Though they picked in a position (No. 25) where the only option is generally to take the best player available, they stayed true to their greatest need. With only one true center on their roster in Jermaine O’Neal, the C’s really had no choice but to go big last night.
The result is JaJuan Johnson, a lanky 6-foot-10 scorer from Purdue who will have to add considerable weight and strength to play post defense in the NBA.
They also guaranteed a more comfortable transition for Johnson — though not by design — when they picked his four-year college teammate with the 55th pick. Johnson and guard E’Twaun Moore, a 6-3 shooter, became the two most successful basketball players in Purdue history, with 107 career wins.
But the Celtics are looking for more tangible qualities right now, and believe that in the case of a young big man, Johnson has skill that wouldn’t necessarily be as apparent in a younger big man.
Rivers actually saw Johnson and Moore play during a game against his son Jeremiah’s Indiana team.
“Jeremiah loved him,” Rivers said last night of Johnson. “He thought that was one of the best players he’s played against. I was (ticked) because Purdue was kicking their butts. But Jeremiah actually said that kid can really play. I didn’t project later on that the kid would be on my team.”
The Celtics may have never drafted Johnson had Reggie Jackson still been on the board, but the Boston College guard went No. 24 to Oklahoma City. They drafted Providence scorer Marshon Brooks at No. 25 for New Jersey, which — following Dallas’ selection of Jordan Hamilton at No. 26 — picked Johnson for the Celtics.
The C’s also received New Jersey’s second round pick in 2014 as part of the deal.
“There were three guys we wanted — Reggie was one of them and he went right in front of us,” said Rivers. “There was the guy we got, and someone else who went right behind us who would think very much like us.
“We knew Reggie was off the board, so it was a quick deal,” he said. “We had to make sure the guy we wanted would still be there if we moved down, and we found out (Dallas) was taking someone else, so it worked out. It’s tough to get out of the draft that late.”
The other player who interested the Celtics was Marquette small forward Jimmy Butler, taken No. 30 by Chicago.
Johnson, an offensively skilled player who needs to add muscle and strength in his lower body, displayed a well-rounded arsenal that included range out to the college 3-point line. He averaged 20.5 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Boilermakers last season, and also shot a healthy 49.4 percent.
His immediate value will be as a pick-and-pop shooter and a good scorer in transition. Though he was named both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten, Johnson has seasons to go before he is able to defend the post. He is considered too thin to hold his own against an NBA-level center, and can expect to spend a lot of time in the weight room.
“Just have him eat dinners with me,” joked Rivers. “I don’t know if he needs to put on weight, but he needs to get stronger, and that includes weight. I’m not that concerned by that right now.
“He’s terrifically athletic. He was a great rebounder in college, which you hope translates over. But we’ve proven we can get big shots. So if we can get him shots and he can make them, it will work. All of those wins tells you he can play with a team. He was able to fit in and be a winner on that team and still play well, which is important.”
Article URL: http://bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1347607
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