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Boston Celtics Draft: Why Aaron Nesmith makes sense for Cs

By Ian Riaf

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 19: Aaron Nesmith #24 of the Vanderbilt Commodores drives with the ball past Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 19: Aaron Nesmith #24 of the Vanderbilt Commodores drives with the ball past Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Shooting creates driving lanes, and this is why the Boston Celtics, if they stay at the number 14 spot, in the NBA Draft, is Vanderbilt’s, Aaron Nesmith.

With the 2020 NBA Draft just hours away, the Boston Celtics face a number of big decisions. Danny Ainge’s press conference suggests that the Cs are aware of the many constraints given their crowded roster.

Among Celtics Twitter, there exist three roughly different schools of thought when considering the potential in this draft and where it fits with this team’s future plans.

School of thought No. 1) Playmaking

For Boston, playmaking is extremely important to consider given the heavy self-creation-load placed on the shoulders of Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum.

Marcus Smart ranked in the 96th percentile last season in efficiency at the point guard spot, but he only played 23 percent of the time at that position.

Do the Celtics draft a playmaking point guard, someone along the lines of Kira Lewis Jr?

School of thought No. 2) Size 

Does the team draft a potential modern-day stretch-five, capable of contesting shots?

Do they need Jalen Smith, a player who’s drawn comparisons to both Myles Turner and Serge Ibaka, and who may bridge the gap between Daniel Theis’ and Robert Williams’ skillsets? While it should not be a deterrent for the Cs, they’ve struggled to develop big men from the mid-to-late portion of the first round over the years.

Robert Williams is still very much a mystery as are Guerschon Yabusele, Ante Zizic, and Jared Sullinger, other names that should bring back familiar or perhaps unfamiliar memories for Boston Celtics fans.

School of thought No. 3) Shooting (yes, please)

Should the Celtics draft the best shooter available, given their lack of bench floor spacing?

I am of the school of thought that the team desperately needs shooting, and they need it in volume. Shooting creates driving lanes, and this is why, I believe, the best selection for the Boston Celtics, if they stay at the number 14 spot, is Vanderbilt’s Aaron Nesmith.

But why?

First-year/freshmen-age players are the hype guys.

In the mind of the NBA blogosphere, everyone else is dubbed “plug-and-play,” low potential type players.

Such is the case with Aaron Nesmith.

The primary critique of Nesmith is that he is one dimensional. Joe Harris and Cameron Johnson are notable comparisons that NBA draft Twitter seems to stick to, but after watching film on Nesmith, there is still quite a bit of upside.