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Boston Celtics: 3 draft prospects C’s should not consider with their 2020 first-round picks

By Andrew Hughes

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Mac McClung #2 of the Georgetown Hoyas takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Capital One Arena on February 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Mac McClung #2 of the Georgetown Hoyas takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Capital One Arena on February 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Paul Reed, F

First up on our list we have a player in Paul Reed who just put forth his best season at the collegiate level. The junior forward for the DePaul Blue Demons put up impressive averages of 15.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 2.6 blocks per game on 5 percent shooting from the floor and 31 percent shooting from deep.

With these numbers, Reed managed to rank himself second in the Big East in rebounding, blocks & steals and earned himself the conference’s Most Improved Player award.

On paper it would appear that the big should be an obvious candidate to be selected with one of the Boston Celtics’ first round draft picks — specifically the latter two. However, when observing his play style on the hardwood, it just doesn’t seem like Reed would be a good fit for the franchise.

Ranking 29th in the league in bench scoring and 27th in bench 3-point percentage, one would presume the C’s should try to look for talented perimeter scorers to help bolster their second unit’s offense in 2019-20. Paul Reed certainly does not fit the description of an impressive scoring talent.

The forward was found mainly down in the paint, or in close proximity to it throughout his collegiate career and showcased a very limited post-game. Sure, the statistics say he shot a respectable 33 percent from downtown for his career, but they also show that he attempted just 1.1 shots per game from that area and looks incredibly uncomfortable with his stroke from that distance.

Defensively, yes he has proven to thrive, but at 6-9 and weighing just 220 pounds, he’ll surely struggle against opponents at the same position. Sure, his reported 7-0 wingspan should help him, but without added muscle, he very easily could get bullied around by bigger assignments.

Size coupled with his severely capped offensive game — body of a three, plays like an athletic four — should make a team like Boston hesitant to draft Paul Reed.