Boston Celtics: Redrafting the last decade of first round picks
Original pick: Marcus Smart
New pick: Zach LaVine
This may be unpopular due to the enormous impact Marcus Smart has already made on the Boston Celtics. But there is no denying that Zach LaVine could have helped speed up the rebuild process.
Coming out of college, Marcus Smart was a gritty defensive pest, best known for fighting a fan at Oklahoma State. Although it was not reported at the time, his mother was rushed to the hospital right before the game. Besides the point, Smart was the ideal Celtics player, representing the city as a whole.
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Zach Lavine, on the other hand, was an athletic monster, known for his play at the rim, and scoring abilities. Although LaVine had a higher potential, he was seen as more of a project than Smart. However, even after his first season, scouts were proven wrong and LaVine exceeded all expectations on the court.
Smart, even as a rookie, played an impactful role for the Celtics, but was never able to expand his offensive game, specifically his shooting, in order to make a difference on that end of the court. LaVine was quite the opposite – an offensive force who continued to need to fill a defensive void in his game.
LaVine has experienced a number of injuries, but despite them is projected to become a borderline all-star player. Marcus Smart is not far behind, but with Avery Bradley on the roster, Zach LaVine would have the best selection for Boston.
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