NBA: Ainge, Celtics all smiles as team wins first pick in NBA Draft Lottery.
NEW YORK — The Celtics won by beating out the Lakers, giving the draft lottery an old NBA Finals feel.
Yet, obvious by Magic Johnson’s smile, the hated rivals were both celebrating.
The Celtics won the lottery Tuesday night to continue another amazing basketball springtime in Boston, capitalizing on a trade they made with the Brooklyn Nets four years ago.
A night after winning Game 7 against Washington to secure an Eastern Conference finals matchup with Cleveland, the Celtics cashed in their 25 percent chance to land the No. 1 pick in the June draft.
The Lakers moved up one spot to second to hold onto their pick. They would have had to trade it to Philadelphia if it fell outside the top three.
The Celtics finished dismantling the team that beat the Lakers to win the 2008 championship when they traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn on the night of the 2013 draft. Boston acquired the Nets’ 2014, 2016 and 2018 firstround picks, as well as the rights to swap in 2017.
The timing was perfect for the Celtics, as Brooklyn finished with the worst record in the league.
The 76ers will pick third, while Phoenix fell two spots and is fourth.
The draft is considered a strong one, loaded with point guards such as Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and De’Aaron Fox.
The Lakers had about a 53 percent chance of falling out of the top three, which would have triggered a trade of the pick as remaining payment of their acquisition of Steve Nash in 2012.
Not only that, but they would have had to trade their 2019 first-round pick to Orlando if that happened.