As the draft comes tomorrow, it looks like there is a strong possibility that Josh Jackson will fall out of the top three. Colin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports reported that Jackson said it is too late to work out for the Celtics. This statement is indicative that Jackson does not want to play for the Celtics. Also, at this stage of the game, it seems that the Celtics are leaning towards another player.
Jackson wants to play right away
Jackson has not worked out for the Celtics once. Days ago, it seemed like the Celtics were going to make a run at Jimmy Butler and possibly select Jackson.
President of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, had made comments that Jackson was his type of player. Even so, it seems that the Celtics are not Jackson's type of team.
Chad Ford was on ESPN 1000's Waddle and Silvy radio show and said that he believes Jackson prefers to be selected by the Phoenix Suns or Sacramento Kings. If Jackson goes to one of these teams, his playing time will be higher than if he was with the Celtics.
The Celtics already have Jalen Brown, who was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft. The team has been rumored to make a run at Gordon Hayward in free agency, so Jackson would have to be inserted into a role player. If Jackson was with the Suns or Kings, he might be a top scoring option.
Celtics are looking more towards Tatum
Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report says that the Celtics are leaning toward Duke standout, Jayson Tatum. Tatum averaged 16.8 and 7.3 rebounds during his time with the Blue Devils. Tatum could be another wing option that could come off the bench and make an immediate impact just like Brown did last year.
Butler not likely to go to Celtics
Chris Barnewell of CBS Sports reported that the Celtics turned down an offer by the Bulls to land Jimmy Butler. The offer was a straight swap of the No. 3 overall pick for Butler.
If there was nothing else attached to this deal, then the Celtics will prove that they are far more reluctant to part with the abundance of draft picks than we thought.
The Celtics have been rumored to making a trade for players like Butler, and even Russell Westbrook, in exchange for their draft picks. The Celtics have seven first-round picks over the next three drafts.
The Celtics are either not as high on Butler as the public thought, or they are completely in love with Tatum. The Celtics have plenty of time to make a deal, but it seems unlikely that Boston is going to land Butler. This means, that the Celtics are going to make a much more poised run at Hayward.
