2017 NBA Draft: Boston Celtics should keep the top pick and draft Markelle Fultz

Markelle Fultz is an elite NBA Draft prospect and the Boston Celtics should not pass on him. Here’s the case for Fultz and not trading the top pick.

In the weeks leading up to the NBA Draft, it was a no-brainer that the Boston Celtics would take Markelle Fultz with the first pick in this year’s NBA draft. Over the past several hours, rumors of potential trade talks have caused this pick to take a huge turn from inevitable to uncertain.

To be blunt, the Celtics should keep their hard earned pick and I’ll tell you why.

If the Celtics are truly going to gamble on this trade, they better be right. The number one pick has only been traded six times before the start of the season, and the risks of losing due to this swap are exceptionally high.

That being said, the Celtics aren’t afraid of making what most deem an irrational decision in the draft. The last time they traded the number one pick (Joe Barry Carroll) to the Warriors for Robert Parish and the third pick (Kevin McHale), it worked out pretty well for them.

Now, the rumor has it that the Celtics may actually want Josh Jackson and are essentially trading back to the number three spot to take him and earn some picks from the 76ers. If this is truly their end game, then it is a win-win.

The other rumor is that they are basically gaining assets that they can use for a trade in the future, possibly for Jimmy Butler or Paul George.

If either of these rumors are true, it’s still not the route the Celtics should take. To put it simply, you have the number one pick in the draft and you should take the best player available. Yes, the Celtics have Isaiah Thomas as their point guard but taking Fultz is the move.

Fultz could be the point guard and allow Thomas to play off the ball or vice versa. He knocks down the three-pointer at a high percentage (41.3%) and he can score from virtually anywhere on the court. He has all of the tools to play both guard positions.

Adding Fultz to their roster makes them better overall and bigger defensively. Thomas is limited by his height on defense, but Fultz is a point guard with great size who looks to have gotten bigger over the past few years.

Thomas will also be a free agent next summer, which makes things a little more interesting. Drafting Fultz to help create a security blanket for that scenario would be a smart move by the organization.

Fultz will not put the Celtics over the Cavaliers by any means. But, he will contribute immediately and may be a star in the long run.

Trading for Butler or George won’t put them over the Cavs and certainly not over the Warriors. If they make this trade right now they are gambling on the present and not the future. In the East, LeBron reigns supreme, and he will not be overthrown by a Celtics team that adds George or Butler to their roster.

No one in this draft will make the Celtics better than the Cavaliers. Adding Jimmy Butler or Paul George won’t do this either. The Celtics should make this pick for the future and not the immediate present. Although he hasn’t played any minutes in the NBA yet, Fultz is the safe choice here. He could become the mainstay point guard for them in the future, and possibly a huge star.

Next: Why the Lakers cannot pass on Lonzo Ball

Adding young talent as the Celtics attempt to challenge and inevitably wait out LeBron’s dominance over the East is the best option for the Celtics. Picking Fultz seems like the best option here, but only time will tell. The Celtics have had success in the trade market recently, but will this one pan out if completed?