Boston Celtics: Celtics Take Smart and Young On Successful Draft Night
The Boston Celtics entered Saturday’s 2014 NBA Draft with the No. 6 and 17 picks in the first round and while we didn’t see the blockbuster trades that many were expecting, general manager Danny Ainge had himself quite the successful draft night. The Celtics selected Oklahoma State sophomore Marcus Smart with the sixth pick, while at 17 they went with the raw scoring potential of Kentucky freshman James Young.
Marcus Smart returned to Oklahoma State for his sophomore year despite being in the discussion for the top overall pick in the 2013 draft. He had a dominant season for the Cowboys, averaging 18 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Smart is a strong, aggressive combo guard who bullies his way into the paint and gets to the free throw line with regularity. He was an elite defender at the collegiate level and his skills on that end should allow him to contribute in the NBA immediately.
At 6’3” with a 6’9” wingspan, Smart has the size to defend either guard position and it is unclear as to whether he is a point or shooting guard at the next level. He attacks the paint relentlessly which will be a welcome addition to a Celtics team that was among the worst at getting to the line in the league, but he needs to improve his outside shooting to become a well-rounded offensive threat. Smart has the build, the talent and the experience to come in and contribute from day one in the NBA and was the most talented player on the board at six.
Shooting guard Avery Bradley is a free agent this offseason and All-Star Rajon Rondo is just a year away from being off contract himself. Drafting Smart gives the Celtics some stability in the back-court while they decide whether or not to keep Bradley and Smart replaces much of the defensive ability that Bradley brings to the table. If he can improve his shooting Smart should be able to play alongside Rondo as a two-guard, while also running the point while Rondo is off the floor. The specifics of how and where Smart will play are yet to be decided, but the Celtics took the most talented two-way player on the board and are said to be ecstatic over the selection.
Kentucky’s James Young on the other hand is an offensively gifted freshman who averaged 14.3 points and 4.3 rebounds on a loaded Wildcats team that made it all the way to the NCAA Championship Game. Young has deep range on his jump shot, well out to the NBA three-point line but can also take the ball inside and finish around the rim. Young was excellent throughout the NCAA Tournament and was Kentucky’s leading scorer in the final with 20 points to go with seven rebounds.
At 6’6” with a 7’0″ wingspan, Young has the size and length to play at either wing position in the NBA. He has struggled defensively but has the physical tools to compete on that end and will hopefully improve under the tutelage of Coach Brad Stevens. Young is one of the youngest players in the draft at 18 years old so there is still a long way for him to go developmentally, but the raw tools are there for him to be a great scorer at the next level.
With the current makeup of the roster, it is unclear where Young will get his minutes early on but it is likely that Ainge is going to shake things up prior to the season. Once he can add some strength and improve defensively Young is likely to play more at small forward where veterans Jeff Green and Gerald Wallace currently stand ahead of him in the depth chart. We will see if Ainge intends on moving some of his veterans to open up playing time for his young players or if Young will have to slowly earn his minutes.
Overall, given the talent available with each of the Celtics’ draft picks they had a tremendously successful draft night and added two more valuable pieces to a roster suddenly filling up with young talent. Smart and Young join recent draft picks such as Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk on a team looking to forge an identity under Stevens and return to the top of the Eastern Conference. It is unclear whether Ainge will keep Rondo and look to add another veteran star in a bid to contend quickly or move on allowing his young players to develop slowly, but either way Smart and Young are two great pieces to have on the roster.