The Boston Celtics find themselves in the strange in-between position of tanking yet are still in serious contention for one of the final playoff spots in the lackluster Eastern Conference. Chances are the Celtics will still land a top-10 pick (along with their first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers), meaning they could grab another potential franchise player. Here are the top prospects that they could land:
Stanley Johnson – 6’7″, 245 lbs, SF – Fr., Arizona
Stats: 15.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Johnson was the second most hyped player in this freshman class behind Jahlil Okafor, and he’s lived up to that hype. He’s been the most productive wing player among all freshman, and has been the defensive force scouts wanted to see. Couple that with his athleticism and improved shooting stroke (41.2% from long-range), and it’s easy to see why many think he’ll be able to make an impact in the NBA right away.
Johnson doesn’t have the potential of the other guys on this list, but his floor is higher than everyone else’s. He won’t turn into a superstar that the Celtics are looking for, but he can be Boston's lockdown wing defender for the next decade and a half. Championship teams need players like Johnson who competes every night and does all the little things it takes to win, though he might not have the appeal of some other prospects.
Willie Cauley-Stein – 7’0″, 244 lbs, C – Jr., Kentucky
Stats: 9.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Cauley-Stein is rising on draft boards because he’s a sure thing. His defensive impact has been everything scouts want it to be, and he’s now starting to play at a high level offensively.
If he falls to the Celtics, he would give them the perfect complement to their big man rotation. Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk are good offensive players, but aren't great defensively. Cauley-Stein is the complete opposite and should be an elite shot-blocker in the NBA right away.
Kelly Oubre – 6’6″, 205 lbs, SF – Fr., Kansas
Stats: 8.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Oubre is finally showing everyone why he was rated so high coming out of high school now that he’s earned a starting spot in Bill Self’s rotation. He needs to become more consistent, but has a total offensive game and amazing athletic ability.
Oubre has the potential to become one of the better two-way players in the league, but he's another project. Boston already has a couple of those guys like that, but the reward could outweigh the risk at that point in the draft.
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