We're just one week away from the 2025 NBA Draft. The two-night event will be huge for the Boston Celtics as they look to use picks 28 and 32 to add two new young players to their roster. In the age of the league's newest Collective Bargaining Agreement, making the most of these selections is important.
Ideally, the Celtics would land a player who is fit to fill a low-usage offensive role while being a versatile defender.
Could that be UConn's Liam McNeeley? If you ask Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, the answer may be yes. Wasserman's latest mock draft has McNeeley projected at 28th overall, going to Boston.
The Big East Freshmen of the Year had a solid freshman season for the Huskies. He averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 38.1% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc.
Leading up to the draft, McNeeley has been ranked all over the place. There have been mock drafts where he's projected to be a lottery pick, and then situations like this recent Bleacher Report mock, where he's still on the board at pick 28.
Does Liam McNeeley make sense for the Celtics?
Yes, IF he is there when it is their turn to pick. McNeeley is not a player that would be worthwhile trading up for. The value in the six-foot-eight wing would be the idea of him being a "steal" in this draft. If the Celtics gave up assets to go get him, it just wouldn't make sense.
In theory, McNeeley would be a good fit with the Celtics. He's a wing with size and a supposed shooting ability. It's not hard to imagine him growing into a player who could be the Sam Hauser of a future roster.
The issue is, despite the billing on the 19-year-old's player profile, he struggled to hit shots for the Huskies this past season. McNeeley made just under 32% of his threes on about five attempts per game. That clip is pretty low for a guy whose top skill is shooting touch.
Does this mean that McNeeley has no shot of being an effective shooter in the NBA?
Absolutely not.
Though he struggled overall, there are positives to take into account here. The Texas native is a great off-ball mover. When watching some of his tape, it's pretty obvious that he's comfortable flying around off of screens and then spotting up for a triple. In fact, McNeeley was a good catch-and-shoot player, even with his overall inefficiencies. He nailed 42.4% of his unguarded catch-and-shoot looks this past year, according to the No Ceilings Draft Guide.
McNeeley's free-throw percentage is another potential sign that he's going to be just fine in the league. He sank 86.6% of his attempts at the stripe, proving that his shot mechanics are smooth.
They are, in fact, smooth. McNeeley's shot itself looks pretty reminiscent of Hauser's. Wide base, coordinated rise, and a seemingly effortless release. He's also adept at squaring up even while on the run.
Outside of shooting, it's pretty tough to imagine McNeeley would be tasked with additional responsibility as a scorer. He doesn't have the greatest burst and struggles to beat opponents off the dribble. His lack of athleticism also limits him as a finisher. Even in sections of his highlights that showcase finishing, McNeeley seemingly relies on circus-type shots when he's driving to the rim.
He can, however, contribute as a playmaker -- at least a little bit. McNeeley plays with a consistent willingness to make extra passes. He'll often pass up good shots to create great shots for wide-open teammates. This feel for the game could make him a valuable cog in Boston's offense.
Defensively, there's room for growth. It'd be unfair to talk about McNeeley like he doesn't give a great effort, because he does. The issue is his lack of athleticism. He isn't quite quick enough to stick with smaller guards and can often be taken advantage of in switches.
With that being said, scouting reports say that he is a quality team defender who does a good job of rotating and being in position for help.
It's not impossible for him to develop defensively in a similar way to Hauser, who's become a quality defender for the Celtics. It just might take a year or two.
Overall, McNeeley's shooting upside and motor make him an interesting prospect, especially if he is on the board when Boston is on the clock.
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.