Celtics Select Intriguing Project Player In Latest NBA Mock Draft

It feels like Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has a million decisions to make this offseason in regards to the future of the franchise.

And don’t forget to include Stevens trying to make the right choices later this month in the NBA draft.

The Celtics own two draft picks — Nos. 28 and 32 — and could go in a number of different ways with their first-round selection. The Associated Press put out a mock draft Wednesday and had the Celtics taking Washington State guard Cedric Coward.

Coward profiles as somewhat of a project, but that might be what the Celtics want with a veteran-laden roster.

“The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke,” the Associated Press wrote. “But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings.”

Coward’s combine results were even more important given the fact that he only played six games with Washington State this season after suffering a torn labrum. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound combo guard showed well in that very limited sample size, though, averaging 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 40% from 3-point range.

That skill set and potential have to be tantalizing to NBA front offices, including the Celtics. Coward could be long gone by the time the Celtics get on the clock, though.

Draft pundits see Coward’s stock rising three weeks out from the draft and Coward has the outside possibility of being a lottery pick. If that scenario plays out, the Celtics will have to pivot, but will have options.