The Boston Celtics could have as many as three first-round selections (pending pick consolidation) to make on June 20 at Nos.  14, 20 and 22. 

That makes things complicated for those of who want to guess which direction the Celtics will go.  Will they take a shot on potential at 14 and try to shore up the rotation at 20 and 22?  Will they go the opposite direction and hope a high-risk/high-reward prospect slides to 20?  Will they try to trade up to acquire better high-level talent?  Will they just package all the picks together in a deal for a star? 

All of those scenarios are a little complicated for one post, so we’ll break up our Big Boards into a few categories, starting with today: Prospects 1-20, to give us a look at how the first pick (with an eye on the second one) could break.  If this exercise is good for anything (besides a golden opportunity to Freezing-Cold-Takes MassLive’s Celtics writers), it’s a reminder that in almost any draft, intriguing prospects can slide further than one would think. 

So after watching entirely too much college basketball this season, here’s how I would rank the first 20 prospects in the 2019 NBA draft for the Celtics specifically, grouped into tiers by how likely they are to make it to Boston’s pick. 

The-Pelicans-Might-Stop-Talking-To-Ainge-About-AD-If-He-Asked Tier

1.  Zion Williamson, Duke -- Obviously. 

There’s-No-Way Tier

2.  Ja Morant, Murray State -- Morant would be a perfect fit alongside Boston’s young core, but instead, he will have a nice new home playing with Jaren Jackson Jr. in Memphis. 

3.  Darius Garland, Vanderbilt -- This might be a spicy take, but for the Celtics, I would take Garland’s ball-handling and shooting at the one over R.J. Barrett, who is more of a wing.  The point, of course, is completely moot. 

4.  R.J. Barrett, Duke -- Still, drafting Barrett would be a very good thing if the Celtics had a chance to get him, which they certainly won’t. 

There’s-Almost-Certainly-No-Way Tier

5.  De’Andre Hunter, Virginia -- Hunter was a low-volume, high-efficiency shooter with good size (6-foot-7) and a nice defensive skill set.  He might top out as a role player at the next level, but he can do a lot of things that would translate nicely to Boston. 

6.  Coby White, UNC -- Given the potential holes at point guard that could open up this summer, White jumps up on my Celtics-centric board.  He’s got good size, great athleticism and can score from every level.  He’s unlikely to slip -- too many teams in the lottery could use a lead guard -- but he would be a very nice piece. 

7.  Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech -- Culver has a high basketball IQ and some promise as a scorer/play-maker.  His shooting percentages are a little troubling -- 68.7 percent from the free-throw line in his college career doesn’t bode particularly well for his long-range shooting at the next level -- but he brings a lot of other attributes to the table. 

8.  Cam Reddish, Duke -- Reddish -- whose smooth scoring and athleticism didn’t show themselves completely in his lone season at Duke -- is a complicated case.  If you are the Celtics, do you gamble on Reddish’s potential or go with more solid forward options like Hunter (or guards like Culver)?  The answer: It probably doesn’t matter because again, this is the There’s-Almost-Certainly-No-Way tier. 

Maybe-He-Slides Tier

9.  Jaxson Hayes, Texas -- Hayes has a ton of promise as a rim-runner/protector.  The Celtics front office remains high on Robert Williams, and Hayes wouldn’t fit alongside him, but he’s too talented to pass up if he somehow slipped to 14. 

10.  Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga -- Clarke is one of the most switchable big defenders in the draft, with his length, bounce and mobility.  His age might make him less attractive to some teams (he will turn 23 before the start of the season), but the success of versatile big defenders like Al Horford and Draymond Green could lead someone to take a gamble on Clarke. 

11.  Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga -- Another big with great athleticism and two-way potential, Hachimura has a great frame and plenty of versatility.  Don’t be surprised if he rises a bit in the next few weeks. 

Realistic Possibilities

12.  Romeo Langford, Indiana -- Langford is huge for a guard, which lends him special versatility on both ends.  There’s reason to believe his shot could tick upward as he gets healthier, and he showed a ton of talent around the rim as a finisher.  With his frame and defensive potential, Langford could slot nicely onto Boston’s roster. 

13.  Nassir Little, UNC -- Little was much higher on many draft boards at the start of the season, but a difficult freshman campaign at North Carolina dropped him a bit.  His shooting is a problem, but his versatility -- especially on the defensive end, given his frame -- could make him a steal midway through the first round. 

14.  Sekou Doumbouya, France -- Super raw but very promising, Doumbouya struggled a bit as a young pro but continued to show flashes of the skills that tantalize scouts at the NBA level.  Admittedly, this might be too low for him in the first round, but his project status could be a tough sell in Boston, where the Celtics hope to win next year no matter what happens in July. 

15.  Bol Bol, Oregon -- I have no idea.  You have no idea.  Bol has extra-elite length, an advanced offensive skill set for his size and also real injury concerns given his build, which make him as wild as a wildcard can be.  But Bol is certainly intriguing, and the Celtics will have to think hard about drafting him, since they can afford to gamble. 

16.  Tyler Herro, Kentucky -- Herro vs. Kevin Porter Jr. is an interesting debate, but Herro gets a slight edge here because his floor seems higher.  Herro has below-average length, but he competes defensively, and he could be the type of knock-down spot-up floor spacer every team covets.  Gravity matters a lot. 

17.  Kevin Porter Jr., USC -- Porter, meanwhile, has excellent athleticism, and he can create his own shot off the bounce.  He needs to move the ball a bit better and compete consistently, but in the right situation, Porter could be a massive steal. 

18.  P.J. Washington, Kentucky -- Unlike Porter, you know exactly what you are getting in Washington -- toughness, pick-and-pop floor spacing and nice footwork in the post.  He’s somewhat unspectacular in terms of a ceiling, but he should be a solid, mobile big at the next level. 

19.  Goga Bitadze, Georgia -- Bitadze is reportedly an excellent passer for his size, with floor-spacing potential, great touch around the rim and the beginnings of a nice post game.  He’s not particularly athletic, which could limit him defensively on the perimeter.  Perhaps Bitadze should be higher, but quite frankly, I just haven’t seen him enough to make the case. 

20.  Keldon Johnson, Kentucky -- Johnson shot well this season, and he’s got a great motor.  As an athlete, he’s not quite elite, which probably limits him to high-level role player potential, but his floor is raised by his effort level.