Celtics 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Roundup of B/R Staff, Expert Picks
Barring a trade, the Boston Celtics have one chance to get it right during the 2022 NBA draft.
And that chance won't come until the 53rd pick. If you think of draft picks as dart throws, Boston is essentially blindfolded and throwing from across the parking lot.
Still, every now and then, a miracle throw happens. With the right blend of foresight and good fortune, the Shamrocks could turn this selection into a helpful piece for the roster.
To help figure out who that prospect might be, we're digging into three expert mocks for their thoughts on the Celtics' selection.
Bleacher Report: Moussa Diabate, PF/C, Michigan
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman seems to think the Celtics need more size, and he's not the only one.
That isn't an obvious need when quickly glancing over the roster, but digging slightly deeper brings it to the surface. Robert Williams III is undersized (6'8", 237 lbs) and often injured. Al Horford is 36 years old. Grant Williams is shorter than Robert (6'6") and only signed through next season. Daniel Theis couldn't crack the Finals rotation.
If all of this has Boston thinking big on draft night, then Wasserman sees them selecting the 6'11" Moussa Diabate.
The 20-year-old has length and energy for days, and he's a good enough athlete to score above the rim and protect it on defense. He needs to get stronger and hone his offensive skills, but he has really intriguing handles and mid-range touch for someone his size.
Sporting News: Jabari Walker, SF/PF, Colorado
In a perfect world, Boston uses this selection to bolster a bench group that was basically unusable by the end of the Finals.
During the Celtics' season-ending loss in Game 6, only three reserves logged more than garbage-time minutes: Grant Williams, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Williams had the best plus/minus at minus-18 in 16 minutes. It was brutal.
The Celtics have a particular need for forward depth, and the Sporting News' Kyle Irving has them addressing it with Jabari Walker.
His breakout sophomore season with the Buffaloes put him on the NBA radar, and he could ride this wave into the second round.
The 19-year-old is a good shooter when he gets his feet set, his near-7'0" wingspan helps him cover tremendous ground defensively, and he has the instincts to be a real defensive playmaker.
Sports Illustrated: Moussa Diabate, PF/C, Michigan
What's that old saying about great minds?
Anyway, when Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated mocked his way through two rounds, he also had Boston going with Diabate.
While that doesn't mean this pick is now written in Sharpie, it's always helpful noticing trends during the pre-draft process, and if nothing else, it indicates the Shamrocks may well be in the center market.
The idea of what Diabate could become remains far more interesting than the player he is right now, but that's true of most draft prospects. Besides, his length and motor alone could help him handle a low-maintenance role.
Physically, he has a similar long-and-lean build to a young Kevin Garnett, and the Frenchman named Garnett as one of his basketball role models. That's not at all to suggest Boston may soon be on the verge of getting KG 2.0, but his embrace of the perimeter could one day yield an impressively versatile skill set.