Celtics trade picks 31 and 35 for future 2019 first-round pick

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With the Boston Celtics unable to trade draft choices for ready-to-play assets Thursday, they found themselves with more picks than they can use, especially in the second round, So, after making a couple of draft-and-stash picks in the first round, the Celts started moving some of their second-round picks.

The Celtics traded picks No. 31 (Deyonta Davis) and 35 in the second round to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a future protected first-round pick from the Clippers.

The Clippers pick is protected in the lottery (picks 1-14) in 2019 and 2020. If it’s not conveyed after 2020, then the Celtics will instead a receive 2022 second-round pick.

There’s a possibility the Clippers struggle if the fail to re-sign Blake Griffin and/or Chris Paul after this season, so they could become a lottery level team.

That’d be bad news for the Celtics, though, since the pick would end up being protected.

However, Doc Rivers left the Celtics because he didn’t want to rebuild. So even if they lose some stars, he might try to keep the team afloat, keeping them in the playoff hunt. If that’s the case, then this pick could turn out to be highly valuable for the Celtics.

Kevin O’Connor can be followed on Twitter: @KevinOConnorNBA

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