We've heard about Tarris Reed Jr. possibly being a fit for the C's, but what about Alex Karaban?
Earlier this week, Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports had the Boston Celtics taking center Tarris Reed Jr. with the No. 27 pick in June's NBA Draft.
But could another University of Connecticut star be in the mix for the C's as well?
As noted by Hoopshype, the Celtics are working out Huskies forward Alex Karaban, who just completed a legendary run in Storrs that saw him win two national titles and get inducted into the Huskies of Honor.
Let's dig a little deeper on Karaban, his NBA chances and his possible fit with the Celitcs:
About Karaban
A two-time national champion, Karaban is one of the most beloved UConn players of all-time. A four-year player at a time when almost no one is a four-year player at the same school, he is the winningest player in program history. A two-time All-Big East selection, he averaged 12.5 ppg for his career to go along with five rebounds.
Listed at 6-foot-8, there are questions about if he's quick enough to play on the perimeter in the NBA, but his shooting numbers at the NBA Combine prove there is a spot for him somewhere in the league.
He played in 151 games at UConn, including 150 starts, also the most in program history. He averaged 13.2 ppg this past season as UConn got to another national title game, losing to Michigan.
Why he'd be a good fit for the Celtics
1) It sounds very high school-ish, but it's just the truth: Karaban is coachable. His relationship with Dan Hurley is special. There's something to be said for someone who is coachable and willing to buy into whatever role they are put into. That's Karaban.
2) A Southborough, Mass. native, Karaban would be a fun homecoming story. It's not enough of a reason to choose a player, but it's a fun thing for fans to latch onto.
3) Shooting. Karaban is a very good shooter, who appears to only be getting better. He was 37.4 percent from three-point range this season at UConn, and he figures to get more open looks in the NBA as defenses key on star players.
Where there are questions
The lateral foot speed is a concern. Is he capable of guarding perimeter players in the NBA? And how about his rebounding? He grabbed 5.3 rebounds a game at UConn this past season, but that is with him being one of the bigger players on a floor. At 6'8, he won't tower over NBA players, so will he be able to mix it up for boards?
Also, Brad Stevens has said he wants the Celtics to get better at the rim. Is Karaban athletic enough and strong enough to play at the rim, or would the Celtics just become even more jumper dependent, which they are trying to get away from?
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