This offseason will be a fascinating one for the Celtics as they retool following last year’s early exit.
That reshaping officially begins with the NBA Draft, which is set for Tuesday and Wednesday in Brooklyn, and will continue in the coming weeks.
While it’s very possible the Celtics will trade one or both of their picks as part of a deal, they currently have the No. 27 and No. 40 selections, so let’s operate under the assumption that they’ll make those picks.
With that in mind, here are seven players who could go late in the first round or early in the second and could fit in well with the Celtics:
Yes, it’s unlikely Evans will fall to No. 27, but he’s worth including on this list because the Celtics should absolutely take him if he does. They could also make a deal to move up and draft him.
Evans is a lights-out shooter who moves well without the ball, improved his driving ability last year at Duke and has great instincts defensively. He’s 6 feet, 6 inches, plays with a ton of confidence and would fit in well with Boston’s 3-point heavy offense. His floor and ceiling are both high, and he’s shown he’s capable of making improvements to his game.
Alex Karaban, UConn forward
The Southborough native masterfully pieced together one of the most magnificent careers in UConn history. He’s a strong shooter, versatile defender and extremely smart player.
The question marks with Karaban are his ability to create his own shot and to stay in front of quick guards on the other end. If the Celtics keep both Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser, Karaban probably wouldn’t make sense; if they trade one, he could be an ideal replacement.
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn center
Karaban’s teammate, Reed, was outstanding in the NCAA Tournament and played his best when the lights were brightest. While he’s improved his footwork in the paint, he still has room to grow in that area.
He has an impressive motor, is a fiery and fearless player and brings out the best in his teammates. Reed could learn from Neemias Queta and push Amari Williams for one of the final roster spots.
Meleek Thomas, Arkansas guard/forward
Darius Acuff Jr. got a lot of buzz last year at Arkansas, and for good reason, but Thomas was also extremely impressive. The 6-foot-5-inch, 185-pound shooting guard/small forward shot 41.6 percent from 3 on 5.3 attempts per game.
He scored 21, 19 and 17 points in the NCAA Tournament and shot 45 percent or better each game. Thomas has tremendous upside and could end up being a steal in this year’s Draft. He would mesh well with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from a stylistic standpoint and, like Tatum, is still only 19 years old.
Emanuel Sharp, Houston guard
Sharp is a menace defensively and was a driving force in Houston’s success the past few years. He has a nose for the ball, impressive range and plays extremely hard.
While his size (6 feet, 3 inches) is a bit of a concern, since he’s not a point guard, he compensates for what he lacks in that area with physicality and brute force. Sharp is the kind of player whose winning habits are contagious, and he always seems to hit the big shot when his team really needs it.
Aaron Nkrumah, Tennessee State guard/forward
Nkrumah is one of the better stories in this year’s NBA Draft. The Worcester native and South High product started his career at Quinsigamond College before transferring to Nichols College and transferring again to Worcester State.
He then kept it rolling at Tennessee State under former Duke guard Nolan Smith, averaging 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3 assists last season. The 24-year-old sharpshooter has seen a lot in the past few years and appears ready to keep elevating his game.
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State forward
Jefferson is an intriguing player because at 6 feet, 9 inches, he can guard post players and body people down low. He can also step out and burn you from the outside, moves well for a guy his size and is a crafty passer.
He feels like one of those players where people will wonder which position he truly plays (probably power forward) that ends up shining wherever he goes on the court because of his skill set, motor and heart. The Celtics need more low-post scoring, and Jefferson has a chance to help an NBA team in that area.
