Buddy Hield: Boston Celtics desperately need shooting, is Hield the answer?

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2016/06/2016_nba_draft_prospects_buddy.html



2016 NBA Draft prospects, Buddy Hield: Boston Celtics desperately need shooting, is Hield the answer?




Buddy Hield is one of the best shooters in the draft, and the Boston Celtics desperately need shooting. Could he be the Celtics' pick? (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)


Tom Westerholm | twesterh@masslive.com By Tom Westerholm | twesterh@masslive.com



on June 04, 2016 at 1:54 PM, updated June 04, 2016 at 1:55 PM




The Boston Celtics desperately need 3-point shooting. This fact has been well established at this point, and we could point to any of several important numbers that prove it. Facts such as:

1.  Boston shot 27.5 percent from behind the arc in six playoff games, the second-worst total leading only Houston.

2.  The Celtics' 33.5 percentage from behind the arc during the season was the third-worst mark in the entire NBA — the only playoff team who trailed them was Memphis, which was barely a playoff team by the end of the season. Oh, and Memphis shot better from 3-point range than Boston during the playoffs.

3.  Only five Celtics (not including Coty Clarke, who went 2-for-2 for the season) made more than 33.5 percent of their 3-pointers.
But all the numbers in the world can't speak as loudly as Kent Bazemore after the Atlanta Hawks played the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time after eliminating Boston from the postseason.

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Chris Vivlamore ✔ @CVivlamoreAJC
Kent Bazemore on facing Cavs: "Give credit to Boston, but (the Cavaliers’) shooting compared to Boston is like night and day."
1:04 PM - 30 Apr 2016
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The Celtics have plenty of options in upgrading their roster, but one of those options is via the draft, with former Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield, who lit up the NCAA this season. Hield had the rare distinction of being both a volume scorer and a high-percentage 3-point shooter, and he led the Sooners to the Final Four.

How much would he help Boston? Let's take a closer look (and, as always, a massive shoutout to the ever-worthwhile Draft Express).


Strengths

First of all, let's be clear: Hield isn't just a prospect whose jumper is a part of his skill set. Hield is a pure shooter. His range will extend to the NBA 3-point line very quickly, if not immediately, and there are a lot of signs that indicate he'll be an excellent shooter for a long time. Hield is great off the catch, and he has a quick trigger. He can create space for himself going to his left with a jerky step back that — combined with his quick release — frees him from defenders just long enough to get a shot off.



Hield is also very skilled at finding space for himself off the ball in half-court sets. While he can pull up off the dribble, he also floats around the perimeter and finds holes in the defense, catching defenders unaware — like a backdoor cut, but away from the hoop. In transition, Hield sprints the floor for the 3-point line — a trait that is increasingly useful in the NBA as spacing becomes more and more of an emphasis.




It's tough to know how well Hield's isolation numbers will translate to the NBA, given the uptick in athleticism he's about to face, but at the college level, he was very effective pulling up from 3-point range even against a defender. He also improved his handle vastly this season, particularly moving to his left. Using his strong frame in the paint, Hield showed off a developed spin move and crossover, and even finished through contact at times.




As a scorer, and as a difficult shot maker, Hield's talents at the college level were undeniable, and there's plenty of reason to believe that those skills will translate to the NBA. It's been well-documented, but it's worth noting again that Hield is known as an incredibly hard worker — a high-character, competitive guard who works on his game constantly. Many of the deficiencies he currently has might be gone — or at least compensated for — with a few years in the NBA under his belt.


Weaknesses

Those deficiencies, though, pretty clearly exist and need to be addressed. Hield is not an elite athlete, and he's just 6-foot-4, which means he won't have many physical advantages over his opponents. His handle, while improved (and improving), is still relatively basic, and against athletic wings with plenty of length — of which, in the NBA, there are plenty — he still struggles to get a shot off.

Of course, another talented shooter with limited burst and explosiveness has been taking the NBA by storm in Golden State. But Stephen Curry is incredibly quick laterally, and he's also one of the best passers and ball-handlers in the league. Hield is considerably less skilled in both of those areas — he often has tunnel vision as a scorer, and his passing instincts aren't developed yet. In the pick-and-roll, he doesn't always see the best angle or shot, and driving to his right, he turns it over frequently.

Meanwhile, Hield's versatility on defense is limited — he gives plenty of effort, which is a good sign, but his lack of athleticism and size makes his upside as a defender fairly low. He will struggle against big wings, and while he's a willing help defender, he doesn't always have the greatest awareness.

None of these deficiencies are death sentences on Hield's potential by any means, and it's worth noting (with the important caveat that Buddy Hield IS NOT STEPHEN CURRY) that like Curry, Hield has a great work ethic that will serve him very well in his development. But the question marks are real.


Fit With The Celtics

Few things are certain with draft prospects, but Hield seems like a sure thing as a shooter. His range is very deep, and even if he doesn't develop into an isolation scorer, in a good offensive system with plenty of screens and ball movement, he should be a legitimate threat.

