The ultimate steal? Why Meleek Thomas is the perfect draft fit for the Celtics

In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Jeremy Woo has the Boston Celtics selecting Meleek Thomas with the 27th overall pick. If that happens, there should be an eruption inside the war room at the Auerbach Center.

In his lone collegiate campaign, Darius Acuff Jr.'s running mate in the Arkansas Razorbacks' star-studded backcourt demonstrated the shooting, athleticism, and intangibles that would make him an excellent fit in Boston.

Of course, that also applies to the rest of the Association, which is why the Celtics might have to move up to get him. In a recent edition of The Stein Line, Jake Fischer reported that they have been "increasingly interested" in trying to trade up in the draft.

Generally, despite the temptation, that's not worth doing from a value standpoint. However, if Boston moves up the board, it could be with Thomas in mind.

Meleek Thomas's offensive profile

Watching the six-foot-five guard against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament and vs. Arizona in the NCAA Tournament is how this author formed the following mini-scouting report.

Thomas is best known for his shooting prowess. He converted on 41.6 percent of the 5.3 3s he hoisted at Arkansas. His form is smooth; he has a high release, and he's got excellent touch.

Beyond knocking down three-point attempts off the catch and off the dribble, he's shifty off the bounce when getting to his mid-range jumper. The 19-year-old from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, repeatedly creates considerable separation before elevating into his shot.

Thomas also has an explosive first step. Even a textbook closeout can quickly become irrelevant against him. He also does a great job getting into the paint when attacking downhill off a screen.

However, there are concerns about his ability to get to the rim. There is no doubt that he needs to get stronger. Even if his physique doesn't one day resemble Jaylen Brown's, there's no reason why that shouldn't happen. Regardless, the floater will be a valuable part of his arsenal. It's his answer to those questions about getting all the way to the cup.

His approach, putting the team first and remaining engaged even when he wasn't touching the ball, speaks to a player who can fit in anywhere. Thomas is willing to station himself in the corner -- he would go long stretches without getting the rock, but it never impacted his effort and activity.

And when it came his way again, he was always ready to score. There was an anecdote relayed on the broadcast during the Razorbacks' game against the Rebels that captured his unwavering confidence: When asked who he patterns his game after, Thomas responded, "Nobody. Guys are gonna pattern their game after me."

For someone who will probably start his career in the second unit, especially if Boston drafts him, maintaining that belief will be a superpower for him.

Another observation from watching Thomas's tape is that he delivers entry passes with the appropriate arch and touch. That's noteworthy, considering the Celtics have trouble with that at times and sometimes opt not to throw it.

Boston would benefit from having another primary ball-handler. The Razorback's other standout guard can provide that. The Celtics also need more individuals who can knock down shots and make plays off the catch. Thomas can quickly shine there.

He can punish defenders for leaving him space to shoot. And with his athleticism and explosive first step, he can do the same to opponents who are closing out to him after helping against a drive from someone like Brown, Jayson Tatum, or Payton Pritchard.

Meleek Thomas's defensive profile

What stands out about the six-foot-five guard at this end of the floor is his awareness and activity.

Again, even when he goes stretches without touching the ball, he remains committed and engaged on defense. Thomas is an alert help defender, and he usually closes out in control. He also has good timing on his dig downs, and when he swoops in for a steal after a nearby ball-handler turns his head so the back of it is facing Thomas.

Thanks to his basketball IQ, motor, and a wingspan that stretches over six-foot-six, he averaged 1.5 steals in his lone year in Fayetteville.

Thomas also does a pretty good job of navigating screens. However, there will be questions about his ability to fight through them at the next level. Those same questions will exist for handling physicality in general, e.g., when defending against drives.

Still, this is not a one-way player.

Is Meleek Thomas a fit for the Celtics?

The answer to that should be clear by now. He absolutely is. The other half of John Calipari's star backcourt is a winning player -- one who could fit in on a team with established stars.

One of Payton Pritchard's most impressive traits is his stamina. Thomas shares that. These two don't get tired. No matter how long they've been on the floor, there's a relentless nature to how they attack when they get the ball.

A day after logging 37 minutes against Oklahoma, Thomas played all 45 minutes in an overtime win against Ole Miss. Acuff, who got going in the second half, struggled to find his rhythm for much of that game. Not only did his partner in the backcourt pick up the slack, generating 29 points, but he did so within the flow of the offense. Thomas shot 60 percent from the field and buried four of the seven 3s he launched. He also earned eight free-throw attempts and converted on seven.

He had opportunities to recharge in the corner on offense, but it was still impressive to see someone shoulder that kind of a workload in consecutive days without showing any signs of fatigue. It didn't matter how long he had been on the floor, or whether he had gone a while without getting the ball; Thomas was active and engaged on defense.

It speaks to a player who is about the right things. Thomas would fit within the Celtics' hierarchy; he'd provide a boost in shot-making and athleticism. And his intangibles are another characteristic at the heart of why he would be an excellent pick if he's available when Boston comes on the clock.

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