Brad Stevens Explains Why Celtics Drafted Baylor Scheierman

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens had eyes on Baylor Scheierman for years before selecting the Creighton product with the last pick of the first round in the NBA Draft.

Boston held a pre-draft workout with the 23-year-old prospect in 2022. The Celtics told Baylor to strengthen his body, mobility, and overall quickness on the floor before Scheierman transferred to Creighton from South Dakota State. Two years later, Boston invited him to another pre-draft workout, which resulted in his selection with the No. 30 pick on Wednesday.

After the draft, Stevens talked about Scheierman's growth over the past two years.

"He's done a good job with his body. He has done a good job in the weight room. He's always been super skilled, super smart, and super tough. He's a basketball player now. He knows how to play. So, I think getting his body to the level it's been in the last couple of years, and the way that has translated into his performances the Big East is not a surprise because he's just got a lot of good things going for him."

- Brad Stevens

Scheierman averaged 18.5 points while shooting at a 44.8% clip from the floor, 38.1% from deep, and 9.0 rebounds per game in his final season at Creighton. He attempted nearly 300 threes (289) in his final campaign, a plus-50 in contrast to the season prior (239), as Scheierman adapted to an increased role.

"At the time, coming out of South Dakota State, it's kind of a different level than where I was at these past two years at Creighton, and I think it kind of just opened my eyes my first time, my first time working out, what I needed to improve on, and what the NBA game is kind of all about. And obviously, these last two years at Creighton, I'm kind of just working on that and the ability to come in this year and prove that I've grown as a player and as a person. And that really helped me, obviously, throughout this process, and ended up getting selected."

- Baylor Scheierman

For a team projected to hit the NBA's second apron in tax penalties, the Celtics could have traded down into the second round for a less expensive prospect. It's worth noting that Stevens kept No. 30 instead, which avoided the risk of seeing another team pick Scheierman before him; thus, the Celtics president of basketball operations wanted Baylor over any other prospect available at the end of the first round.

As Sam Hauser enters the final year of his three-year, $5.6 million contract, many wonder if the Celtics are positioning Scheierman as a future replacement, given his three-point touch and similar 6-foot-7 frame. However, Stevens says extending Hauser on a new deal is still an off-season priority for the Celtics, who reportedly plan to offer All-Defensive guard Derrick White an extension this summer.

On day two of the draft, the Celtics also selected Gonzaga forward Anton Watson at No. 54 in the second round on Thursday.

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