Celtics select James Young with the No. 17 pick in 2014 NBA Draft
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The Boston Celtics selected Kentucky wing James Young with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
Young took a while to land here, but despite the up-and-down season of the Wildcats, closing with an excellent Final Four performance places Young where he was originally expected to land in the 2014 draft.
Obviously, the Celtics are looking at his impressive scoring ability and dreaming on 20 points a game. There are few better at getting to the rim, he plays well off the ball, and his shot projects as a 3-point weapon in time. Add in that he's athletic enough that you can see him becoming a good defender, and there's a lot to like.
In drafting Young, the Celtics fill a gaping void on the perimeter. His ability to penetrate and create defensive shifts will greatly help a largely stagnant Celtics offense. If he is able to develop the three-point stroke, Young will serve as an excellent wing scorer. If point guard Rajon Rondo isn't traded, the Celtics have a useful player who should be able to produce immediately.
The move could spell the end of shooting guard Avery Bradley's tenure in Boston. The restricted free-agent could become expensive, and the Celtics now have a cheaper alternative in Young. The same could be said for Jeff Green, who already has a burdensome contract.