Thanks to a surprising early offseason trade, the Boston Celtics own the No. 25 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens could continue to explore other transactions, but Boston could very well end up selecting a young player to add to the team’s roster.
Though it was not the headline from the three-team trade sending Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, the Celtics also gained draft capital in the deal. Along with swapping the No. 35 pick for the No. 25 pick in the 2023 draft, Boston also landed a first-round selection in the 2024 draft.
Suddenly the Celtics have a decision to make. The pick could be on the move again, but if it’s not, who will Boston take?
One interesting name to consider is Jamie Jaquez Jr., a 6-foot-7 guard from UCLA. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.2 points in his senior season this past year and showed grit and determination on defense as well. There are a few things he’ll need to iron out as a pro, but he is an intriguing prospect for Boston if he’s still available in the late first round.
Even before Boston moved up in the draft, Jaquez Jr. was linked to Boston. The guys at the “How ’bout them Celtics” discussed the fit on a recent episode.
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