Category: NBA Draft

UNC’s Cole Anthony: would be ‘blessing’ if drafted by Boston Celtics

North Carolina point guard prospect Cole Anthony thinks a chance to play with and learn from Kemba Walker would be a blessing.

The Boston Celtics might be looking in the 2020 NBA draft to add a point guard with enough upside to one day replace Kemba Walker — but also enough skill now to back him up this coming season as the team attempts to assemble a contender.

And as an institution, they tend to trust scouting over many years with a given prospect over a bad season or injury history, making North Carolina point guard product Cole Anthony a possible fit, depending on how the franchise sees his potential.

A top recruit coming out of high school with an NBA pedigree (his dad Greg Anthony played for several teams in the 1990s, such as Pat Riley’s New York Knicks), Anthony had a rough sole season with the Tar Heels, tearing a meniscus midway through the season.

He’s since recovered, but his stock has slipped in most mock drafts, which place him anywhere from just outside of the lottery to as late as the 19th pick of the draft.

While he hasn’t worked out with Boston, he did meet with them virtually ahead of the draft, and shared his thoughts about his fit if they did end up selecting him.

“That’d be stepping on to a team that could very easily have made the finals this year,” began Anthony.

“I know they’re super talented, they’re young,” said Anthony. “Obviously Kemba is there right now. Being able to play with someone like that and learn from them would be awesome and a blessing, so that would be pretty cool.”

His high-energy, offensive-oriented play has his floor projected as a backup, but his efficiency long-term will determine whether he ends up ascending to higher heights, some even seeing some star potential should his game pan out and his knee stay healthy.

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RJ Hampton thinks his Celtics workout with Ainge, Stevens went well

Top 2020 NBA draft prospect RJ Hampton shared his workout with the Celtics went well, confirming earlier reports of a planned meeting.

Earlier this month, the Celtics Wire reported on former New Zealand Breakers point guard R.J. Hampton was rumored to be one of the Boston Celtics 10 in-person workouts permitted to teams under the NBA’s pandemic restriction protocol.

And on Wednesday of this week during his pre-draft media availability session, the Texas floor general confirmed he’d met with the team.

A 6-foot-5 point guard who saw his stock slip a bit after his time in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), Hampton has since teamed up with legendary sharpshooter Mike Miller to work on his shot ahead of the November 18th draft.

Asked who he’d met with during his workout with Boston, and how the meeting went more generally, Hampton was open and positive about his meeting.

“I think Austin Ainge was there, Danny Ainge was there, and coach Brad Stevens,” he revealed. “I think the conversations went well. I worked out for them — I felt like the Celtics are a great team, a great organization.”

Projected to be drafted anywhere from the end of the lottery to the early 20s in most mock drafts, Hampton makes sense as a potential Celtics target given he’s likely able to help the team at least a little in the coming season while also retaining the star upside the team has long-term needs of.

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O’Connor says OKC has interest in Aleksej Pokusevski. Could Thunder be gearing up to trade up?

Could the Dennis Schroder trade help the Oklahoma City Thunder trade up to draft Aleksej Pokusevski in the 2020 draft?

In one of Kevin O’Connor’s mock drafts for the Ringer, he mentioned that multiple sources told him the Oklahoma City Thunder had interest in Aleksej Pokusevski.

In another, O’Connor said that “with the league going in the direction that it is, he could end up being the steal of the draft. As for who might take him? Well, I’ve heard nothing aside from the long-reported interest of the Thunder.”

Pokusevski has a wide draft range, but he has steadily seen an increase in projected position in mock drafts. It looks like he’ll be off the board before the Thunder use their 25th pick.

Would the Thunder try to move up for him? The Dennis Schroder trade reports could help with this.

Oklahoma City is reportedly trading Schroder to the Lakers in a deal that includes the 28th pick in the draft. The Thunder may not want two late-first-round draft picks, but perhaps a team in the 18-22 range would be willing to move down in exchange for both of them.

At that position, the Thunder should be able to get the 7-foot player, unless he goes in the lottery.

Pokusevski is intriguing because he is a unicorn-type player. He can shoot and pass. He has a 7-foot-3 wingspan. If he hits his potential, he could be one of the best players in the league.

