Celtics may have the perfect Al Horford replacement at their fingertips

In Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s offense, stretching the floor and shooting a high volume of three-pointers are core principles. This system thrives when every position is a threat from beyond the arc; however, Boston's frontcourt struggled to provide that.

Although Neemias Queta proved to be a serviceable starting center, he offers no shooting upside. Strengthening the frontcourt by adding a stretch big must be a priority for President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. Fortunately for him, there are several options Stevens can find in this year’s NBA Draft to address this need.

One player who would fulfill this need is forward Allen Graves.

Celtics should target Allen Graves at pick No. 27

Graves, 19, played his lone collegiate season for the Santa Clara Broncos, averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, shooting 41.3% from three. The redshirt freshman quickly emerged as a standout player, playing an integral part in bringing the program to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward is one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft. While Graves declared for the draft earlier last month, there's a chance he returns to college if he's not a project first-rounder. However, this is unlikely, considering he’s been mocked anywhere between picks 20 and 30.

With Boston selecting at pick No. 27, he’s in the range to select him, and the Celtics should pounce on the opportunity to do so.

What does Allen Graves adds to the Celtics?

This past season, Graves proved he could do a bit of everything, but scoring is what he does best. Although his jumper is a little slow, Graves was a threat from three last season, despite shooting just 2.6 attempts.

At Santa Clara, Graves did the majority of his scoring in pick-and-pop actions and in the post. He also displayed that he’s capable of scoring by driving to the basket, even though he’s not the fastest guy.

The 19-year-old was also an impactful player on the glass, leading the team in offensive rebounds (2.8), and also established himself as a solid defender who can guard one through four.

His ability to stretch the floor and effort on both ends make him a strong fit for the Celtics. With the departure of Al Horford last offseason, Boston lacked a big man who was a reliable shooter from long distance and capable of giving the offense a spark.

Like Horford, Graves has demonstrated that he can offer this, along with being a willing passer. While Graves has some strong qualities, there are questions regarding whether his play can translate to the next level.

Playing at a mid-major program, Graves used his physicality to dominate opponents. With the NBA having taller, stronger players at his position, Graves must find other ways to score, and considering that he’s not as athletic either, he’ll have to improve his scoring on the perimeter.

Still, Graves is a prospect the Celtics must consider at No. 27. While he may not play a significant role in the upcoming season, Boston can help him grow into a potential contributor by playing him in the G-League.

Given its recent success with late-first round selections Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman, this would be the perfect formula for the Celtics to add their next stretch big for the foreseeable future.

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