The Celtics just brought in one of the best shooters in the NBA Draft
The Celtics just brought in one of the best shooters in the NBA Draft.
According to the Boston Globe, as well as HoopsHype, Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier had a pre-draft workout with the Boston Celtics.
According to both the Boston Globe and HoopsHype, Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier attended a pre-draft workout with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
As Adam Himmelsbach highlighted above, Lanier was named to the All-SEC team in his super-senior season with the Volunteers. The six-foot-five wing averaged 18 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 43.1% from the field and 39.5% from deep, in 38 appearances for Tennessee this year.
Many experts project Lanier to be available into the mid-to-late 30s in this month’s NBA Draft. With the Celtics holding the 28th and 32nd picks, he may still be on the board when it’s time to make their selection. There’s also a chance that Boston would trade back in the draft, acquiring future capital in the process, and then pick Lanier.
What does Chaz Lanier offer the Celtics?
Simply put — shooting.
Shooting at nearly 40% on 8.2 attempts per game last season, Lanier is a proven marksman who seems ready to be an offensive threat immediately, especially within the “[Joe] Mazzulla ball” offense. Over the past few seasons, the Celtics have made an identity of creating a plethora of high-quality three-point attempts. Not only does Lanier fit as a shooter, but, by all accounts, he’s a great off-ball mover, too.
When imagining the type of role the 23-year-old would have within Boston’s basketball machine, that off-ball movement would be key to maximizing his effectiveness. There likely won’t be many on-ball offensive spots for him, considering the talent on the roster, so being effective without it is important.
The offensive intrigue and potential fit become even greater after the latest speculation from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, who pointed to Sam Hauser as a potential trade candidate for the Celtics this offseason.
If Boston were to get rid of Hauser, one of the league’s best catch-and-shoot players, they’d be looking at quite the void. It’s not a perfect fix, but the vision would be clear if Lanier were drafted as a potential successor.
Aside from his shooting upside, Lanier’s physical gifts are part of the intrigue. He’s got a 6-foot-9 wingspan and a 39-inch vertical leap. These qualities aren’t everything, but could be helpful in easing the transition from college to the pros. On the flip side, Lanier would benefit from adding muscle to his 207-pound frame if he has hopes of being an effective and switchable defender in the NBA.
“He’s not an on-ball stopper, and off-ball he doesn’t have elite instincts,” wrote Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor in his profile of Lanier. “To compensate for his lack of size and strength he needs to stay more locked in.”
When I previewed Lanier a few weeks ago, I compared him to Aaron Nesmith with less of a defensive motor.
He’s got a reliable jumper and could be a decent off-ball option for the Celtics, especially if they move on from Sam Hauser. At the same time, it’s tough to imagine him having a lot of room for error with other wings like Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh battling for rotation minutes.