Celtics' Ideal 2022 NBA Mock Draft

Boston Celtics fans should break out their comfiest chairs for the 2022 NBA draft.

Barring any activity by the front office, the Shamrocks will wait hours before participating in the annual talent grab. They own only a single selection in the draft, and it won't come until the 23rd pick of the second round (No. 53 overall).

That won't make it easy to add a rotation-caliber prospect, but with the right combination of scouting, development and luck, the Celtics just may find a future contributor.

The following three players could qualify and might be on the board when Boston makes its first and only pick.

It's possible the Celtics could spend the No. 53 pick on one of the draft's most explosive prospects.

So, what's the catch?

Well, that player, JD Davison, hardly set the world on fire at Alabama, despite his arrival as a five-star recruit, per 247Sports. He was a single-digit scorer (8.5 points per game), a forgettable outside shooter (0.8 threes per game on 30.1 percent shooting) and a turnover machine (2.9 turnovers in 25.8 minutes).

Still, the athleticism is elite, and so is the pedigree. Plus, he is a creative and willing passer, an active rebounder, a deft finisher at the rim and a versatile and disruptive defender.

Investing in Davison means playing the long game with his development, but if Boston is patient, it could eventually walk away with a big prize.

If Celtics coach Ime Udoka could design a player for his defensive scheme, it might bear a close resemblance to Ron Harper Jr.

He's a 6'6", 245-pound positionless stopper with the length, strength and instincts to pester opponents of almost any size or skill set.

Harper already bears the markings of the proverbial pro's pro, which makes sense since he's the son of a five-time NBA champion (Ron Harper). He consistently makes good decisions, usually opting for the simple play over the flashy one and rarely being out of position.

He is already 22 years old, so he may not have as much upside as other prospects, though that could point to more readiness than most.

Plus, it would be wrong to think he's done growing as a hooper. His four-year stay at Rutgers featured a slew of skill improvements, including a steep climb from 27.8 percent three-point shooting as a freshman to a senior splash rate of 39.8.

Alondes Williams took the long road to the NBA radar. He opened his college career with two seasons at Triton College, spent the next two seasons at Oklahoma and finally landed at Wake Forest as a grad transfer.

That's when everything clicked for the 6'5" guard, who left a major imprint all over the stat sheet.

Now, it's worth noting he doesn't shoot it as well as the Celtics would like in a guard prospect (28.2 percent from three this past season). If shooting wasn't a question mark, though, he'd probably be long gone before Boston made its pick.

Williams was a stat sheet-stuffer to the tune of nightly contributions of 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists, numbers that ended up delivering him ACC Player of the Year honors. He offers elite vision, the passing chops to thread needles through tight spaces, a lightning-quick first step, ambidextrous finishing in traffic and a nose for grab-and-go rebounds.