No. 1 – Isaiah Stewart, Washington
As the Celtics Wire has noted previously, Stewart has an elite motor that may well bring him success at the next level, and that he is just 18 years old suggests a fair amount of time to grow into a more complete player.
There is hope the Rochester native will develop an outside shot (25 % from 3-point range over just 20 attempts) due to good form and ability at the free throw line (77.4 % ), but the lack of game away from the cup is concerning.
Stewart’s 7-foot-4 wingspan and high-energy play help him block 2.4 shots per game, but at 6-foot-9 he may still have issues defending the bigger centers of the league someone with his skill profile would otherwise be pitted against.
A solid-if-limited defender, Stewart could be worth a look later in the first round if available, but the lack of fit for Boston and the modern NBA (at least before he develops a shot) suggest the Celtics should consider other bigs first.