The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Lakers delay Celtics taking Philadelphia 76ers protected NBA Draft pick

By Bret Stuter

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: The lottery drawing begins inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: The lottery drawing begins inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: The lottery drawing begins inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 16: The lottery drawing begins inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2018 versus 2019 NBA Draft talent

The NBA Draft for any NBA team is a crap shoot on two fronts. On one hand, the NBA lottery rule changes make it extremely difficult to count on an NBA Draft to restock the team’s talent level simply from the uncertainty of where a team might select in any given draft.  Now, with NBA Lottery rules changing in 2019, it’s even MORE difficult for bad teams to rebuild solely through the draft.

We know that the Philadelphia 76ers have limited roster spots to satisfy a projected six pick draft. Conversely, we know that the Boston Celtics have more roster spots to fill than draft picks, which suggests they could become draft buyers in 2018.  But what is available in 2018?

2018 Draft Board

The 2018 Draft Big Board and the 2018 Mock Draft are out and have been scrutinized for some time. While the final draft order has yet to be set, there is no shortage of talent coming up this year. But the top ten of 2018 will certainly be worthy of NBA starter roles, and perhaps deeper for the right player heading to the right NBA team.  There is plenty of front court talent in this draft, which reverses recent trends of back court heavy talent pools.

How does that coincide with the Celtics or the 76ers? The Celtics will be looking for front court help (again). Al Horford is highly compensated, but will need quality talent backing him up.  And that is simply not a role met by a freshly drafted prospect. The Philadelphia 76ers, with an influx of international talent to fill roster spots vacated in 2018, will turn their attention to wings and depth.