WALTHAM, Mass. – Boston Celtics fans have been paying close attention to the plight of the Brooklyn Nets, gleefully cheering on each defeat – and so far this season they’ve had a lot to cheer about.
As part of the Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce trade to the Nets in 2013, Boston will receive the Nets’ unprotected first round pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
Not including games played Thursday night, the Nets (2-10) have the third-worst record in the NBA with only Philadelphia (0-12) and the New Orleans Pelicans (1-11) off to a worst start to the season.
If the Nets continue on this pace, Boston will wind up with a top-five pick.
Fans are all over it.
Ditto for the media.
But the Celtics players?
Boston Celtics
Not Evan Turner.
“I don’t pay attention to draft picks,” Turner said.
It makes sense when you consider Turner will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and whatever the Celtics do with the pick probably won’t have any impact on his future with the Celtics.
“Guys still have to come and play,” Turner said. “This draft, seems pretty promising. But last year, everybody blew smoke up the draft.”
Turner is quick to caution to not put too much faith in a high draft pick.
“You may be getting (expletive) disguised as steak, you know what I’m saying?” said Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. “So you know, you focus on what you can control. Sometimes it might be a two-man draft and you get the third (pick), you might (be out of luck) or you get a great player like (Sixers big man) Joel Embiid who’s hurt for two straight years. (Don’t) focus on the future, because it’s never guaranteed.”