Romeo Langford saw his stock rise and fall ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft, but he ended up being taken with the No. 14 overall pick by the Boston Celtics. It was a move that some questioned, but it was the right one for the Celtics, who are in the middle of what appears to be a rough offseason.
Immediately following the pick, there was a major split in reaction. Some fans in Boston loved the move, while others were not happy. Langford had some issues as a freshman at Indiana, but there is no denying the big-time potential he possesses.
During his freshman year with the Hoosiers, Langford ended up averaging 16.5 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He shot 44.8 percent from the field overall and knocked down 27.2 percent of his 3-point attempts. Obviously, his shooting numbers from beyond the arc left something to be desired, but there is reasoning for his struggles.
Langford dealt with a serious right hand injury that many thought he should not play through. He played anyway and his numbers took a bit of a hit because of it. Even with the injury, he was one of the most efficient finishers at the rim in college basketball.
All of that being said, let's take a look at three reasons why Langford was a perfect pick for the Celtics.
3. He Will Add Another Long-Term Scoring Option
Boston is set to lose both Kyrie Irving and Al Horford in free agency this offseason unless something changes. Both players were key scorers for the Celtics in the 2018-19 season and will be missed. Langford may not step in as a major scorer right off the bat, but he has the talent to become one in the future.
Assuming the Celtics do lose both players, they are going to need Langford to find a big role on the offensive end of the court.
2. Langford's Consistency Issues Were Not Due to Lack of Talent or Work Ethic
Next up, for those worried about his consistency problems at Indiana, the problem was not with his talent or work ethic. Instead, as previously mentioned, a serious dominant hand injury sank his year. He still played through it, showing toughness and commitment to his team.
Those who are worried about consistency and character with Langford are way off. He has always been a hard worker, which isn't going to change. Langford will actually have a chip on his shoulder because of all the critics and will do everything in his power to prove them wrong.
1. The Ability to Play Multiple Positions
Standing in at 6-foot-6, Langford is going to be able to fill multiple positions for the Celtics. He has experience playing point guard, can play shooting guard, or could slide up to small forward. Having players who can play multiple positions is very important at the NBA level.
Langford has superstar potential, and the Celtics made the right call taking him at No. 14 overall. There are always going to be critics, but he will silence them quickly to start his career.
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