Three draft picks in 2020 warrants three articles discussing who the Boston Celtics should keep their eyes on heading into the festivities. In this piece, we’ll be taking a look at draft prospects the C’s could select with the Milwaukee Bucks pick at 30.
Boston Celtics fans, I get it: you miss live action, prime-time basketball. Don’t worry, we feel your pain.
It’s been two weeks since we’ve seen the world’s best ballers lace up on the NBA’s hardwood, but our emotions have us feel as though it’s been two years. In the end, we can’t do anything about this inconvenient truth — after all, it’s for the wellbeing of the league’s players, personnel and fanbase.
What we can do, however, is look back with a smile on the season that was and look ahead to what is still to come. Until further notice, both the league’s free agency period and the NBA Draft are scheduled to commence at the same, or at similar times.
Because of this, the Houdini has, and will continue to focus a majority of it’s attention on these illustrious events. As far as the pecking order of said events goes, the draft is expected to still come first.
In this year’s NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics will hold the rights to three different picks — the Memphis Grizzlies’ at 17, their own at 26 and the Milwaukee Bucks’ at 30. So far, we’ve covered players the team could target at 17 and 26 — click the links to see some great insight on prospects the C’s should keep on their radar — but have yet to discuss whom they could select at 30.
Until now!
So, without further adieu, we present to you three players the Boston Celtics should consider selecting with the Milwaukee pick.
Jahmi’us Ramsey, SG
First up, we have the 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Jahmi’us Ramsey. The Texas Tech standout had a fantastic season during his first year at the collegiate level — as we’ve already alluded to — serving as his team’s main scoring option.
Through 27 games, the 18 year old boasted impressive averages of 15 points, four boards, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent shooting from deep, ranking him third overall in the Big 12 in this category.
He has proven to excel in catch and shoot situations and can catch his man off the bounce from time to time, giving him the capability of creating offense for himself. Listed at 6-4, the shooting guard has a wingspan of 6-10 (above average for a typical small forward) and has shown the athleticism to flush it home at the rim on lobs and driving slams.
Defensively, he proves to be a solid help defender, but struggles to stay consistent in man to man coverage.
In regard to his fit with the Boston Celtics, he could fill the role of sharpshooter off the pine who could thrive running alongside Marcus Smart, a man who’s improved significantly with his own shot but prefers to participate in drive and kick situations; Ramsey could prove to be a serviceable recipient on the other end of a play like this.
As a whole, the C’s bench ranks 29th in the league in points per game and 27th in 3-point percentage. Adding a guy with the skillset of Jahmi’us Ramsey should only help improve these numbers in 2020-21 should they translate to the professional level.
Kira Lewis Jr., PG
Next up, we have a player who we view as somewhat of a Ja Morant-lite. By this, I mean they have a similar frame (6-3, around 170 pounds), solid all around scoring games and quick handles that can create separation with ease to find an easy bucket.
However, Kira Lewis Jr.’s lack of aggression on the court and shoot first mentality makes him far less of an intriguing prospect than Morant was, but he is still without a doubt worthy of selecting in the first round, especially when considering the Boston Celtics have the point guard whisperer himself Brad Stevens in tow.
In his sophomore season, the point guard put up averages of 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 37 percent shooting from deep. The 19 year old has proven to be quite a reliable catch and shoot player and can finish at the rim with a breakaway dunk or an acrobatic finish in traffic.
Defensively he has shown to be a reliable defender on the perimeter, a slimy presence that glides through screens and a great anticipator to intercept an opposing player’s pass.
If he can work on his distribution skills — something that was certainly not helped by Alabama’s lack of off-ball cutters — Kira Lewis Jr. could prove to be a serviceable rotation player in the C’s point guard friendly, free flowing offense.
Xavier Tillman, F
Last, but certainly not least we have perhaps the safest choice — in our humble opinion — the Boston Celtics could select with the last pick in the draft, Michigan State forward Xavier Tillman.
Though not the best offensive prospect, Tillman’s defensive chops might be too hard to pass up on at this point in the draft if he is available. In 31 outings the 21 year old put up averages of 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game on 55 percent shooting from the field.
With his excellence on the defensive side of the ball, Tillman ranked fourth in the Big 10 in blocks, boasted a defensive box plus/ minus of 9.2 and was bestowed the honor of the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
His high motor, defensive prowess, solid interior moves and willingness to find his teammates for scoring opportunities is somewhat reminiscent to a current member on the Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart.
At 6-8, 245 pounds he has the ideal frame for a modern day NBA small forward, but has shown to be more comfortable playing the four which could prove to be a problem at the next level.
However, at such a late pick like 30, pickings are indefinitely slim.
If he manages to improve upon his mid-range/ 3-point shooting — 27.3 percent shooting from 3 for his collegiate career — he could realistically see 10-12 minutes of action per game with the Celtics next season.