The Boston Celtics have the first round pick for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2016 NBA draft and that pick is looking like a good one, as players like Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram and Skal Labissiere are expected to be taken in the top five. The Nets have not played well this season and they are shaping up to finish in the bottom part of the league and that means a top draft pick for Boston.
The Celtics have been building up their roster over the past couple years and the core of young players helped push the team into the playoffs last season. Brad Stevens looks like the real deal as a head coach and now the team has the chance to add a prime draft prospect to the roster next year. The team has a young core of Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk along with players like Jae Crowder, David Lee and Isaiah Thomas and that has given the franchise optimism for the future.
This season the team is right in the mix in the Atlantic division and they have a good chance at making a second straight playoff appearance. But many fans have already started looking forward and that was on full display when the Nets played the Celtics recently. Fans were chanting about the draft pick that the Celtics have for 2016 and as the college basketball season goes on, it's clear that Simmons is looking like he will be the top overall draft pick.
Simmons has been gaining notoriety across the nation with his play so far this season and many in the media see him as the next number one pick. Simmons is averaging 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for LSU so far this season and he has put up some big numbers already, including a 21-point, 20-rebound game against Marquette. Other players that have been mentioned as options for the Celtics in the top five include Skal Labissiere of Kentucky and Brandon Ingram of Duke.
The Celtics have Marcus Smart dealing with a leg injury and he could be out for a couple weeks, according to the Boston Globe. Smart is averaging 10 points and three assists in nine games this season and Avery Bradley likely will be starting while Smart is out. Bradley had a strong game in the loss to the Hawks for the Celtics, scoring 25 points with two assists and three steals and the Celtics are hoping he can keep that up while Smart is out.
Check here for more on the Celtics, the draft picks and Simmons.
