Yardbarker’s latest mock draft had the Boston Celtics taking Kai Jones out of Texas, marking the second Longhorn to be linked to the Cs after Fox Sports projected Boston selecting Greg Brown.
There is an obvious appeal to adding the big man from the Bahamas.
Jones is a spectacular athlete. And not just in an “athletic for a big man” kind of way either. The six-foot-11 center is not just someone that can finish lobs like a DeAndre Jordan or a Clint Capela. He has legitimate skills in the open court and has flashed the ability to stretch the floor.
Is he the missing piece for the Boston Celtics, though?
Danny Ainge should attempt to see if that is the case this offseason.
The C’s big man situation has been an unsolved puzzle, but certain pieces are starting to fit the overall scheme of the offense. Robert Williams is one such piece, but he only fits when he is on the floor…and that has been far more infrequent than Brad Stevens could afford in what has become a shark tank of an Eastern Conference.
Jones could be the answer at the 5 in the same spurts Williams used to occupy, but his ceiling is undoubtedly higher. That is of course assuming that NBA coaches will be able to get the most out of his game at the next level.
Long term, if he can come close to what many project he can be with all of the right breaks, Jones has a ceiling with boundless potential.
The tricky thing is that while the Houdini would love to have Jones in green and white–and the Boston Celtics undoubtedly benefit from his presence as well, even if he remained the player he was now–Jones would likely be better off on a team with a pass-first lob specialist of the Trae Young-Luka Doncic ilk.
Ainge’s goal is to find the guys that make his team better, though, so Jones is the man for the job. And not for nothing, being on a team tied for most titles in the history of the league is a damn good job if you ask me.