The Boston Celtics made the New York Knicks look silly in two straight NBA Drafts, and it’s now clearer than ever. This past year, the Knicks only had a late second, but in the 2023 and 2024 NBA Drafts, the Celtics scooped up players that the Knicks could have selected: Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman.
Boston selected Walsh with the No. 38 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Eight picks earlier, the Knicks selected James Nnaji at No. 31. Then, in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Celtics took Scheierman at pick No. 30. Just five picks before him, New York selected Pacome Dadiet.
It’s hard to draft. Anything past the lottery is nearly impossible to predict. That’s why it’s so rare to find consistent talent late in the first, and especially in the second. Yet in two straight drafts, the Celtics did what the Knicks could’t—and the Knicks could have had who Boston picked.
Celtics made Knicks look like draft chumps in 2023 and 2024
Joe Mazzulla has completely transformed the Celtics’ play style on both ends of the court this season. As a result, both Walsh and Scheierman have managed to carve out very meaningful roles on both ends of the court.
Walsh’s role has been much more defined. He’s emerged as Mazzulla’s go-to fifth starter alongside Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta.
The youngster has become a defensive menace, taking on almost all of the best players in the league when they go up against the Celtics. Plus, his rebounding and cutting have been crucial on offense, and his three-point shot is coming along, too.
As for Scheierman, though he’s not playing as many minutes as Walsh, his ability to give Boston great minutes in small doses is underrated.
He’s hustling on defense, diving for loose balls, battling for rebounds, and knocking down his shots. Plus, Scheierman is one of the most underrated passers in Boston.
New York’s two selections haven’t done much. Nnaji just decided to go to college, becoming the first-ever drafted player to go to the NCAA (he’s joining Baylor).
And Dadiet has been unable to carve out a place in Mike Brown’s rotation. He may not be on the team in a year’s time.
If New York selected Walsh, Scheierman, or both, there’s a good chance that they could be playing real roles off the bench for the Knicks at a position of need behind OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart.
Instead, they are balling in Boston, and the Celtics made the Knicks look like chumps on draft night for two straight seasons.