Celtics' Ideal 2024 NBA Mock Draft and Players to Target in Draft-Day Trades
Barring a historic collapse, it seems the Boston Celtics could spend a decent chunk of the 2024 NBA offseason celebrating a record-setting 18th championship.
Or most members of the franchise might, rather.
For the folks in the front office, though, this is a time not of celebration, but rather planning how to capture the next one. As loaded as this roster is, it might still need some enhancement over the coming months.
The Celtics will have chances to reinforce the roster, and those will first arrive at the draft. To get an idea of what Boston might be able to do, let's lay out some ideal mock draft picks before highlighting two players who could be targeted in trades during the draft.
Ideal Mock
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30. DaRon Holmes II, C, Dayton
Backup bigs might be a perpetual need as long as the Celtics lean on the center tandem of oft-injured Kristaps Porziņģis and 38-year-old Al Horford. Selecting Holmes in this spot could be a really smart way of addressing it.
Holmes boasts a blend of throwback interior skills with some modern enhancements on the perimeter. More specifically, he blocks shots, crushes lobs and stays active on the glass while also flashing shooting touch, passing vision and a pinch of off-the-dribble utility away from the basket.
54. Keshad Johnson, SF/PF, Arizona
As is the case with a lot of potential second-rounders, Johnson's mock draft range is wide. If he lasts this long, though, the Celtics should snatch him up.
They could use more depth at the forward spots, and the soon-to-be 23-year-old might be capable of filling a rotation spot as soon as next season. He is an athletic, versatile and disruptive defender who could helpful on offense if the shooting gains he made this past season (38.7 percent from three, 24.6 percent over the four seasons prior) hold up.
Trade Target: Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers
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The Celtics need to trust whoever they slot into their backup center spot, because they know they'll likely need that player to perform at some point. That's especially true if they aren't sold on the idea of retaining the likes of Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet in free agency.
So, they may not feel comfortable trusting a rookie in that role and could seek out a more proven producer instead. Trading for Jackson, who's been getting squeezed for floor time by Indiana's crowded frontcourt, would not only net Boston a backup big with NBA experience, but he could have some untapped potential, too, since he's only 22 years old.
His skill tree seems fairly cemented, though. And that's mostly a good thing. He may not have much (or any) shooting or distributing to offer, but he does exactly what teams want from a rim-runner.
He is long and bouncy around the basket, and he uses those physical gifts exactly as he should. This past season, he tallied 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes, per Basketball-Reference, while converting a career-high 66.5 percent of his field goals.
Trade Target: Torrey Craig, SF/PF, Chicago Bulls
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Just like with the wing search, the Celtics could be more comfortable relying on a veteran than an unproven rookie. They have a tremendous top three in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser, but that's pretty much it for the position group.
That's what could give a player like Craig some appeal.
He has built a seven-year (and counting) career on the strength of defensive versatility and hustle, while more recently adding a fairly reliable three-ball to the mix. He has never shot the three with much volume, but he's become more consistent making good on the chances he takes (39.4 percent over the past two seasons).
Modern teams can't have too many three-and-D wings, and even if that was possible, Boston clearly wouldn't be in danger of having that problem. Should Chicago finally start prioritizing the future at the draft, there should be a workable deal that sends Craig to the Celtics and some type of draft asset back to the Bulls.
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