The NBA Draft is coming up on November 18. Armed with three first round picks (#14, #26, and #30), the Celtics could go in a variety of directions. TheBostonInsider will be taking a look at several players that could be a fit in Boston.
Precious Achiuwa, Freshman, Forward/Center, Memphis (6-9, 230 pounds)
In their loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, one of the major weaknesses of the Celtics was defense and rebounding from their big men. Daniel Theis is a solid player, but he was exposed by Bam Adebayo.
Precious Achiuwa is the type of big man that NBA teams love today. While he is a bit short at 6-9, Achiuwa combines strength and athleticism on both ends of the floor. He can defend the pick and roll, rebound, and finish near the basket. While Achiuwa is not much of a threat from the perimeter, his shot certainly could develop to allow him to become a big who can thrive in the pick and pop game.
Achiuwa is raw, as he's only been playing basketball for seven years after moving to New York CIty from Nigeria at the age of 14. While he will need work to make the jump from college to the NBA, his physical tools will allow whatever organization that lands him with a player who has a shot to develop into a difference making big man.
Boston could be shy on pulling the trigger on a developing big, as they have Robert Williams entering his third year still looking to break into the permanent rotation of Brad Stevens. But, if Danny Ainge is looking for another athletic big man to add to the roster, Achiuwa checks off a lot of the boxes that the Celtics need from that position.
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