Getty Images
One glaring weakness that Boston Celtics will look to address this offseason is rim protection. That’s why rumors have emerged linking the team to the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan. Now it appears the Celtics may look to fulfill that need in this year’s NBA Draft. According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, the Celtics are “very open” to moving up in the draft order.
One name being associated with the Celtics’ desire to improve their draft position is Kentucky Wildcats big man Willie Cauley-Stein. Cauley-Stein projects to be a top-10 pick this summer and would very much fill the void in the middle of the Celtics’ defense. He was a known shot blocker in his three years with the Wildcats, averaging over two blocks per game. As a sophomore, Cauley-Stein averaged nearly three blocks per game and recorded over 100 for the season.
Not only is he a great shot blocker, but he is also very good at defending the pick and roll. He has the capabilities to be an elite NBA defender. While the Celtics do have some size in Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller, neither one has the athleticism or defensive ability that Cauley-Stein possesses.
While Cauley-Stein is stout defensively, he leaves much to be desired on the offensive end. Larry Bird recently labeled Cauley-Stein a “$100 million player”. That might be a bit of a stretch for a player who averaged less than nine points per game in each of this three seasons at Kentucky. A majority of his offensive production came via alley-oops and offensive rebounding. His post game is almost non-existent.
However, at just 21 years old, there is plenty of room for Cauley-Stein to develop. His stats can be a bit misleading, as his minutes were limited due to Kentucky’s depth. The Celtics would be wise to strongly consider all options to move up on draft night. The team certainly has assets, with a wealth of draft picks in addition to a few players who could be attractive to other teams.
The question becomes, can they create a desirable enough package for a team to consider trading out of the top 10?
Derek McVay is a Boston Celtics beat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mcvay34, or add him to your network on Google.
