NBA Draft 2016: Top 3 Options for Each Boston Celtics 1st-Round Pick
The Boston Celtics are the rare, legitimate playoff team that's also equipped with plenty of draft picks. Having such assets is a luxury, but using them wisely can be tricky.
Thanks to expert bargaining, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has accumulated eight selections going into the 2016 NBA draft on June 23, including three in the first round (Nos. 3, 16 and 23).
Having finished the season with a 48-34 record, the Celtics are ready to win now. Trading picks for established players is a viable option, but that doesn't exempt the team from doing its due diligence in case no satisfying return can be found. Boston will still have some voids to fill through the draft.
The Celtics can go in numerous directions with each of their first-round picks, and the dilemma of drafting the best player available versus actual need will inevitably come into play.
No. 3 Pick
Buddy Hield: SG, Oklahoma, Senior (22)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 214 lbs
2015-16 stats: 25.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists
The Celtics love the three-point line, so adding arguably the best shooter in this year's draft would make sense. Buddy Hield connected on 45.7 percent of his long-range looks last season while hoisting a ridiculous 8.7 attempts per game.
Bleacher Report draft guru Jonathan Wasserman, who also has Boston picking Hield at No. 3 in his latest mock draft, put those numbers in perspective:
"Buddy Hield just makes too much sense for Boston if it sticks at No. 3. Ainge is bound to value his competitiveness and confidence, along with the fact Hield had arguably the most impressive shooting season since Stephen Curry in 2008. Boston loves to jack up threes (No. 11 in three-pointers attempted) but only finished No. 28 in three-point percentage.
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After four years in college, Hield is one of the most NBA-ready players in this year's draft. He might not have as high a ceiling as some other guards, but Boston could expect an instant impact, which is what it needs.
The Celtics have a crowded backcourt, but Hield would be an instant upgrade over both R.J. Hunter and Terry Rozier, and he'd likely be the fourth-best guard on the roster if Evan Turner leaves in free agency.
Dragan Bender: PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv (18)
Height: 7'1”
Weight: 225 lbs
2015-16 stats: 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds
Picking an inexperienced 18-year-old international talent doesn't quite make sense for the Celtics. However, with Kristaps Porzingis' hype reigning supreme in the NBA, lanky European bigs with shooting touch are in fashion.
Bender is a project, and the Celtics would likely have to prioritize his development over second-year forward Jordan Mickey's. Boston arranged an individual workout with the Croatian, and Jay King of MassLive.com explained the intrigue:
"At 18, he's the youngest player in the draft. A mobile 7-footer who could one day offer so much -- switching screens, defending multiple positions, spacing the court, scoring in transition, finding open teammates -- he has already separated himself against international (youth) competition.
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As exciting as the prospect of drafting the next Porzingis may be, there's a realistic chance that Bender would go down the path of Darko Milicic—a young European big man on a winning team that can't allocate sufficient minutes for his development. Still, the seemingly sky-high ceiling could be worth the gamble.
Jaylen Brown: SF, California, Freshman (19)
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 225 lbs
2015-16 stats: 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists
The Celtics don't have a legitimate small forward behind Jae Crowder (since Evan Turner inevitably logs so many minutes at either guard spot), and head coach Brad Stevens was essentially forced to go small in his absence last season. Adding another wing to the rotation wouldn't hurt, for depth purposes as much as an insurance for a Crowder injury.
Jaylen Brown fits the bill. He's supremely athletic, strong and physically developed for his age. His jumper is shaky, which is worrying for a perimeter player in an offense that is heavily reliant on shooting, but Crowder had a similar skill set when he arrived in Boston. Kevin O'Connor of Celtics Blog labeled Brown as a potential candidate at No. 3:
"He's the real dark horse in this conversation. I believe he's as safe of a pick in the lottery to at least carve out an NBA career because his defense is that freaking good. But with his athleticism and quickness, he could develop into a star on offense if the shot develops and if his decision-making improves. Brown has special characteristics that could make him the best player in this draft.
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The top of the lottery features a lot of guards, but Boston's need for depth at small forward could have Brown going earlier than other talented playmakers.
No. 16 Pick
Domantas Sabonis: F, Gonzaga, Sophomore (20)
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 240 lbs
2015-16 stats: 17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Domantas Sabonis, son of Lithuanian legend Arvydas Sabonis, is coming off an intriguing sophomore season at Gonzaga, and he could already be taken off the board when the Celtics pick at 16. If he isn't, the fit makes sense.
