Celtics wanted to draft Sengun in 2021 when Udoka was their coach

I.D.I.O.T. @Os Trigonum



Celtics reportedly had their eyes on Houston's Alperun Sengun in 2021 draft

January 24, 2022 6:10 pm ET

Don’t look now, but word is the Boston Celtics had their eye on Houston Rockets big man Alperun Sengun in the 2021 NBA draft according to new reporting from Heavy.com’s NBA insider Steve Bulpett.

The Celtics did not have a first-round pick to work with in that draft after trading it as part of the trade that sent veteran point guard Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder for old friend Al Horford and Moses Brown to kick off the 2021 NBA offseason. Before that trade, Boston evidently had had eyes for the Rockets big man as a draft prospect.

And in an interesting twist of fate, Houston felt the same and used that pick to trade for Sengun in a draft-night deal with the Thunder.

“Alperen Sengun was the Celts’ guy if they had kept the pick,” wrote Bulpett in a recent piece in which he detailed some thought from an anonymous NBA personnel man who described the Turkish center as a tough kid.

“He’s a little raw, but he’s been playing with adults overseas for years. He’s going to be good. Him and (Rob) Williams would be a really good tandem.”

It’s tantalizing to think about what might have been had Boston kept the pick, but events surrounding the late-career arc of Walker have shown it was a prudent move to get off the former UConn star’s contract.

Could the team have found another way to move off Walker’s deal? Perhaps by including the contract of Marcus Smart, or having the stomach to eat some of that salary in a buyout.

But given Boston’s desire for salary cap flexibility, other paths to shedding Walker’s deal were far from certain and came with their own costs.

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-boston-celtics-sengun-draft/

 

Also, on Nov. 22, 2021, Sengun had 8 pts, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals against Udoka's Celtics in 21 minutes off the bench, +9 in an 18 point loss.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401360080

Would have easily gotten a triple double at age 19 just a few games into his NBA career, if Silas had given him 4 or 5 more minutes.

Udoka played with Duncan, coached Duncan, and knew how to use Horford.

This will be good.

 

Already did lol

 

Looking at that box score:



Armoni Brooks 25 minutes. Daniel Theis 22 minutes. G. Mathews 19 minutes.

Daniel Theis starting over Sengun.

Never forget.

 

Fixed that for ya.