Thon Maker will not be an option for the Boston Celtics with their first pick in the draft. Fortunately, they will also be picking at 16 and 23, and that is where they cannot afford to pass up on Thon Maker. There is a lot of risk involved with such a raw and young player, but his kind of potential is something that the Celtics may never forgive themselves for passing on twice.
Thon Maker has the most unpredictable draft stock this year and there is no guarantee he will be available when the Celtics make their second pick in the draft. The risk may be too high for the Celtics to try and trade back up into the first for him, but the upside of Thon Maker is as good as anyone in this draft.
Thon Maker will not be able to come in and immediately have a transformative impact. He has never played against any half decent competition in his career and even though he will be one of the tallest players on the court, his frame and strength will need to be improved before he reaches his potential. Thon Maker will need that time to adjust to the elite compeition he will be going against. Fortunately, Thon Maker is built in a different way. He will need time to adjust but he could be closer to what he needs to be physically than many expect because of his imposing size.
That potential, however, could finally give the Celtics that transcendent player, even if they need to wait a few years before that talent is realized. As a raw prospect, there is very little negative to find in Thon Maker. He has all the tools that anyone could imagine in a big and with him being just 19 years old, he can stand to improve in every way.
Physically and in the paint, Thon Maker has no question marks. He is a force that will have to be reckoned with. He stands over 7 feet tall with phenomenal skills and movement on the court. Thon Maker could certainly play either the 4 or the 5 for the Celtics and he should anchor them in the paint on both ends. Thon Maker will have a more immediate impact on the offence end. On defense, however, he has proven that he is mobile enough to guard on the perimeter and that versatility is always used by Stevens. Thon Maker’s ability to finish at the rim and run the floor alone will allow him to have an immediate impact in the transition game.
The biggest risk with taking Thon Maker is a lot of uncertainty at the next level. In addition to lacking the strength that is expected from a dominant big, Thon Maker will need time before he is comfortable in any NBA offense and defense. Expecting Thon Maker to be ready to have a big role out of the gate is unrealistic but if Stevens gets a chance to develop someone who has every potential tool imaginable, there is no telling what he can become down the line.
The Celtics are at a point where they are no longer thinking about the long term future, and want to make moves that will make them better right now. That alone takes Thon Maker out of the running for their first pick, but the Celtics have enough assets that they can afford to take the risk on him later in the first round.
Other than Jordan Mickey, the Celtics lack any high end potential in their front court and Thon Maker can change all that. His potential to develop into a jump shooter gives him the potential to be both the physically dominant big in the paint, as well as provide the floor spacing that the Celtics have always looked for in their bigs.
Thon Maker has that potential to be the complete package and the Celtics are a great place for him to develop. The Celtics will make sure he does everything to grow as a shooter and with their need for a dominant defensive big, most of the work will be put into making him an NBA ready defender.
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At this point, it is almost impossible to gauge whether or not Thon Maker will be available when the Celtics pick for the second time in the first round but he has the kind of potential that cannot be passed up. There may not be a single player in this draft that can come in and immediately transform the Celtics. The Celtics cannot become too shortsighted in this draft and with the future in mind, Thon Maker may be the most promising player in this draft.