Boston Celtics Draft Profile: Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield is having a truly special year at Oklahoma. He has absolutely blown away any season he’s had before this year and he has improved in every single category. Hield, with a career high 16.4 shot attempts per game, shot 50% from the field, 46% from three and 89% from the free throw line. These are the kind of numbers are the closest you will get to Stephen Curry at any level. The combination of effectiveness and volume is simply unparalleled.

Hield has allowed his game to develop through out his time in college and he has peaked at the perfect time. Outside of Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics may not have another player on their team that could have the same kind of impact on the offensive end that Hield could have, even as a rookie. The Celtics have spent their last 2 first round draft picks on guards that were ready to come in and have an impact on the defensive end. Hield could finally give the Celtics that player that is immediately ready to have a real impact on the offensive end.

Hield often plays with the ball in his hands but his ability to play at the shooting guard position would not be a worry in Stevens’ offense. The roles of the guards on the team are often indistinguishable. Even Avery Bradley has began creating more with the ball in his hands. Each guard on the Celtics are prepared to try and make plays with the ball in their hands and are expected to allow their teammates and offense to get the best out of each of their opportunities.

Kelly Olynyk is the only player on the Celtic that would be able to keep up with Hield from beyond the arc. Three point shooting is the area where the Celtics need to improve the most on, on the offensive end. The Celtics have never been a strong three point shooting team under Brad Stevens, but they have never had a three point shooter like Hield.

Hield also possess all the offensive versatility that is vital to the offense. Hield is able to create offense in so many different ways. Hield and Thomas would finally give the Celtics’ back court the offensive talent to match their defensive talent. Hield has also proven that he will not hold them back on the defensive end.

Hield comes in at 6’4, 209 pounds and that makes him a great physical fit for the Celtics. Those measurables are similar to Marcus Smart’s and even if Heild is no where near Smart on the defensive end, he has been a strong defender in college. Hield has two seasons with a defensive rating under 100, and only once did he have 101 or more. Hield has averaged over one steal per game each yeah at Oklahoma and that number could increase if he was a part of the Celtics’ back court.

The one offensive area Hield would need to improve on is his passing. Hield has averaged over 2 assists just once in his career, but that may not be too big of a problem for his role on the team. If Heild were to be picked and be a part of the stating unit, he would likely be taking the place of Bradley. Bradley probably plays off ball more than Hield would, but he still only averages 2.1 assists per game this season, a mark that Hield would have no problem reaching.

As long as he played along with Thomas, Hield would never have to be the main distributor. He would be able to focus everything and generating scoring opportunities, putting him in a great position to succeed. The Celtics play with the kind of ball movement that will put Hield in good positions to score and will allow him to quickly get comfortable in the system.

Hield has proven that he is worthy of a top 5 pick, and barring a disaster that is right around where the Celtics will be picking, thanks to the Nets. Hield could transform the Celtics on the offensive end but the biggest question may be whether the Celtics are going to spend another first pick on a guard. The Celtics have selected Smart and Rozier and if you throw in R.J Hunter (ignoring James Young who is a non factor), the Celtics have their most potential talent at the guard position.

The Celtics have invested far more assets on guards than on forwards since the start of the rebuild and the team as a whole may be better off if they spend the Nets pick on a forward, rather than another guard who will be taking playing time away from one of the other young prospects. The Celtics have a lot of potential with their guards. However, none of them had a season in college like Hield is having now.

Hield could transform the Celtics but there are other players with that kind of potential available in the top 5. The Celtics have done a great job of developing their young guards and if the core they have is given time they can become one of the best in the league, especially with their impact on the defensive end.

Next: What is the Key to a Deep Playoff Run

Hield is the kind of player that will certainly get interest because his potential on the offensive end is truly unmatched in the draft. However, the Celtics have demonstrated that defense is the top priory in the draft recently. It paid off with Smart on the defensive end and the Celtics may stay true to what they have done in the last couple drafts with defense being the priority.