing. You can tell that begins with the coaching staff. The players have to buy into it.”
Boston went on a 19-6 run to finish the regular season, en route to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, before being swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round.
Ainge preached patience recently, stating that he won't be making any big moves just because he has the resources to do so, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg.
Cauley-Stein could be a huge piece of the puzzle should Ainge strike a deal. Boston needs an interior defender who can protect the rim and swat away shots after finishing dead-last in rejections with an average of just 3.6. Cauley-Stein - who averaged 2.2 blocks during his three years with the Wildcats and has a 7-foot-2 wingspan - may be the man for the job.