With the NBA draft almost here, teams must be close to finalizing what to do when they are on the clock. For the Boston Celtics, after drafting Hugo Gonzalez from Real Madrid last season, they could look at another Spanish player this year in point guard Sergio De Larrea.
De Larrea spent this past season playing for Valencia, playing 18 minutes a night. Stat-wise, his numbers won't jump out like college players do since the competition is much tougher. On the season, De Larrea averaged 9.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, while shooting 44% from the field and 40% from three.
So, what makes De Larrea a prospect the Celtics should consider?
Sergio De Larrea could be the answer to Celtics' guard depth questions
When looking at the current roster, Boston could use an extra point guard to fill out the roster. Outside of Derrick White and Payton Pritchard (who both may be starters next season), Boston doesn't have another player capable of being a point guard on the roster. Sergio would fix that problem.
His biggest strength as a prospect is easily his playmaking ability. At only 20 years old, when watching De Larrea, you could tell he had a great feel for the game as a floor general. This was most on display by seeing him run pick-and-rolls. De Larrea would constantly find his teammates, using different types of passes.
He isn't just a playmaker either, as he's continued to work on his shooting and has become a real threat from outside. As mentioned before, De Larrea shot 40% from three last season on legit volume, shooting 3.3 attempts per game. Combined with his 83% free-throw percentage, the 20-year-old should be a threat shooting-wise in the NBA.
For as good a player as he is, maybe the most interesting part of his skill set is his size. De Larrea measured at 6'6, with a 6'9 wingspan. Being this tall is a huge plus as a point guard, as it can help your play by allowing you to see over the defense better.
Sergio De Larrea does have some concerns
While I like De Larrea as a prospect, he does have some concerns.
Out of all of them, one of the more noticeable ones was a lack of natural athleticism. De Larrea didn't have the best first step, and you could tell when watching him play. Though I wouldn't call him slow, he definitely doesn't have the quickness you'd look for in an NBA point guard. We've seen players play at a slower pace before and be successful, but it should be something to watch given the jump in athleticism.
Other than his quickness, the main concern with De Larrea is his play strength. He weighed in at 205 pounds and struggled when up against more physical players.
Offensively, this would hurt his finishing ability and playmaking. He can struggle at the rim and when challenged by more physical defenders. Defensively, this will be seen more when guarding players, as they could look to drive right through him. For him to survive at the NBA level, he'll need to get stronger, and he'll have to do it fast. To his credit, he has improved in this area but still has progress to make.
Sergio De Larrea would be a decent pick for Boston at No. 27
Ultimately, if Boston were to select De Larrea, I would like the pick. I like him as a player and his fit with the team in the long-term. Plus, Boston would look to solve one of the team's biggest needs in point guard depth.
With that being said, I wouldn't have De Larrea as my top choice overall. If available, Boston should still look at UNC center Henri Veesaar.
Boston's biggest need is finding help in the frontcourt, specifically at the center position, and that should be the main priority in the draft. If no help is readily available at pick 27, De Larrea would still be a solid choice.
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