Celtics Hope Second Round pick Davison Evolves Into First-Rate Talent Down The Road

JD Davison didn't put up big numbers as a freshman at Alabama. But the Celtics drafting the former five-star recruit so late in the second round, is a high-reward, low-risk move for the Green Team.

When a team makes a late, second-round selection, the reasoning usually has more to do with the future than the present.

If they're international players, often the pick is of the stashed variety where that player will spend at least one more season playing overseas.

For teams that pick players who did their thing at the college level, the selection is more about "development," as in the Development League.

It's all but a sure thing that Boston's second-round pick JD Davison will become quite familiar with the Celtics' Development League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.

This is a selection that is more about the future than anything else.

And if you're the Celtics and you are going to snag a late second-rounder with upside, adding a player with Davison's resume so late in the second round, is very much a steal.

Why?

Because if it doesn't work out, the investment in his potential alone makes it worthwhile.

But on the off chance that he develops into a solid performer, the "Brad Stevens is a freakin' GM Genius" will come up, for sure.

Davison was a five-star recruit coming out of high school in 2021, ranked among the top point guards in the nation.

With his size (6-foot-3) and natural affinity to attack the rim as a finisher or rebounder, it should not come as a shock if this turns into one of those high-reward, low-risk selections akin to Boston selecting E'Twaun Moore in 2011 with the 55th overall pick, out of Purdue.

Moore, who spent his first season in Boston, has built a solid pro career since then.

He is the only player from the 2011 draft class taken in the second round to last 10 or more years in the NBA. Overall, only 15 players from the 33-year-old's draft class have appeared in more games (598).

It's too soon to say whether Davison will be so fortunate to have that kind of sustaining power in the NBA.

But based on early reports as to who will be on the Celtics' Summer League squad, Davison will get a good bit of playing time.

And while we have learned not to put too much stock into what a player does in the summer, it often gives us a glimpse into their potential down the road.

Payton Pritchard showcased the ability to score while in summer league, a talent that we saw shine brightly from time to time last season.

But sustaining good play was a challenge for the third-year guard last season, and it'll likely play out the same for Davison.

However, Davison's athleticism will give him a chance to compete for an active roster spot immediately, primarily because Boston doesn't really have elite athletes in the backcourt.

Marcus Smart is no slouch, for sure. But his game isn't built on athleticism the way Davison's game is, or current Celtics Jaylen Brown or Robert Williams III.

Because of that, there are some potential scenarios where one could see Davison utilizing his athleticism to both his and the Celtics' advantage.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has no misguided illusions as to the type of player they drafted, a player they did not bring in for a workout but one they scouted a number of times during the college basketball season.

“He had some incredible games and he also had some games where he looked like a freshman," Stevens said. "But he always competed."

And that is very on brand with the kind of players that fit in well in head coach Ime Udoka's system.

As a team that switches often defensively, having a high compete level will show up quickly in practice. And if it's sustained, it will soon be followed by the praise of veterans such as Marcus Smart and Al Horford.

And while Davison certainly has to prove himself to his teammates, it's not like the Celtics drafted a kid that no one knew about.

A five-star recruit coming out of high school and one of the nation's top point guards, Davison was named to the SEC All-Freshman team last season.

He averaged 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 rebounds per game as a freshman.

While the numbers don't wow you immediately, Davison has shown the potential to be an above-average rebounder for the game who in time, will likely be more of a scoring point guard than a facilitator.

The 19-year-old has tremendous upside and room to grow, which is why the Celtics are in no rush to get him on the floor in NBA games.

And when you consider where he was drafted, the Celtics have to feel good about the selection, a player who in another year or two would have likely projected into being a first-round pick.

So to scoop him up now and not be pressed to play him immediately, is the kind of high-reward, low-risk move that gives Celtics Nation hope that this year's appearance in the NBA Finals will be the first of many deep postseason runs for this franchise.