Celtics slowly paying steep draft price for this season's success

The Celtics' success is hurting their draft position. That's a trade worth making for an organization with an elite infrastructure.

Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens. | Michael Reaves/GettyImagesMany prognosticators projected this would be a gap year from championship contention for the Boston Celtics. There were questions about whether the team would green-light a subtle tank for a lottery pick.

After all, the Dallas Mavericks had a 1.8 percent chance of having the top choice in the 2025 NBA Draft. They moved up a record-setting 10 spots, receiving the right to select New England native Cooper Flagg. Months after sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most shocking trades in…