Could the Boston Celtics be planning a late first-round selection of Utah State guard Sam Merrill? At least one Utah-area journalist thinks it might be in the cards.
Merrill — a 6-foot-5 guard currently mocked in the latter half of the second round — is probably more in line with being taken by the Celtics at No. 47 overall than with picks 26 or 30, but he’s certainly worthy of consideration given the size and shooting he possesses.
He isn’t an especially good defender despite his size, and at 24 is one of the oldest players in the draft, which may be pushing down his draft stock.
But, his 41% 3-point shooting and free throw percentage (89.3%) suggest he may be a real value if still available that late in the second round — particularly given Boston’s need for shooters off the bench.
“When I was a kid, I was an above-average shooter but didn’t really take a ton of 3s. During my senior year in high school, I think I made 27 3s, one a game,” Merrill told Rookie Wire’s Bryan Kalbrosky. “I knew that I was going to have to be a great shooter and just put in a ton of work.”
“During my freshman year, I was more of just a catch-and-shoot guy and then I just continued to work and work. “That’s how I’ve been able to develop into the shooter that I am right now.”
Sam Merrill all about making winning plays: ‘I’m more than just a shooter’ https://t.co/xSR7Ix33ZN
— Rookie Wire (@RookieWire) November 6, 2020
The Utah native also reportedly has ties to the Ainge family.
“It doesn’t hurt that Merrill is a friend of Crew Ainge, a former Utah State guard, and the son of Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge,” observed KSL Sports’ Ben Anderson in an article on the former Aggie. “Like Merrill, Ainge was a star at a smaller basketball school in Utah (BYU) who carved out a long career in the NBA.”
That friendship likely means Merrill is on the team’s radar, and it isn’t inconceivable that his game might have him in their plans.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 9, 2020
The Ainge comparison is unfair given how highly regarded Danny was in multiple sports before he joined the NBA, though their backgrounds do have parallels as multisport athletes in high school.
With a number of quality players likely available later in the draft than in most seasons, it seems plausible Merrill could still be on the board for Boston at No. 47.
And while the Utah State product may lack much upside at 24, he’d certainly be a solid option for the Celtics to consider there.
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