The Boston Celtics had two selections in the NBA Draft on Thursday night in the first round as they seek help to get back to the top of the NBA. With their first selection, no. 6 overall, they drafted point guard Marcus Smart, as many had expected. With their second pick, no. 17 overall, they were able select Kentucky’s James Young, who according to the analysis of Danny Ainge, they were able to steal, basically.
More from Boston Celtics
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- Jaylen Brown signs richest contract in NBA history without a left hand
- Boston Celtics projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
- David Griffin thanks rival Celtics for leverage in Anthony Davis trade talks
- NBA rumors: Damian Lillard trade becoming more trouble than it’s worth for Celtics
Just hours after the draft, Ainge appeared on air in Boston, where he explained the pick of Young at 17.
"We think that James is much younger and we think he has a chance to be a very complete player. There was a lot of players in the draft that we liked, but James Young we did have ranked much higher than where we drafted him. Young is strong, has long arms, has always been a good shooter. He didn’t shoot the ball great in the first part of his first career at Kentucky. James is one of those guys that looks like a shooter, doesn’t hesitate, can take the ball to the hole strong. We think he’s a two-way player, he can defend his position."
Now, if you’re still asking how he believes he “stole” Young, well, he would then go on to admit that he had both Smart and Young rated as top-10 players. Not many folks had Young rated as top-10.
"We are excited about the two guys we got, we think they are top-10 guys. Don’t have expectations of them turning around our franchise … but playing a role in our successful team."
Time will tell whether or not he’s right about Young –or even Smart, for that matter– but we’ll know soon enough as both of Thursday night’s picks should be contributors early on to this Celtics team.