But he also weighs just 200 pounds, which could prevent him from defender larger or stronger players. He played in a weak league in Greece. As sparkling as his potential is, there’s a real chance he busts in the league.

But Oklahoma City, a team that is preparing to embark on a rebuild and already has more than a dozen draft picks from a variety of teams over the next half-decade, can afford to take a risk.

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LaMelo Ball spotted at Boston’s Tufts University – another Puma visit?

Top 2020 NBA draft prospect LaMelo Ball has been spotted in the Boston area again.

It seems like top 2020 NBA draft prospect LaMelo Ball is back in Boston, with a recent photo tweeted by Zagsblogs’ Jake Lieberman putting him at a gym at Tufts University.

Ball, who was previously erroneously tied to the Boston Celtics as a potential 2020 draft target for the Celtics by much of the NBA media after traveling to the Massachusetts city to meet with shoe purveyors Puma (with whom Ball has a sponsorship deal), can be seen shirtless with two companions in the photo.

A closer look appears to show the trio focused on Ball’s shoes, a neon yellow pair of Pumas with a a third shoe sitting without purpose in between them all.

https://twitter.com/jakelieberman2

One of the three is on his knees, appearing to examine or perhaps take a photo, presumably of the shoes on Ball.

No official word on if there’s even a wisp of smoke here regarding the Celtics’ draft intentions, but we’ll be monitoring this situation closely.

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Okongwu: ‘if I were to be drafted by Boston, I’d definitely fit in’

One of the best bigs in the 2020 NBA draft, Onyeka Okongwu can see himself thriving next to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker.

USC big man Onyeka Okongwu has become of the the 2020 NBA draft’s most popular big man ahead of the November 18th event, and a frequent target of many a mock draft trying to envision which prospects the Boston Celtics might trade up for.

Riding the wave of popularity enjoyed by mobile, versatile defensive big men sparked by Bam Adebayo with the Miami Heat’s unexpected postseason success, the Adebayo comparison is probably unfair.

And that’s not a dig at Okongwu, as they are different enough players in terms of skill sets, Adebayo possessing better guard-like skills he’s also had three seasons in the NBA to hone.

Okongwu may not have the same offensive range of skills yet, but he’s also a highly-mobile, defensive-minded big with solid handles and a developing passing game.

Like many in this year’s draft, the former Trojan declined to share with which team’s he’s been in contact, but when asked by the Celtics Wire about his fit with Boston if they did deal up to select him, Okongwu was optimistic.

“A player like me, I feel like I can fit anywhere,” he began.

“No matter what team or organization in the NBA due to my defensive versatility and my offensive upside and potential. Playing with Boston, your players like Kemba Walker, [Jaylen] Brown and [Jayson] Tatum. I definitely feel like if I were to be drafted by Boston, I’d definitely fit in to that young core they have.”

Okongwu is one of a small handful of players who would likely be able to help the Celtics in their coming season as well as having the sort of upside worth it to push the proverbial chips in to draft.

But, that’s a big part of the reason he’s so highly regarded — so Boston will need to be aggressive in their pursuit if the plan is indeed to roster the USC product.

Less than a week away from the big night, it’s also eminently possible dominoes sparked by other concerns push the Celtics out of the running for Okongwu.

Or out of the draft entirely.

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Thunder had interview with Killian Hayes, implying willingness to trade up

The Oklahoma City Thunder interviewed Killian Hayes, who is expected to be a top-10 pick. Are they considering trading up?

For those looking for a concrete piece of evidence the Oklahoma City Thunder are interested in trading up in the 2020 NBA draft, here it is:

The Thunder did a Zoom interview with Killian Hayes, the French guard told Daily Thunder reporter Rylan Stiles during a press conference on Thursday.

“I had a zoom interview with them. I think fitting in with them would be a great thing,” Hayes said.

The guard is going to be a lottery pick and could go in the top five. Most analysts have him as one of the three best point guards in the draft, alongside LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton.

Oklahoma City would have to trade up to get him.

Even the Phoenix Suns’ pick at No. 10, which has been linked to the Thunder through Chris Paul rumors, may not be high enough to nab the guard.

