Is Jordan Mickey the Boston Celtics’ Next Rim Protector?

For the last two seasons, the Boston Celtics, and their fans, have lamented the absence of a true rim protector. Amir Johnson was an effective shot blocker at times last year, but he wasn’t the type of player who would make opponent’s think twice about attacking the basket.

Last year, rumors swirled around adding a player like DeAndre Jordan. This year, there have been talks about adding Dwight Howard to fortify Boston’s interior defense.

While the Celtics may look to acquire a rim protector in free agency or via trade, the solution to their problems may already be on the roster, courtesy of the 33rd overall pick in last summer’s NBA Draft.

As a rookie this past season, Jordan Mickey spent his time bouncing back and forth between the Celtics and the Maine Red Claws of the NBDL. Though Mickey only appeared in 16 regular season games for Boston, one thing was abundantly clear, the man can block shots.

With most of his playing time coming in the final few minutes of blowouts, Mickey only collected 57 minutes of playing time this year. Yet in those 57 minutes, he managed to record 11 blocked shots, including an impressive three blocks in two minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies. Though it’s a limited sample size, it’s not a statistical anomaly.

For what it’s worth, Mickey’s shot blocking abilities were on full display in the D League this year. In just 23 games, he blocked 101 shots. That number was third best in the D League, behind two players who played almost twice as many games as Mickey. His 4.4 blocks per game average were tops in the league.

Mickey blocked 100+ shots in each of his two seasons at LSU, and led the NCAA with a 3.6 blocks per game average in his sophomore year. That’s what landed him on Boston’s radar. He was a solid offensive player, with room for improvement, but already had the shot blocking skills of a pro.

Everywhere Mickey has gone, he has blocked shots. He’s done it in college, the NBA summer league, the D league, the preseason and in limited action in the regular season. Mickey has the athleticism and instincts that it takes to be an elite shot blocker. Now, he just needs the opportunity to prove it.

It’s not going to happen overnight, and it’s not going to be handed to him. Mickey will have to continue to work at it, but the Celtics should give him the chance. Patience is the key here, just ask Hassan Whiteside and the Miami Heat. It took him some time to break through in the NBA.

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A former second round pick of the Sacramento Kings, Whiteside was an elite shot blocker coming out of Marshall. He spent just one season in college, but led the NCAA in blocks (182) and blocks per game with a ridiculous 5.4. Yet, it was clear he wasn’t quite ready for the NBA.

He appeared in just 19 games in his first two NBA seasons, bouncing back and forth between the Kings and the D League. However, in the NBDL, Whiteside appeared in just 61 games from 2010-13 and amassed 132 blocked shots.

Before he arrived in Miami during the 2014-15 season, Whiteside had last appeared in the NBA three years prior in 2011-12. He spent the entire 2012-13 season in the D League and spent the following season overseas. Last season, he exploded onto the scene in Miami and hasn’t looked back. As his offensive game continues to evolve, he has quickly become one of the league’s elite shot blockers and rebounders.

I’m not labeling Jordan Mickey the next Hassan Whiteside, but a lot of the qualities that make Whiteside so great, Mickey possesses himself. The one area he is lacking is size.

At 6’8″, Mickey doesn’t quite match up with the 7-foot Whiteside. Yet, he has a 7’2″ wingspan and great instincts that can help him overcome the lack of height. Though he can’t control his height, he can control his weight, and Mickey will definitely need to add to it.

According to his listed weight as a freshman at Marshall, and his current listed weight as a member of the Heat, Whiteside has put on almost 40 pounds. Mickey may not need to add 40 pounds, but he certainly needs to build his current frame and strength. It’s especially important for a guy like Mickey to be strong because of what he’ll be conceding height-wise.

Mickey also needs to become more polished offensively, but that is something that Whiteside is still working on improving as well.

Mickey’s rookie season was a learning experience for him. He certainly didn’t receive the playing time he had hoped for. Part of that was the result of a crowded Boston frontcourt, but a bigger part of that was he just wasn’t ready for the minutes. At just 21 years old, that’s okay. This is the time of the year — the offseason — where you earn those minutes.

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Shot blocking is an innate ability, it’s very difficult to learn the types of things it takes to be an effective shot blocker. Mickey has those abilities and then some, which give him great potential. It may be wise for Boston to use their assets to address other needs this offseason, because they may already have their next rim protector.