How Romeo Langford, Nassir Little and other top prospects interviewed at combine would fit
On Thursday, the Boston Globe posted 18 of the players the Celtics interviewed at the draft combine in Chicago, which included a significant number of high-level names. The interviews don’t mean much from the outside (teams aren’t necessarily granted interviews with everyone they request, so it’s possible Boston didn’t even interview its favorite players in the draft process), but they provide a nice jump-off point for a closer look at the first round.
Here’s how the players who reportedly interviewed with the Celtics could fit.
Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech)Culver is projected to go well ahead of Boston’s first selection, likely in the top five. A jack-of-all-trades shooting guard with a great feel for the game, Culver rose significantly throughout the season, and he’s now expected to go as high as four. Sometimes teams use the combine interviews to get to know a player they might end up pursuing down the line. That seems like the most likely scenario here.
Cameron Reddish (Duke)Reddish has slipped a bit in some mock drafts, and if he is still present at 14, Boston would have to consider picking him up. He had a disappointing season at Duke, but at 6-foot-8 with good athleticism, a nice frame and a very solid offensive skill set, Reddish looks the part of an impact offensive player with a ton of potential. Whether he puts it all together remains to be seen.
Jaxson Hayes (Texas)Again, Hayes is probably gone by the time the Celtics pick at 14, and he wouldn’t be an ideal fit, but if he slides, the Celtics might have no choice but to make a value play. Hayes’ defensive potential as a rim-protecting center is very high, and his offensive potential as a rim runner (and down the road, perhaps significantly more) has vaulted a player who was largely unknown before the season into the lottery.
Coby White (UNC)Like Hayes, White is probably gone when the Celtics make their pick. He’s big (for the point-guard position), skilled (especially as a scorer) and plenty athletic, and more importantly, there are a bunch of teams picking before Boston who need point guards.
But if the Celtics were to try to trade up, going after a point guard would make a lot of sense, given the holes they would likely have at the position if a trade-up became necessary (i.e. if Irving was leaving, thus making an Davis trade unlikely, especially with Rozier seemingly trying to talk his way out of town).
Romeo Langford (Indiana)Langford had a bad college season, which dropped him from a top prospect into the late lottery/mid-first range. If the Celtics believe his thumb injury is at least partially responsible for his poor shooting, they might very well like a big, athletic shooting guard who finishes around the rim at a high level. His versatility in particular might make him an attractive prospect to Danny Ainge.
Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga)Clarke is a little older than many members of the draft class, but he’s a great athlete with a ton of potential as a versatile defender at the four/small-ball five. As Al Horford has repeatedly proven, defensive versatility at that position shouldn’t be underrated as an NBA skill.
Bol Bol (Oregon)Bol was one of the players who could really benefit from positive reviews from the interview process (and also a clean medical sheet). Questions have circulated about his passion for the game and his potential longevity, but no one wonders about the potential of the 7-foot-2 big man with a 7-foot-8 wingspan who can put the ball on the floor, shoot from three and score off the bounce. If Bol impresses in the pre-draft process, and if he can assuage injury concerns, he could rise.
P.J. Washington (Kentucky)In many ways, Washington is the opposite of Bol: Teams will likely feel very comfortable knowing they are getting a solid (but unspectacular) player who will be in the league for quite some time. Washington is strong and skilled in the post with burgeoning 3-point range. He’s mobile enough to do damage at the next level, but not a freak athlete. As a high-floor player, he’s intriguing.
Nassir Little (UNC)Little struggled to find himself in college, but the NBA may have better use for his athleticism and defensive versatility on the wing. He needs to prove he can shoot, but the Celtics can always use more wings, particularly if trades take wings away this summer (which is possible even if an Anthony Davis deal doesn’t happen).
Grant Williams (Tennessee)Whether or not you believe in the bruising forward, who was one of college basketball’s better players, probably depends on whether you think his mid-range pick-and-pop game can extend to the 3-point line (there’s reason to believe it will). If the Celtics think so, Williams’ potential as a versatile defensive option who can guard both up and down could make him an intriguing pick.
Tyler Herro (Kentucky)The Celtics could use a knock-down shooter. There are reasons (such as his absurdly high free-throw percentage) to believe Tyler Herro might end up being the type of come-off-a-screen-and-pull spot-up shooter the team hasn’t really had, outside of its stars, in recent years. He will compete defensively, even if his wingspan is a real negative.
Talen Horton-Tucker (Iowa State)On the other side of the spectrum from Herro, Horton-Tucker has an absurd wingspan at 7-foot-1 (he’s 6-foot-4). With comparisons to P.J. Tucker, Horton-Tucker exhibits plenty of toughness and defensive versatility which -- again -- are characteristics the Celtics famously value.
Carsen Edwards (Purdue)An excellent showing in the NCAA tournament boosted Edwards’ trade value. He’s undersized, but he has deep 3-point range and plenty of confidence pulling up off the dribble. If the Celtics want to fill out their guard rotation with scoring potential, they could do worse than the two-time All-American.
KZ Okpala (Stanford)Okpala’s start to the college season was considerably better than his finish (thus the drop in draft stock), but he has a great frame, great athleticism and a better handle than one would expect. There’s a lot of talent and potential, if he is able to unlock everything.
Admiral Schofield (Tennessee)Schofield and Semi Ojeleye might break the NBA’s record for bench biceps. A powerfully built forward with a relatively reliable 3-point shot, Schofield has solid role player potential.
Devon Dotson (Kansas)Dotson checks all of the boxes in the Celtics’ list of cliches at the guard position: He’s quick, athletic and tenacious, and his shot is a major question mark. Don’t expect him to be Boston’s first pick, but they could give him a look later in the first round.
Jontay Porter (Missouri)A pair of torn ACLs robbed Porter of much of his draft stock (he admitted on Instagram he started playing before he was cleared), but before his injury, he was an intriguing blend of size, passing, IQ (except, you know, in terms of following a doctor’s orders) and floor spacing at the 4/5 position. For a team like the Celtics with multiple picks, he might be worth a flier.
Mfiondu Kabengele (Florida State)A high-riser after his sophomore season, Kabengele is raw, but he’s very solidly built with shot-blocking potential. Unlike many raw centers, he can shoot both from mid-range and from behind the arc (one would imagine NBA teams will coax him out further a little more consisently). Again, the Celtics have a lot of depth at center, but that doesn’t mean they would pass on a prospect they like.
