5 NBA draft prospects the Celtics could target with the No. 3 pick
Here's who comes after Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.
COMMENTARY
After landing the No. 3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge wasted no time before acknowledging he likes a number of players who should be available at that position.
“We’re excited about this No. 3 pick,” Ainge said. “We believe that a good player will come out of this draft and I can’t wait to continue the process. Yeah, we were holding out for a short hope there to get the No. 1 or 2 pick, but the No. 3 pick is a very good player. And we have our eyes set on a handful of guys.”
Who are the players the Celtics could be considering with the franchise’s highest draft pick since the 1997?
Let’s take an early look at some of the top contenders for the selection:
Dragan Bender, a professional Croatian basketball player.
Dragan Bender
Position:
Power forward
Height: 7-1
Weight: 225 lbs
Age: 18
Team: Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
2015-16 stats: 10.6 mpg, 2.1ppg, 1.4 rpg
Overview: When considering upside, there are few candidates with more potential at the No. 3 spot than Bender. While still extremely young and raw, he’s spent most of the past season sitting on the bench for Maccabi Tel Aviv, one of the best pro teams overseas. The physical tools are there for the seven-footer to develop into a core piece for an NBA team down the road, especially with his agility, speed and ability to create off the dribble. His handle is superb for a player of his size and a developing 3-point shot has also been added to his arsenal in recent years.
While his position fills a need for Boston up front, the question that Ainge will have to ask is just how patient he is willing to be with a 48-win team for a prospect like Bender. There’s a real possibility he wouldn’t be able to contribute heavily to a team at the NBA level for a couple seasons.
Jaylen Brown
Position:
Small forward
California’s Jaylen Brown puts an Oregon State defender on a poster.
Height: 6-7
Weight: 223 lbs
Age: 19
College: California
2015-16 stats: 14.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 43.1 FG%, 29.4 3PT%
Overview: Versatility is becoming a more important trait in the NBA in recent seasons: Players need to be able to guard multiple positions and adapt as teams experiment with playing small-ball. Brown should fit the new mold. He was the Pac-12’s freshman of the year and earned a spot on the all-conference team based on his solid play on both ends of the floor. He did struggle with his outside shot at Cal, but he attacked well as a slasher and in transition for an offense that lacked solid weapons around him.
Defensively, Brown rebounded very well for his size and held his own against both guards and wings when handed those assignments. As one of the top high school prospects just a year ago, the swingman has the cache to earn a look at No. 3 for a Celtics team that lacks depth on the wing.
Providence guard Kris Dunn (3) shoots the ball against Georgetown.
Kris Dunn
Position:
Point guard, shooting guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205 lbs
Age: 22
College: Providence
2015-16 stats: 16.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.2 apg, 44.8 FG%, 37.2 3PT%
Overview: For a team that is looking for a player who can step in and help immediately in his rookie season, Dunn’s probably the best bet out of this group. He could have been a lottery pick last year, but elected to return for his junior season to improve his standing, elevating him to a top-5 prospect. He’s got the physical traits (size, wingspan, speed) that will translate well to the pro level and the track record of being a strong scorer and distributor for an underwhelming supporting cast at Providence. He’s never been a terrific knockdown shooter, but has made subtle gains from the perimeter in each of his three college seasons.
Dunn’s also shown terrific ability on the defensive end, even though his aggressiveness has left him out of position at times. For a team like Boston, the problem with taking him at No. 3 wouldn’t be Dunn’s skills, but seeing how he fits into an overcrowded backcourt with plenty of ballhandlers.
Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield was selected to the AP All-American men’s college basketball team.
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-5
Weight: 212 lbs
Age: 22
College: Oklahoma
2015-16 stats: 25.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 50.1 FG%, 45.7 3PT%
Overview: No prospect saw his stock skyrocket more during the past NCAA season than Hield. DraftExpress.com considered the four-year senior a potential second-round pick as recently as November, but a superb offensive showcase during his final season sent his draft value into the lottery. With consistent outside shooting — a tough thing to find in the NBA Draft these days — Hield comes with a track record that is unmatched among this year’s top prospects.
With big performances in big games against some of the top teams in the nation in the Big 12, any team (like the Celtics) who needs to improve its 3-point shooting will take a look at Hield. His age and lack of defensive ability will give teams pause, but he will provide an NBA-ready skill to whatever team selects him in the top 10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uK4EwZfZ1s
Jamal Murray
Position: Point guard, shooting guard
Height: 6-5
Weight: 201 lbs
Age: 19
College: Kentucky
2015-16 stats: 20.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 45.4 FG%, 40.8 3PT%
Overview: The combo guard out of Kentucky provides a lot of the offensive skills that Dunn and Hield bring to the table, with the added benefit of more upside as a 19-year-old. While starring for Team Canada and the University of Kentucky this past year, Murray stood out as a natural scorer and a pure shooter. His offensive abilities are alluring, but there remain questions about his true NBA position given his lack of athleticism.
Despite his scoring, Murray struggled with turnovers as a ballhandler at Kentucky; it remains unclear if he will be able to command an NBA team at the point position. The athleticism concerns also carry over to the defensive end, as he did not show the consistent ability to keep opposing guards out of the paint. Outside of Bender, Murray provides likely the most risk/reward out of any potential No. 3 pick. It will be up to the Celtics or another team to determine whether his offensive upside is worth the gamble.
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