Even with the sports world grinding to a complete standstill there will still be an NBA Draft at some point in the near future. The pre-draft process is shrouded in uncertainty as we don’t know when, or if, there will be an NBA combine, nor do we know how the evaluation process as a whole will look.
But that won’t stop the basketball world from trying to project how the draft will go, and today Bleacher Report released it’s latest mock draft, in which the Boston Celtics land a trio of interesting prospects with picks 17, 26, and 30.
Pick 17, Saddiq Bey, Villanova
Bey blossomed in his second season at ‘Nova, leading the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game while adding 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Perhaps most impressively, Bey connected on 45.1% of his shots from beyond the arc.
The Villanova sophomore projects as a player that can come in and hit shots right away, but what makes him truly intriguing is his versatility at both ends of the court.
With only two pure ballhandlers on the roster, the Wildcats often turned to Bey to handle point guard duties, a task he handled with impressive comfort. Defensively, Bey was often tasked with guarding the opponent’s best player, whether that be a point guard or a power forward. He spent the season dealing with electric scorers like Myles Powell and Markus Howard and usually rose to the challenge regardless of who was in front of him.
Bey’s game has the look of one that easily translates to the NBA, and his size, versatility, and shot-making ability present a ton of upside.
Pick 26, Leandro Bolmaro, Barcelona II
There are always some questions regarding international prospects, and those could be amplified this year with the uncertainty surrounding the pre-draft process.
But the 6-7 Argentinian averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in the LEB Silver League this season at just 19-years-old. The advanced numbers are encouraging, particularly his 103.2 offensive rating and 90.2 defensive rating and his 26.02 assist percentage.
While his numbers may not wow you, he is considered one of the best international prospects in this draft, largely due to his quality ballhandling for a player his size, crafty movement, and elite vision and passing.
His 3-point percentage leaves a lot to be desired, but his jump shot looks workable and would seem to indicate the potential for improvement. At this point in the draft, you’re trying to land someone who can become a solid contributor, and there’s a lot to like about Bolmaro’s game.
Pick 30, Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
Carey Jr. had a strong freshman season at Duke after joining the Blue Devils as a top-five prospect. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 57.7 percent from the floor.
His strength is his best asset right now, but he also has decent quickness and a good basketball IQ. He took less than one 3 per game at Duke, but connected on 38.7% of his attempts and can score in a variety of ways.
His conditioning is a concern and he’s not an elite athlete, but at pick 30 he presents a good amount of upside and his rebounding ability alone could make him a useful player.