14. Demetrius Jackson
Jackson was projected to be a first-round pick in 2016, but he was still on the board when the Celtics made their fourth choice of the night at No. 45.
Despite his quiet summer league performance, the Celtics brass are clearly fans of the 22-year-old guard, handing him one of the biggest contracts in NBA history for a second-round pick (4 years, $5.5 million). With a crowded backcourt ahead of him, Jackson will likely get plenty of seasoning with the Maine Red Claws during his rookie campaign.
13. Jordan Mickey
The 6'8" forward only played 16 games during his rookie season, but he developed quite well in regular minutes with the Red Claws. Mickey averaged a double-double in the D-League and posted a league-best 4.4 blocks per game. With Jared Sullinger out of the picture and Kelly Olynyk nursing a shoulder injury that could sideline him until November, Mickey will have a chance to push for some minutes with a strong training camp.
12. Jaylen Brown
One of the few shallow spots on the Celtics depth chart last season, wing factored into the team's decision to select Jaylen Brown, a 19-year-old swingman out of California, with the No. 3 overall pick. Stevens has already lauded Brown's defensive versatility, noting he has an "NBA body" with his 6'7" frame, but he'll have to outperform veteran addition Gerald Green out of the gate if he wants regular playing time.
Given his youth, Brown is already studying the Celtics playbook intensely in training camp to increase his odds.
"It’s just that learning curve," Brown told Bleacher Report at the first day of training camp Tuesday. "Everybody plays the game differently, and I’m just trying to speed up my learning curve. I know it’s going to be a big adjustment, and it’s going to take time."
11. Tyler Zeller
After starting 59 games during his first season with the Celtics in 2014-15, Zeller saw his role dramatically reduced with the team last year. He played in just 60 games overall and averaged a mere 11.8 minutes per game, both career lows.
Despite his limited role, the team opted to re-sign him to a two-year, $16 million deal this offseason to provide additional depth on the front line.
