The Athletic’s NCAA expert Sam Vecenie recently updated his 2020 mock NBA Draft with three intriguing prospects projected to be selected by the Boston Celtics.
Vecenie, who agrees with the consensus this particular crop of prospects is not especially strong, still sees plenty of noteworthy options for teams to consider in this year’s NBA Draft.
With few standout prospects even near the top of the draft, the odds of nailing a sleeper pick or two could be higher than usual, and given the Celtics could control as many as three draft picks in the first round, that bodes well for Danny Ainge and the rest of the front office.
Controlling the Memphis Grizzlies’ first-round pick if it falls outside of a top-six protection that would see it convey unprotected in 2021 otherwise, the Grizzlies’ recent success suggests a strong chance of three selections this year.
Boston also controls its own pick and that of the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks, whose first will almost certainly be last in the first round or very close to it barring a key injury or some other bad luck.
Onyeka Okongwu, Saddiq Bey and Xavier Tillman would be a major haul for the Celtics. https://t.co/9L3DSJ3UPw
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) January 10, 2020
Vecenie sees the Memphis pick conveying, projecting it to fall inside the lottery at 13th overall, and believes the Celtics might select USC’s Onyeka Okongwu with the pick if available.
Okongwu is a 6-foot-9 center who is logging 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game in his freshman season with the Trojans while shooting 61.9 % overall.
For Vecenie, the 18-year-old big man is a good match in terms of culture and style of play, though his lack of a jumper is also a concern. Even still, the NCAA analyst is optimistic about his future in the NBA:
“He’s been a remarkably efficient post player, showcasing good touch over tough length. More than that, he’s been terrific at scoring points in a variety of ways that are translatable to the next level. He’s really smart at finding the soft timing in the defense from the dunker spot. He excels as a roller toward the hoop.”
“He’s a monster on the offensive glass, and runs the floor in transition,” Vecenie adds.
Another prospect he envisions as a likely Boston target is Villanova’s Saddiq Bey, a 6-foot-8 wing he projects the Celtics 28th using their own pick.
An under-the-radar prospect for Vecenie, he believes Boston will want to add wing depth over the summer, and with his two-way play, could be one of the aforementioned sleeper prospects with a little luck.
Able to guard down to quick floor generals and up to larger forwards, he’s also hitting 38.2 % of his 3-pointers while averaging double-digit offensive numbers against quality opponents.
Finally, Vecenie projects Boston will consider Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman, a 6-foot-9 third-year center, who excels in the pick-and-roll with 34.6 % accuracy from beyond the arc.
He’s also got solid defensive chops.
Vecenie noted his strengths on this side of the ball, stating, “he’s a terrifically switchable defensive player who can really move his feet and defend both in space and on the interior.”
These are all excellent qualities a team needs from the sort of frontcourt depth players Tillman is projected to be.
The trio of prospects is worth keeping tabs on throughout the season as Boston’s 2020 NBA Draft fate comes into focus, with a number of factors needing resolution only time will bring.
Some or even all of this season’s potential selections could be consolidated or dealt away entirely as the team makes other decisions ahead of the February trade deadline.
The record of the Grizzlies — and whether they make the postseason — will also have a major impact on how the Celtics weigh their draft day plans.
Whatever ends up playing out as far as the draft-related events beyond Boston’s control go, keeping an eye on players like these is assuredly something the front office has been doing for some time already.
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