The Boston Celtics are going to have to make the most of their NBA Draft picks moving forward. Jordan Walsh looks to be developing well, Baylor Scheierman looks solid in the G League, and Anton Watson is a work in progress, too. Hitting on picks will be their path to sustainability as a second-apron team.
Their roster is so expensive that maximizing their talent on the margins will be crucial, and draft picks are the best way to do that. Landing quality players on cheap, multi-year contracts is one of the best ways to improve in the NBA. So, even though they are going to be firmly in the title race, the draft will also be important.
And they are already in the lab.
Celtics scouts were seen evaluating Princeton guard Xaivian Lee
According to basketball insider Adam Zagoria, Celtics scouts were recently in attendance to watch Princeton guard Xaivian Lee. Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns scouts were reportedly also present.
Through his first 16 games of the season, the junior is playing 30.1 minutes per game, averaging 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field and 37.9% from behind the three-point line.
Scouts from the Jazz, Suns, Clippers, and Celtics watched @PrincetonMBB Star @xaivianlee this weekend pic.twitter.com/hVQUI9ojAa
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 13, 2025
The 6-foot-3 guard is currently projected to be a late second-round pick, meaning Boston would theoretically be able to snag him with one of their later selections should they fall in love with him as a prospect.
NBA Draft expert Tyler Rucker of No Ceilings sees Lee as an “exciting talent” who could give Boston some “sneaky value” later in the draft.
“Lee is shifty. Smart player with good size,” Rucker told Hardwood Houdini. “Good feel and playmaking ability. Shot needs to come around consistently. But definitely an exciting talent that could offer some sneaky value.”
Obviously, it’s still very early in the scouting cycle, and teams have plenty of time to make decisions on who they will invest further resources into. However, rumblings have begun to pop up regarding potential picks and which teams are eyeing who.
Lee could be a very interesting player for the Celtics to bring on board in an attempt to bolster their guard room.
If they feel as though JD Davison’s time with the organization has run its course, Lee could be a potential candidate to fill his two-way spot heading into next season.
As the draft crawls closer, Lee is a name to keep an eye on for the Celtics.