Boston Celtics Clinch NBA Draft Lottery No. 1 Seed Via Trade with Brooklyn Nets

With the Phoenix Suns' 120-99 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday at Talking Stick Resort Arena, the Brooklyn Nets (19-60) clinched the NBA's worst record and gave the Boston Celtics the No. 1 seed in the draft lottery May 16.    

Matt Moore of CBS Sports broke the news of Brooklyn's misfortune:

"

The Boston Celtics, via the Brooklyn Nets, have clinched the No.1 spot in the NBA lottery.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 8, 2017"

The draft pick stems from the Nets' 2013 trade with the Celtics to acquire Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. Boston received five players in the deal, as well as first-round picks in 2014, 2016, 2018 and the right to swap first-round picks this year. 

The Celtics now have the best odds for the first overall selection in June 22's draft and are set up nicely for the future. They are 50-29 and battling for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with three games remaining in the regular season. Isaiah Thomas has emerged as a superstar, but the team is still looking for more high-end talent to put around him. 

The top of the draft is loaded with point guards, including Washington's Markelle Fultz and UCLA's Lonzo Ball. Thomas is already established at the position for the Celtics, so the front office may have an interesting decision to make if it secures the No. 1 spot at the lottery.    

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