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Offseason Report Card: Celtics get four Bs, a C and an F for offseason moves

By Josh Cornelissen

Jaylen Brown has not said a word about Marcus Smart being traded by the Boston Celtics -- but what is the reasoning for the silence from Brown? (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
Jaylen Brown has not said a word about Marcus Smart being traded by the Boston Celtics -- but what is the reasoning for the silence from Brown? (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics
Jordan Walsh, Boston Celtics. Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images /

2. Traded down, selected Jordan Walsh

Trade down multiple times, draft Arkansas wing Jordan Walsh with the No. 38 pick

One of the two first-round picks that the Celtics got back in the Marcus Smart trade was the No. 25 pick in the 2023 Draft, giving the Celtics a path to add a player to their rotation. Rather than commit to another first-round salary, however, the Celtics began wheeling and dealing when draft night came around.

They moved the pick to the Detroit Pistons, who took Houston guard Marcus Sasser. In return, they picked up a pair of future seconds and dropped back to the No. 31 pick. Not satisfied with just one deal, they then sent the 31st pick to the Charlotte Hornets for picks 34 and 39. They flipped 39 to the Atlanta Hawks for a future 2nd, while 34 they turned into a 2024 second and pick No. 38.

Finally, with four future seconds in hand, they used the No. 38 pick on Arkansas forward Jordan Walsh. He is a plus athlete with plenty of basketball instincts and a seven-foot wingspan to go with them. He could impact a basketball game without scoring in so many ways as a defender, rebounder and connective passer.

The problem is the shot; he hit only 27.8 percent of his 3-pointers in college at Arkansas. If that comes around, he looks like a steal at 38 and a long-term rotation player. If it doesn’t, he will likely have a much smaller role awaiting him in the league. His dominant performance at Las Vegas Summer League is encouraging (16 points per game and 40.7 percent from 3-point range) and hopefully for Boston is something to build upon.

Grade: B+