Celtics #27 draft pick - Pt. 2 - is Khyri Thomas a good choice?


In Part 2 of my series, we will look at Creighton's Khyri Thomas as a potential pick for the Boston Celtics at #27. Most mock drafts have him being taken anywhere from the mid-teens to the late-20's, so if Boston is serious about him, they may have to move up a bit in the draft.

Thomas is listed at 6'3" and 210 pounds. I am a big fan of wingspan because it negates lack of height to a large extent, and it is a measurement I trust. It is a difficult measurement to butcher. Khyri comes in with a 6'11" wingspan, and that is impressive.

NBA teams often look at draftees in their early 20's as being a negative factor. Thomas is 22 years old, and that may mean he is more NBA ready than the 19-year-olds. His Junior stats at Creighton are: 15.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.9 FPG. He is known for his defense and the low 1.9 fouls per game are a great sign for his future in the NBA. Here are some thoughts from MassLive's Tom Westerholm:

What type of player the Celtics pursue could decide a lot of things. If they do target a guard, they may be searching for a replacement for Marcus Smart or Terry Rozier (more on them in a minute). De'Anthony Melton, Khyri Thomas and others could slide, or the Celtics could try to move up a little bit to aim for one of them.

Thomas' age may allow him to drift to Boston at #27. Also, he is a late bloomer and may be far from reaching his peak. The following analysis is via NBADraft.net:

Late blooming shooting guard with a picture perfect shooting stroke ... Undersized at 6'3 for the two position but has a 6'10 wingspan allowing him to play bigger ... Very controlled game, stays on balance, won't rattle easily, doesn't bite on fakes, composed, mature game ... Shows a lot of determination and competitiveness. Uses his big wingspan well to disrupt opponents looks and passing lanes ... Hits nearly two 3s per game on a very solid 38% clip ... A career college 40% three point shooter. Comfortable handling the ball in traffic and creating offense for himself ... Very strong frame, excellent body strength to complete drives and not get knocked off his path by bigger opponents ... Quality free throw shooter, showing improvement each season ... Good rebounder for a guard.





Follow Tom at TomLaneHC

Photo via Gerry Broome/AP
Video via DaHoopSpot Productions
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