It's a good time to be a Boston Celtics fan. The Cs are a thriving playoff team that's also in a prime position to make an impactful move this summer. But they'll need some lottery luck for their war chest of picks to be as valuable as it can be.
Bookmark this page, which will be updated each day, for the latest odds and positioning on all three Celtics first-round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft. Also, please order my 2016 NBA Draft Guide, and keep tabs on CelticsBlog for the latest on the prospects that could be future Celtics.
On Sunday....
The Nets lost to the Pelicans (that's good).
The Mavs beat the Wolves (that's bad).
The Jazz beat the Suns (that's mostly bad).
The Rockets beat the Thunder (that's good).
The Wizards lost to the Clippers (that's bad).
The Bulls beat the Bucks (that's good).
On Monday, there are no games.
If the season ended today, the Celtics would have the 4th-best lottery odds, and the following picks: 15th or 16th, 23rd or 24th, 31st, 35th, 44th, 51st, and 58th.
Nets pick (unprotected, currently 4th-best odds)
The Nets pick has a 11.0% chance of being No. 1 and a 37.8% chance of landing in the top 3. Brooklyn is one game behind the Suns (3rd spot) and four games ahead of the 5th (Wolves). Celtics fans should root for the Nets to lose, and both the Suns and Wolves to win. Here are the remaining games with implications on the Nets pick:
| DATE | NETS | SUNS | WOLVES |
| Tue, April 5 | ----- | at Hawks | at Warriors |
| Wed, April 6 | at Wizards | ----- | ----- |
| Thu, April 7 | ----- | at Rockets | at Kings |
| Fri, April 8 | at Hornets | ----- | ----- |
| Sat, April 9 | ----- | at Pelicans | at Blazers |
| Sun, April 10 | at Pacers | ----- | ----- |
| Mon, April 11 | vs. Wizards | vs. Kings | vs. Rockets |
| Tue, April 12 | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Wed, April 13 | vs. Raptors | vs. Clippers | vs. Pelicans |
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Mavs pick (Top 7 protected, currently 15th or 16th)
The Mavs are tied as the 7th seed and they're one game ahead of the Rockets (9th-seed). Celtics fans should root for the Mavs to lose, and the Rockets and Jazz to win, as well as the Wizards and Bulls. The pick won't have better than the 12th-best odds, which is good for the Celtics. The pick is Top-7 protected, which means you don't want the Mavs to win the lottery. Here are remaining games with implications on the Mavs pick:
| DATE | MAVS | ROCKETS | JAZZ | WIZARDS | BULLS |
| Tue, April 5 | ----- | ----- | vs. Spurs | ----- | at Grizzlies |
| Wed, April 6 | ***Rockets at Mavs*** | ----- | vs. Nets | ----- | |
| Thu, April 7 | ----- | vs. Suns | ----- | ----- | at Heat |
| Fri, April 8 | vs. Grizzlies | ----- | vs. Clippers | at Pistons | ----- |
| Sat, April 9 | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | vs. Cavaliers |
| Sun, April 10 | at Clippers | vs. Lakers | at Nuggets | vs. Hornets | ----- |
| Mon, April 11 | at Jazz | at Wolves | at Mavericks | at Nets | at Pelicans |
| Tue, April 12 | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Wed, April 13 | vs. Spurs | vs. Kings | at Lakers | vs. Hawks | vs. 76ers |
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Celtics pick (currently 23rd or 24th)
The Celtics are tied as the 3rd seed in the East with the Hawks.
The NBA Draft Lottery will be on May 17. The NBA Draft is on June 23. Go to www.tankathon.com to simulate the lottery.
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @KevinOConnorNBA. My 2016 NBA Draft Guide can be ordered below. You'll receive emails with updated versions of the guide over the next few months leading up to the NBA Draft on June 23.
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