Some Boston Celtics fans would love to see their team take UConn point guard Shabazz Napier in the 2014 NBA draft.
These people are delusional.
Napier is not expected to go anywhere within the top 17 picks, which is where the Celtics will select twice on June 26. If things were different, however, or perhaps in the event the Celtics move down in the draft as part of a bigger trade package, Napier would not mind playing for his hometown team.
“That would be crazy,” Napier told CSNNE before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Red Sox-Yankees game Tuesday night at Fenway Park. “That would be insane, man. Growing up, that’s something that I always envisioned, myself playing for the Celtics. Every Boston kid envisions himself as a Celtic. The Boston Celtics are so big. When you’re from the New England area, you just want to be a part of it because you know how special it is.”
Napier, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard, is expected to go in the late first round of the draft, at best. He led the Huskies to the 2014 NCAA championship after averaging 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in his senior season.
The Celtics own the fifth-best odds in the draft lottery and also will have the No. 17 pick as a result of last summer’s blockbuster trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets.
Photo via Facebook/UConn Men’s Basketball
