Mock Draft 2.0: New Orleans Pelicans Jump into Top Four
26. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Vernon Carey Jr.. Center / Duke. Boston Celtics. player. 18
The Celtics hunt for a reliable big continues and Vernon Carey Jr. has the package of tantalizing skills that the Celtics will find too tempting to pass up.
Carey Jr. has the type of back-to-the-basket game that is rapidly going extinct in the NBA, but bigs who can score in the paint and grab rebounds will always have a place somewhere in the league.
Carey Jr. gets 17.6 points per game for Duke on 57.7 percent shooting and has a crafty game in the paint.
The problem is that Carey Jr. does not have a great NBA body, doesn’t rebound particularly well for someone his size and is not a great rim protector, though he does block 1.6 per game.
Carey Jr. is the type of matchup-dependent center who could come off the bench and give the Celtics a burst of scoring when they need it, but he might not be useful against smaller lineups, as he gets gassed easily and is not an end-to-end rim runner.
With no glaring weaknesses on the wing, the Celtics will try to use this draft to revamp their interior. It’s also very possible that Danny Ainge will make a big trade or use his multiple picks to nab additional picks in a more loaded draft.
The Celtics are in a good spot and should be able to help themselves in this draft one way or another.