Boston Celtics: Redrafting the last decade of first round picks
Original pick: James Young
New pick: Gary Harris
James Young was one of the Celtics’ most disappointing picks of all time. In his four year career, he averaged 2.3 points a game in 8.5 minutes, three of which were with Boston. And every time he stepped on the court, he managed to make things worse. This may have been through lack of effort, development, or an unknown issue. But even at the 17th selection Young was a bust.
Gary Harris was joined by another rookie, named Nikola Jokic, in Denver. The two developed nicely together, and although in terms of offensive production, Harris has declined, he has continued to be an influential defender for the Nuggets.
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Young was an oversized Kentucky guard, who seemed destined to play in the NBA, while Gary Harris was consistently hindered by the lack of size.
Two years ago, Harris seemed to be turning into a superstar, scoring 17 points per game at just age 23, while protecting the perimeter. But now, he 25-year-old is just a 10 point per game scorer with lower efficiency.
Nevertheless, Harris provided the Celtics with the guard depth the needed, which Young failed to give them. He overcame his small frame, turning into an aggressive off-ball machine on both ends of the court.
The 2013 draft was filled with many stars who were picked in the mid-lottery area, where the Celtics selected Kelly Olynyk. However, the Celtics had a chance to select arguably the best player in the NBA today.