Boston Celtics select star man with 38th pick in 2023 NBA Draft

The Celtics selected Arkansas freshman Jordan Walsh with the 38th pick in the draft after much wrangling.

After a late-night NBA Draft adventure, the Boston Celtics have added another player to what has turned out to be an eventful offseason. The Celtics traded down many times after moving up 10 spots in the Draft as part of a three-team transaction that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston and transferred franchise mainstay Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.

First, they struck a second deal with the Detroit Pistons, drafting Marcus Sasser from the University of Houston and trading him for the 31st selection and many future seconds. Then, with Pick 31 on the clock, they traded down again, this time selecting FC Barcelona’s James Nnaji on behalf of the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for selections #34 and #39. They then traded pick #34 to Sacramento in exchange for Xavier guard Colby Jones and a future second round pick.

The Celtics selected forward Jordan Walsh with the 38th choice in the 2023 NBA Draft, bypassing Memphis, Detroit, and Sacramento. Walsh, a freshman for Arkansas last season, averaged 7 points per game on 43% shooting from the field and 28% from three-point range. Walsh will battle for a spot in Boston’s wing rotation with Sam Hauser.

The Celtics have yet to choose a player in the first round since Brad Stevens took over as President of Basketball Operations. Stevens moved first-round picks in the 2021 and 2022 NBA Drafts to acquire Al Horford and Derrick White, respectively, in his first two seasons with the organization. Stevens has selected French wing Juhann Begarin and Alabama guard JD Davison in the second round both times.