Like his father, Sabonis embodies excellent basketball IQ and court vision. He plays with immense energy, is already a lethal low-post scorer and regularly sniffs out rebounds he shouldn't be able to grab. He could become a unique playmaker when catching the ball on the roll and kicking out of double-teams.
He is fast enough to switch onto guards in the pick-and-roll, which is a prerequisite in Stevens' defensive scheme. The jumper needs some polish, but he has the tools to crack the rotation immediately.
Deyonta Davis: PF/C, Michigan State, Freshman (19)
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 245 lbs
2015-16 stats: 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks
Deyonta Davis should be of interest to the Celtics due to his defensive potential. He has the size to play center, but is quick enough to hang with power forwards. He is also athletic and has enough lateral quickness to potentially switch the pick-and-roll at the NBA level.
Davis is still limited and raw offensively, but he brings some skill to the table. He's an effective cutter, has a soft touch and can finish around the rim.
That being said, he is still a project. He has immense potential as a weak-side help defender and rim protector, but needs to work on his timing and discipline. It could also be hard to involve him in the offense until he develops a reliable mid-range jumper, but that's already on its way.
With Boston searching for frontcourt solutions, Davis could provide a spark off the bench in brief stints.
Malik Beasley: SG, Florida State, Freshman (19)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 190 lbs
2015-16 stats: 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
James Young hasn't progressed during his first two years in the league, while Hunter and Rozier had inconsistent rookie campaigns. If Boston throws in the towel on Young, Malik Beasley would be an interesting project.
Beasley possesses a sweet mix of athleticism and shooting (38.7 percent from three last season), and NBADraft.net listed Wesley Matthews as an NBA comparison. There are some similarities—Beasley is a good cutter, lethal in transition and has excellent shot mechanics.
He has an advantage over Matthews in the athleticism department, but doesn't quite match the defensive smarts yet. He isn't particularly confident in the shoes of a playmaker, making it difficult to envision him forming an efficient backcourt duo without a ball-dominant creator.
Beasley's two-way potential is intriguing nonetheless, and he should be able to contribute immediately in the right setting.
No. 23 Pick
Taurean Prince: F, Baylor, Senior (21)
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 220 lbs
2015-16 stats: 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists
If Boston opts against drafting Brown, they should have another shot at a Crowder backup with the 23rd selection in Taurean Prince. Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports summarized the natural fit:
"The Celtics have had a ton of success with versatile players who can play multiple positions, and that's where I think Prince comes into play interestingly. He can really hit shots from deep, you can use him to switch onto smaller players or bigger bodies in the paint, and he provides a threat off of the bounce. Prince would be a really nice pickup at this late stage of the first round for a team that generally has success with this specific player type.
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Prince already has a reliable three-point shot, can drive off the catch and defend multiple positions—tools that are highly valued in Boston's aggressive system. He should be able to replicate some of Crowder's production without a long adjustment period, especially after getting a chance to grow as a player in college for four years.
Denzel Valentine: G, Michigan State, Senior (22)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 220 lbs
2015-16 stats: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists
As Denzel Valentine's 2015-16 stats suggest, he is a versatile cog. He has great court vision, ball-handling skills and an ability to manufacture clean looks for teammates, ranking second in the country in assist percentage, according to Sports-Reference.com.
Having knocked down 44.4 percent of his threes last season on a whopping 7.5 attempts per game, he is just as lethal pulling up off the dribble behind screens as he is in catch-and-shoot situations, making him a seamless fit next to any guard.
If Turner bolts in free agency, there may be a real need to add a smart passer like Valentine. Marcus Smart's playmaking is still a question mark going into his third season, and Boston lacks a competent pick-and-roll threat besides Thomas.
Ante Zizic: C, Cibona Zagreb (19)
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 240 lbs
2015-16 stats: 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds
According to basketball reporter David Pick, Ainge had an opportunity to see Ante Zizic up close during a May trip to Europe, and the Croatian youngster could be headed to Boston.
He has drawn comparisons to Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic, and there are some similarities. While he isn't particularly skillful, Zizic possesses a lot of raw strength and overpowers opponents when diving to the rim. He loves physical play and is an excellent rebounder.
There is room for growth, and a more polished post game would help. He can abuse his strength advantage close to the basket, but adding some tricks would allow him score on bigger players.
Boston will inevitably look to stash some of the players it drafts, and it could do so with an international talent like Zizic.
All prospect measurements are courtesy of ESPN.com, unless otherwise referenced, and accurate as of Monday.
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