The Celtics are sitting pretty this off-season with the #1 pick in hand, a roster stacked with young talent, and money to bring in another All-Star. Their options for what they can do with the pick are explained in the article, “What Should the Celtics Do with the No. 1 Pick?” – Jake Palmer.
Palmer explains the Celtic’s option of trading the pick. It’s the #1 pick, and it holds a lot more value than other picks. It’s so valuable that the green could even use it to trade for a proven star. The article also talks about who they could take with the pick, Lonzo Ball or Markelle Fultz. But Fultz and Ball are not the only guards good enough to be taken at #1. Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox could prove to be the best guard in the bunch.
Fox’s talents can be easily overlooked because of the cast that played with him, most notable being Malik Monk. Fox and his team had a better record than both UCLA (Ball) and Washington (Fultz). Kentucky and Fox split games with UCLA and Ball going 1-1. In both games Fox’s play was superior to that of Ball. Fox proved that he can rise to the occasion playing against star players and in big games when he dropped 39 against Ball in the Sweet 16, and outscored him in their earlier meeting.
Fox and Fultz did not meet this past year, but Fultz and ball did. Fultz outscored the UCLA star, but only by 3 and on 7 more attempts. Ball shot a better percentage, and his success was proven by the final score, UCLA over Washington 107-66.
It might be cool to see Fultz play with Isaiah Thomas, a former Washington standout. The prospect has been fairly vocal about his desire to be picked first by the Celtics, saying he would fit well in the back court with Thomas. Lonzo Ball may be the biggest and most athletic of the three, but with the upside of both players there are bigger downsides. Fultz is not a proven winner, his team only won nine games all year. In games like the UCLA game, Fultz may play well himself, but he doesn’t make his teammates better by moving the ball. That’s why they lost games 40.
Ball, while he may end up being the best player in the draft, comes with a lot a baggage. His father, Lavar Ball, has made himself a media sensation, putting himself and his sons in the spotlight regularly. Lavar aside, it is no secret that Lonzo wants to play for the Lakers who pick second in the draft. Lonzo has said that he will play where he is drafted, but the million dollar question is ‘will he stay where he is drafted?’ If the Celtics did take Ball, chances are that as soon as his contract expired he would be off to LA.
Fox comes from a winning program that has brought to the NBA stars such as John Wall, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and many more. He has proven to be a winner himself and has played well against good players in pressure situations. Fox would be the best possible addition to a youthful Celtics team, and the Celtics could possibly trade down and still be able to draft him.
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