It's no secret that a youth movement is slowly taking over the NBA. However, the Boston Celtics opted for older, more experienced picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.
In the first round, the Green Team selected sharp-shooter Baylor Scheierman out of Creighton with the 30th overall pick. He turns 24 in September and is already older than Celtics forward Jordan Walsh, guard Jaden Springer, and point guard JD Davison.
In the second round, Boston used the 54th pick to bring in Gonzaga forward Anton Watson. Like Scheierman he'll be 24 years old in October when the 2024-25 regular season rolls around.
If the ages of the newest Celtics show anything, it's that the organization is eager to usher in mature talent who can handle the significant shift from the NCAA to the NBA. Although these two college stars probably won't make an immediate impact in Beantown, they should be open to growing in the Celtics' winning culture, especially with banner no. 18 soon to be hanging in the rafters of TD Garden.
But before the Celtics celebrate banner night at home, let's delve into their second-round pick and hand out a draft grade for Watson.
Boston Celtics 2024 NBA Draft Grade
Grade: B+
The Celtics went for a shooter in the first round and more of a defensive-minded selection in the second.
Watson is known for his tough on-ball defense, as he uses his 6-foot-8, 228-pound frame to harass ball handlers. That size will make switching a lot easier for the Idaho native.
Off the ball, Watson is quick on his feet and not afraid to fight through screens. He has a knack for disrupting plays as well. In each of his five seasons in college, he averaged more steals than turnovers. On the whole, he posted 1.4 steals per game in his Gonzaga career.
While Watson's defense likely caught the attention of most scouts, he's by no means a one-dimensional player. Last season, he averaged 14.5 points on 57.8% shooting from the field. The 2019 Washington Mr. Basketball award-winner can finish around the rim and loves to take high-percentage shots.
As for his three-point shooting, Watson shot below 23% in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. Yet, in his fifth year of eligibility, he shot 41.3% from deep on a small sample size of 1.5 attempts per outing.
The Celtics love the triple, so Watson will have to adapt his shot diet in the NBA. In fact, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has already encouraged the change, per Celtics in-house writer Taylor Snow.
“I want him to come in here with the mindset that he's gonna let it fly like he's never let it fly before,” he said during a Thursday afternoon press conference following the end of the draft. “Because I think he's a better shooter than he sometimes thinks he is.”
Shooting isn't an impossible fix—just ask Celtics veteran Al Horford. The five-time All-Star used to only work inside the arc, attempting zero 3-pointers in his first two seasons in the league. Flash forward to last season, the 38-year-old shot 41.9% from 3-point range and forced opposing defenses to view him as an outside threat.
If Watson can develop his shot, there should be room for him in the Association. Going from college ball to the highest level of professional hoops isn't easy, but the Gonzaga lifer knows what it's like to play for an organization with high expectations.
The Bulldogs have been to 25 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and Watson even played in the 2021 national championship game. That kind of experience should help him gel in Boston, a city where anything short of winning it all is rarely celebrated.
Will Watson (and Scheierman) serve as game-breakers next year for the C's? In reality, no. But, they have the right tools to flourish in a winning environment for a team that might need them in a season or two.
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