Giannis Antetokounmpo is heading to Miami, which means that the Celtics hold onto the No. 27 pick in the first round of the draft – at least for now.
So, in the aftermath of the trade that never was, let’s take a look at five potential first-round prospects for Boston.
Alex Karaban – forward from UConn
Karaban is a UConn all-time great, a shotmaker, and someone who could almost immediately become an effective NBA role player. He averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last year, while shooting 37.4% from three. Karaban is on the older side – he’ll be 24 in November – but he’s a proven winner who is coming off of one of the most successful college careers in years. The Ringer has him going 30th overall, while ESPN has him going 34th, so there’s a good chance he’ll be available late in the first round.
Tarris Reed Jr. – big from UConn
Reed is a great rebounder who was awesome in March Madness as UConn advanced to the national title game. He averaged 13.5 boards per game and was a two-time national champion in college. ESPN has Reed Jr. going 24th overall, but he’d be an intriguing pick if he falls, and one that could bolster the team’s frontcourt. But, he’s limited to paint scoring and hasn’t shown much shooting upside.
Henri Veesar – center from North Carolina
Veesar is the kind of floor-stretching big man that the Celtics have historically liked having on the roster. The Estonian 7-footer averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game last season, while shooting 42.6% from 3-point range. Questions around Veesar center around his potential defensive weaknesses, but the 22-year-old certainly has a more polished offensive game than most. The Ringer has him going 19th overall, and ESPN has him going 25th, so he might not be available when the Celtics draft.
Jayden Quaintance – forward from Kentucky
Quaintance is coming off of ACL surgery and appeared in just 4 games this season, so he comes with some injury questions. But the upside is there, and as such, some mock drafts have him going a lot higher than No. 27. Quaintance has a high defensive ceiling and is just 18 years old. The Ringer projects Quaintance will go 10th, while ESPN projects he will fall to No. 30 due to lingering concerns around his knee. At full strength, he’s someone that some teams project could turn into a talented rim threat.
Meleek Thomas – guard from Arkansas
Thomas is a bucket-getter. The 6’5 guard is already a microwave scorer who shot 41% from three in his freshman season, but how the rest of his game rounds out remains to be seen. Though he could spend some time in the G-League, Thomas is someone that some teams believe could immediately bolster a playoff team’s bench. The Ringer has him going 28th, and ESPN has him going 29th, so he’s right in the mix for a late first-round pick.