It’s no secret the Boston Celtics were after some bench shooting at the 2020 NBA trade deadline.
But even with nothing shaking out by the end of the day on February 6th, the team could still address such a need through one of the trio of first-round picks they’ll likely control n the 2020 NBA Draft.
In addition to their own pick, which would be 27th overall if the season were to end with the current standings in place, they also control the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020 first-round pick and the Memphis Grizzlies as well so long as it falls outside the top six picks (as of now it would be 17th overall).
With this sort of ammunition, Boston could combine two or all three to move up into lottery range, so a number of prospects able to shoot the rock could conceivably be had throughout much of mid-lottery onward.
MassLive’s Tom Westerholm recently highlighted five such prospects who could fall within the Celtics’ potential range without too much wheeling and dealing, so let’s take a look at some of the candidates.
Saddiq Bey, Villanova
Villanova’s Bey shoots the 3-pointer well (45.1 %) and often (5.6 attempts per game), as Westerholm notes. He’d be an excellent option around the 17th pick the MassLive analyst projects him as a possibility for, but his proven shooting could also see him go earlier.
The 21-year-old forward needs to work on the “D” of 3-and-D, but he’s not a terrible defender overall. On the other end of the court, he could get to the free throw line a bit more, averaging 2.9 attempts in 2019-20, but represents an intriguing option with few issues to complain about.
Nico Mannion, Arizona
Mannion is an Arizona point guard who, at a young 19, is already showing flashes of being a very serviceable distributor, averaging 5.3 assists per game last season with the Wildcats. While his 3-point shot is not great at 32.7 %, Westerholm believes it will improve when surrounded by more lethal threats.
His slight frame and short wingspan — a half-inch longer than his 6-foot-2 frame — will combine to make him a bit of a liability on defense in the NBA, but time in the weight and film rooms could go a long way towards remedying that.
Devin Vassell, Florida State
Vassell is unlikely to fall to Boston’s range, but adding the Bucks’ pick at No. 30 might be enough to move into the 19-year-old wing’s range. At 6-foot-7 with good defensive skills and a lethal 41.5 % shot from beyond the arc, the Seminole will be in demand on draft night.
Like Villanova’s Bey, he could work on boosting his trips to the stripe with just 2.2 per game last season. But, he rebounds at a high rate for the positions he plays on the wing — 5.1 per contest — so it’s not impossible he’ll be snapped up even higher than the Celtics can maneuver themselves by consolidating picks.
Aaron Nesmith, Vanderbilt
Westerholm isn’t the only one seeing something special in Nesmith — the Celtics Wire covered his potential for Boston in a recent composite draft assembled from the picks of top NCAA analysts recently — and for good reason.
The 20-year-old forward out of Vanderbilt had a season-ending foot injury that could scare off teams, but he shot an absurd 52.2 % from three on 8.2 attempts per game. A favorite option of this imprint for the Celtics at any pick, Nesmith is worth the gamble even if it means moving up is necessary.
Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
The Razorback shooting guard fell from grace in his sophomore season, going from as high as a late-lottery pick in some estimation to a mid- second-round pick in other, more recent assessments.
This was, as Westerholm notes, due in large part to his shot from deep declining from 41.4 % in his inaugural season with Arkansas to just 34.2 %, but at least some of that could be due to opposing defenses not being caught off guard.
Recent knee surgery probably means he’s more likely a second round option, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Celtics to believe in his shot.
Summary
Of the noted candidates, Florida State’s Vassell and Vanderbilt’s Nesmith in particular pop as options Boston should be cued in on for the 2020 NBA Draft.
Villanova’s Bey as well, though it’s hard to stop thinking about what Nesmith could do to second unit defenses. Mannion’s potential as a back-up floor general is interesting, but doesn’t quite seem worth the squeeze given the physical limitations coupled with little other skill besides distribution.
Arkansas’ Joe is also worth keeping an eye on, but more to see if he falls to the Celtics’ pick in the second, a selection owed them by the Brooklyn Nets that would be 46th overall based on the standings of the moment.
