Next Wednesday and Thursday present two opportunities for the Boston Celtics to add young talent to their roster. They hold picks 28 and 32 in the two-night NBA Draft, meaning they'll likely get to double-dip from the same pool of prospects.
Making the most of these selections is always a bonus, but with the league's current collective bargaining agreement, impactful players on cheap contracts have never been more valuable.
Though Boston's pair of picks aren't in the most exciting spots, there could still be some diamonds in the rough. At Hardwood Houdini, we've been diving into some of the players projected within the Celtics' range over the past month.
Next up is Serbian forward Bogoljub Markovic. The six-foot-eleven teenager spent last season playing for KK Mega Basket, where he appeared in 32 games for the Serbian club. He played an average of just over 29 minutes each outing, averaging 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 54.6% from the field and 38.8% from long range.
Draft experts project Markovic to be on the board into the mid-to-late 30s, a bit past Boston's range.
Does Bogoljub Markovic make sense for the Celtics?
Eh, not really.
Markovic has a somewhat unique skill set for his size, but he isn't quite at the same level as some of the other players who should be available when the Celtics are on the clock. Guys like Danny Wolf, Thomas Sorber, Maxime Raynaud, Joan Beringer, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Rasheer Fleming are all better forward/center prospects than Markovic.
Even if all of those players are off the board by the time it's Boston's turn to pick, it would be wise to think about other possibilities at the guard and wing spots.
This doesn't mean that Markovic will never be a rotation player in the NBA. He just feels a little too one-dimensional to stick with a team like the Celtics. Maybe other franchises would be willing to take him on as a developmental project. The 19-year-old is projected to be an early second-rounder for a reason, you know?
His greatest strength is his shooting ability. Markovic has been a knockdown threat from distance consistently over the past two seasons. His form is smooth, and he's comfortable letting it fly off the catch, something he'd be doing quite often in the NBA. At nearly seven feet tall, his high release makes it extremely difficult for defenders to get good contests on his jumpers.
Markovic's 76.5% clip from the charity stripe adds to his already encouraging shooting foundation.
In addition, the big Serbian is comfortable playing out of the post. He can finish with either hand and showcases smooth footwork down low. Markovic also displays great vision with his back to the basket, often slinging crisp passes to open teammates when the opposition sends help his way.
The issue here is that post opportunities in the NBA are scarce nowadays. Teams only play through the post when they've got elite bigs like Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid on the low block. Markovic would have to gain a significant amount of muscle before he becomes a serious post threat in the league.
He's listed at just 190 pounds in his official NBA Draft profile. Not only will that lack of bulk affect him on offense, but it'll limit him on defense, too. Markovic isn't athletic enough to defend scoring forwards in the NBA, and he isn't strong enough to be a paint defender.
Make no mistake, he plays with a high motor on defense and will do his best to make timely rotations and contain his man, but there are serious questions about his physical limitations. Even while watching tape of his defensive highlights, it's easy to see where some of his blocks or stops would be called fouls in the NBA.
He's just sort of stuck between being a forward and a center, which doesn't bode well for immediate success in the league. It just feels like he'd be hunted defensively every time he gets onto the floor.
For a more in-depth look at potential Celtics prospects, check out the "How 'Bout Them Celtics" draft preview, where Jack Simone and I run through plenty of names with No Ceilings' Tyler Rucker.