Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
adamtaylornba

Celtics land 22-year-old stretch-four in latest mock draft

The Boston Celtics will have the 54th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Given their incredible talent and depth, whoever they select in the second round will likely spend the upcoming season with the Maine Celtics on a two-way deal. Still, the Celtics have developed a clear pipeline between their G-League affiliate and their first team.

This season’s roster boasts three Maine Celtics graduates. Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta began their Celtics careers on two-way contracts. According to Jonathan Wasserman’s latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, Coleman Hawkins could be the next addition to the Maine Celtics, where he will look to emulate some of the aforementioned talents.

“Coleman Hawkins was having a strong NCAA tournament until Illinois ran into Connecticut,” Wasserman wrote. “While scouts have their reservations, he has their attention with a shoot-dribble-pass skill set that creates a valuable stretch-playmaking 4 archetype.”

Hawkins has played 35 games for Illinois this season. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.9% from 3-point range. As with any contending team, carving a path to the primary roster would be incredibly difficult. However, Boston has shown a willingness to reward players who operate professionally and consistently improve their games.

Of course, Stevens could decide to flip the pick on draft night. He’s shown a willingness to kick the draft can down the road in recent years, and given the Celtics’ current roster depth, that may be the smartest decision and one that would be fair to whoever they would potentially select.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8Mbv

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.