RADIO
Position: SF/PF
Team: Boston Celtics
Draft Spot: 1.03
Analysis: There were plenty of question marks surrounding Tatum on draft night. Some organizations saw Tatum as the best player in the draft, while others did not even believe he was the best at his position. The Celtics were happy with taking the most NBA ready prospect, though, making Tatum the third overall selection.
Tatum was an offensive machine at Duke, but that was essentially the extent of his production. He averaged a healthy 16.8 points per game, while adding 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game to his line. He was able to post solid percentages with a 50.4% two-point percentage, 34.2% three-point percentage, and 84.9% free throw percentage. His defensive stats were decent, but he also often times had mental lapses on defense, allowing easy buckets.
Tatum's role is a bit of a question mark on Boston. They have a roster filled with versatile players, meaning some players could switch positions when others come off the bench, leaving Tatum less minutes than one would expect. Still, he's a pure scorer and the Celtics clearly need help stretching the floor. He should continue to earn minutes as the season progresses.
Bottom Line: Tatum will start in a reserve role. He can play multiple positions, though, which could get him on the court earlier than some would expect. He will immediately produce points and rebounds, but he has shown little reason to believe he can contribute in five categories while playing limited minutes.
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