The Boston Celtics were in a position of power towards the top of the second round with the No. 32 overall pick on Thursday night. However, some late day manuevering may have caused Boston’s top choice at No. 32 to come off the board.
The Phoenix Suns jumped up to the No. 31 overall pick just hours before the draft in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 36 overall pick and two future second round picks.
Why does this matter for Boston? Shams Charania of ESPN.com reports that the Suns made the move to ensure they got the player that Boston was planning on taking at No. 32: Rasheer Fleming.
“The Minnesota Timberwolves had an auction for that pick,” Charania said on the ESPN NBA Draft broadcast. “Why did the Suns move up tonight to No. 31? I’m told the Celtics were going to Rasheer Fleming from St. Joseph’s at (No. 32). Now the Suns have jumped up to No. 31.”
The Suns made three separate trades throughout the day to build the equity in order to move up to the top of the second round at No. 31. The Celtics opted to trade the No. 32 overall pick once the Suns selected Fleming at No. 31. In Boston dealt their pick at No. 32 to the Orlando Magic for No. 46, No. 57, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick.
