The Boston Celtics have two of the brightest stars that are under the age of 25 in the NBA. Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been spectacular since joining the league in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Going into this year’s draft, the Celtics yet again have multiple first round picks. The team has three first-round picks this year, and one second-rounder. Boston will be selecting at picks 14th, 16th, 30th and 47th. They underperformed in the Eastern Conference finals mostly due to a lack of a deep bench, as the team had five inexperienced rookies on the roster. The team did finish the season with a 48-24 record, with a majority of their players still showing great progression throughout the season and postseason.
2019 Boston Celtics Draft Picks
In the 2019 draft, the Celtics selected three players. At pick 14 they tapped Indiana guard Romeo Langford. Langford started the season off slow and was banged-up. As the season progressed, Langford became a very reliable defender, having highlight-reel type stops. He would finish the year off early in the playoffs due to a wrist injury. The rookie ended his season averaging 2.5 points, 0.3 blocks and 0.3 steals in 11 minutes per game.
With their 22nd pick, Boston selected gritty power forward Grant Williams from Tennessee. Williams was a player that many thought would fizzle out of the roster sooner rather than later. However, he became a Draymond Green-like player. An energetic and gritty guy who can also knock down the occasional three-pointer. Williams was the best rookie in this year’s playoffs as he received the most minutes. He is a defensive prodigy, but his offensive game is very inconsistent. He averaged 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.4 steals in 15 minutes a game.
With the team’s last selection the Celtics drafted Tremont Waters, a crafty point guard from LSU. Waters spent most of his rookie year with the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G-League affiliate team. Waters was a star in the league but could not find consistent playing time in the NBA due to the loaded Celtics roster. The rookie point guard flashed incredible passing and dribbling talent, but his lack of height and weight hindered his playing time due to his weak defense. In his 11 games in the NBA, Waters averaged 3.6 points, 1.5 assists and 0.9 steals.
The Celtics also had a few other rookies that they had not drafted. They traded for Carsen Edwards during the draft. They signed undrafted free agent and fan favorite Tacko Fall, while also bringing in one of their stashed players in Vincent Poirier. Poirier had a strong start in the NBA, playing in 22 games down the stretch where he seemed unmovable in the paint. However, as the games became more competitive, his minutes became more restricted as other younger big men started outplaying him.
Carsen Edwards spent half of his rookie year in the G-League, where he was a good scorer and efficient. He played in 37 games this year with the Celtics, but very few of those minutes were during valuable competitive basketball.
Fall is the man, the myth, the legend of Boston. Standing seven-foot-five, he is a lanky center who can tower over other players in the league. Fall received barely any playing time and spent two-thirds of his rookie year in the G-League, where he dominated. Fall played a few minutes in the playoffs as a defender on in-bound plays. The center showed the most potential, as his post game has shown improvement.
2020 Offseason Needs
This Celtics team has two major flaws on their roster. However, these flaws could be diminished after this offseason. The Celtics lack a veteran bench player who can control the offense when the starting five is on the bench. The other area that the team is lacking is rebounding, but the Celtics have a plethora of big men who are developing. The question that the team faces is what type of player they want to draft.
Leadership on the bench is a major key for a championship team. The champion Los Angeles Lakers had Rajon Rondo, who was a vocal leader to the bench unit and could play in the starting lineup. Players that can control the same tempo as the starters are very valuable and the Celtics had a clear lack of leadership off the bench.
Rebounding is a major flaw of this team. Enes Kanter is among the best at rebounding offensively. However, in Brad Stevens’ system his defense hinders his playing time. Daniel Theis and Robert Williams are decent rebounders, but they are smaller than the average center. This allows them to get beaten when in contention with bigger centers.
2020 NBA Draft Prospect Names to Know
Jaden McDaniels – Forward, Washington (United States)
McDaniels was one of the biggest names in high school. However, he struggled to receive the same hype in college. This is because everyone saw that he is still a raw prospect. Averaging 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds on 40% shooting is not much beyond mediocre. McDaniels has a high ceiling; his height of 6’10 and ability to shoot the three will be very sought after. Lanky players that can spread the floor are a hot commodity in this league, and he has the potential to flash Kevin Durant-style offensive scoring ability
Precious Achiuwa – Forward, Memphis (Nigeria)
This is another raw prospect. Achiuwa is a six-foot-nine forward who has the ability to play the shooting guard as well as both forward positions. Achiuwa had a spectacular season in Memphis shooting 49% from the field and 32% from long-range. Although he is not a sharpshooter, he is able to hit open threes and is very consistent with his mid-range shot. Achiuwa can also attack the basket offensively, and fights for rebounds against players bigger and taller than him. Although he would be a project, he is another prospect that has a high ceiling.
Josh Green – Guard, Arizona (Australia)
Green played on a talented roster in Arizona. Playing time was limited at the guard position, but he managed to become the starter. Green is a pure shooter, someone who can create his own shot off the dribble. His best quality is his catch-and-shoot ability, and is one of the best players in that category to come out this year. Green averaged 11.9 points on 42% from the field and 36% from behind the arc.
Boston Celtics Draft Predictions
With the 14th pick, the Boston Celtics select guard Josh Green from Arizona. The Celtics need as much shooting as they can get to keep up with teams such as the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors. Green might not play a lot in his first two years, as the roster is tightly packed with guards. However, his offensive ability to score and his effort on the defensive end will provide a great source of minutes down the line in his career with this team.
With the 26th pick, the Boston Celtics select Jaden McDaniels from Washington. Many teams will underrate McDaniels. He is projected to go around 14-20. Many teams do not have the time to wait on his development, but Boston has plenty of time to develop players. Bringing in McDaniels and having him progress through the G-League could be the best for the young forward. After a year or two of development, he could become a very valuable offensive player for a contending Celtics team.
With the 30th pick, the Boston Celtics select Makur Maker from Howard University. The cousin of NBA unicorn Thon Maker, Maker is a 6’11 center that has the abilities of a guard. Although his collegiate career was basically nonexistent, his raw talent is nothing but magnificent. Maker is a long-term project that could take two or more years to develop into a reliable NBA player. He could be another Michael Porter Jr. or Bol Bol type of piece; a player that can handle the ball and defend the big position.
With the 47th pick, the Boston Celtics select guard Kira Lewis from Alabama. Lewis is a sophomore that has shown improvement from his first season. A pure scoring guard who can shoot from all over the court, Lewis averaged 45% from the field and 36% from three-point land. He runs the floor and can play off the ball with excellence. Lewis can be the type of player that helps the team keep the offensive tempo going without fault. The sophomore guard is also an excellent defender on the perimeter, as he averaged 1.8 steals per contest.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow John Devereaux on Twitter @NBADevereaux
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
One Response