Brad Stevens went on a trading binge Thursday night, executing four draft night deals to eventually turn the 25th overall pick into Jordan Walsh and four future second-round picks.
Stevens flipped 25 for 31 and two future first-round picks. The 31st pick went to Charlotte for picks 34 and 39. 39 was moved for a future second while 34 turned into the 38th pick and a future 2nd.
Walsh was selected at 38.
"We had a list of guys that we were really comfortable with. (Walsh) was on that list," Brad Stevens said. "He's a good prospect. He's young. We don't expect him to come in and take the world on fire in the first couple of months, summer league, first year."
Walsh actually sounds a lot like a taller Marcus Smart. He’s 6’6” but he has a huge wingspan.
“Explosive athlete with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, a relentless approach, and good instincts,” writes Kevin O’Connor in his Ringer draft capsule. “He comes up with 50-50 balls by diving on the floor. He takes charges. He flies around and makes second and third efforts on single possessions. He’s everywhere.”
"He has a special ability laterally with his wingspan to swallow people up defensively," Stevens said. "He really creates havoc with his arms and with his energy and with his ability to move his feet."
And his one weakness? Shooting. Though Stevens doesn't seem too worried about that.
"He's a better shooter. And we had him in twice for workouts. He is just getting better and better," Stevens said. "I've always thought his touch looked good, but he looked hesitant at times. And so I think over time he'll become a really good shooter who has the athleticism to finish and drive closeouts, but he'll be ahead on the defensive end from the start. He’ll get knocked down a few times, though.”
Meanwhile, the stockpile of second-round picks fits right into what I’ve been saying a side effect of the new CBA would be. Teams don’t want to be locked into salaries for guys who might be available for less -- or two-way deals -- in the second round.
Here's the complete list of picks Boston acquired.
- Dallas’ 2024 second round pick
- The best of Detroit’s, Golden State’s, or Washington’s 2025 second round pick
- The best of Minnesota’s, New Orleans’s, New York’s, or Portland’s 2026 second round pick
- Atlanta’s 2027 second round pick
"I think the value of second round picks is obviously, not only do you have a tool that you can use in trades, but also you have the ability now with the second round exception in the new CBA to do some things," Stevens said.
If the Celtics' staff didn’t feel rotational help existed in the first round, then trading down and getting a bunch of seconds makes sense. Walsh can sign whatever contract he negotiates with Boston, or they can agree to put him on a two-way at first and see how the season goes. They can always upgrade him later if they need to.
Stevens is starting to navigate this new NBA world. I know the Belichickian comparisons have been flying around a lot tonight, but this is the way to do it if you know the guy you want is going to be available later.
Who knows if Walsh will actually develop into the next Smart-type player for Boston. Sometimes a lunatic defender is just a lunatic and there's no growth. If that's the case, the Celtics can move on with little ramification -- as opposed to waiting for option years in the standard first-round contract.
But if they have found someone with the attitude, effort, and drive to improve, then they’ll have a few years of him at a bargain number.
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