Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield is one of the best shooters in the draft, and the Boston Celtics desperately need shooting. Could he be the Celtics' pick?

(AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)

The Boston Celtics desperately need 3-point shooting. This fact has been well established at this point, and we could point to any of several important numbers that prove it. Facts such as:

Boston shot 27.5 percent from behind the arc in six playoff games, the second-worst total leading only Houston.

The Celtics' 33.5 percentage from behind the arc during the season was the third-worst mark in the entire NBA -- the only playoff team who trailed them was Memphis, which was barely a playoff team by the end of the season. Oh, and Memphis shot better from 3-point range than Boston during the playoffs.

Only five Celtics (not including Coty Clarke, who went 2-for-2 for the season) made more than 33.5 percent of their 3-pointers.

But all the numbers in the world can't speak as loudly as Kent Bazemore after the Atlanta Hawks played the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time after eliminating Boston from the postseason.

Kent Bazemore on facing Cavs: "Give credit to Boston, but (the Cavaliers’) shooting compared to Boston is like night and day." — Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) April 30, 2016

The Celtics have plenty of options in upgrading their roster, but one of those options is via the draft, with former Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield, who lit up the NCAA this season. Hield had the rare distinction of being both a volume scorer and a high-percentage 3-point shooter, and he led the Sooners to the Final Four.

How much would he help Boston? Let's take a closer look (and, as always, a massive shoutout to the ever-worthwhile Draft Express).

Strengths

First of all, let's be clear: Hield isn't just a prospect whose jumper is a part of his skill set. Hield is a pure shooter. His range will extend to the NBA 3-point line very quickly, if not immediately, and there are a lot of signs that indicate he'll be an excellent shooter for a long time. Hield is great off the catch, and he has a quick trigger. He can create space for himself going to his left with a jerky step back that -- combined with his quick release -- frees him from defenders just long enough to get a shot off.

Hield is also very skilled at finding space for himself off the ball in half-court sets. While he can pull up off the dribble, he also floats around the perimeter and finds holes in the defense, catching defenders unaware -- like a backdoor cut, but away from the hoop. In transition, Hield sprints the floor for the 3-point line -- a trait that is increasingly useful in the NBA as spacing becomes more and more of an emphasis.

It's tough to know how well Hield's isolation numbers will translate to the NBA, given the uptick in athleticism he's about to face, but at the college level, he was very effective pulling up from 3-point range even against a defender. He also improved his handle vastly this season, particularly moving to his left. Using his strong frame in the paint, Hield showed off a developed spin move and crossover, and even finished through contact at times.

As a scorer, and as a difficult shot maker, Hield's talents at the college level were undeniable, and there's plenty of reason to believe that those skills will translate to the NBA. It's been well-documented, but it's worth noting again that Hield is known as an incredibly hard worker -- a high-character, competitive guard who works on his game constantly. Many of the deficiencies he currently has might be gone -- or at least compensated for -- with a few years in the NBA under his belt.

Weaknesses

Those deficiencies, though, pretty clearly exist and need to be addressed. Hield is not an elite athlete, and he's just 6-foot-4, which means he won't have many physical advantages over his opponents. His handle, while improved (and improving), is still relatively basic, and against athletic wings with plenty of length -- of which, in the NBA, there are plenty -- he still struggles to get a shot off.

Of course, another talented shooter with limited burst and explosiveness has been taking the NBA by storm in Golden State. But Stephen Curry is incredibly quick laterally, and he's also one of the best passers and ball-handlers in the league. Hield is considerably less skilled in both of those areas -- he often has tunnel vision as a scorer, and his passing instincts aren't developed yet. In the pick-and-roll, he doesn't always see the best angle or shot, and driving to his right, he turns it over frequently.

Meanwhile, Hield's versatility on defense is limited -- he gives plenty of effort, which is a good sign, but his lack of athleticism and size makes his upside as a defender fairly low. He will struggle against big wings, and while he's a willing help defender, he doesn't always have the greatest awareness.

None of these deficiencies are death sentences on Hield's potential by any means, and it's worth noting (with the important caveat that Buddy Hield IS NOT STEPHEN CURRY) that like Curry, Hield has a great work ethic that will serve him very well in his development. But the question marks are real.

Fit With The Celtics

Few things are certain with draft prospects, but Hield seems like a sure thing as a shooter. His range is very deep, and even if he doesn't develop into an isolation scorer, in a good offensive system with plenty of screens and ball movement, he should be a legitimate threat.

It would be interesting to hear a conversation between Ainge and Stevens about Hield, because while Hield's lack of athleticism and ability to switch seems like it would be concerning, the fact that he gives effort and is willing to accept coaching and development could be attractive to a coach like Stevens. The Celtics place a lot of emphasis on high-character players who want to improve and play hard, and Hield checks all of those boxes.

Level Of Intrigue

The biggest question for the Celtics about Hield might be his position in the draft. As things currently line up, Hield is projected to go somewhere between 5-10 on most draft boards. It's a draft cliche that teams should take the best player available rather than drafting for fit, but at No. 3 -- and in Boston's position as a playoff team looking to turn into a contender -- it does seem that picking the player most likely to develop into a superstar makes the most sense.

Ainge might very well see Hield as that player, and if he does, Hield would be a great fit for Boston. He would likely come off the bench next season, and if his development goes well, he could probably contribute quite a bit -- stretching the floor for Isaiah Thomas and Boston's other wings who like to work their way to the basket. But if Ainge sees Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss or Jaylen Brown as a high-potential star, selecting one of them seems like a more reasonable move than picking Hield simply because he might fill a need for Boston.

Follow Tom on Twitter: @Tom_NBA.