Boston’s 2021 NBA draft: 7 early projections for the Celtics

With the 2021 NBA All-Star Game firmly in the rear-view window, the end of the current season and where teams will likely find themselves in the standings starts to come into focus. And with it, we can begin to get an idea of where those teams will make their selections in the 2021 NBA draft.

At the same time, with NCAA conference tournaments underway and the Big Dance not far behind, a rough order of who might be taken where is also starting to come together. And while the consensus is still lacking and the order fluid, a number of potential prospects for the Boston Celtics are being mocked to the team in the first round’s late teens to early twenties.

Will all this, let’s take a look at what some of the early mock drafts think the Celtics might be up for when the big day arrives in late July.

Fansided - Alperen Sengun - center - Besiktas

CTK via AP Images

A 6-foot-9 big man who can do a little of everything but shoot the rock from deep, Sengun is making waves in the Turkish league playing for Besiktas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlhNh5zNHOE He's averaging 19.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game -- but also 3.3 fouls and 2.2 turnovers per game.

Tankathon - Usman Garuba - forward - Real Madrid

Alexander Galperin / Sputnik via AP

Garuba is a 6-foot-8 swing who can't shoot well and isn't especially efficient from the floor or from the free throw line, which won't endear him to Celtics fans very much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZp8Q2z81pQ He does rebound and defend well with an NBA-ready frame and a mobile, 7-foot-2 wingspan and high motor, but he has a way to go to be an impact player at the NBA level.

Sportsnaut - Sharife Cooper - guard - Auburn

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Cooper might well be a solid target for the Celtics' point guard of the future if he lasts long enough for Boston to draft him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXye7wNI6yU The Auburn product makes up for his lack of size (6-foot-1) and 3-point shooting with elite court vision and a propensity to get to the free throw line, and his solid free throw attempt rate (82.5%) suggests a respectable trey at the next level is not out of the question.

NBADraftRoom.com - DayRon Sharpe - center - North Carolina

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

If you need a board, Sharpe is your man. Elite at pulling down rebounds on both ends of the court and defending the rim, he also passes well for a big man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-4xsRt-ceM And while he has no outside shot and little prospects of acquiring one, he would serve well as a second-unit anchor in the modern NBA.

Fox Sports - Greg Brown - forward - Texas

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

An elite if undersized rim-protecting big man who has potential from 3-point range, Brown is also a capable rebounder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMv8cfnDD-M A solid long-term frontcourt project for the Celtics, the Texas native will need to work on fouling less to see floor time in the NBA.

Bleacher Report - Ayo Dosunmu - guard - Illinois

Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

While not especially athletic, Dosunmu has emerged as a very good passing guard with size at 6-foot-5 who has had success (40%) shooting the rock from 3-point range at Illinois. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw_CF5Bwqa8 There are some doubts about how well that success will translate in the NBA and he's a little turnover-prone, but the Chicago native has enough upside to take later in the first round.

247 Sports - Josh Christopher - guard - Arizona State

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Another guard with size, Christopher rebounds well for his position, but isn't a good shot from deep or have any other elite skills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jZ2Bg4UWao While he's still fairly young at 19 years old, the Sun Devil feels more like a second-round pick in such a deep draft. [lawrence-related id=47716,47680,47677,47655] [listicle id=47679]

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