If the Celtics keep all three picks, you can expect at least one to be a stash. That being the case, Abdoulaye N’Doye sneaks into the back end of the first round. This is a bit of a stretch, but there’s a lot to like about N’Doye. He’s a long, athletic 6-foot-7 guard with immense potential on defense.
The Celtics boosted the offense with Anthony, then addressed the frontcourt with Smith. N’Doye is a long-term play — another defensive savant to develop in the shadow of Marcus Smart. How N’Doye’s offensive game will translate and evolve at the next level is still murky, but his 7-foot-2 wingspan pops off the screen. It’s not difficult to peruse the tape and bask in the upside.
If he can develop into a bare-minimum shooter, N’Doye has the feel, aggressiveness, and athleticism to carve out a role in the NBA. He’s on the older side for a stash — he’s 22 years old — but the Celtics don’t need to keep him in Europe forever. This isn’t a bad pick.