Honorable Mention
Other players who appeared in the ten mock drafts contributing to this early-season draft review include:
Bryan Antoine, 6-foot-5, guard, Villanova; Deni Avdija, 6-foot-7, guard-forward, Maccabi Tel Aviv; Ayo Dosunmu, 6-foot-5, guard, Illinois; Devon Dotson, 6-foot-2, guard, Kansas; Josh Green, 6-foot-6, shooting guard, Arizona; Killian Hayes, 6-foot-4, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm; Aaron Henry, 6-foot-6, forward, Michigan State; Jalen Smith, 6-foot-10, forward-center, Maryland; Cassius Winston, 6-foot-1, point guard, Michigan State; and Kahlil Whitney, 6-foot-6, forward, Kentucky.
With so many possessions ahead of these young players, the actual list of options in Boston’s range of three picks may look quite different. Unexpected development, disappointing shortcomings and injuries — even surprise turns in win-loss records and ping-pong ball bounces in the draft lottery — could radically transform the Celtics’ draft horizons in ways impossible to predict this early in the year.
Nonetheless, it’s a safe bet that the franchise will take advantage of whatever opportunities may present themselves between now and draft night, possibly including trading away some or even all of this year’s assortment of draft options.
For now, it’s likely best to take an increasingly closer look at what might be in that range of options as seasons unfold and profiles raised or lowered. There’s a lot of ball to be played over the next few months, and for most Celtic fans, it’s the surprisingly good ball that team is currently playing that demands their full attention.
Or, most of it, anyway.