Celtics certainly did not go big with their four draft picks
With Aron Baynes most-likely heading to Phoenix via trade - and Al Horford with one foot out the door (free agency) - the Celtics did little to fill the void at center with their four draft picks - at least not yet. Danny Ainge was super-active during the evening, starting out with the #14, #20, #22 and #51 picks. That changed rather quickly.
Romeo Langford |
The Celtics took Indiana guard Romeo Langford at #14 - and kept him - for now (I promise that will be the last "for now" you see in this article - just understand we are talking Trader Danny here). Any size? He measures 6'6" in height with a 6'11" wingspan - long for a guard, but that's it.
Washington's Matisse Thybulle was taken by Boston at #20, but was quickly shuffled off to Philadelphia, getting the Celtics picks #24 and #33. At #22, Danny went for Tennessee's Grant Williams, a 6'7.5" (6'9.75" wingspan) power forward. In the old days he would have been called a tweener, a guy falling somewhere between two positions - in his case, between small forward and power forward in the NBA. List him at 6'8" if you wish, but it is doubtful we would see him at the 5-spot for long periods. Williams had a weight issue in the past but came in at 5.4% body fat at the Combine. He is lean and rugged.
At #24, Danny took Virginia's Ty Jerome and sent him packing to Phoenix. Then came the #33 pick, and the Celtics grabbed 6'0.25" (6'6" wingspan) spark plug Carsen Edwards. We are looking at a larger version of Isaiah Thomas here, and count me as one that would like to see him stick with Boston. Boston also went small later in the second round, taking 5'10" (6'2.25" wingspan) Tremont Waters.
So what's next for Boston? Danny isn't saying much because he says he can't. Understood! But Boston desperately needs a big man unless they decide to hand over the reins to Rob Williams and just suck it up for this coming season. Nikola Vucevic is still being broached as a possibility at the 5-spot. That's it FOR NOW - just had to do one more "for now." CelticsLife will keep you posted.
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Photos via 76'ers/Twitter and Mark Humphrey/AP