Mock Draft 3.0 – Predicting how the dominoes fall, with view to fit, shifts, and OKC Thunder best bet

For those who caught my first mock, this is the precise player I selected in this position but my reasons for keeping him have shifted since that posting.

If there was a team who gave the Knicks a run for misfortune the past few weeks I’d argue it’s the Celtics. Succumbing in the manner they did to the Bucks certainly wasn’t ideal, but it’s been a steady downward fall ever since.

Restricted free agent, Terry Rozier almost immediately hit the TV circuit with loud proclamations of defiance over how the team was managed this season, the lockerroom turmoil and pointed fingers at Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward receiving star treatment while the youngsters were the ones held back and compensated for those adjustments.

Then, Anthony Davis agent Rich Paul publicly leaked the fact the Celtics could make a play for the superstar but any efforts would only equate to one rental season. The other Boston superstar is ghosting the team clearly having zero intention of re-signing regardless of any moves GM Danny Ainge makes.

While each of those incidents in isolation is brutal the most recent event is equally shocking and devastating for Celtics fans. News their quiet underrated leader and defensive linchpin Al Horford would opt out of his final contract year didn’t raise initial red flags. That’s because most assumed it simply meant he intended on inking a new long term deal to remain in Beantown. That, however, is NOT the case. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the initial fallout between the Celtics and Horford.

"Boston Celtics center Al Horford will decline to exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season and seek to leave the franchise as an unrestricted free agent this summer, league sources told ESPN. Talks on a new deal with the Celtics have perished, with too great of a gulf between what the team is willing to offer and what Horford wants on a long-term deal, league sources said."

Since then The Ringers Kevin O’Connor reports the Mavericks are the front runners to land Horford though both LA teams are also interested.

"The Mavericks are considered favorites to land Celtics free-agent big man Al Horford, according to league sources, and the two Los Angeles teams are said to also have interest, though they both have their sights set on bigger fish like Kawhi Leonard."

All of this to bring me full circle to the last lottery pick which the Celtics own courtesy of the Kings. Ainge could still try to package his trio of first round picks (14, 20, 22) and four in total (51) in a package for a greater vision. But after the past 44 days perhaps his better bet would be to capitalize on replacing some of the exiting talents.

This is where Goga Bitadze makes a compelling choice as Boston’s first choice tonight. He’s young, fundamentally sound, and while he won’t replace the defensive prowess of Horford he would provide already solid offensive versatility (with ample room to grow) upfront.

Telling you I’d figure out what Ainge will do would be akin to me stating I know the lottery numbers, but maybe the Celtic mastermind might want to fill up Brad Stevens staff with youngsters since there is a direct line to his greatest success being with the youth brigade.