The Boston Celtics drafted Jordan Walsh with the thirty eighth choose on this 12 months’s draft. Walsh, standing at 6’7” with an enormous 7’2” wingspan, is an intriguing participant that many Celtics followers wish to see an instantaneous influence from. Whereas Walsh was touted as among the best defenders on this 12 months’s draft, there are definitely some limitations to his recreation on each side of the ground. With that mentioned, the group introduced at the moment that they’ve despatched him to their G League Maine affiliate.
Offensively, he leaves quite a bit to be desired. He did have a very popular begin on this 12 months’s Summer season League taking pictures 40.7% from past the arc however that was a really small pattern measurement and one which we didn’t see in his school days at Arkansas (27.8% from past the arc).
His 3-point taking pictures might be fantastic if Summer season League is any indication, however it’s definitely up for debate at this level in his profession. What is just not up for debate is the truth that the remainder of Walsh’s offensive recreation is definitely undeveloped. He’s not somebody that’s going to place the ball on the ground and drive laborious to the rim; this comes all the way down to energy and measurement. His size is nice, however he’s very skinny proper now, weighing in at simply 205 kilos. There are skinny gamers on this league with immense offensive expertise with the likes of Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren and now Victor Wembanyama, however there may be clearly a drop off talent-wise between these three gamers and Jordan Walsh.
I don’t need you to suppose that it is a Jordan Walsh bashing session as a result of it’s really fairly the alternative. Walsh has plenty of upside potential however wants time to develop the remainder of his recreation and physique and a part of that growth could also be coming in Maine this 12 months.
Immediately’s G League has come a good distance. We’ve got seen very excessive draft picks like James Wiseman, Anthony Bennett, and Hasheem Thabeet get designated and despatched down. The Celtics are in win-now mode and whereas that’s superb for followers, it may be detrimental to the expansion and growth of youthful expertise like Jordan Walsh. It’s nice expertise having the ability to follow with all the NBA guys on this present Celtics roster, however most actual growth comes with enjoying time and that’s going to be laborious to return by on a roster stuffed with guys that may contribute to a successful group now.
With that being mentioned, there may be plenty of lonely nights driving north up Route 95 to get to Portland on recreation days for Jordan Walsh this season. On the offensive aspect, I’d like to see Walsh work on his handles and his means to complete via contact as a result of he does get hit off his spot when heading to the rim fairly a bit proper now. That’s one thing he can work on however may even come together with weight coaching and added muscle. As I’ve talked about, there may be plenty of thrilling upside potential for Jordan Walsh, however he’s nonetheless uncooked and undeveloped at this cut-off date and the Maine Celtics might be a terrific alternative for him to grow to be an enormous steal with the thirty eighth general choose within the draft!
