The NBA Draft is almost upon us, and teams are focusing on what prospects to target. The Boston Celtics hold the 28th and 32nd picks in the draft. Adding two players capable of making an immediate impact will be crucial for the Celtics, given their historically high payroll. Saint Joseph’s Rasheer Fleming is one of the most versatile and NBA-ready prospects in the draft. Fleming averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 53.1/39/74.3 shooting splits during his junior season. If the Celtics draft Fleming, he projects to fit like a glove and make an impact from day one. Let’s further dive into Fleming’s game and fit with the Celtics.
Celtics Draft Targets: Versatile Upperclassman Could be a Huge Steal
Fleming’s Two-Way Impact
Fleming’s main selling point as a prospect is undoubtedly his versatility on both ends of the court. Defensively, Fleming’s 6-foot-9 frame and 7-foot-5 wingspan allow him to guard multiple positions. With his length and athleticism, Fleming is a highly disruptive off-ball defender. Notably, he averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals this past season. Fleming has a remarkably quick recovery time, which allows him to rack up blocks as a help-side defender. Fleming’s size and shot-blocking ability gave him the ability to play center at times in college. This also makes him a projectable small-ball five at the NBA level. Fleming also has the quickness, length, and size to shut down perimeter players. Fleming’s motor and versatility shine on defense. He is also one of the best rebounders in the class, posting a 22.8 defensive rebound percentage. Overall, Fleming is one of the most impactful and complete defenders in the class.
You may not know the name Rasheer Fleming, but you will hear his name called in the 1st Rd of the NBA Draft:
– 6’8 with 7’5 wingspan
– 39% 3FG%
– Big time motor
– Versatile defenderThe @SJUHawks_MBB star has a fluid & ferocious combo of skill sets. Flashes of Pascal Siakam. pic.twitter.com/YXYC3dUWQe
— Mike O'Donnell (@MOD4three) June 13, 2025
Offensively, Fleming can both stretch the floor and score at the rim. Impressively, Fleming shot 39 percent from beyond the arc this past season. While he only shot 31.3 percent from three in his previous two seasons, his recent development as a shooter is highly encouraging. At the NBA level, being able to shoot and defend is key for most role players. If Fleming’s shot translates, he has the potential to be an elite-level role player. With his athleticism, cutting, and rolling, Fleming is an efficient source of offense at the rim. He shot 69.9 percent at the rim with a 63.8 true shooting percentage. Having an efficient scorer at the rim and beyond the arc would be beneficial to the Celtics.
The Last Word
Fleming isn’t much of a self-creator or playmaker. Nevertheless, with an off-ball role on a talented team like the Celtics, Fleming would thrive. With Jayson Tatum‘s injury and the uncertain future of every Celtics center, Boston will be looking to upgrade both their wing and big men depth. In some ways, Fleming offers the best of both worlds. As a versatile defender, he’d perfectly fit the Celtics’ defensive identity, while his three-point shooting would make him a natural fit in Joe Mazzulla’s system. Fleming has a wide range as a prospect; he is projected to be a late lottery pick to even a late first-round pick. If Fleming falls to the Celtics with the 28th pick, he would be a massive steal for Boston.
Featured image: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