Hayes also told Stiles he worked out for the Pistons and some other Eastern Conference teams, which could (and very well may) mean any team from the No. 3 through No. 9 spot.

Hayes, a 19-year-old who played for Ulm in France, is an inventive passer and shows shooting potential in his step-back game, though his catch-and-shoot numbers aren’t where they need to be. Listed at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, he and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would make up a long backcourt.

His range in the draft is intriguing. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has him as the No. 1 player on his big board and No. 7 in his mock draft. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has him at No. 10 on his mock draft and ESPN’s Jonathan Givony had him at No. 12. I put him at No. 7 on the Thunder Big Board.

Interestingly enough, the Thunder seem to have put more consideration into Hayes than Haliburton, a guard from Iowa State who is also most often projected to go in the four to 10 range.

There’s a good chance this is just due diligence. Oklahoma City was intrigued by Hayes and wanted to get to know him. In addition to any Paul deal, the Thunder have a number of picks over the next half-decade that can be used to move up, along with the No. 25 pick this year.

But it’s notable to see evidence that the organization has not ruled out making a splash by jumping way, way up in the 2020 draft.

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Are the Celtics trying to trade up for Auburn forward Isaac Okoro?

There are rumbles that Auburn’s Isaac Okoro could be a sleeper target for the Boston Celtics if they decide to trade up in the 2020 draft.

The Boston Celtics might just have their eyes on an especially stellar defender as their primary target of the 2020 NBA draft, according to Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.

Along with shooting and backup point guard needs, wing depth is among the Celtics’ greatest needs — and if rumors of veteran forward Gordon Hayward potentially wanting out of Boston end up materializing, it could surge to the most urgent need the team has.

So with that in mind, Deveney’s sources suggestion that the Celtics may be looking to Auburn wing Isaac Okoro to fill it.

At first glance, it might be easy to dismiss as potential “silly season” rumors designed to throw opposing GMs off the scent of the actual plan.

But, depending on how things pan out elsewhere with Boston, it very well may be one of several lead options for the Celtics to trade up after.

To date however, the Auburn product shared on Wednesday that he has not yet met with Boston.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the team has no plans to work out with him with most of a week still left ahead of the November 18th draft though, pending the outcome of other moving parts.

With only 10 total in-person workouts per club allowed, Boston may be saving a few of them to use on prospects closer to draft day, when they’ve had more time to work though what players like Hayward and Enes Kanter may be planning with regards to free agency.

Okoro’s lack of shooting prowess is unlikely to excite fans still smarting from the bench’s inability to score in the postseason, but he is able to guard effectively 1-4 with decent handles and passing who finishes well.

He’s also very young at 19 years old, and while his shot needs a massive overhaul without encouraging signs from the free throw line (he shot 67.4% from the stripe in his sole NCAA season), he could still develop that aspect of his game.

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FSU’s Patrick Williams would ‘contribute any way I can” if drafted by Celtics

Rising prospect Patrick Williams would “do his role, and contribute any way” he can if drafted by the Boston Celtics.

If the Boston Celtics were to draft Florida State forward Patrick Williams, the former Seminole thinks he’d fit right in — and not just because the frontcourt would read like a family reunion with Grant and Rob Williams (all no relation) already on the roster.

The 6-foot-8 forward declined to share with which teams he has been meeting ahead of the 2020 NBA draft in an effort to retain as much control over his final destination as possible, as a number of his peers have elected.

But, he did speak with the Celtics Wire on Wednesday about how he envisioned his role should Boston work a deal to trade into his range and select him.

Projected to Boston at No. 14 by popular outlets earlier this fall, Williams has seen his stock rise considerably since, as high as in the top six by some mock drafts.

Asked how he would envision his fit if he did end up in Boston, Williams was optimistic.

“I think I could fit with a number of coaches and players,” he began.

“The way I play … I can play any position and so coming into whatever team it is, and trying to contribute, whether that’s defensively or offensively. Anywhere I can honestly just come in and do my role, contribute in any way I can; I think that’ll be the biggest focal point.”

Williams is indeed seen as one of the drafts most versatile prospects, and while he’s incredibly raw, it’s hard not to see how he could be one of the handful of prospects with real star upside.

