WALTHAM, Mass. — Another round of hopeful draftees strutted their stuff Tuesday at the Boston Celtics practice facility.
After Monday’s guard-heavy edition, Tuesday’s workout collected perimeter forwards or big guards, all of whom should find a place in the NBA in some capacity. UCLA’s Kyle Anderson and NC State’s T.J. Warren are the most likely targets to go in the range of No. 17, the Celtics’ second pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
Here is a quick look at the six players who worked out Tuesday.
Kyle Anderson, UCLA (SG/SF, 6-foot-9, 230 pounds) — As far as NBA prospects go, the players collected by the Celtics on Tuesday are not the most athletic on the board. That goes double for Anderson, who was nicknamed “Slow-Mo” at UCLA. The deliberate yet versatile scorer could play anywhere from the two to the four on offense, although he will have to move better laterally to defend any position.
DeAndre Daniels, UConn (SF, 6-9, 195) — Daniels’ offensive arsenal is unusual for a player his size, in that he scores more like a guard than a frontcourt player. He’s a capable shooter and has a surprisingly reliable floater, which is typically a shot used by undersized guards. He is extremely thin, and his strength suffers as a result.
Cleanthony Early, Wichita State (SF, 6-8, 219) — A stretch-four for the Shockers, Early is likely to move to the perimeter in the pros, either as a small forward or even a very big shooting guard. He doesn’t handle the ball particularly well, however, which will limit the lineup options he can be utilized in. He is also a committed defender and rebounder, even if he isn’t a standout in either area.
P.J. Hairston, D-League/North Carolina (SG, 6-5, 220) — Ousted from UNC for accepting improper benefits, Hairston entered the D-League and wasn’t a bit overmatched. He averaged 21.8 points per game with the Texas Legends and shot 36 percent from 3-point land. But to say he is a black hole is an understatement; he totaled 21 assists with the Legends in 26 games.
K.J. McDaniels, Clemson (SG/SF, 6-6, 200) — Few players attacked opponents at both ends like McDaniels did for the Tigers. His shooting and ballhandling are not ideal for an NBA two-guard, but his strength, leaping ability and relentlessness should be enough to make him a shutdown defender. He guarded four positions in college and should be able to guard everything but post-oriented big men in the pros.
T.J. Warren, NC State (SF, 6-8, 215) — Probably the most likely to be picked around the Celtics’ second choice at No. 17, Warren has a knack for scoring that the rest of the attendees Tuesday (with the possible exception of Anderson) lack. He scored just a hair under 25 points per game for the Wolfpack, though he is going to have to improve his passing ability and outside shot. He has some local ties, having played high school ball at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.
Photo via Twitter/@SportsCenter
