Celtics trade back in second round of NBA Draft after reportedly missing out on Rasheer Fleming
The Boston Celtics were supposed to make the second pick of the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night. Instead, Brad Stevens traded back to add to his collection of future second-round selections.
Boston entered Thursday with the 32nd overall pick and reportedly had eyes on St. Joe's power forward Rasheer Fleming, . But the Phoenix Suns wanted to draft Fleming and traded up to No. 31 with the Timberwolves, sending pick No. 36 and two future second-round picks to Minnesota to land the athletic forward.
After Fleming came off the board, Stevens moved the No. 32 pick to the Orlando Magic for the 46th and 57th pick on Thursday night, and second-round selections in 2026 and 2027.
The Celtics drafted Kentucky center Amari Williams at No. 46, and VCU guard Max Shulga at No. 57.
It was quite the haul for Stevens, who added three additional second-round picks for moving back 14 spots. The Celtics through the 2032 NBA Draft, thanks to Stevens' wheeling and dealing over the last week. While second-round selections usually end up being deep on a team's bench or in the G League, the picks can be used as valuable trade fillers in this second-apron era of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Magic took forward Noah Penda out of France at No. 32. on stage at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York after his selection was announced Thursday night.
