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Three players the Boston Celtics should look to draft

By James Finneral

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Injured Oregon center Bol Bol (1) looks on during a college basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans on February 21, 2019 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Injured Oregon center Bol Bol (1) looks on during a college basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans on February 21, 2019 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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It is no secret the Boston Celtics must make some adjustments in order to contend for a championship next season. Building chemistry should be a key focus, but adding talent to the roster would also help.

There has been a lot of talk about trades and free agency moves regarding the Boston Celtics, but the NBA Draft has been swept under the rug. The Celtics have the 14th, 20th and 22nd picks in the first round. Here is a list of three players the Celtics should look for at their various picks:

Bol Bol, C, Oregon:
Bol Bol went down with a foot injury pretty early last season, so there is not a ton of college tape on him. However, Bol has a ton of potential and should be viewed as a solid prospect. Bol was ranked 4th on the ESPN 100 for the class of 2018 because of his impressive skill set for his size.

He is 7’2” and capable of shooting from behind the arc. His size will also be an addition on the defensive end as a rebounder and shot blocker. The Celtics are certainly lacking a presence down low and Bol could fill that void.

As we saw in the playoffs, the Celtics couldn’t cover Giannis Antetokounmpo. Adding a big body like Bol could help the Celtics defend long and athletic players like Antetokounmpo. Bol is not the most athletic player, so it will be interesting to see how he stacks up against the bigs of the NBA. Bol is a high risk, high reward player and the Celtics could take a chance on him.

PJ Washington, Kentucky:
PJ Washington was a very impressive player this year for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. Washington may not be flashy, but he is one of the most polished forwards in this draft.

He has a good feel for the game and a knack for getting to the rim. The Celtics should consider Washington with their second or third pick in the first round. One of the only downsides to Washington is that he is an undersized power forward.

As he progresses, Washington may be a similar player to Draymond Green, who makes his presence felt in all areas of the game, despite his lack of size at the position. Undersized power forwards can be risky to draft, but Washington has the talent to make a smooth transition to the NBA.

Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky:
Washington’s teammate, Tyler Herro would also be a nice addition to the Celtics, but for different reasons.

Herro has the playing style of a typical NBA shooting guard. Herro will give Boston a much needed sniper from 3-point range. Whether it’s Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier or anyone else handling the ball, it will be nice to have a knock-down shooter to kick out to.

Herro is a crafty player who can handle the ball and score from inside. Herro would definitely benefit from gaining a few pounds, so he can have an easier time finishing through contact. Herro will rely on his outside shot, but that is the way the game is played today. The Boston Celtics are easily in range to draft Herro and they should definitely consider pulling the trigger.

Next. Can the Celtics trade into the top 3?. dark

These three players are very different, but they all have the potential to contribute for Boston. No matter what happens with Kyrie Irving, the Celtics must make the most of this draft and carry that momentum into the rest of the offseason.

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