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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 teams to monitor leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft

By Stevie Cozens

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

NBA Draft 2020 team to watch – Boston Celtics

If the Timberwolves need to make moves this draft, then the Boston Celtics have to make moves. They have a likely $187 million salary bill, including taxes, for next season.

Maybe Celtics management wants to go deep in the tax, but I think they are a year or two from being comfortable with having one of the highest payrolls in NBA History.

They did have arguably their best season with this current iteration of the storied Boston franchise, but the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is still young enough to not be at their combined peaks yet.

If this Celtics team were set with the key pieces they want for the future, they would maybe go all-in on a massive tax bill. But, the uncertainty around Gordon Hayward and then the big man situation mean they are one or two guys away from true title contention.

The injury-prone Hayward has been mentioned in trades recently, and his next deal, along with the pending max for Tatum, means there is a salary squeeze.

The Celtics have a total of three first-round picks, in 14, 26, and 30. They could use these to package with a guy like Hayward and then bring back another traditional big to share minutes with the impressive Daniel Theis.

I’m very certain the Celtics won’t start the season with $150 million of salary with a tax bill likely alongside it. Making draft night moves could make things interesting to watch.