Two Draft Targets for the Boston Celtics

The talent-laden Boston Celtics have failed to make another NBA Finals, and at this point, it’s starting to get a bit repetitive. For the third time in four years, the Celtics were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals, this time by the fifth-seeded Miami Heat. Granted, it was under drastically different conditions than the previous two iterations, given that they were playing inside a makeshift stadium in the midst of a global pandemic. And yet, this was perhaps the most talented and deepest Celtics team since the championship-winning “Big Four” squad. Overall, the Heat matchup made it clear that the Celtics need to make some major changes. The Celtics need to nail this upcoming draft if they truly want to win an NBA championship.

Two Potential Boston Celtics Draftees

In the 2020 NBA Draft, the Celtics hold the 14th, 26th, and 30th overall picks. There probably won’t be too many high-ceiling prospects available, especially at their draft slots. However, there are a number of draft prospects likely to be available that could provide sneaky value for the Celtics.

1. Zeke Nnaji

Zeke Nnaji is best described as a mix of Domantas Sabonis and Bam Adebayo. On the offensive end, he’s an elite finisher with explosive hops. These skills allow him to draw contact and create misdirection with ease. He has an outstanding True Shooting percentage of 63%, and his nice footwork and mobility allow him to maneuver in and out of traffic. Nnaji is also extremely energetic on both ends of the floor. While he isn’t super athletic, scouts from all around rave about his emotional style of play, inspiring hustle, energy, and toughness that he exhibits on each and every play. This hustle is especially seen in his pursuit of rebounds, and it should be a positive attribute especially when he presumably matches up against Adebayo in the postseason. His advanced post-game and high energy playstyle are especially evocative of Domantas Sabonis.

The one thing that makes Nnaji unique, however, is his floor-spacing potential. He has a smooth stroke, and his quality free throw percentage (0.760) bodes well for his shooting abilities in the NBA. He also has a respectable mid-range jumper that is constantly improving. His ability to draw fouls is similarly remarkable, and it would be especially beneficial to a Celtics team that lacks big men who can get to the line.

Additionally, he can defend all the way up to the three-point line, allowing him to force mid-rangers and switch onto other positions. This ability as a “space-eater” is uncannily reminiscent of Bam Adebayo. While Adebayo isn’t the best rim protector and doesn’t possess the same verticality as other centers, he is often asked to guard other positions, with this switching ability being particularly valuable in guarding the pick and roll. Despite similarly not being the best rim protector, Nnaji can hone his already elite pick-and-pop defense to have an impact similar to Adebayo.

Summary:

All in all, Nnaji has the offensive potential of Domantas Sabonis and the defensive potential of Bam Adebayo. I do understand that it would be foolish to expect a likely second-rounder to become anything close to an All-Star. However, I truly believe that Nnaji could conceivably play at such a level. If anything, he’s a good value with a mix of high upside and high floor. A center with hustle, mobility, and defensive versatility is always going to be valuable. It’s no secret that the Celtics need frontcourt depth, so the Celtics’ front office needs to more seriously consider Zeke Nnaji. He could be the missing piece to a deep playoff run.

2. Devon Dotson

The second major area of need for the Celtics is a quality sixth man. I mentioned that the Celts have a deep squad, but there are technically two problems with that statement. First off, they have a ton of players with a lot of talent and little experience. Guys like Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, and Robert Williams all have an unfathomable ceiling, but they probably won’t be major contributors for a while. Going off of that, they don’t really have a true sixth man that they can rely on. In particular, they need someone who can create their own shot, stretch the floor, and lead the offense on occasion. These three skills are exactly what Devon Dotson brings to the table.

In my mind, Devon Dotson needs to be a surefire lottery pick. Just look at his production through the scope of PORPAGATU and D-PORPAG, two stats that adjust offensive and defensive ratings based on usage and minutes).

There have been five underclassmen in the last decade who had 5.0 PORPAGATU and 5.0 D-PORPAG.

That’s it. That’s the list.

We could talk about Dotson’s speed, high free throw percentage, propensity for steals, or his hustle. We could talk about his fearlessness to attack the paint or his crazy defensive instincts. Nothing we cite, however, is as impactful of an argument as that stat is. Dotson is the epitome of value in this star-less draft. He’s somehow projected to go in the late first or early second, and there’s absolutely no good reason for that to happen.