Boston Celtics: 3 more players Cs could target at pick No. 14
By Mark Nilon
Boston Celtics target No. 2) Saddiq Bey, SF
Next up, we have a player at a position that, yes, the Boston Celtics are already stacked at but, on the flip side, a talent that compliments them quite well.
Villanova star Saddiq Bey drastically improved from his freshman to sophomore season, upping his statistics in nearly every category. Through 31 games, the small forward posted averages of 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and just shy of a steal per game on crazy efficient shooting clips of 50 percent shooting from 2-point range and 45 percent from downtown.
Seen by some — including ourselves — as perhaps the most underrated player In this year’s draft, Bey has been a player on the Houdini’s radar for months now. As stated in one of our previous articles:
"Offensively Bey showed a wide range of ways in which he can buy a basket, whether it be on a slam when darting to the rim or when spotting up for a shot, where he finished within the 98th percentile nationally. His three-point stroke, alone, would certainly help the Boston Celtics’ second unit — rank 27th in the league in 3-point percentage — and his ability to move without the ball and find room for a catch-and-shoot opportunity would gel quite nicely with Brad Stevens’ free-flowing offense. Unlike some prospects, however, adding someone of his offensive skill set would not, in turn, infringe upon the unit’s defensive prowess but, rather, add to it. Widely renowned as the team’s best defender this season, Bey guided the Wildcats to ranking 36th nationally and second in the Big East in adjusted defensive efficiency. At 6-8, 216 pounds he holds the build of a player who can guard either the two or three with ease while also boasting the quickness, allusiveness, and speed to keep up with quicker guards."
Since this publication, the C’s bench stats have managed to downgrade, as they finished the season ranked 29th in points per game, 28th in 3-point percentage, and 20th in offensive rating.
Adding more scorers to the second unit will likely be a top priority for Boston this offseason. Should they look to address this issue during the draft, Saddiq Bey seems to be a quality option to consider.