According to HoopsHype's NBA Draft workout tracker, the Boston Celtics recently hosted Auburn big man Johni Broome for a pre-draft evaluation.
Broome was a consensus All-American and the SEC Player of the Year in his super-senior season with the Tigers. The six-foot-ten forward averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field and 27.8% from long range. His inspired play helped lead Auburn to its second-ever Final Four appearance.
Draft experts project Broome to be available in the mid-to-late 30s of this month's draft. If they're interested, the Celtics are in a prime position to land the Florida native, as they hold picks 28 and 32. Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has historically been open to trading back in the draft, too. If he does so, Broome could be part of that process.
What does Johni Broome offer the Celtics?
First and foremost, Broome is a grinder -- the type of guy Celtics fans would fall in love with. Even his path to being an All-American is a strong indicator of that. The 22-year-old began his collegiate career playing two seasons at Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference. He was named to the conference's First Team in his freshman and sophomore years, and won the OVC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022.
He transferred to Auburn as a junior and made an immediate impact. Broome was named to the All-SEC Second Team that year and then to the First Team in his senior and super-senior seasons.
The grit and work ethic required to grow into the player that he's become after having to start his collegiate career in the Ohio Valley Conference are evident in his game, too. Broome isn't a freak athlete, but he still manages to be an impactful defender in the paint. His shot-blocking numbers speak for themselves. In three seasons with the Tigers, he never averaged fewer than two rejections per game. His instincts and timing make up for what he lacks as an athlete.
Broome was also one of the nation's best rebounders. His 10.8 per game was the most in a stacked SEC, not to mention that nearly four of those came on the offensive glass. One of Kevin O'Connor's defining characteristics for Broome was "got that dawg in him" in Yahoo Sports' most recent mock draft.
If he were entering the NBA 10 years ago, the Auburn star would probably have been ranked far higher on draft boards. His game has an old-school feel and might not translate well into today's NBA. While he's a strong paint presence, there is room for improvement on the perimeter. Broome isn't quick enough to stick with smaller players in switches, even with his good defensive instincts. With how often teams like to switch in the league nowadays, it's a weakness that could keep him off the floor if he doesn't show signs of growth.
Offensively, the story is about the same. Broome was a dominant post presence and made a habit of putting defenders in the basket. The big man showcased a fine touch around the rim, converting on roughly 63% of his attempts inside the restricted area. With just a 28-inch vertical, he relies heavily on fundamentals and upfakes to beat defenders and typically tries to get to his favored left hand, though he can finish with his right.
He's not just looking to score from the post either. Broome is more than willing to set his teammates up with crisp feeds from the block.
"Broome’s a savvy passer out of the low post and high post, using his vision to hit cutters or kick out to shooters with precision," wrote O'Connor in his profile of Broome. "Sometimes he’ll receive the ball, then just fire a left-handed pass without even missing a beat. His ability to read defenses and deliver slick, timely feeds adds a connective layer to his game beyond just scoring."
Broome's feel for the game on both ends makes it easy to see how he could fit with the Celtics. Though he wouldn't have a ton of post opportunities with the C's, he'd still be effective in the short roll as long as he's making sharp decisions. He'd be an even better fit if he were a better shooter, though. Last year at Auburn, he sank only 27.8% of his threes on a low volume of attempts (2.5).
If his shot comes along, Broome could develop into a nice rotation piece for a Celtics squad that hopes to be competitive for a prolonged period once Jayson Tatum is back from his ruptured Achilles.
For a more in-depth look at potential Celtics prospects, check out the "How 'Bout Them Celtics" draft preview, where Jack Simone and I run through plenty of names with No Ceilings' Tyler Rucker.