Boston Celtics Mock Draft 4.0: June Edition
By Jeremy Karll
No. 23 – Cheick Diallo, PF, Kansas
After going with wing players with their first two picks, the Celtics have to address their front court with the 23rd pick. Cheick Diallo was suspended for the first five games of his freshman year and was never able to get consistent minutes for Kansas once he returned. He only averaged 7.5 minutes per game, but his potential is why he’ll likely be a first round selection.
After Ante Zizic said he wants to come over to the states this season, the Celtics might want to go the college route and develop a player in the D-League. Boston is expected to have a crowded front court once again, although that’s not the worst thing in the world as Diallo is far from NBA-ready.
He averaged 16 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks per 40 minutes as a freshman, showing why so many people are high on him.
Diallo reminds me a little of a young Bismack Biyombo because of his size, defensive tenacity, and underdeveloped offensive game. Diallo has the size (6’9″ and 218 pounds) to be a rim protector in the future. He’s a big body down low whose hard to move, and when you pair that with his long wingspan and leaping ability, it’s hard not to see a defensive star in his future.
It’s hard to tell because of his lack of playing time, but his defensive and rebounding games are not far off in my opinion. It’s his offense that needs work.
Diallo shot 56.9 percent from the field last season, but it’s not as impressive when you dig deeper into his game. He doesn’t have any developed post-moves, takes questionable shots at times, and is still developing a mid-range game. It’s a good sign that he’s able to step out 15-to-18 feet and hit a shot fairly consistently, but it’s far from a finished product.
When it comes down to it, Diallo will probably end up being an energy guy on offense. He’ll try to eat up the offensive glass and get garbage rebounds off misses. He won’t develop into a great pick-and-roll player or back to the basket player though. Diallo also won’t ever be a great passer after he recorded just one assist and 17 turnovers in 27 games.
Next: Celtics Must Focus on Improving Shooting
It’s really hard to tell what future he has in store. In a way, he has as much uncertainty as a lot of international players. Still, the Celtics don’t need another rookie taking up a roster space and Diallo has the potential to develop into a very good rim protector in a couple of seasons, so he’s worth the gamble.