Celtics #27 draft pick - Pt. 7 - two Danny Ainge, wild-card possibilities


A number of my readers have already (probably correctly) indicated that none of the players in the first six parts of my Celtics draft series will be taken by Danny Ainge. But putting Danny's unpredictability aside, here are two more, and they are definitely wild cards.

The first is a local guy - local in the sense he attended Boston College. He is 21-year-old, 6'5", 190-lb. Jerome Robinson. This kid can score from anywhere, and that is just what he did for BC. Jerome can create his own shot, can handle contact and moves extremely well on offense.

He is certainly not a physical specimen at 190 pounds with a 6'7.25" wingspan, but with some work on his physique and defense, he could become a part of Boston's rotation. The following per SI's Jeremy Woo from their mock draft with Robinson going to the Celtics at #27:


27. JEROME ROBINSON, G, BOSTON COLLEGE | JUNIOR
Height: 6'4" | Weight: 190 | Age: 21 | Last: 27
Stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 40.9% 3FG

A high-scoring guard with a nice degree of shake to his game, Robinson could become a useful rotation piece with his ability to play on or off the ball. He excels at creating his own shot at all three levels, with a great ability to change speeds and some sneaky athleticism. Robinson’s production and intangibles should appeal to teams — it can be difficult to find guards who can fill it up without being ball-stoppers offensively. His slight build may cause some limitations, particularly as a defender, but he should be able to fit in nicely in the NBA as a secondary playmaker and supplementary scorer.



Hamidou Diallo is really a wild card for Boston but cannot be discounted. There are may questions about his potential in the NBA but none concerning his physical tools and athleticism. He is 6'6", 200 pounds with an impressive 6'11.5" wingspan. He may be a target for Danny Ainge if Boston buys into the second round, but he has to be considered a project. In SI's current mock draft, he goes in the second round at #39 (per SI's Jeremy Woo):

39. HAMIDOU DIALLO, SG, KENTUCKY | FRESHMAN
Height: 6'5" | Weight: 200 | Age: 19 | Last: 34
Stats: 10.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 43.0% FG

Had he stayed in the draft a year ago, Diallo would likely have been a first-rounder. This time around, the picture is much more cloudy, as his immense physical talents are unchanged, but his lack of ball skills have been exposed. Diallo began to turn it on as a defender late in the season and remains a dynamic player in transition, where few can keep up with him. But his skill set is still unrefined, his handle loose and his offensive feel in the halfcourt limited. Diallo’s talent is still worth a dice roll in a low-risk situation, but his actual offensive ceiling will be a bit capped without significant improvement. Best-case scenario: he becomes a plus defender, hits enough threes to keep himself on the floor, excels in transition and becomes a useful rotation player.




There are two wild-card draft prospects for the late first round and early in Round Two. Robinson could come in right away as a bench scorer in limited minutes. Diallo is clearly a project and will need some time. Eight days to go until the draft. Give us your thoughts.


Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC

Photo via Matt Stone/Boston Herald
Video via ACC Digital Network
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