It would be interesting to hear a conversation between Ainge and Stevens about Hield, because while Hield's lack of athleticism and ability to switch seems like it would be concerning, the fact that he gives effort and is willing to accept coaching and development could be attractive to a coach like Stevens. The Celtics place a lot of emphasis on high-character players who want to improve and play hard, and Hield checks all of those boxes.


Level Of Intrigue

The biggest question for the Celtics about Hield might be his position in the draft. As things currently line up, Hield is projected to go somewhere between 5-10 on most draft boards. It's a draft cliche that teams should take the best player available rather than drafting for fit, but at No. 3 — and in Boston's position as a playoff team looking to turn into a contender — it does seem that picking the player most likely to develop into a superstar makes the most sense.

Ainge might very well see Hield as that player, and if he does, Hield would be a great fit for Boston. He would likely come off the bench next season, and if his development goes well, he could probably contribute quite a bit — stretching the floor for Isaiah Thomas and Boston's other wings who like to work their way to the basket. But if Ainge sees Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss or Jaylen Brown as a high-potential star, selecting one of them seems like a more reasonable move than picking Hield simply because he might fill a need for Boston.



bob
MY NOTE:  This article sums up my, admittedly late to the table because I don't follow college sports, opinion on Buddy Hield.  A great shooter but his size (6'4") and lack of athleticism limits him to a specific role.  On defense there might be some question on how quickly he can close out shooters at the arc.  He's the safe bet, but is he another Evan Turner?  A player whose career trajectory is significantly lower than his lofty draft pick status suggested it should be?

Danny could always trade down a few picks, still take Hield, and pick up another draft pick in the exchange too.


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If you also believe that our biggest need is to move the needle by adding the best shooter/scorer then you go for the sure thing.  

After making that pick you still have more than enough picks and other assets to address every possible need.

However we need to add more than one great shooter.  We need to add at least 2.  

Dboss

I like Hield and would be happy if we drafted him, but we are not at these workouts.

If Jaylon Brown shows he can really grow into that all star level SF, a force on both ends that any contending team needs, we might have to go there too. I actually like our backcourt nucleus of IT, AB and Marcus Smart. We have the defensive pieces, Hield and Brown both could add a needed positive dimension....and we need a defensive big that should be there later.

The biggest need is to add perimeter shooters who can also play defense. The question about Hield is if he can develop into that kind of defensive player. Superior athleticism isn't required; Klay Thompson isn't the greatest athlete, but he's developed into an outstanding defender. On the flip side, Russell Westbrook is a fantastic athlete and an average defender at best.

Defense is something that can be learned and honed, if a player has the right mindset. Great shooting is a gift that can also be honed, but it starts with a gift.

Hield is not the long term answer for the Celtics if they have to use the #3 pick to get him.  If he gets picked at maybe 8 to 12, I could much better see him getting drafted by the Cs.

First, he may have less upside than a kid like Murray who had better stats in his freshman year than Hield had in any year at Oklahoma except maybe for this year.

Hield is not a versatile player as he is only going to play the shooting guard. He is not a point guard in any way, and is not a shooting forward in any way either.  I have not read anything about him already being a top level defender either.

Any guy who may already carry the label of "not being a great athlete" is not going to ever become a great athlete and not likely to become a great player.  He may or may not even be able to get onto the floor ahead of Bradley, Smart, Thomas, etc this year, and it will be less likely to get more playing time as the team continues to get better.

For me, any guy who is not an elite athlete cannot be chosen with the third pick in the draft as he just will never have "elite" potential.  Such non elite guys are always available at a later pick and even in another year.  If the Cs use this pick wisely, the guy they pick will have a long term positive effect on our team.

wideclyde wrote:Hield is not the long term answer for the Celtics if they have to use the #3 pick to get him.  If he gets picked at maybe 8 to 12, I could much better see him getting drafted by the Cs.

First, he may have less upside than a kid like Murray who had better stats in his freshman year than Hield had in any year at Oklahoma except maybe for this year.

Hield is not a versatile player as he is only going to play the shooting guard. He is not a point guard in any way, and is not a shooting forward in any way either.  I have not read anything about him already being a top level defender either.

Any guy who may already carry the label of "not being a great athlete" is not going to ever become a great athlete and not likely to become a great player.  He may or may not even be able to get onto the floor ahead of Bradley, Smart, Thomas, etc this year, and it will be less likely to get more playing time as the team continues to get better.

For me, any guy who is not an elite athlete cannot be chosen with the third pick in the draft as he just will never have "elite" potential.  Such non elite guys are always available at a later pick and even in another year.  If the Cs use this pick wisely, the guy they pick will have a long term positive effect on our team.

in this new era, is athleticism overated? I'm not saying your wrong, just adding thoughts. Klay Thompson and Steph Curry are not elite athletes, and they're the 2 best players on that championship team. The only elite athlete on the Warriors is Igoudala, but it seems every player on that roster can shoot, handle, move and pass, except Bogut and Ezeli and we know you still need the necessary size to control and not get abused in the paint.