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