Potential Boston Celtics draft target Saddiq Bey won’t say whether he’s worked out with the team, but Boston fans shouldn’t take it personally.
Speaking with the media ahead of the 2020 NBA draft on November 18th, the Villanova 3-and-D wing prospect let it be known it was a strategy being used by his agent, and that he would not share that sort of information about any team.
When it comes to strategy, knowledge is power, so limiting the flow of information to the press perhaps allows Bey’s camp a little more control over his destiny as a player than might be had without it.
Danny Ainge talks draft, free agency plans, loss of Tommy Heinsohn https://t.co/nmjPwgyQkR
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 11, 2020
The Celtics Wire asked about his hypothetical fit with the Celtics instead given the limits Bey put on that line of questioning, to which the former Wildcat replied with a team-first answer that would be music to most coach’s ears.
“I think for any team, whatever role that they see me [in] or need me to do to help the team win, I’ll be comfortable with. I don’t expect anything specific. For anybody … I’ll try and use my skillset and mentality in I hope the best way possible.”
“Whatever role the organization sees me in, I’ve got my best foot forward and 100% effort to help the team win,” he added.
Villanova's Saddiq Bey isn't showing his hand regarding who he has worked out with ahead of the draft, but is comfortable with whatever role is asked of him if he were drafted by the Celtics.
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) November 11, 2020
Bey, a 6-foot-8 small forward who can shoot the rock and defend well with his 6-foot-10 wingspan, moves well off-ball and can even pass a little.
While he isn’t especially athletic, he’s hit from deep on 45% of his attempts in his sophomore season with Villanova and shot 76.9% from the stripe at 5.6 and 2.9 attempts per game, respectively.
And though his ceiling likely isn’t much higher than a solid starter, his floor is probably around high-end rotation player. If drafted in the last spot of the lottery onwards, he’d be exactly the sort of win-now prospect Boston needs.
To learn more about Bey and his background, check out this interview by HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky.
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