NBA Draft 2012: 7 Reasons the Celtics Must Move Up in This Year's Draft

The playoffs may be in full swing, but the NBA draft is only a little over a month away.

And even though the Celtics, fresh off their blowout win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semis over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, are on a collision course with a shot at Banner 18, it's not too early to think about options for June 28.

The Celtics have two first-round picks in the draft (the second by virtue of last season's trade of Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City), which look to fall in the early 20s. Even though they are currently faring well in the postseason, they still have a variety of needs to fill.

Logic might suggest that holding on to those two picks and their second-rounder is the way to go given their multiple issues. Quantity over quality?

Nope.

The Celts need to move up and get someone who has a better shot at coming in and making an immediate impact. If the roster is going to be gutted this offseason and free agents like Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are going to be gone, a player who can contribute sooner than later is of the utmost importance.

Here are a few reasons why the C's should be looking to improve their standing come draft day.

1. The Front Court

As otherworldly as Garnett's play has been since he took over the center position around the All-Star break, the pivot is still an area the Celtics must address once this season comes to an end.

First off, there's no guarantee Garnett will even be back next year, as his contract expires at the end of the year. 

If the Celtics do retain him for another year or two at a reduced cost, an upgrade at the 5 will still be necessary.

After Garnett comes Greg Stiemsma and Ryan Hollins, both of whom have provided serviceable (and Stiemsma's case, solid) work as backups. But that's just what they both are: journeyman backups.

Moving up high enough to get a guy like UConn's Andre Drummond or even Ohio State's Jared Sullinger may be asking too much. But getting into the teens to select someone like Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie or Kentucky's Terrence Jones (both 4s who could potentially slide over if Garnett doesn't come back), isn't out of the realm of possibility.

2. The Next Pierce

Paul Pierce is the only member of the Big Three whose contract isn't up at the end of the year, but that doesn't mean he'll necessarily be back with the team next season.

There's a school of thought out there that Pierce could be dealt in the offseason. While this is certainly a possibility given GM Danny Ainge's penchant for not holding back when it comes to transactions, the more likely scenario is that the C's bring someone for whom to pass Pierce's torch once the Truth calls it a career.

Moving up in this draft could expedite that process. If the C's were to package picks No. 21 and 22 and get into the later stages of the lottery, they could look to a guy like UConn 2-guard Jeremy Lamb if he were to fall out of the top 10. 

And if they couldn't get up that high, a swingman like St. John's forward Moe Harkless or again, a guy like Kentucky's Jones who can play multiple positions, would likely be there to be taken.

If Pierce were to play another year or two while the team groomed one of the above mentioned guys to replace him, that might be a safe bet.

3. More Offense

It's no secret that the C's are not all that great on the offensive end these days.

ESPN's John Hollinger ranks them as "below average" in offensive efficiency. Prior to scoring 107 points in Game 3 against the Sixers, they had broke the century mark just once in their previous seven playoff games this season, and that was a lofty 101. And five times in eight games this postseason, they've been held to 86 points or fewer.

All this, plus they were ranked 26th in the league in scoring offense for the regular season, managing just 91.8 points per game, less than doormats like Cleveland, Washington and New Jersey.

These facts make the idea of trading up to get a pure scorer seem like a wise one. There aren't too too many players in this draft who fit that criteria, but Lamb is one and Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal is another.

Beal is probably a pipe dream, with some mock drafts having him go as high as No. 3 overall, but one other name to watch is a familiar one. It's Rivers, C's coach Doc Rivers' son.

NBADraft.net calls Rivers, "a natural scorer who is able to score at all three levels very well."

Hey, it could happen.

4. Youth

It's obvious, to be sure, but still more than important enough to warrant mentioning.

Three of the Celtics' four best players are either on or near the verge of retirement. This team needs to get younger and do it soon.

It may seem like a more rational thought for the C's to hang on to their double dose of first-rounders and try to get two solid young players instead of trading them in the hopes of getting one.

But what if they could get away with trading just one of those two picks for a chance to move up a bit? Or try to create a package that involves a pick or two from future seasons? There are ways that they can conceivably still move up this year while picking more than once in the first round.

That sounds like a smart move. Because even though KG doesn't want to hear it, the Celtics are old.

5. Depth

What exactly is the Celtics bench currently comprised of?

Allen, Stiemsma, Hollins, Mickael Pietrus and Keyon Dooling.

There are a couple of other stragglers there but the point is made: The Celtics are very, very thin.

In addition to getting younger, they also need to get deeper. There are just four players on the roster whose contracts for next season are guaranteed, one with a player option and another with a qualifying offer.

Certainly, the C's will have to be players in free agency in order to re-stock the cupboard, but they can also get to work in that department come the draft.

Again, trading two picks for one comes at somewhat of a right angle to this theory, so Ainge will have to be creative. Figuring out how to come up with a way to get the C's higher up in the draft without giving up both of their first-rounders will be crucial.

6. The Big Splash

Back in the summer of 2007, after they traded the rights to Jeff Green to Seattle for Allen on draft night before swinging the deal for KG a few weeks later, the Celtics were the talk of the league.

That chatter continued throughout the season and into the next as the C's rode their new Big Three to their 17th championship. Even though they were back in the Finals two years later, the C's fell out of the forefront of the national consciousness.

If the Celts are going to move up in this draft, why not do it with some flair, like trading into the top 5?

It's a far-fetched prospect. Picks 21 and 22 aren't likely to get the C's that deep into the lottery on their own.

But again, if anyone has the capability to get really creative, it's Ainge. Getting the C's in position to get someone like Kansas' Thomas Robinson, or even Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, would certainly be just that.

7. The Future

No matter how this postseason unfolds and whether or not the C's bring back Allen and Garnett, sooner or later they are going to have to look to the future, when the team will belong to Rajon Rondo.

Rondo is going to need a running mate, especially if Pierce is gone after next season. The Celts can potentially find that player for Rondo if they stand pat on draft day. 

If they move up, the chances of their selection being the guy to lead the team through the rest of the decade at Rondo's side increase dramatically.

Over the course of the last four drafts in which the C's have picked anywhere from 19th to 30th overall, the most impactful player they've gotten has been Avery Bradley at 19 in 2010. Bradley only started to emerge halfway through this year.

This year's picks fall right in that range, and no one wants to see the Celts pick the next J.R. Giddens.

The bottom line is, the Celts need to be able to look beyond the Big Three era regardless of when it comes to an end.

The best time to do just that is June 28—draft day.