Celtics 2024 NBA Draft: Brad Stevens’ philosophy and 10 targets at pick #30

“We are going to get pleasure from tonight,” Brad Stevens stated throughout championship celebration after successful Recreation 5 final Monday. “However…that draft exercise tomorrow…that ought to be enjoyable.”

No relaxation for the depraved. Simply over per week after successful their league-leading 18th title in franchise historical past, the Boston Celtics are prepping for the 2024 NBA Draft.

Switches are flipping from a grueling playoff run to a variety of draft prospects who may very well be obtainable at pics No. 30 and 54.

Like final 12 months, when Jordan Walsh was Boston’s solely draft takeaway, Brad Stevens and the entrance workplace are getting into this 12 months’s occasion with an analogous thought course of: Including assist for the long run.

“I believe there’s plenty of shifting components to maintaining this roster sustainable past this 12 months, however particularly to this 12 months is we acquired plenty of guys again,” Stevens stated on Tuesday. “Will probably be arduous for any draft decide to crack our rotation when wholesome.

“And so, we’ll take into consideration how we will greatest proceed to spend money on younger gamers and their improvement and progress, with the fact that, if we’re in a position to proceed to maneuver ahead with this group, these guys are going to be on the court docket. So, this shall be a great alternative once more to usher in any individual who we predict will assist us down the highway.”

The Celtics have gotten very costly, very quick. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White are each due extensions within the close to future, and Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Vacation all already make over $30 million per season.

Sustaining that value level can solely be justified by resounding success, which they achieved this season. However concurrently, making certain future triumph revolves across the similar ideas that Joe Mazzulla stresses on the court docket: Profitable the margins.

Boston’s end-of-bench gamers will not be taking part in an enormous function now, however as Horford (38 years previous), Vacation (34 years previous), and Porzingis (28 years previous with an harm historical past) become old, they need to be ready to fill the gaps.

Stevens is consistently pondering forward, and this 12 months’s draft shall be no totally different.

“So far as the picks go, if the best particular person is accessible at 30, then we are going to take them, and if now we have a few those that we predict are nonetheless the best particular person, then we’ll see what our choices are and how much flexibility now we have,” Stevens stated.

“However I anticipate selecting a few picks, and whether or not they’re on the roster or a two-way, investing in younger gamers, I just- If they arrive in and crack our rotation, then they’re actually good. That’ll be a great factor, too.”

Although there will not be any gamers obtainable worthy of rapid rotation minutes, loads of prospects undertaking as spectacular long-term additions, and Stevens famous that he expects to make two choices.

There shall be a big selection of choices obtainable to the Celtics, notably at decide No. 30.

Celtics 2024 NBA Draft targets at decide No. 30

Baylor Scheierman, Creighton

Age: 23 years previous | Place: WingHeight: 6-foot-7 | Wingspan: 6-foot-8Stats (Fifth-12 months Senior): 18.5 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 44.8% FG, 38.1% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Large Brandin Podziemski (The Ringer), Joe Ingles (NBA.com), Gordon Hayward (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Larger Austin Reaves lite

After 5 years in school, three at South Dakota State and two at Creighton, Baylor Scheierman enters the NBA Draft as one of the crucial NBA-ready offensive gamers. A clean lefty stroke aids him in being one of many higher shooters within the class, and he’s an adept playmaker for his measurement and place, too. His shot creation skills have additionally been polished by years of being a main possibility in school, and his rebounding has shined, too.

The defensive considerations are actual, as he’s by no means been nice at staying in entrance of men resulting from his poor athleticism and total flat-footedness.

Ought to Boston goal Scheierman, who has been in with the Celtics for a exercise, they’d probably put him on the trail to being one other Sam Hauser-type participant.

Scheierman’s defensive limitations appear a bit harder to beat than Hauser’s struggles in the beginning of his profession. That stated, he’s a greater total shot-creator and playmaker than Hauser is.

