Draft night expected to be a lot less hectic for Celtics this time

After making 16 selections the past three years, the Celtics own only the No. 27 pick in the first round.

They have made 16 selections in the NBA Draft the past three years, including six in the first round and 10 in the second round.

The Celtics have been a busy team using their stockpile of picks, and 11 of the players chosen appeared in games since the 2015-16 season with the other five either being traded or not making the NBA.

 On Thursday night, however, things won’t be quite as hectic for the Celtics, barring any trades that might occur.

 They have only one draft pick – No. 27 late in the first round – after making four choices each in 2015 and 2017 and eight in 2016.

 The Celtics had built up a surplus of picks via trades in recent years, but they have only their own selection to work with this summer.

 This marks only the second time in five years that the Celtics won’t be drafting in the lottery after taking Marcus Smart at No. 6 in 2014, Jaylen Brown in 2016 and Jayson Tatum last year.

Given the fact the Celtics were one win away from the NBA Finals and will return Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to the active roster, it is going to be difficult for a rookie taken No. 27 to crack the rotation.

 There is a good possibility that the Celtics’ draft choice will be spending time with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G-League next season, or the team could draft a European player and keep him overseas for another year of seasoning.

 “That’s always a look and that can be beneficial for any team – developing and not using a roster spot and not on your salary cap,’’ said Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge. “That’s something we always look at.’’

 The Celtics took that path in 2016 when they owned three first-round picks and kept Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic overseas because of a full roster and the need for more experience.

 Yabusele was on the Celtics' roster this past season but did not get into the rotation. Zizic was part of the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade last August.

 The Celtics figure to be drafting a player pegged as a project because of the depth already on the roster.

 “You always have to be careful with projects to make sure you hope they’re worth it at the end of the projecting,’’ said Ainge. “You hope after you build them up that they’re good enough. That’s always the kind of consideration, but that’s no matter if we’re good or bad or in between.’’

 What the Celtics will be shooting for is landing a player who can be ready to go in the not-too-distant future because they will be dealing with free agents who could be exiting in the upcoming years.

 “We have to find players that can play and help us,’’ said Ainge. “Having guys on rookie contracts and lower contracts that can contribute are invaluable.

 “We have some high-money guys on our team now. We’ve got free agents coming up every year, this year, next year, the year after. You never know how that’s going to go, so we have to continually have new talent in the pipeline.’’

 Ainge said the Celtics have looked at about 60 players during the predraft process and have whittled a list down to 10 players who should be available at the tail end of the first round.

 The Celtics have been linked in various mock drafts to Duke guard Grayson Allen, USC guard De’Anthony Melton, Villanova center Omari Spellman, Wichita State guard Landry Shamet, Creighton guard Khyri Thomas, Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie and center Mitchell Robinson, who sat out last year after committing to Western Kentucky.

 Ainge said that while the Celtics are nowhere near the lottery this year, the team has looked closely at all players in the draft for future reference.

 “We try to evaluate the whole draft,’’ he said. “Of course, we do get the guys in our draft range in so we’re able to dig a little deeper that way. We have to evaluate everybody and be ready.

 “You never know if six years down the road we try to trade for them or sign them or whatever. We’re always gathering information.’’

 Unless a trade takes place this week, the Celtics won’t be announcing a new addition until just before the opening round ends on Thursday, and the newcomer can expect a red-shirt season ahead.

 ‘”Minutes are going to be hard on our roster,’’ said Ainge. “We like a lot of our players, but there are players we really like at 27.’’

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.