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2019 NBA Draft grades for every team: Pelicans get an A+, Rockets get an F

By Brandon Jefferson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the first overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Zion Williamson poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the first overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 19: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 19, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 19: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers is seen during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 19, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Boston Celtics – C+

14th Overall – Romeo Langford, Guard (Indiana)

22nd Overall – Grant Williams, Forward (Tennessee)

33rd Overall – Carsen Edwards, Guard (Purdue)

51st Overall – Tremont Waters, Guard (LSU)

The summer of 2019 is going to be one of big change for the Boston Celtics. It is rumored that both Kyrie Irving and Al Horford will leave in free agency leaving two huge holes for Danny Ainge to fill going forward. After making a few deals of their own—including one with the Phoenix Suns that saw them deal Aron Baynes—the Celtics ended the night with four picks. The theme of the night for Boston was guards. Three of the four picks were guards and as of right now, all three of those guards operate best with the ball in their hands. With Irving likely gone and Terry Rozier no guarantee to return, Ainge addressed a weakness.

Romeo Langford entered college as one of the top recruits in the 2018 class. He was a combo guard who ran hot-and-cold from the perimeter but could get in the lane at will and finish through or around defenders thanks to a long wingspan. As a freshman, he played through a thumb injury that could’ve kept him out for the majority of his season. Instead, he saw his stock tumble as he played hurt. If he gets back on the path he was headed coming out of high school this is a pick we’ll look back on and question how he fell to the end of the lottery.

With their three other picks, the Celtics decided they would rather have sure things than potential. Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards, and Tremont Waters each played multiple seasons in college and each is pretty set on what they will be at the next level. Williams is a high-IQ, versatile forward who could play some small-ball five eventually. Edwards is a dynamic scorer who has deep range, solid handles, and creates fouls when driving to the basket. Waters is a floor general and his ability to make reads (and shots) out of the pick-and-roll is his best attribute.

In all, the picks by Ainge were good, but there’s no one player that really excites the fan base especially when viewed through the prism of them potentially replacing who is leaving in July. However, what Ainge’s willing-and-dealing did do Ian open up more cap space for Boston to use in free agency. Folks will think differently about this draft in the coming weeks if Ainge is able to use the reported $23 million in cap space to replenish the roster.

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