Boston Celtics: 3 picks from the 2010s we wish would have worked out
By Zane Harris
Boston Celtics draft picks we wish had worked out: 1. Fab Melo
With the 22nd overall pick of the 2012 draft, the Boston Celtics selected Fab Melo.
Melo came to the United States in 2008 from Brazil to attend Sagemont School in Florida. He then attended the University of Syracuse and under the watchful eye of legendary coach Jim Boeheim, Melo evolved into a menace on the defensive end.
He was awarded the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 but was not given too much of a chance during his time with the Celtics. Melo played only six games with the Celtics and averaged only six minutes per game.
He spent most of his NBA career playing with the Celtics D-League team, the Maine Red Claws.
During his time with the Red Claws, Melo was named to the D-League All-Rookie First Team along with the D-League All-Defensive First Team. In one game with the Red Claws, he set the D-League record for blocks in a game. He finished the contest with a stat line of 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 blocks. This was only the third triple-double in the team’s history.
If Melo was given the chance and evolved into the player he was in the D-League on the Celtics, he would have been the perfect successor on the defensive end for Kevin Garnett. While he never would have been the offensive threat or had the versatility that Garnett was, Melo had the potential to be just as talented of a rim defender as KG was.
However, he was never really given that chance and Melo was out of the league shortly after he was drafted. Sadly, he passed away in 2017 at the age of 26 from a heart attack.