The 2025 NBA Draft is just three weeks away. It'll be a massive event not only for the 60+ NBA hopefuls with aspirations of fulfilling their lifelong dreams, but also the 30 franchises across the association. For them, it's an opportunity to find the next piece of their puzzle.
Every team's puzzle is different, and the Boston Celtics have the equivalent of a 1000-piecer. Even before disaster struck last month when Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles, the consensus was that this would be a summer of change for the Cs. Their near $228 million on the books heading into next season just isn't sustainable.
That figure would have Boston above the league's second-apron line for the third straight season, meaning they'd see future first-round picks automatically fall to the bottom of the round, along with several other penalties.
To avoid overspending in the future, hitting on their draft picks will be key. The draft is a great opportunity to add new plays with upside without breaking the bank. Boston will have two chances to do so this year, as they hold picks 28 and 32.
Auburn big man Johni Broome is one of the players who is projected to be available within Boston's range. Tankathon has Broome slated at 33rd on their 2025 big board. The 22-year-old just completed his super-senior season with the Tigers and was named the SEC Player of the Year. He appeared in 36 games en route to a Final Four appearance, averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field and 27.8% from deep.
Does Johni Broome make sense for the Celtics?
Yes, but he's not a perfect player -- no one is at this stage of the draft, in fairness.
First and foremost, adding Broome would give the Celtics some added frontcourt depth, which could wind up being a massive need for them when the dust settles from all potential offseason movement. There's a case to be made that each of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet could all be wearing different uniforms next season. Even if only one of them isn't back in green, it would be nice to reinforce the rotation regardless.
Broome is the type of player who could easily endear himself to the Celtic faithful. This guy plays hard. He isn't super athletic, yet he consistently impacted the game on defense with grit and great timing on block attempts. Yahoo Sports' mock draft lists "got that dawg in him" as one of the six-foot-ten forward's defining traits.
That dawg makes its presence felt on the offensive glass, too. In five college seasons, Broome never averaged less than four offensive rebounds per game. Last season, he was good for just under five in each outing.
Once Broome is taken out of the paint, he isn't as effective on D. His lack of athleticism leaves him vulnerable to being attacked by small guards in switches. As an undersized center prospect, he'd benefit from some extra quickness and bounce. Broome logged a vertical of just 28 inches at last month's NBA Draft Combine. While that isn't an awful number for a guy his size, it's also nothing to be overly excited about.
Offensively, Broome's game feels like the typical "great in college, might not translate to the NBA" skillset. He was highly effective out of the post for Auburn, using his 250-pound frame to bully defenders on the block. Once Broome got himself to the rim, he was able to convert on 63% of his attempts. Even though he's left-handed, he's got no problem finishing with his right, which is always a bonus.
He's not just a scorer from the post either, he's got a great feel for the game and sets his teammates up well.
"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 Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor. "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."
His potential as a connector, combined with his comfort at the rim, make Broome an intriguing prospect, despite his shooting struggles. He shot below 30% from deep last season and wasn't great from the free-throw line either. Those factors cast doubt on how much he can improve as a shooter.
Though Boston loves to create open looks on the perimeter, it's not everything. Luke Kornet is a prime example of a player who is effective without knocking down threes. He has great timing on cuts and dives to the rim and does a great job operating out of the dunker's spot. If Broome can learn to mirror some of those strengths, maybe he could develop into a nice bench big with a motor.
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.