The NBA Draft is here and we will be covering it all night long here at BSJ with live updates as the night continues. For now, get up to speed on everything you need to know with some prep reading: As a reminder, the Celtics have pick No. 14, 26, 30 and 47. If they make the No. 14 pick it should come in shortly after 9 p.m.
10:30:
The Celtics drafted 6-foot-2 guard Peyton Pritchard, a four-year senior out of Oregon with the No. 26 overall pick
Pritchard averaged 20.5 points and 5.5 assists as a senior in 2020, knocking down 42 percent of his 3s from 3-point range. He was a First-Team All-American, Pac 12 Player of the Year and was also awarded the Bob Cousy award as the nation’s best point guard.
The selection puts pressure on the remainder of Boston’s young backcourt to earn a place on the roster during training camp this month as Pritchard is a 22-year-old who is ready to help now on a team without a lot of roster spots available at the end of the bench. It’s likely now only one of Carsen Edwards, Brad Wanamaker and Tremont Waters will be on the 15-man roster next season.
The Celtics also traded the No. 30 overall pick to the Memphis Grizzlies, who selected Desmond Bane. According to the league source, the Celtics likely acquired a protected first round pick (via Utah) as part of the deal and also managed to move Vincent Poirier into one of the Grizzlies trade exceptions, dumping his salary from Boston’s books.
Much more reaction to come on Pritchard and the trade.