SMU’s Ojeleye heads 2nd-rounders
After getting their guy in Jayson Tatum at the top of the draft last night, the Celtics tried to find a diamond in the rough in the second round.
With the No. 37 selection, the Celts took Southern Methodist small forward Semi Ojeleye, a gifted scorer who has the physical tools to be a mismatch at the next level.
Like Tatum, Ojeleye is a versatile offensive player. He led the Mustangs with 19 points per game in his lone season there, and shot 42.4 percent from 3-point range as he helped SMU to a 30-5 record and NCAA tournament appearance. At 6-foot-7, 241 pounds, Ojeleye has some versatility, position-wise, and could play as a stretch 4.
“We were very excited that he was still there for us,” C’s president of basketball operations Danny
Ainge said. “We’re big fans. He’s a great kid and has a great work ethic. Again, very high character. He can shoot, and we needed a guy like him. Sometimes when we didn’t have a guy like
Jae Crowder and got thin at those positions, and he gives us more depth with a 245-pound body that can make 3s.”
Ojeleye started his career at Duke before transferring to SMU, where he sat out the 2015-16 season. He struggled to gain footing in his two years at Duke.
To round out their second-round selections, the Celtics drafted Arizona point guard Kadeem Allen with the 53rd pick, and California shooting guard
Jabari Bird, a former teammate of Jaylen Brown’s, with the 56th pick.
Thomas still aching
Isaiah Thomas is still recovering from a torn labrum in his hip that forced him out of the playoffs. According to a report in the Tacoma News Tribune, Thomas is a few weeks away from determining if he needs surgery. He hasn’t been able to run on it.
“Isaiah is feeling a lot better,” Celts coach Brad
Stevens said last night. “He’s doing some rehab work out there with his people in Seattle. He’s getting ready to host his Zekeend (celebrity hoop tournament), which is a big deal for him. I know that I saw
Kelly ( Olynyk) yesterday and Kelly’s flying out there for that. So, he’s doing well. He has his follow-up appointment here in a couple of weeks to determine next course of action.
“And nothing’s determined after that. He hasn’t done a lot, physically, and will be off his feet until that next appointment, or won’t be doing any basketball.
Thomas’ hip bothered him late in the regular season and he re-aggravated it during the playoff series against Washington. In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against Cleveland, he hurt it again and didn’t return as the Celtics bowed out to the Cavs in five games.
After the season ended, Thomas said surgery was “not the No. 1 option,” and that he’d wait until the swelling subsided.
Either way, he seems to be in good spirits, according to Celts co-owner Wyc Grousbeck.
“He actually texted me the other day,” Grousbeck said. “Asked how I’m doing, which is really rare for a player. He loves being a Celtic . . . a very optimistic person.”
Fitting right in
Tatum is excited to join a contender, but that will come with a price. Like Brown last year, the 6-foot8 wing will have to earn his way into the rotation.
“It’s gonna be tough, but I’m sure it will take time and I just have to work extra hard,” Tatum said on CSN.