Boston Celtics draft: 5 potential late Cs draft-night steals

Boston Celtics second-round draft target #4: Luka Garza

College basketball has an odd trend. Typically, in intercollegiate hoops, the most talented player isn’t the one that lands the John Wooden Award for Player of the Year. Rarely does the #1 pick in the draft shine in that manner (Cade Cunningham’s OK State was eliminated in the Round of 32).

Instead, college basketball’s top performer typically comes from a Power 5 school that is veteran-laden and looking to win a championship first and foremost. Think Frank Kaminsky or Frank Mason (and throw away Zion Williamson, who is simply an anomaly).

In 2020-21, the best player in college basketball was a player projected by Bleacher Report to be picked in the 50s: Luka Garza. The Washington D.C.-born big can stretch the floor, but he is far from the most dominant rim protector in the draft.

That said, he could help in small doses. The Cs shouldn’t be above taking a chance on one of the Big Ten’s most accomplished players in this millennium.

Boston Celtics second-round draft target #5: Neemias Queta

Utah State was unable to secure the Mountain West championship, but they were able to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament by edging out fellow MWC foe Boise State.

Sure, they didn’t perform well in March Madness against Texas Tech, but that wasn’t Portuguese big man Neemias Queta’s fault. The seven-footer scored 11 points, grabbed 13 boards, and dished out six assists in the #6-#11 matchup loss to the higher seeded Red Raiders.

Queta improved his free-throw shooting each season at Utah State and averaged a double-double in 2020-21. Danny Ainge should take a chance on the international big to add a massive body to a Cs roster that only has Tristan Thompson and Robert Williams under contract for next season.