Tyler Smith, G League Ignite

Age: 19 years previous | Place: ForwardHeight: 6-foot-10 | Wingspan: 7-foot-1Stats: 13.4 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 blocks, 48.1% FG, 36.4% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Charlie Villanueva (The Ringer), Channing Frye (NBA.com), Trey Lyles (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Extra athletic Santi Aldama

An up-and-down 12 months for Tyler Smith with the G League Ignite had his draft projections in all places. He was sizzling to begin the 12 months, incomes lottery consideration, however his manufacturing slowly waned, and now, he’s projected to land later within the first spherical.

One other lefty shooter, Smith proved able to draining triples, and at 6-foot-10, that’s a priceless commodity no matter the remainder of his ability set. His athleticism makes him a possible hazard within the pick-and-roll, too.

But regardless of having an amazing NBA physique, Smith’s protection nonetheless isn’t in an amazing place. He will get beat off the dribble too simply and is much too keen when leaping at pump fakes. It’s harking back to an early Robert Williams III at occasions however with out the ultra-elite instincts.

There’s a transparent define for Smith to turn out to be a productive participant within the NBA for a very long time together with his offensive abilities and body, however the protection and total endurance want work.

Adem Bona, UCLA

Age: 21 years previous | Place: CenterHeight: 6-foot-9 | Wingspan: 7-foot-4Stats (Sophomore): 12.4 factors, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.8 blocks, 58.8% FGVarious NBA comparisons: Montrezl Harrell (The Ringer), Isaiah Jackson (NBA.com), Clint Capela (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Linebacker Daniel Gafford

Adem Bona performs with unimaginable vitality. At his measurement and together with his wingspan, he has all of the makings of a freakish rim-runner who can throw his all on the glass on each ends of the ground. He may very well be a tremendous above-the-rim risk. That stated, the remainder of his offensive sport wants plenty of work. Bona isn’t an amazing passer and has no semblance of a three-point shot, which might restrict his function on the Celtics long-term.

Defensively, Bona might find yourself being an actual risk when serving to over within the paint. He has nice shot-blocking instincts and the wingspan to place them to good use. Like all freak-athlete defenders, nonetheless, Bona can get in foul bother every now and then.

As outlined by Tyler Rucker of No Ceilings on the How ‘Bout Them Celtics podcast, UCLA introduced in a bunch of worldwide recruits that didn’t pan out in Bona’s sophomore season. He was thrust into a job he’s not used to, turning into extra of a submit participant, so his scouting is a bit wonky.

If Bona needs to stay on the NBA stage, he’ll must work on his self-discipline, and the offense might want to come alongside considerably, however his vitality and hustle are sufficient to make groups need him round regardless.

AJ Johnson, Illawarra Hawks (NBL)

Age: 19 years previous | Place: GuardHeight: 6-foot-5 | Wingspan: 6-foot-8Stats: 2.9 factors, 1.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 35.5% FG, 27.8% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Nick Younger (The Ringer), Jamal Crawford (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Jordan Clarkson

AJ Johnson is without doubt one of the weirdest prospects on this class, as he has a few of the clearest upside on the board. However with how unstable his season with the Illawarra Hawks (coached by Justin Tatum, Jayson’s dad) within the NBL was, it’s robust to inform how properly he’ll do within the NBA.

Initially, Johnson dedicated to Texas, however he ended up deciding to affix the NBL as a substitute. Sadly, he didn’t earn constant minutes, so he wasn’t in a position to get any semblance of continuity, and it might have affected his effectivity.

Talking of, Johnson was wholly inefficient when he did play for the Hawks, however he confirmed some actual potential to turn out to be a top-tier scorer and playmaker. He’s shifty, fast, and an explosive athlete. Jalen Inexperienced and him are long-time mates.

Johnson confirmed some flashes of improved protection throughout his time within the NBL, however his small body might maintain him again a bit in that regard. He’ll have loads of time to enhance, however Johnson is an entire undertaking participant proper now.

