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Check back on CelticsBlog often for updates and breaking news. We’ll leave this thread up near the top for some running news items and to give folks a place to consolidate their draft day thoughts. Enjoy.
Update: Chad Ford reports that the Sixers have indeed offered up Jahlil Okafor for the #3 pick. He says that the Celtics are interested but "want more."
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To start off, here’s what Woj said about the Celtics’ plan.
"More likely scenario is Boston will pick off their board there and then it’s a grouping of Dragon Bender, Kris Dunn, Jaylen Brown," he said via CSNNE.
"I think Boston is going to continue to try and find a trade, for an established veteran — whether it is an All-Star or a really talented difference maker who can come in and help them get to the next level in the Eastern Conference," Wojnarowski said. "I think they are going to pursue all those avenues all the way up until it’s time for them to make their pick at No. 3 and then make a decision based on what is available trade-wise versus how strongly they feel about picking a player at No.3. I think with Boston at No. 3 and Phoenix at No. 4, they are chasing a lot of the same players offering different assets. I think this goes right down to the wire and Danny Ainge has to make a decision of what way he is going to go."
Meanwhile, Steve Bulpett makes the case that Ainge might be wise to wait till next year, when the free agents and draft class are supposed to be better than this summer.
If the goal is to create a roster that can compete for banners, then the better shopping is a year from now. Keep in mind that, in addition to salary cap space if it is not used now, the Celts also will be able to exchange first-round draft positions with the Brooklyn Nets, who again figure to struggle in 2016-17. And, by all accounts, next year’s draft will be far richer than the one that will be held tomorrow night. The idea is to have the cap space and assets when desirable players become available.
Good news for the future Nets pick - Brooklyn may be trading Thad Young for a pick.
Sources: Several Western teams aggressive on Thad Young, whom Brooklyn's working to move to highest bidder. This gets Nets into first-round.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 23, 2016
More updates as they become available.