Looking Past the First Round – CLNS Radio (blog)

Much has been written about the Celtics' 1st round decisions. Not to be overlooked, however, is their next selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, which happens to be No. 37 overall (from Minnesota via Phoenix)

Below is a breakdown of five potential players the Celtics could take in the Second Round at No. 37.

Frank Jackson

Guard

(Duke)

It might seem counter intuitive for the Celtics to draft a guard given the logjam there is at the position. With Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, and Avery Bradley manning the backcourt, it would seem the Celtics are pretty stacked at this position. (Plus 2015 First Round Pick Terry Rozier is a 6'1" guard).

While this pick may seem further puzzling given that Jackson recently underwent foot surgery and was precluded from working out for NBA teams, there are valid reasons why he is worthy of consideration at No. 37.

For one, he is an athletic slasher who can create his own shot, a skill that is at a premium in today's NBA. He has a 42" vertical and has a nice mid-range jump shot, a skill that is not a given for even lottery picks.

Also, if the Celts draft Jayson Tatum third overall, Jackson would be reunited with his former college teammate.

Jordan Bell

Power Forward

(Oregon)

Bell is a coach's dream. He is unselfish enough to sacrifice big scoring nights for the sake of doing the dirty work down low. Last year, he had no problem deferring scoring responsibilities to Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey. A gritty rebounder, Bell averaged 8.8 boards per game last year for the Ducks. He was also a defensive stopper in the paint and showed the uncanny versatility to guard multiple positions.

At times, the Celtics ran with a smaller lineup and lacked depth in the frontcourt so having Bell's services could fill a gaping hole, whether it be this year or down the road should Bell first play in the D-League.

Tyler Lydon

Power Forward

(Syracuse)

Lydon enters the NBA as the quintessential power forward of the modern era. A textbook "stretch four," Lydon is a big man who can knock down a 17-footer and stretch out the opponent's defense. Over 71 games for the Orange, Lydon drained threes at an impressive 39.8 percent clip and hauled in 8.6 rebounds per contest last year as a sophomore.

Lydon's got the height (6'9") but many consider him underweight. Between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Syracuse, Lydon packed on over a dozen pounds, but many draft experts still consider him too light to match up against NBA big men. That said, at the college level, Lydon showed some versatility through playing both forward positions and center. If he can bulk up, perhaps that's an asset Lydon can bring to the next level.

If the Celtics don't sign Kelly Olynyk to a long-term contract extension, Lydon could be a nice back-up to Al Horford at the power forward position.

Alec Peters

Forward

(Valparaiso)

The biggest concern about Peters is the season-ending stress fracture he suffered in his right foot back in February. For Peters, this was a devastating blow as he was tearing up the Horizon League on both ends of the floor. He also has shown signs of being a ferocious rebounder. Similar to Lydon, Peters can stretch out the opposing defense with his three-point shooting. Not only is Peters a threat from outside, but he can score with his back to the basket and get to the charity stripe, where he has converted at a healthy clip.

Before the injury, Peters was projected to be a late first-round pick. Now, he could potentially drop to late second round. It's a gamble for the Celtics but they do have the luxury of having three second-round picks if Peters remains hampered by his injury for an extended period of time.

Mathias Lessort

Forward/Center

(France)

What he lacks in size and scoring touch, Lessort makes up for with his relentless rebounding on the offensive glass. The feeling among many scouts is that if Lessort can improve his defensive rebounding skills, he could be an elite rebounder, perhaps one of the best in this class. On the other side of the ball, Lessort runs the floor well and sets a good screen for the pick-and-roll.

Overall, the Frenchman is an athletic freak, with uncanny lateral agility and top-tier closing speed. He's got raw talent, for sure, but with time and the right coach, he could mature into an effective two-way player.

From an intangibles perspective, Lessort fits into Brad Stevens' system well: he brings constant energy and hustle to the parquet each and every night.

Of course, a pick this late in the draft may never pan out. Or it could take years to have a considerable impact. But who knows, maybe one of these aforementioned players will become the next second round gem a la Paul Millsap or Carlos Boozer.

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Looking Past the First Round - CLNS Radio (blog)