Ulrich Chomche, NBA Academy Africa

Age: 18 years previous | Place: CenterHeight: 6-foot-11 | Wingspan: 7-foot-4Stats (three video games): 13.0 factors, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.7 blocks, 42.4% FG, 38.1% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Serge Ibaka (The Ringer), Serge Ibaka (NBA.com), Clint Capela (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Serge Ibaka lite

One other very uncooked prospect, Ulrich Chomche seems to be like he may very well be a power on each ends of the court docket if he lives as much as his full potential. However that’s an enormous “if” contemplating he solely began taking part in basketball at 11 years previous and by no means performed school or professional ball.

Chomche, who’s from Cameroon, is a product of NBA Academy Africa. There, he confirmed off his elite potential on the defensive aspect of the ball. He’s an amazing athlete who strikes remarkably properly for his measurement and has proven the flexibility to roam down low and report wild blocks.

His three-point shot is extraordinarily weird-looking, nevertheless it fell at a good fee throughout his Academy video games (albeit on comparatively low quantity). As a lob goal and offensive rebounder, Chomche can also be efficient, however in every single place else, he wants to enhance.

The actual motive why Chomche isn’t greater up on draft boards is due to how actually uncooked he’s as a prospect. He’s nonetheless determining the sport on a sure stage. There are shifting screens, positioning points, and total, he simply wants time to completely develop.

Ryan Dunn, Virginia

Age: 21 years previous | Place: WingHeight: 6-foot-7 | Wingspan: 7-foot-1Stats (Sophomore): 8.1 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 54.8% FG, 20.0% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Herb Jones (The Ringer), Matisse Thybulle (NBA.com), Tari Eason (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Supercharged, massive Danny Inexperienced (with no offense)

If Trae Younger is the most effective all-offense, no-defense participant within the NBA, Ryan Dunn is the antithesis of him. If Matisse Thybulle was the most effective all-defense, no-offense draft prospect lately, Dunn takes that notion to a different stage on each ends of the spectrum.

The Virginia product will step into the NBA as one of the crucial spectacular defenders instantly. He’s the most effective all-around defender on this class and an absolute menace on the perimeter. Dunn is the kind of participant different gamers hate to go up towards.

Sadly, that stage of intimidation is met by the other on the opposite finish of the ground. The skin shot is totally off, he can’t create for himself in any respect, and the one actual function he can have is that of an off-ball cutter. That stated, he’s athletic, so he can rise up and end on the rim at a satisfactory fee.

If Dunn was even a satisfactory three-point shooter, he can be a possible top-10 decide on this 12 months’s draft. However he’s not. Any staff that drafts Dunn must be assured of their capacity to wholly remodel his offensive sport.

Pacome Dadiet, Ratiopharm (Germany)

Age: 18 years previous | Place: ForwardHeight: 6-foot-9 | Wingspan: 6-foot-9Stats (Germany): 6.6 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 50.2% FG, 35.8% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Michael Finley (The Ringer), Isaac Okoro (NBA.com), Tobias Harris (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Tall, skinny Joe Johnson

Pacome Dadiet has shot up draft boards in current weeks regardless of not taking part in a ton of minutes for Ratiopharm in Germany. The younger French prospect continues to be very uncooked however has the define of a top-notch scorer on the NBA stage.

There are few prospects fairly as fluid as Dadiet is with the ball in his arms. His quantity was low in Germany, however when he had the rock, he all the time appeared like he knew what he was doing. Now, generally he didn’t, and it resulted in youthful, sloppy turnovers, nevertheless it’s clear that the stream is there.

Dadiet initiatives to be a great three-point shooter and ought to be a stable playmaker as properly, although he didn’t do a lot of that with Ratiopharm. Defensively, he has the construct to be a reasonably versatile defender.

Total, Dadiet simply wants to chop out the foolish errors and show that he can do what he did in Germany at the next stage with extra touches and towards more durable competitors. Straightforward sufficient… proper? Realistically, Dadiet is a undertaking participant who might growth (and can probably be chosen earlier than decide No. 30).

