Why the Celtics should draft Jayson Tatum
A closer look at the 6-foot-8 Duke forward and how he might fit in green
COMMENTARY
The Celtics hold the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, and there are many directions in which they can go with the pick. Here’s a profile of one of the players most likely to be considered by Boston at No. 3.
The basics on Jayson Tatum:
Position: Small forward/Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 204 lbs
Age: 19
College: Duke
Year: Freshman
What he does well: There is a lot of elite talent at the top of the 2017 NBA Draft at the wing spot, but it’s tough to find a guy with a more NBA-ready offensive game than Tatum. The 19-year-old thrives in isolation situations with a midrange jump shot and shifty moves to the rim that keep defenders guessing. That kind of offensive polish has led to a lot of free throw attempts at Duke for Tatum and he’s taken advantage of them (84 percent shooter at the line) regularly.
The 19-year-old also has a strong 6-foot-8 frame already that enabled him to be a reliable rebounder for Duke, particularly on the defensive end. He uses his body well and when his defensive motor is engaged, and can switch between guarding multiple positions on the perimeter in a pinch.
Where he can improve: Defensive awareness and shooting efficiency. Tatum is not an elite athlete like many of the other top wings in this draft. He’s got bulk to his frame and that makes him a bit of a tweener between the 3 and 4 spots. He played a lot of power forward for Duke during his freshman year, but the size advantage he had at college level will dissipate often in the pros. That could make him vulnerable in the post against true bigs with size and also a liability against wings with speed when teams go small.
Tatum also needs to show better consistency in his catch-and-shoot game. His 34 percent accuracy from 3-point range is respectable, but is still a below average mark. Those numbers go down considerably on contested looks and his shooting track record in high school is uninspiring as well. He needs to become a more reliable player on this front, particularly since he won’t have the ball in his hands at much at the NBA level.
How he helps the Celtics: It was evident during the postseason just how few reliable shot creators the Celtics have on the roster alongside Isaiah Thomas. When opponents shut Thomas down, the likes of Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley didn’t have the 1-on-1 ability to get up a good shot on most possessions in the halfcourt. Tatum has already shown plenty of signs at Duke that he has the potential to do that at the next level. There’s a lot of versatility to his offensive game for a college freshman and his numbers only improved as he faced tougher competition in the ACC throughout the season. By picking Tatum, the Celtics would give themselves the best odds of adding meaningful help to their offensive firepower immediately.
The Celtics’ historical comp: This is a lofty comparison, but it’s hard not to see some shades of Paul Pierce in Tatum’s herky jerky offensive game. He’s not going to wow you with athleticism (neither did Pierce), but he loves to operate in the midrange and find creative ways to get shots up. If he turns into 75 percent of the player the Truth was, he will be well worth the pick at No. 3.
One highlight to get you excited:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYhRSYqqTlY
