Offseason Primer Part 2: The Draft (part 2)

Another look at some potential draft targets

Today is part 2 of our draft coverage. Like Saturday’s newsletter, I’ve contacted a draft expert to get their insight into potential picks at 30 and 54.

Before we jump into that, we’ve got some news items to cover.

📰 News & Notes

☘️ Oshae Brissett has opted out of his $2.5 million player option. He is now set to enter unrestricted free agency.

I grew to like Brissett. When the Celtics first acquired him, I was unsure of the type of impact he could make, given his struggles scoring the ball. However, he added versatility and energy to the rotation and proved himself to be a reliable asset on both sides of the ball. I liked the small-ball option he gave Joe Mazzulla and the physicality he brought off the bench.

Still, testing his free agent market fresh off winning a championship ring is the right call. As Keith Smith noted, there is still a chance Brissett returns to the Celtics next season. However, if another team can offer him a bigger role with an increase in his annual salary, he is likely heading elsewhere.

Best of luck to Brissy, no matter what he chooses to do!

☘️ The Celtics could elevate Sam Cassell into Charles Lee’s (now vacant) lead assistant position as they bid to fend off the Los Angeles Lakers after JJ Redick added him to his desired coaching staff.

Boston is believed to be very keen to fend off Lakers’ interest in Sam Cassell to elevate Cassell on Joe Mazzulla’s staff after the departure of Charles Lee (Charlotte's new head coach) —

Marc Stein

reported on Saturday.

The latest exclusive NBA trade talk + more

☘️ Cassell is still waiting to become an NBA head coach.

“I spoke to Sam,” Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson said during an interview with SNY. “Sam and I texted…he said his goal is to become a head coach in the NBA. I think the right opportunity needs to come along. I’m not hearing that Sam is in that conversation. I have heard that he and Rajon Rondo are assistant coaching candidates that JJ Redick is considering in Los Angeles.”

Remember, Cassell was reportedly a coaching candidate for the Lakers role during the early days of their search after firing Darvin Ham. He will be entering his 16th season as an assistant in 2024-25. His name is starting to appear in more and more coaching searches. It’s only a matter of time until he’s picked up. Hopefully, he will choose to remain with the Celtics and take on an expanded role moving forward.

☘️ Al Horford is 100% coming back next season - doesn’t know where the retirement rumors came from.

"I don't know how that all got started to be honest," Horford told WBZ-TV's Dan Roche. "I'm coming back, that's the plan…I feel good, I want to keep it going and I know that I have to be cautious with how I approach the season and how I go throughout the season," he said. "But I feel like we did a really good job, our Celtics medical group did a really good job managing me this season."

Horford is still a massive part of this Celtics team. He has never relied on athleticism to make an impact. He’s exceptional at using angles to control his opponent on defense. And he continues to expand his game — notably behind the three-point line. If the Celtics can manage his minutes, limit the milage he gets through the regular season, and keep putting him in positions to make a positive impact, he will be a major piece to their puzzle next season — just like he has been throughout his (two) tenure(s) with the team.

📈 On to the Draft Coverage

For today’s newsletter, I reached out to draft expert Richard Stayman, who you may know as

MavsDraft

here on Substack and across social media. Rich is a credentialed media member for all things draft coverage. You can subscribe to his substack here:

A quick programming note: Any player names hyperlinked in this discussion will take you straight to a scouting report from Rich.

Me: Hey Rich! The Celtics have picks 30 and 54 in this year's draft; who do you have floating around those numbers on your big board, and who would be the best bet at each of those positions?

Rich: My board is a bit weirder than most, but some players I like in the 30 range that I can see as plug-and-play types in the 20-35 range (since this year tiers are so interchangeable) are Baylor Scheierman, Jaylon Tyson, Jalen Bridges, Kyle Filipowski, and Kevin McCullar. For 54, this is purely a crapshoot, but there are some fun gambles at a low hit rate spot: Anton Watson, Jaylen Wells, Isaac Jones, Armel Traore, and Emanuel Miller come to mind. 

Me: With the new CBA in effect, the Celtics might look to get genuine value out of these draft picks. Are there any ready-made contributors available for each pick? In the sense that they could spell minutes off the bench if needed or potentially crack the back end of the rotation?

