After losing out on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, it appears the Boston Celtics are building around their youth. Here are five NBA prospects who could contribute to that core.
The Boston Celtics enter the 2019 NBA Draft in a state of flux.
After losing out on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes and rumors swirling that both Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are prepared to sign elsewhere once free agency starts, an NBA Finals contender is now on the cusp of barely becoming a playoff contender.
A lot can change between the end of June and the beginning of the 2018-19 NBA season, but it depends on what the Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge does with the three first-round draft picks the team has to play with.
In a draft that is not that deep, there are rumors that Ainge will either package those picks to try to move up in the draft or land an already established NBA veteran. While some of those rumors surround possibly trading Jaylen Brown, it does appear Ainge is focused on building around his young, budding stars that include Brown, along with Jayson Tatum.
With what has transgressed the past few days, will Ainge still package those picks in a deal or will he use the picks to draft players who could help the team now in some fashion?
That is certainly the biggest question surround the 2019 NBA Draft for Celtics fans.
If he does use the picks, which players fit that mode? Can the Boston Celtics get lucky and draft a future NBA star in the middle to late rounds?
With picks No. 14, 20 and 22, here are five NBA prospects who could contribute immediately for the Celtics.
Brandon Clarke PF, Gonzaga
When it comes to a mix of athleticism, offensive ability and versatility defensively, Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke is the perfect fit for Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics.
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Along with an instinct for the game, Clarke can facilitate the offense from the elbow and is a savvy interior passer. With Al Horford potentially moving on, that is an attribute that should intrigue the Celtics if he is available once the team selects at the No. 14 spot.
While he won’t provide much space in the offense initially, Clarke could develop into a player who can hit shots from long range. If Aron Baynes can do it why not Clarke?
But, the biggest intrigue about a player like Brandon Clarke is that defensive versatility. We all know how much Stevens loves team defense and the 6-foot-8 NBA prospect certainly has the skillset to become a top defender even in his rookie season.
As a player who can defend front-court and smaller players, Clarke will quickly remind Boston Celtics fans of a taller version of Marcus Smart.
Overall, his defensive versatility and instinct, along with his ability to finish around the rim makes him a player Danny Ainge should highly consider if he is available.
Tyler Herro SG, Kentucky
While some mock drafts have Kentucky combo guard Tyler Herro going as high at No. 14 to the Boston Celtics, others have him going in the early 20s.
Like Brandon Clarke, Herro is a high-intensity type defender who will win fans over quickly with his hustle. But it is his scoring ability along with an ability to play both the point and shooting guard positions that makes him an ideal prospect for the Celtics.
Ideally, it would be nice for the Celtics to take a big man at No. 14 and still be able to select Herro No. 20 or No. 22 if they keep all three picks. All signs point to the Celtics loving the player and what he can do, but would he be able to get the playing time necessary to develop quickly with the Celtics with Marcus Smart, potentially Terry Rozier and perhaps another veteran guard demanding time?
At No. 20 or No. 22, Tyler Herro is worth rolling the dice on. He will have time to develop and earn his playing time in the same fashion Rozier has done in his first and second seasons in the NBA.
While he needs to improve on his three-point field goal percentage, his ability to get shots and make shots off the dribble makes Herro the kind of offensive scorer the team has lacked at times outside of Kyrie Irving.
Coming off a season in which he averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds, Tyler Herro still has some developing to do. Playing under a coach like Brad Stevens might be the perfect situation for him.
Goga Bitadaze C, Euroleague
Whether the Boston Celtics work out a deal to get Clint Capela or sign a big man like Nikola Vucevic, adding another big man through the draft should still be a priority for the team.
That’s where an NBA prospect like Goga Bitadze comes in to play.
Labeled as the best big man in this year’s draft, Bitadaze already has NBA ready size and is the type of rim protector the team covets. At 6-foot-11, 251 pounds, the EuroLeague star is a skilled offensive player who should thrive in pick-and-roll as a finisher and a player who can knock down jump shots.
Bitadaze also has an ability to knock down threes, which makes him the kind of stretch big man Brad Stevens loves.
Depending on what other big men the Celtics end up with, Goga Bitadze at No. 14 wouldn’t be a bad pick at all. Like all prospects, he has some skills to improve on like passing and being a bit quicker with his defensive movement. However, his potential upside makes him a player worth taking a shot on.
With his size and shot-blocking ability, Bitadze is a player who is ready to contribute. How much of an impact he makes his first year in the league will depend on how effective he is in the pick-and-roll and also how well he develops in the defensive scheme Stevens likes to run.
Rui Hachimura PF, Gonzaga
An NBA prospect who has been linked to the Boston Celtics the past couple of months is power forward Rui Hachimura.
Like his teammate Brandon Clarke, Hachimura is an around the basket finisher who can add toughness to the team. Averaging 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior at Gonzaga, Hachimura is not a polished basketball player, but his size and power will make him a solid contributor until the rest of his skills develop.
A big-body banger, Hachimura’s work ethic makes him a player worth taking a chance on with the No. 20 or No. 22 pick. Of course, playing in the NBA and a coach like Brad Stevens, the Gonzaga product will have to learn to be more comfortable shooting the three. If he develops that shot, it would make him a more effective NBA player.
Not as overall skilled as Brandon Clarke but it is the untapped potential of Rui Hachimura that makes him an intriguing option late in the draft. He certainly possesses the type of physicality the team is looking for.
Darius Garland PG, Vanderbilt
Could another Vanderbilt product end up being drafted by a team in Boston?
After the New England Patriots drafted JoeJuan Williams in the 2019 NFL Draft, rumors are running wild that the Boston Celtics are trying to package a deal to move up to the No. 4 spot in the 2019 NBA Draft to select Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland.
Whether that is possible or not remains to be seen, but it’s obvious without Kyrie Irving and possibly Terry Rozier, the Celtics will be in need of a point guard. While a veteran point guard is ideal, the potential of a Garland should be very enticing.
Worth potentially including Jaylen Brown in a package?
Probably not given that Garland haven’t played much in college. However, he does have a skillset similar to that of Kyrie Irving. He can create his own shot, can break down the defenses and is a very capable play maker with the instincts necessary to be a top-level point guard in the NBA.
Call this more of a pipe dream, especially in a draft that is not considered deep past that No. 4 spot. Darrius Garland is a fascinating prospect, but even he is crap shoot coming off an MCL injury that sidelined him for much of his freshman season at Vanderbilt.
In all, if Garland ends up in Boston it will be because Danny Ainge has a lot of faith in him. Until the last few days, there is really no reason to doubt the Celtics president of basketball operations.