The Boston Celtics have some difficult decisions approaching, as guards Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier both near potentially expensive contract extensions. Given the Celtics' cap situation, nailing late first-round picks could be crucial as they look to replace useful players on the roster.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony, formerly of Draft Express, released his most recent mock draft on Monday. His ranking of Arizona's Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic will raise the most eyebrows, but from a Celtics perspective, he gave Boston a potential replacement if Ainge decides to move on from either Rozier or Smart.

From Givony's mock:

Melton looked to be on the verge of a breakout season for USC before the FBI's investigation into recruiting shut him down indefinitely. His defensive versatility, toughness and intangibles make him a prospect worth investing in.

Melton is reminiscent of Smart in many ways. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions, and he has a high IQ -- jumping passing lanes and creating turnovers. Where Givony says "intangibles," others might describe Melton as the type of prospect who makes "winning plays," which -- of course -- is the cliche often used to describe Smart's impact, particularly defensively. Melton also uses his physical tools (wingspan, athleticism, etc.) both as a shot blocker and as a rebounder from the combo guard position.

As a playmaker, Melton has shown flashes as well. He posted 5.1 assists per 40 minutes as a freshman and can run pick-and-roll sets competently while also pushing the pace in transition. He's a streaky shooter who finished just 28.7 percent from behind the arc in his freshman season (which, again, sounds very much like Smart), but he can score in other ways as well.

Also potentially worth watching: If Melton can give the Celtics some of the things Smart brings, Boston could potentially take a long look at keeping Rozier instead of Smart.

Two more notable names slipped into the 20s -- Mitchell Robinson, who Givony mocked to the Wizards at 21, and Creighton's Khyri Thomas, who fell to 24. The Celtics would likely give Melton a long look, but Robinson and Thomas falling into the mid-20s is a nice reminder that intriguing players sometimes fall illogically far. There's a reason the Celtics like to hang on to their own picks with an iron fist.