Who could be on the Celtics’ radar after acquiring the No. 25 pick in the NBA Draft?

Understandably, Boston Celtics followers most likely don’t have the NBA Draft on the entrance of their minds proper now.

The Celtics simply traded Marcus Sensible, the longest-tenured lively participant and soul of the franchise, to Memphis in a surprising three-team deal that returned standout huge Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards.

These adjustments will obtain loads of evaluation and dialogue. However Boston additionally despatched Washington its No. 35 decide on this yr’s draft, whereas receiving each the No. 25 decide and a 2024 first-rounder from Memphis.

All of a sudden, the Celtics have critically altered their leverage on Thursday, buying and selling up ten spots after years of buying and selling down or out. They’ve just a few hours to seek out their man in a probably historic 2023 draft class — or preserve the decide transferring in one other commerce.

Although Boston elevated its choices by transferring up, the philosophy shouldn’t change considerably. A late first-round decide isn’t the place to fret about positional want or win-now-ability. Even older prospects take time to seek out themselves within the league.

However staff wants, from stylistic and schematic standpoints, have modified in methods we are able to’t absolutely grasp but. The Celtics are clearly revamping their strategy to either side of the basketball and have ability gaps to fill. What precisely are these wants — and who’re the correct prospects to try to fill them?

As a substitute of itemizing single candidates, listed here are three pathways the franchise might comply with tonight, with a finest prospect match and a few extra choices for every.

Path 1: The Perimeter Shooter-Plus

Finest match: Ben Sheppard, wing, Belmont

As proven by each the best way they misplaced and the staff they misplaced to, Boston lacked an off-ball shooter who persistently pressured defensive consideration in final yr’s playoffs. Sam Hauser is a surefire sniper, however he additionally couldn’t stick within the rotation since he had little to supply exterior of his shot, plus some defensive considerations.

It’s onerous to discover a sharpshooter who can preserve opponents trustworthy off the dribble and play sound staff protection. Discovering such a gem is tremendously worthwhile to the ground and ceiling of a lineup. Simply take a look at Duncan Robinson — he made his cash off of the three-ball, however re-emerged as a playoff weapon as a result of he improved as a connector and cutter.

Sheppard, a 6-foot-5-inch star at Belmont, checks a number of packing containers. The 21-year-old improved dramatically past the arc in every of his 4 school seasons, culminating with a 41.5% three-point clip on six makes an attempt per sport in 2022-23. He wowed on the NBA Mix and has quickly risen through the pre-draft course of.

He’s a man groups can run off-ball screens for. He can take a dribble-hand-off and shoot it, or drive and make the right cross. He performs protection with effort and consciousness, inspiring confidence that he can a minimum of hold in a playoff rotation.

Additional passes? Celtics followers need extra of these. Right here you go:

The Celtics will nonetheless be a three-point-heavy squad subsequent yr. Porzingis’s addition is an intriguing signal that the offense might work extra out of the publish, with Porzingis, Al Horford and Jayson Tatum, or depend on bigs setting the desk on the prime of the arc (factors at Robert Williams). Both method, that locations a premium on motion shooters who can assault closeouts.

Sheppard should add energy to take care of his defensive impression on the NBA stage. He’s additionally not a burst-y athlete, although the specter of a shot ought to assist him earn house to drive. He made a good 60% of his makes an attempt on the rim this season, per Barttorvik, however was a lot better in previous years, together with 67.6% in 2021-22. The hope is NBA house, plus a complementary function, permits him to shine with much less strain.

Including a deadeye shooter with a number of extra paths to success, although, is a troublesome alternative to cross up. If Sheppard is offered at No. 25, he’ll be arguably probably the most engaging participant on the board.

Different fascinating matches: Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara), Keyonte George (Baylor), Jett Howard (Michigan), Dariq Whitehead (Duke)

Path 2: The Reinvestment in Versatility

Finest match: Olivier-Maxence Prosper, wing, Marquette

A part of what makes this draft class so fascinating is that this highly-coveted model of participant — wings and forwards with particular defensive versatility and upside in several offensive areas — is plentiful, significantly on the finish of the primary spherical. You possibly can make an affordable case for a minimum of eight or 9 prospects like this value choosing at No. 25, relying in your particular person preferences.

