The Celtics came into the first round of the NBA Draft last night with one pick to make, and it ended up being Spanish forward Hugo Gonzalez who got the nod at pick 28.
Speculation persisted over whether the Celtics would move the pick, possibly even attempting to trade into the top 10. No such deal occurred, and the Celtics stood pat at 28. Here is what the experts think of the Gonzalez pick:
Hugo Gonzalez NBA draft grades
Gilbert McGregor, The Sporting News: B
McGregor: “It’s a transitional offseason for the Celtics, who have made several trades in the lead-up to the draft. They now add a pro with an NBA-ready game and frame. Gonzalez, 19, measures at 6-6 and 205 pounds and is coming off a championship season with Real Madrid. There is an opportunity for him to play right away in Boston with available minutes on the perimeter and he has similar strengths to another recent Celtics draft pick in Jordan Walsh.”
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports: B
Helin: “A Real Madrid product, Gonzalez has good size and feel for the game as a center, and shows real promise as a defender, but the question is his shot. He hit just 29% from 3 last season (which is less than ideal in a Joe Mazzulla system). Gonzalez is seen as a bit of a project, and if he can develop a steady shot the rest of his game would fit well with the Celtics.”
Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY: B
Zillgitt and Reyes: “At No. 28, Boston landed Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez, who is one of Europe’s top prospects. But he may not be ready to contribute immediately.”
J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer: B-
Mann: “T.J. McConnell recently emphasized that playing hard is a skill, and although Gonzalez is significantly bigger and longer, he plays his ass off like a much less physically gifted player. The question is whether his struggles as a shooter will put a limit on his impact as an NBA player. For that reason, I’m a little cooler on Hugo’s upside, but ‘winning organization adds tireless, toolsy wing’ sounds like a formula that could pan out.”
Adam Finkelstein and Kyle Boone, CBS Sports: B-
Finkelstein and Boone: “Gonzalez had a big early reputation in the Real Madrid system. He’s a big wing with solid size and a high motor and defensive upside, especially on the ball. The defense is the intrigue here as his best offense is in transition. The shooting is the swing skill — he shot just 29% last year. Boston shoots a lot of threes, so he’ll need to show improvement there to really stick with the Celtics”
Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports: A
O’Connor: “He fits nicely in the Celtics’ culture. He plays hard, but is more than a hustler and strong defender. He’s a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense. If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter, though he didn’t get a lot of playing time overseas.”
