After a plethora of transactions, the Celtics came out of the NBA Draft with Jordan Walsh. It seems that Walsh was Brad Stevens’ target all along, and he simply wanted to move down just enough to extract maximum value while still being able to get his guy.
Walsh was one of the most underrated prospects in the entirety of this draft. His defensive ability can be so valuable at the pro level. The 6-foot-7 wing has an engulfing 7-foot-2 wingspan, a sturdy frame, quick feet, and a constantly-revving motor. There is little doubt in my mind that Walsh can promptly develop into a versatile all-defense level guy on that end, similar to Herb Jones or Jaden McDaniels in recent years.
For a Boston team that both lacks wing depth and currently relies on Jayson Tatum to be their primary scorer, playmaker, and wing defender, Walsh can quickly step in and play solid minutes for the Celtics and alleviate some of Tatum’s duties on the defensive end.
However, to play more than just regular season minutes and carry this impact into big playoff minutes, the 19-year-old will need to improve his skills on the offensive end. Walsh averaged just 7.1 points and shot 27.8% from deep in his freshman season at Arkansas. With this type of scoring threat, he’ll be an offensive liability in the playoffs. Opposing defenses will leave him open in order to throw extra bodies at stars such as Tatum. We’ve seen this principle with players such as Mattise Thybulle and Isaac Okoro who have been forced off the court in big playoff games.
Luckily, Walsh has flashed some skill as a ball handler and driver in high school at Link Academy and shot 71% from the free throw line this past season, both encouraging signs. It will likely will take some time, but there’s a lot of hope the teenager can develop into an adequate offensive player in due time.
With a good enough offensive repertoire at his disposal, Walsh would be able to unleash his defensive wrath in the NBA. This would allow him to be a true starting-caliber player for the Celtics and be a fan-favorite in Boston while contending for championships.
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