NBA Mock Draft 4.0: What if the New Orleans Pelicans Make the Playoffs?
New Orleans Pelicans: Mock Draft Pick #14
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Power Forward. Jalen Smith. player. 18. Boston Celtics via Memphis. 14
The Boston Celtics would benefit more than any other team if the Memphis Grizzlies were to fail to make the playoffs, as they own the Grizzlies pick unless it falls into the top six.
The Celtics are already loaded with some of the best young talent in the NBA in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, so they can swing for the fences here or try to add some depth.
The Celtics already have plenty of position-less wings, but have struggled to find reliable interior scoring and defense, especially with Enes Kanter on the floor.
Jalen Smith would be an immediate upgrade defensively, as he has good size at 6-foot-10 and is already averaging 2.4 blocks per game, a statistic that usually translates well in the NBA.
You never really know what Danny Ainge will do with his picks and the Celtics always seem to have plenty of them to spare, so this could very well be packaged with one of their wings in a trade.
If the Celtics do decide to keep their pick then they will likely take a big, so it will really come down to which of the remaining power forwards or centers is ranked highest on their board.