Heading into the 2016 NBA Draft the world appeared to be at the Boston Celtics’ fingertips. They held the No. 3 pick, the No. 16 pick, the No. 23 picks and five second-round picks, including Nos. 31 and 35. Boston had more draft capital than anyone and was poised to use it to get a lot better. There were rumors swirling that they might even acquire Jimmy Butler, or multiple young players from the Philadelphia 79ers.
The Celtics turned 5 of the top 35 picks into a lot of disappointed Boston fans
No matter how it played out, it seemed like Boston was in control of the draft and Celtics fans were going to be happy.
Boston is controlling top of draft now, talking seriously with Sixers and Bulls, league sources say.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 23, 2016
Then the picks actually happened. None of the rumored trades went down and while Boston may have gotten a lot better, its fans don’t seem so sure.
In a surprise move, Boston picked Jaylen Brown with the No. 3 pick. Celtics fans reacted like this:
JAYLEN BROWN WHAT THE FUCK DANNY AINGE BETTER BE COOKIN SOMETHING UP THIS IS TRASH
— LiL SB (@Shawn_Reynolds_) June 23, 2016
Can someone explain why the fuck the celtics took Jaylen Brown
— Cameron Bowen (@CamBowen0814) June 24, 2016
FUCK the jaylen brown pick. Make literally any trade and I would've been happier than I am now.
— Laim Crulley (@LeehamCrowleigh) June 24, 2016
With the No. 16 pick the Celtics took Guerschon Yabusele. Celtics fans reacted like this:
The Celtics just took the 7th pick in the draft at no. 3 and used no. 16 on a French guy sitting in the stands. I'm gonna make a drink.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 24, 2016
With the No. 23 pick the Celtics took Ante Zizic. Cetics fans reacted like this:
But not all fans agreed -- some actually liked the pick!
Boston later traded the No. 31 and No. 35 picks for the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2019 first-round pick. They started the draft with five of the first 35 picks. They turned that into Jaylen Brown, Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic and a 2019 first-round pick. No Jimmy Butler, no Nerlens Noel, no Jahlil Okafor. Heck, no Gordon Hayward or even Kevin Love.
Maybe the picks will pan out and Boston fans will look back at the draft as a franchise-changing night. But, at least for Thursday night, the Celtics fans filled the typical role of New York Knicks fans hating every pick.
