NBA Draft: Grades for all 15 teams in the Eastern Conference

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JD Davison, Alabama Crimson Tide. Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images /

Eastern Conference NBA Draft Grades: Boston Celtics

Picks: JD Davison, Guard, Alabama (53)

The Boston Celtics moved their first-round pick this season to the San Antonio Spurs in the Derrick White deal, who was a major part of their season turnaround and had some big moments in the NBA Playoffs. With White under contract moving forward it seems like a pick well used.

That meant that Boston was left waiting until the 53rd pick to make a selection, but once it came they didn’t trade around but called in the pick. They took JD Davison, a 6’3″ guard out of Alabama who was a five-star recruit before he struggled as a freshman this year in the SEC.

Davison has elite athleticism and can get way up for dunks, including perhaps even as the lob recipient. He has a decent catch-and-shoot ability but can’t create his own shot, either driving to the rim or pulling up for a jumper. He makes poor decisions and racks up careless turnovers, so the Celtics will need to iron that out of him.

Defensively is the major problem, as Davison has decent natural abilities but applied them in a terrible way. Easily beat on the perimeter, lunges for steals instead of trying to stay in front of a player, and will hurt a team on that end for a long time.

Grade: B-