The Boston Celtics have a playoff race to work about over the next couple weeks, but one analyst is already casting an eye to the Celtics' pick in the 2015 NBA Draft -- positioning Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein firmly in Boston's (theoretical) crosshairs.
“If you’re looking at size, defense and rebounding, Willie Cauley-Stein is it,” Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix said in a radio interview on Tuesday, via CBS Boston. “He is an ideal fit for, really, any team, but certainly Boston who has some offensive options at the four and five spot with Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk. Can Boston jump up to get him? Not if they make the playoffs because he’s going to go in the lottery. But if they can find a way to get their hands on him, he is a terrific defensive prospect.”
Mannix added that Cauley-Stein, who has averaged 8.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his three seasons for the Wildcats, is the type of player who can come in the league and provide an immediate impact on defense.
“To me, if Boston can find a way to move up and draft Cauley-Stein — and that may mean trading a future first round pick — that’s a guy who would step in seamlessly,” he said. “Unlike the other Kentucky players, he’s a junior so he’s more NBA-ready than a lot of guys coming into the draft. He could step into the team seamlessly next year and be that defensive presence they’ve needed.”
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