The NBA draft is coming up on Wednesday, and as things stand now the Celtics have three first-round picks -- No. 14, No. 26 and No. 30 -- plus a second-round pick (No. 47).
We say “as things stand now” because obviously there is a possibility that the Celtics move one or more of these picks. Danny Ainge said Wednesday he is exploring any and all trade options, and acknowledged that it wouldn’t be ideal to bring in four more rookies. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported they’ve shown interest in trading up to No. 6.
But for the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to focus on what the Celtics could do if they keep their picks. Let’s be honest, we’ve seen this before: a bunch of rumors and reports, only to have Ainge and Co. ultimately stand pat.
We’ll start by taking a look at seven players the Celtics could target with the 14th overall pick, and later we’ll also take a look at seven players they could target later in the first round with the 26th and/or 30th pick.
Saddiq Bey, SF, Villanova
Bey is considered maybe the most NBA-ready player in this range. Scouting reports say he can do pretty much everything well, but where Bey will really be able to make an immediate impact is as a shooter, as he knocked down 45.1% of his threes this past season. While wing is already the Celtics’ strongest position, they could certainly use someone who can come off the bench and hit some shots, especially after seeing the impact guys like Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson made for the Heat this year.
Aaron Nesmith, SG/SF, Vanderbilt
Nesmith’s all-around game might be just a notch below Bey’s right now, but he was an even more lethal shooter in 14 games last year before suffering a season-ending stress fracture in his foot, hitting a ridiculous 52.2% of his threes on 8.2 attempts per game. As long as you’re convinced the foot is OK and won’t be something that affects him moving forward, Nesmith could be great value if he’s still on the board at 14.
R.J. Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers
Hampton has confirmed that he’s worked out for the Celtics, so we know he’s at least on their radar. At one point Hampton, a five-star recruit out of high school, was considered a possible top-five pick, but he struggled a bit playing overseas and then had his season cut short by injury. The upside is still there, though, with his speed and athleticism considered to be elite. His jump shot needs work and scouting reports indicate he is raw defensively as well, so you’d be betting on his potential with the understanding that there is still some developing to be done here.
Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
Some mock drafts have Lewis going as high as eight or nine, while others have him right in this range. In the short term, Lewis would provide some valuable depth at point guard. In the long term, he has the potential to be a future starter. With Kemba Walker and Brad Wanamaker both now in their 30s, Walker’s injury concerns piling up, and Wanamaker a restricted free agent, Lewis could be worth investing in. He is considered one of the fastest players in the draft, with the ability to blow by defenders and use his speed to get to the rim or create for teammates. He also improved as a shooter this past season, knocking down 36.6% of his threes on the year and 46.3% over his final nine games.
Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky
Speaking of guards who could crack the rotation now while possessing starter potential down the road, Maxey fits the bill as well. He’s a combo guard who analysts praise for his defense, his aggressiveness in attacking the rim on offense, and his ability to finish in traffic. The big knock on Maxey is his three-point shooting, as he hit just 29.3% of his shots from behind the arc last season. But people who are much smarter than me, like Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, say his mechanics and 83.3% free throw shooting suggest the potential is there for him to become an effective outside shooter.
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
Achiuwa is a common pick for the Celtics in mock drafts, and it’s easy to see why. Boston got overpowered by Bam Adebayo down low in the Eastern Conference finals, and Achiuwa could immediately add some athletic defending, rim protection and rebounding. He’s slightly undersized as a center at 6-foot-9, but he has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and could still fit there in a small ball lineup. Scouting reports say Achiuwa’s offensive game still has a ways to go, but the Celtics could afford to be patient there as they have plenty of other scoring options.
Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
Smith improved in just about every area as a sophomore, most notably jumping from 26.8% to 36.8% in three-point shooting, 6.8 to 10.5 rebounds per game, and 1.2 to 2.4 blocks per game. By all accounts, he has continued to rise in the pre-draft process, moving from a player projected to go in the 20s to one who has likely moved into the teens. He’s a little bit of an inverse of Achiuwa, with a more polished offensive game but more question marks on the defensive end aside from his shot-blocking.