Celtics #27 draft pick? - keep it, trade it, move up, move down - Pt. 1


This is the first of a series of articles on the Celtics and the upcoming draft. We encourage our readers to become involved in this study, and we welcome your thoughts.

Boston currently holds the #27 pick in the first round, and we will look at players that are attainable by standing pat, moving up in the draft, or perhaps even down. Trading the pick is another alternative. Let us know about your favorite players, and we will try to put them out in a future article and Twitter poll.

Our first look is at Mitchell Robinson. There are many questions about Robinson, so he may drift down in the draft, but going somewhere in the mid-to-late teens seems logical right now. That could change.

He is a 7'1" mobile center with a 7'4" wingspan
. He can run the court and with very long strides he can cover a lot of distance in a few steps. He is a rim protector and shot blocker with an improving outside shot. He is still raw but seems to be the type of defensive center that would fit with the Celtics. Here is some feedback on his abilities (per TheStepien.com's Mike Gribanov):

Very bouncy for his size, gets off his feet quickly. Big time upside as a roll man, especially lob finishing and has all the physical tools of a modern defensive center.

Moves decently well for his size, runs the court well. Even “fast” in open court situations. Catches passes at incredibly high points.
Arguably the best rim protector in the class. Lead EYBL with 5.6 blocks per 36 minutes. 0.7 more than the next best player and almost 2 blocks more than the third. EYBL numbers, especially defensive numbers, have so far proven to be useful and translatable at higher levels of play. Was the best rim protector on that circuit and looked to have as much or more defensive upside than Mo Bamba, Jaren Jackson, Wendell Carter, Daniel Gafford etc

The questions about Mitchell involve the fact that no one has seen his level of play in collegiate competition since he left Western Kentucky under cloudy circumstances. There are concerns about his readiness to compete and survive in the NBA. Thus the chance that he may drift into the high-teens or low-20's in the draft and be obtainable to Boston at low cost with a minor trade.





Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC

Photo via Peter Forest
Video via College Hoops TV