Morning sports update: Recent mock drafts have the Celtics picking Bol Bol
Also: Lawyer Milloy's cameo at the Red Sox-Mariners game, and NBA player-coach trivia.
The Red Sox got off to a slow start defending their World Series title on Thursday, losing the season opener to the Mariners, 12-4.
Who the Celtics are taking in NBA mock drafts: With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, and the NBA regular season coming to a close, it’s not too early to begin thinking about how the 2019 draft will play out.
The Celtics, who will have either three or four picks in the first round (depending on how the Grizzlies finish the season), are currently projected to make an initial selection with the 14th pick.
Two recent mock drafts – Yahoo and NBC Sports – have Boston taking center Bol Bol out of Oregon. Bol, son of former NBA center Manute Bol, is 7’2″ and phenomenally gifted. While other seven-footers tend to struggle shooting, Bol hit 13 of 25 three-pointers, and shot 75.7 percent from the free throw line. He averaged 21 points per game before suffering a season-ending injury.
One of the main concerns around Bol’s NBA future is his durability. A foot injury suffered in December eventually ruled him out for the rest of the season. Questions will linger about his injury history, potentially affecting where he gets drafted.
Still, his talent is undeniable. Combined with his size, Bol is one of the most intriguing draft prospects. Should he fall to the 14th pick (or below), Bol will be an option for Boston.
Trivia: Who was the last player-coach in the NBA? (Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He helped the Celtics win multiple championships.
More from Boston.com:
- Bracket: Who is Boston’s biggest sports villain?
- Bill Belichick was a guest on Mike Krzyzewski’s weekly SiriusXM show
- Patriots, Giants, Chargers reportedly interested in Cardinals QB Josh Rosen
- Greg Schiano steps down from his role with the Patriots
- Guerin Austin’s future on NESN’s Red Sox broadcasts uncertain
- Bruins notebook: Veterans Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are better than ever
- NBCSB will carry all Boston Cannons games this season
- The NHL’s Gary Bettman was a sports gambling skeptic. Now he’s a convert.
- MLB teams hit a record-setting amount of home runs on Opening Day
- This local brewery commemorated Rob Gronkowski’s retirement with a special can label
- The NFL is still considering a proposal by the Chiefs to change overtime rules
The struggles of Chris Sale
: The Red Sox ace did not get a swing-and-a-miss on his fastball during the opening day loss to the Mariners on Thursday. Also, his velocity dropped below its 2018 average after the first inning. Is this cause for concern? [Boston Globe]
Lawyer Milloy was a credentialed photographer at the Red Sox-Mariners game:
Lawyer Milloy a credentialed photographer today pic.twitter.com/DgHcMbhin9
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) March 28, 2019
And the former Patriots safety, who was drafted by MLB teams twice (including the same year as Tom Brady), explained his connection to both teams.
WATCH: @RochieWBZ caught up with former #Patriots cornerback Lawyer Milloy ahead of #RedSox opener in Seattle. Milloy was drafted into MLB twice but chose football: “I could hit people but I couldn’t hit the curve ball.”
Watch the full interview here: https://t.co/4NY8HKm2jX pic.twitter.com/8xnHDuarv5
— WBZ Boston Sports (@wbzsports) March 28, 2019
Lorenzo Cain made a leaping catch to preserve the Brewers’ 5-4 Opening Day win against the Cardinals:
LO CAIN. FOR. THE. WIN. 😱 #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/2B34gddRLh
— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2019
Josh Harper on Mookie Betts potentially getting a larger contract:
How’s Bryce Harper feeling after signing his big contract, while seeing other players in line to sign bigger contracts?
Catch the @Ken_Rosenthal interview Saturday on FS1 before @Phillies vs. Braves. pic.twitter.com/WkYfqxRkN7
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 29, 2019
On this day: In 1999, the University of Connecticut won the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history, defeating Duke 77-74. It was a game worthy of the tournament’s biggest stage, with 14 lead changes. Duke, sporting a roster of five future NBA first-round picks (including 1999 top overall pick Elton Brand) entered the game as 9.5-point favorites.
Connecticut, led by Richard Hamilton’s 27 points, absorbed Duke’s best shots during the first half and trailed 39-37 at the break. In the second half, the Huskies elevated just enough to overcome the Blue Devils’ plethora of NBA talent. The Hartford Courant recently published an oral history of the ’99 season. For any UConn fan, it’s a must read.
https://youtu.be/duu3JLjVMZY
Daily highlight: Connor McDavid produced an absurd piece of skill to score.
BETWEEN-THE-LEGS @cmcdavid97 MAGIC! pic.twitter.com/JusVw6mylA
— NHL (@NHL) March 29, 2019
Trivia answer: Dave Cowens
