Potential steal Boston Celtics could draft No. 1) AJ Green
After an impressive three-year run at Northern Iowa (technically four, but he only played three games in 2020-21 before going down with a hip injury, so they listed 2021-22 as his junior season), AJ Green has opted to forego his final year of eligibility at the collegiate level and try his luck in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Due to the modern-day game’s playstyle revolving heavily around 3-point shooting, the 22-year-old, despite his status of being a player from a Division 1 conference that’s historically been perceived as being at a “lower level”, could find his way into an NBA team’s rotation early and often during his rookie season if put in the right situation.
Perhaps the Boston Celtics could be the team that winds up giving him such an opportunity.
In 31 games played this past season, Green went on to post impressive per-game averages of 18.8 points, 3.7 boards, and 2.5 assists on 39 percent shooting from deep.
With his production, the two guard went on to guide the Panthers to a 20-12 overall record and an NIT Tournament appearance while also taking home the individual honor of the MVC Larry Bird Player of the Year award along the way, his second time earning such a moniker.
Proving to be more than just a long-range catch-and-shoot commodity (though, obviously, this would be his ticket to playing time right off the bat in the C’s rotation if selected, as they need more trusty snipers), Green has a willingness in his game to put the ball on the floor, where he’ll look to take two or three dribbles then get into a shooting set or drive to the hoop in hopes of a stop & pop mid-range, a lay-in by using some of his underrated allusiveness, or, simply, dishing it back out to the perimeter to an open teammate.
At this stage in the draft, Boston could do a lot worse than a player who converted on 38 percent of his attempts from deep throughout his college career.