2019 NBA Draft: Top 3 players for Boston Celtics to select with 22nd pick
By Trevor Marks
2. Talen Horton-Tucker, 6-4 wing – Iowa State
Boston has three first-round draft picks: Why not take a big swing at an enigmatic talent like Iowa State’s Talen Horton-Tucker? The 6-4 do-it-all freshman doesn’t fit any one positional title, possessing the girth (235 pounds) of a small big, the wingspan (7-1) of a wing, and the height and ball skills of a guard. Pegging him as any position is difficult, but it’s safe to say that he will spend most of the time on the wing while possessing the ability to slide up and down the lineup depending on on-court situations and team personnel.
Positional versatility on both offense and defense is a rare commodity in the NBA, and while Horton-Tucker is tantalizing prospect, he’s not yet ready to contribute at the next level until he makes significant strides on both ends of the floor. He can be a rather lackadaisical and undisciplined defender, allowing players to get past him without much effort (which also factors in his subpar ability to turn his hips) and occasionally ball-watching and giving effort that leaves much to be desired.
His strength and insane length grants him the versatility to theoretically square up with players of all positions and sizes, but he’ll need to improve the technical and mental aspects of defense in order to become a passable defender at the next level. If he figures things out and matures, his physical gifts and nose for the ball (his coordination and quick hands helped him post a 2.8 STL% and 2.7 BLK%) could lead to him being a very valuable defender sometime down the road.
On the offensive end, the 6-4 Horton-Tucker possesses an alluring level of fluidity as a ball-handler and driver, showing flashes of on-ball creation and crafty finishing around the basket. His efficiency (.406/.308/.625) was below-average and unspectacular no matter how one frames it, but his extremely soft touch around the basket (70.3 FG% at the rim per hoop-math) and on his jumpers lend to the belief that his shot is far better than his freshman numbers indicated. As an on-ball creator, he flashed shiftiness in transition and an array of ball moves to create separation in the halfcourt, completely crossing up his defender on occasion and dribbling into impressive side-steps and step-backs.
Having skills as a self-creator with solid passing vision and unique physical traits make him such a fascinating prospect, and at 18 years old (he doesn’t turn 19 until November 25) he’s the youngest college player in the 2019 NBA Draft class. He has a ways to go, but his production — 17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.0 block per 40 minutes — at his age, mixed in with the aforementioned flashes, make him a lottery ticket with a wide range of outcomes. With three first-round picks, the Celtics can afford to take a risk, especially on someone so young and gifted as Talen Horton-Tucker.