PJ Corridor, Clemson

Age: 22 years previous | Place: Ahead/CenterHeight: 6-foot-9 | Wingspan: 7-foot-1Stats (Senior): 18.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, 48.8% FG, 31.5% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Put up-prime Blake Griffin (The Ringer), Dean Wade (NBA.com), Tom Gugliotta (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Miami Warmth Kevin Love

PJ Corridor suits completely into the mould of a top-tier school participant seeking to translate what labored for him at that stage right into a profession within the NBA. The query is whether or not or not he’ll efficiently be capable to do this.

Regardless of the poor numbers his senior season, the three-point shot is there—he shot 39.8% his junior season (on two fewer makes an attempt per sport). Corridor relied on his post-game so much in school, which he gained’t be capable to do as a lot within the professionals, nevertheless it gave him a pleasant really feel across the basket.

Corridor is aware of what he’s doing on the defensive finish, however his total lack of athleticism holds him again. Positionally, he’s near-perfect, however he will get beat off the dribble resulting from his lack of quickness and might get antsy, leaping at too many fakes.

The 22-year-old has a pleasant really feel for the sport and may very well be a connective massive man off the pine if developed accurately, however he’ll must show his three-point shot is constant and enhance defensively on the perimeter to make up for being undersized at his place.

Enrique Freeman, Akron

Age: 24 years previous (in July) | Place: ForwardHeight: 6-foot-7 | Wingspan: 7-foot-2Stats (Fifth-12 months Senior): 18.6 factors, 12.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.7 blocks, 58.4% FG, 37.0% 3PTVarious NBA comparisons: Tari Eason (The Ringer)Jack’s NBA comparability: Smaller Kevon Looney (perhaps with a jumper)

Just a few months in the past, Enrique Freeman wasn’t on anybody’s draft radar. Now, he’s a possible second-round decide. He was a walk-on at Akron, and after declaring for the NBA Draft, he, as outlined by O’Connor, “acquired a Portsmouth Invitational Event invite, then earned a G League Elite Camp invite, after which was requested to take part within the NBA draft mix.”

Freeman boasts an incessant work ethic that bleeds its means onto the court docket by the use of his infectious hustle. He’s all the time within the combine for rebounds and performs with a fireplace that reveals itself in even the smallest motions he makes on the court docket.

His insane wingspan makes him a formidable offensive rebounder, and whereas he was defending bigs in school, he has the make-up and hustle to maintain up with forwards, which he should do within the NBA.

Although he’s made enhancements, Freeman’s shot nonetheless isn’t all the way in which there, and he’ll must play a really totally different model of basketball if he needs to stay on the NBA stage. However when it comes to hustle, there are few gamers who can outdo Freeman on this draft class.

Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco

Age: 22 years previous | Place: Ahead/CenterHeight: 6-foot-7 | Wingspan: 7-foot-2Stats (Senior): 14.2 factors, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks, 63.6% FGVarious NBA comparisons: Ben Simmons if he had been a hooper (The Ringer), Kenneth Faried (No Ceilings)Jack’s NBA comparability: Large man Josh Hart (with no jumper)

Jonathan Mogbo is a really fascinating case, as he has all of the instruments to be one of many extra versatile gamers on this draft—he simply can’t shoot. That’s what’s going to finish up holding him again, particularly with how undersized he’s.

That stated, Mogbo might find yourself being one of many higher all-around defenders on this class. He can grasp with guards, wings, and bigs alike, and his offensive sport (outdoors of his scoring) is comparable in that respect.

Mogbo is a formidable playmaker able to pushing the tempo on offense and figuring out of the quick roll. That’s the kind of basketball IQ that groups like to have on their squad. Plus, his large wingspan helps him corral a ton of offensive rebounds.

Sadly, Mogbo’s three-point shot doesn’t really feel like it’s going to get there, and whereas he’s a stable finisher across the rim, that might restrict his alternatives within the NBA, as he’s far more of a ahead than a middle at his measurement. But when Boston needs to work with him and discover a solution to make it work, Mogbo is actually an especially distinctive expertise.

Different potential Celtics targets: Bobi Klintman (NBL), Quinten Put up (Boston Faculty), Pelle Larsson (Arizona), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Harrison Ingram (North Carolina), Cam Spencer (UConn), Trentyn Flowers (NBL)