Prosper has the slight edge for me. A 6-foot-7-inch wing with size (7-foot-1 wingspan) and energy (230 kilos), Prosper took a big-time leap in his junior season with Marquette, averaging 12.5 factors and 4.7 rebounds whereas capturing 62.4% on twos and 33.9% on threes.

Prosper’s skill to chase gamers and transfer laterally at his dimension is astounding. Oddly, he hardly ever blocks pictures regardless of his size, however absorbs contact extraordinarily effectively with out fouling. He can blow up display actions, monitor gamers away from the ball and change proper into a high quality cease; the potential on protection is tantalizing.

Then you definitely flip to offense, and Prosper a minimum of has the ground of a bouncy vertical athlete who can reduce and end — one thing the Celtics might actually use already. He made 65% of his makes an attempt on the rim as a junior. The three-point clip is underwhelming, however not abysmal, and he’s additional alongside as a shooter than most different prospects in his archetype.

The lingering query with Prosper is that if he could make sufficient high quality performs passing and driving to maintain defenses guessing. However in a low-usage function, and with time to develop, he makes a ton of sense with Boston’s defensive historical past and future wants.

Like Sheppard, Prosper has been a severe pre-draft riser. It’s attainable he doesn’t even final to No. 25 at this level.

Different fascinating choices: Noah Clowney (Alabama), Andre Jackson (Connecticut), Kobe Brown (Missouri), Colby Jones (Xavier), Sidy Cissoko (G League Ignite), Julian Phillips (Tennessee), Kris Murray (Iowa)

Path 3: The Multi-tooled Guard (with a defensive basis)

Finest match: Amari Bailey, guard, UCLA

Sensible’s departure opened up an apparent positional gap at guard, although maybe a commerce, JD Davison, or Yam Madar fill out the again finish. Boston at all times wants gamers who can rating their very own and preserve the ball transferring, although — significantly if Malcolm Brogdon can’t keep wholesome. The glut of younger guards shouldn’t cease the Celtics from taking a participant who matches.

Nonetheless, as we have now discovered with Payton Pritchard and others, each Celtics playoff rotation member has to take care of a constant stage of sound staff protection. This guidelines fairly just a few prospects out.

Amari Bailey will appear like a attain if Boston selects him at No. 25. Most mocks and large boards have the 6-foot-3-inch guard within the 30-45-pick vary. However I’ll get on my soapbox for Bailey as one among my favourite prospects on this class.

Bailey attracts some similarities to Brogdon. He’s not a ridiculous runner and leaper, however give him a driving lane and he’ll use his energy and misleading pace to make you pay. He finishes across the basket at a excessive stage — 65.3% on the rim this previous season, with greater than half coming unassisted.

As a freshman, Bailey struggled mightily with turnovers, however he improved all year long and actually hit his stride closing the season. He additionally wowed on the Draft Mix with a few of his reads out of the pick-and-roll, and there’s severe potential as a passer value creating. Similar goes for the capturing; the lefty solely tried 1.8 threes per sport at UCLA, however made 38.9% of them, together with 41.5% off the catch. So he can match off the ball as a second-side participant whereas nonetheless engaged on his on-ball playmaking.

Bailey performs actually stable protection with nice effort. He’s not excellent, and display navigation is an enchancment space draft analysts usually level to, however he’s sturdy, lengthy, and quick. Approach looks as if an affordable place to guess on when a participant has the bodily and psychological fortitude to defend. I’d make that guess with Bailey.

Boston has leaned in the direction of draft-and-develop guys just lately between Davison, Juhann Begarin, Madar, and even Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith. Ought to the staff go that route once more, Bailey can be a improbable selection to seek out success in some capability.

Different fascinating choices: Colby Jones (Xavier), Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas), Marcus Sasser (Houston)