Ping Pong Party: 5th Pick Likely for Celts

Kevin Aherne (@Kaherne17)

The Boston Celtics lost a tie-breaking coin toss to the Utah Jazz on Friday, giving them nearly a 40 percent percent chance at landing the 5th overall pick in June's draft.

The odds of landing a pick in any of the top three spot is 33.7 percent, meaning that landing Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid, is unlikely. 

Given that the Celtics have not ever fared well with the top picks in the Lottery-era, Boston fans should temper their expectations, and settle for the fact that this is not going to be the year that they get their blue chip to build around. 

In 1997--the Tim Duncan year--the Celtics had the best odds for the top spot. They had won just 15 games in the previous season, and had a 30 percent chance to get Duncan.  The ping pong balls did not fall in their favor, and the Celts landed the third pick.  That pick was used on a point guard out of Chauncey Billups, who went on to have a great NBA career-- for other teams. 

The 2007, the Celtics had the second worst record, giving them a 20 percent chance at the top spot, and an 18 percent chance at picking second.  In that draft, which featured Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the Celtics picked 5th. That pick was used to select Jeff Green, who was then traded as part of the package to obt

Celtics Odds in 2014 Lottery 
1. 10.4%
2. 11.2%
3. 12.1%
4. 9.9 %
5. 37.3%
6. 17.6%
7. 1.4%