While his footwork, defense and handle all need attention, he is already a very skilled player at a position of need with the kind of frame he’ll need to be an elite player at the NBA.

It would be a bit of a challenge to give him the reps he needs against high-end talent to develop the many holes in his game with the Celtics.

But, given the upside and solid physical and mental tools he brings to the table, it may be in the cards that Boston will make a move for him just the same.

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Maryland’s Jalen Smith believes he can be Boston’s “defensive anchor”

While Maryland big Jalen Smith won’t say who he’s met with ahead of the draft, the KG-influenced power forward thinks the Celtics would thrive with his two-way play.

If you want to get the attention of Boston Celtics fans as a potential draft prospect, tell them you model your game on Kevin Garnett.

That’s exactly who Maryland big man Jalen Smith sees himself taking after as a wiry big man with mobility and shooting, and while those are truly monumental shoes to fill, it’s certainly not bad to aim high.

Standing 6-foot-10 and possessing a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Smith is one of the draft’s better rim protectors, having logged 2.4 blocks per game in his sophomore season with the Terps.

He’s got a solid jumper that he uses fairly often for a big, connecting on 36.8% of his 2.8 3-point attempts per game last season.

And though he doesn’t have much in the way of lateral quickness to seal off lanes with ease, he’s still fairly mobile for his size and able to close out on shooters.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of the 2020 NBA draft, Smith declined to share who he’d met with in the draft process.

But, the Baltimore native thinks he’d fit well with Boston when the Celtics Wire asked about a potential career playing for Danny Ainge and company.

“I feel like I’d be able to fit in well [on the Celtics]; being a versatile big, being able to affect a team on the defensive end as well as the offensive end,” he began.

“Being able to help not clog the paint up of the guards, being able to open up space for driving lanes, and being able to hit an open shot. Being that defensive anchor for the team and making sure that I’m always holding down on that end.”

Smith has work to do on his body and game to elevate it to the level a championship-caliber squad like Boston’s can play him regular minutes as part of its heavy rotation.

But with his high motor and basketball IQ, it seems the Maryland product has an excellent chance at achieving that goal, so long as he keeps up a Big Ticket work ethic.

And while he is projected anywhere from the middle of the first round to its end, the Celtics are as well-positioned as any team to draft him with picks No. 14, 26 and 30 under their control.

That is, if they see a little of the KG in Smith he strives to mirror in his own game.

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Celtics have met with FSU wing Devin Vassell ahead of 2020 NBA draft

Florida State wing prospect Devin Vassell revealed he has met with the Boston Celtics both virtually and in-person for one of their 10 approved workouts.

Florida State wing Devin Vassell has met with the Boston Celtics remotely, and has worked out with the team in person as well for one of the team’s 10 in-person meetings allowed as part of the league’s pandemic precautions.

The 6-foot-7 shooting guard and small forward is known primarily for his defense, but has a solid offensive game — apart from the former Seminole showing off a very unconventional shot in a recent viral clip.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday ahead of the 2020 NBA draft, Vassell emphasized that he hasn’t changed his shot, and given he was connecting from deep at the rate of 41.5%, it seems he has little reason to do so.

Boston fans ought to be pleased the Georgia native is on their team’s radar.

Widely regarded as one of this draft’s safest players for a team that intends to contend now, with his defense (and hopefully shooting) coming off the bench, he is projected to be serviceable for a rotation player with starter upside later on.

“I think it went really well; the workout went really well,” replied Vassell when asked by the Celtics Wire how his workout went with Boston.

“They showed some interest and for me it was … just a blessing and a great opportunity for me. I think that anywhere that I go I’ll be able to fit in, help a team right away so me being able to talk to them to show them what I’ve been working on over this six or seven months of quarantine I think really helped.”

If Boston plans on retaining their best pick or perhaps even combining two to move up a little closer to Vassell’s projected range a few slots higher than the Celtics’ No. 14 pick, the FSU wing would make a world of sense.

He may lack in true star upside if most evaluators are to be believed, but the established skills he brings to the table would be an excellent option for the Celtics bench, with potential to grow into a larger role.

However, with the Celtics tied to seemingly every trade proposal eyed to take place on or before the draft on November 18th, there’s a dizzying array of potential directions the team might take instead.

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