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Boston Celtics Mock Draft 1.0: Preliminary post-lottery picks

By James Carson

May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of t-shirts across the seats prior to game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of t-shirts across the seats prior to game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) shoots the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Jordan Mathews (4) during the second half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) shoots the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Jordan Mathews (4) during the second half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 2, Pick 37: Sindarius Thornwell, SG from South Carolina

The Celtics will be taking the rest of the first round off after adding Fultz, but will get right back into the swing of things near the start of the second round. Sindarius Thornwell, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ March Madness hero, will be an interesting target by the 37th pick.

Thornwell, a fourth year senior, averaged 21.4 points per game last season and grabbed 7.1 rebounds in addition. That is a little out of the ordinary for a shooting guard, but Thornwell has a strong body for his position.

Thornwell’s senior year saw a huge rise in his rebound numbers, as well as his two-point percentage and perimeter shooting (up to 39.2% from beyond the arc from 33.6% his junior year). One of the best parts about Thornwell’s game is his ability to get to the free throw line. He shot 83% from the free throw line, but the better number is that he averaged 8.4 free throw attempts per game.

Many other mock drafts are split on Thornwell’s stock; several have him as a late-draft pick, while some have him closer to this position in the early second round.

Part of the rise in certain mocks is Thornwell’s performance in the NCAA tournament where he lead his school to the Final Four. He would fit well with the Celtics as a shooting complement to Marcus Smart running the point in a bench unit, but could definitely be a later target. At this point, Thornwell still feels like an early second-rounder and could fall into the Celtics lap.

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