There isn’t much draft buzz around Boston right now because the Celtics sent their first round pick in this year’s draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Kemba Walker deal. Part of that was the cost of doing business and clearing some money off the books, but part of that was Boston’s distaste for adding another 19-year-old to a team short on developmental opportunities.
There is, however, the matter of Boston’s 45th overall pick, a mid-second rounder where teams occasionally strike gold.
As an aside: It’s odd how we treat second round picks. They are somehow, at the same time, throwaway picks but also potentially valuable ... especially when you consider that current MVP Nikola Jokic was drafted 41st overall in 2014. The second round can be barren, or it can be like that 2014 draft that also produced Joe Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jerami Grant, Dwight Powell, Jordan Clarkson, and Glenn Robinson III.
It is certainly a crapshoot. Boston could find some intriguing options at 45 if whomever they select is willing to start out on a two-way deal or they find a good draft-and-stash player. Here’s a look at some of the names that have come up in a scan of mock drafts.
Tankathon/Bleacher Report: Kessler Edwards, forward, Pepperdine
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 220
Perhaps the biggest sign of how much of a dart game the second round can be is the fact that Edwards was the only player appearing twice in these mock drafts. Edwards could be a useful grab by the Celtics in this spot, though, if they continue to look for 3-and-D wing options. He has good size and he shot 39.5% on 3-pointers in three years at Pepperdine.
The Celtics could stick Edwards in the G League as they clean up some of the issues with his shot mechanics to make his shooting cleaner and more consistent. That will give him time to develop and then see if a spot opens up at the NBA level should the Celtics use Romeo Langford or Aaron Nesmith (or both) in a trade.
ESPN: Rokas Jokubaitis, point guard, Lithuania
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 194
This could be a solid draft-and-stash option for Boston. He has size, which is what Boston needs in the backcourt. Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer describes him as a “crafty playmaker with good size who needs to extend his shooting range to maximize his scoring potential.”
One of the knocks on him is his lack of athleticism, but he knows how to change speeds and get to the rim. Picking him up now and letting him continue his development for a year or two in Lithuania could be worth the wait for Boston.
It would be interesting to see if Boston takes this swing even with Yam Madar on tap in a similar overseas situation. They may like Madar enough, even if they don’t bring him over this season, to go in a different direction.
However, this is also not the place in the draft to play games. If Boston likes the kid and he has good potential, they should take him and at the very use his rights as trade bait if he creates any buzz overseas.
The Athletic: Jason Preston, guard, Ohio
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 181
The mocks seem to hone in on Boston’s need for backcourt help, and if they pick up Preston, they’ll also get one hell of a story.
In short: after the passing of his mother, he was basically done playing basketball. He accepted an invitation to play in an AAU tournament, which got him an invite to a prep school. He then went from the bottom of that prep school’s barrel to the top, made a mixtape out of his time there and tweeted it, and then ended up with an offer to play at Ohio.
He also has this blessing from Marcus Smart because of that story.
This attitude right here 👇🏾 by @Treballjay11 👊🏾 will get you all you ever need! https://t.co/m83F1h0aRf
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) November 28, 2020
He’s a smart point guard who can shoot really well, but he isn’t the best athlete in the world and that could hold him back. He also has serious defensive limitations that could lead to the Celtics passing on him.
The one reason to overlook that is how much he’s developed physically in a short time. He added a lot of muscle in Ohio just to get to 181 lbs., so teams could see him as a two-way guy who literally grows into a bigger role over time.
SI: Austin Reaves, guard, Oklahoma
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 197
Reaves would be more of a help-now selection. At 23 years old, he’s much less of a project than other guys in this spot. He is by no means a finished product, but there is more of a “what you see is what you get” feel to this pick.
When asked to specialize at the NBA level, he may be able to focus his work on honing his skills and developing his shooting touch. He can be a playmaker for the Celtics, but he may not be the versatile perimeter defender they’re looking for long-term.
Yahoo: Daishen Nix, guard, GLeague Ignite
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 226
If Danny Ainge were still around, I’d peg Nix as the pick here. He has an NBA-ready body, good instincts, and he can’t shoot.
The instincts are the upside here, which makes Nix a tailor-made two-way player. He’s young and naturally gifted, which results in some great passing and setting up teammates. He can’t shoot the 3, but some work on that skill and learning defensive principles could produce something special.
This is everything the diamond in the rough analogy is about. Take a look at what a freshly mined diamond looks like versus the polished and cut finished product. Nix is a project, and maybe a long-term one.