Rich: Kevin McCullar fits exactly what Boston likes in their culture right now: He improved his offensive quite a bit at Kansas, and he is one of the top off-ball defenders. He has to get past some injury woes, but he is a readymade wing the Celtics like.

Me: What if the Celtics went for long-term upside? Are there any low-floor, high-ceiling guys you like? 

Rich: Pacome Dadiet could be a fun one if he figures out how to limit his mistakes and grow defensively. Dillon Jones is another one, a do-it-all wing who had historic production at Weber State but has athletic concerns.

Me: Boston is developing a reputation for turning two-way talents into NBA contributors. See Hauser and Queta for recent examples. Are there any high-floor, low-ceiling guys who could be good pick-ups after draft night?

Rich: Anton Watson could be a UDFA pickup that fits Boston. He is an outstanding off-ball defender with a growing jumper, and he connects the offense well with his passing. I also like Oso Ighodaro as a connector on offense with a good push shot, athleticism, and passing.

Me: Appreciate you, Rich! Finally, if you were Brad Stevens, how would you approach this draft? 

Rich: I would try and move out of the draft entirely and just build some pipeline through undrafted free agency. Find a way to get even a mid-second-round pick in 2025 or 2026; the next two drafts will be much stronger and harder to get picks with as the drafts approach, so get them now when a faller is available at 30 or 54.

🧐 Rounding up some mock draft picks

🏀 The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has Boston taking Tyler Smith at 30. (6’9’’ big out of the G-League Ignite.)

“Smith averaged 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds this season while drilling 36 percent from 3, and measured at 6-9 without shoes to pair with a 7-1 wingspan,” Vecenie wrote. “He was effective within a limited role where he pick-and-popped, cut to the rim and dove to the hoop out of ball screens. His jumper is silky smooth; it looks like he could become one of the better shooters in the league at this size…Boston could bring him along slowly, and his shot would be valuable to their style of play as a frontcourt player.”

Vecenie also has Boston selecting Jalen Bridges out of Baylor at 54.

🏀 The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has Boston selecting Terrence Shannon Jr. with the 30th pick (6’5’’ wing out of Illinois.)

“Shannon could master his downhill scoring ability in Boston’s developmental system, and he has enough size and versatility on defense to potentially contribute during his rookie contract,” O’Connor wrote.

He also has Boston selecting 6’4’’ point guard Zon Pullin out of Florida with the 54th pick.

“The Celtics re-signed Payton Pritchard last fall, but that shouldn’t stop them from taking a chance on a player who could end up being better. Pullin is a knockdown shooter, and his size gives him defensive versatility. If his ball handling translates, then he could earn minutes sooner rather than later.”

🏀 ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremey Woo have the Celtics selecting Pacome Dadiet from Ratipharm Ulm.

“Dadiet's combination of size (6-9), youth and shot-making prowess gives him an interesting upside to grow into long term, something that could be attractive at this stage of the draft. -- Givony”

They also have the Celtics selecting Antonio Reeves out of Kentucky at 54.

🏀 Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has the Celtics taking Tyler Kolek at 30 (6’1 guard out of Marquette.)

“Underwhelming measurements (6'1", 6'3" wingspan) and athletic testing will make teams view Tyler Kolek as a backup. But that could still be enough to draw first-round interest, particularly from playoff teams that will see a guard who can instantly provide pick-and-roll offense, spot-up shooting and toughness,” Wasserman wrote.

He also has Boston taking 6’3’’ point guard Tristen Newton with the 54th pick.

🏀 CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein has Boston taking 6’9’’ forward Tyler Smith with the 30th pick.

“Shooting is a requisite for the newly crowned NBA champs and with Al Horford now 38 years old and Kristaps Porzingis' durability always in question, Smith gives them another shooting big, with underrated athleticism, to develop.”

Wrapping it up

That completes the second day of our draft coverage. I should hopefully have a podcast episode with one more draft expert before draft night, and I will try to get some scouting done here so we can deep dive into one or two of the options (no promises, though!)

Have an awesome Monday, and I’ll catch you all tomorrow!