The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Cannot Trust 2017 NBA Draft

By Bret Stuter

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) reacts as he walks off stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) reacts as he walks off stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 5, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge (left) speaks to fans during the first half of a game between the Providence Friars and the Marquette Golden Eagles at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge (left) speaks to fans during the first half of a game between the Providence Friars and the Marquette Golden Eagles at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Baked Dilemma

Right now, the Boston Celtics have a good team chemistry for competing. They simply need that one main character, that third leg of a triad, to win. In essence, the team needs a center who can both score and defend.  Yes, the team signed 30-year old center Al Horford to a lucrative contract until 2020.  Yes, he has his moments.  But Horford’s best days are in the rear view mirror.

Ideally, I believe that the Boston Celtics would make a surprising step forward if they focused even modest efforts to pry either Jahlil Okafor or Brook Lopez from their respective teams.   While Lopez may require the Celtics to return that first round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, Okafor could be had for a substantially discounted value.

Celtics Need To Follow Cavaliers Love Example

The comparisons of what the Celtics get in Markelle Fultz or in Brook Lopez is an apples to watermelons comparison.  Fultz is a great POTENTIAL star in the NBA.  Brook Lopez is a true NBA star center who would immediately move the needle far to the right for the Celtics.

The Celtics cannot look at the NBA Draft as a “Best Player Available” in their post-season-pursuing moment of history.  The Cleveland Cavaliers understood the urgency of the moment, and traded away then first round pick Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love. Love, although very effective in Minnesota, was still a risk for the Cavaliers.

To win the championship, the Boston Celtics must be willing to project and secure a star veteran now.