Could Jonathan Isaac be the Pick at #3?

By Michael James | Jun 21, 2017

Mar 16, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Jonathan Isaac (1) reacts during the second half against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

With Josh Jackson, and Jayson Tatum as the favorites to get selected by Boston at #3, don’t be surprised if the Celtics take Jonathan Isaac.

When the Celtics passed on Markelle Fultz by trading the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft for the third pick and a future first, it became clear what position they valued. Fultz is probably the best guard prospect in years, but Boston believes that two way wings are their best chance at a championship.

In this draft there are three wing players in the Celtics’ range that have superstar potential. Josh Jackson out of Kansas is the highest rated player due to his defensive prowess and elite athleticism that will allow him to be a two way star if he develops a consistent jumper.

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Jayson Tatum is a polished scorer in the half court that can play small ball power forward. He’s not great on the defensive side of the ball but has the potential to be a versatile defender for Brad Stevens. If the Celtics want more of an offensive boost from their pick, Tatum will be the one.

Isaac has a combination of skills from these two players, but is a big risk because he polished any of those skills yet. At 6’10” with a 7’1″ wingspan, Isaac has elite size and has guard skills that could make him a dynamic player for any team. The Celtics are in need of a legitimate power forward to play alongside Al Horford, and Isaac might be the perfect fit.

When watching the tape from his freshmen season, you can see that Isaac is a special athlete that knows how to use his length. He is an very good defender, and could become elite if he bulks up his slim 210 pound frame.

On offense, Isaac isn’t the scorer or shooter that Tatum is, but his mechanics are much more technically sound than Jackson. The problem with Isaac on offense is his frame, and the fact that he doesn’t have the range to knock down NBA threes at a consistent rate.

When you look at Isaac’s weaknesses, most of them are easy fixes. Sure he doesn’t have the range on his jumper, but the mechanics look good. He gets bullied by bigger forwards on both ends, but building muscle is not something that’s incredibly difficult to do. What Isaac is not is a playmaker, but Brad Stevens’ system should not require him to do anything but score, rebound, and stretch the floor.

When you look at the weaknesses of Jackson and Tatum, they aren’t as easy to fix. Jackson’s mechanics will likely need a complete overhaul, which is not the easiest thing to do after shooting the same way for years. Tatum isn’t as good of an athlete and has trouble on defense despite potential in that area. Defense and athleticism is harder to teach than adding muscle and practicing NBA threes.

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I still think Jackson is the best option for the Celtics at #3. He is a great player that can contribute right away with his defense and high basketball IQ to score while developing his shot. I wouldn’t be surprised though if Isaac is the pick. If he puts everything together than he is the perfect fit for the Celtics system under Stevens.