As the college season progresses, the right for the Celtics to swap picks with the Nets becomes a significant factor in the future of the organization.
The Nets are quickly sinking. Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, they play hard, have their moments, but are finding ways to lose. Brooklyn has the NBA’s worst record and are a cinch for the draft lottery.
So the Celtics will certainly exercise their right to swap picks with the Nets, giving Brooklyn a likely pick in the 20s in exchange for potentially the No. 1 overall pick.
Not only does Brooklyn’s decline add to the value of that pick, this incoming freshman class, tabbed as the best of the decade, has lived up to its potential so far. College basketball is filled with talent, especially in the backcourt, where the Celtics may have their choice of franchise-caliber point or shooting guards.
While New England isn’t a college basketball haven, local fans need to check out some college games as conference play begins. One of those players could become the next great Celtic. Perhaps the college talent available may dissuade Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge from moving that pick in a deal, or it may encourage other teams to increase offers to a premium player for that pick.
Here is a look at some of the nation’s top college players as Celtics faithful once again prepare for an intriguing lottery:
Markelle Fultz, Washington — Hidden in the Pacific Northwest because the Huskies aren’t ranked, Fultz has been splendid as a freshman. The 6-foot-4-inch, 195-pound product from the Washington, D.C. area is averaging 22 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. It’s hard to determine how good Fultz has been because the Huskies have played a soft schedule and he makes everything look easy. Expect him to emerge as a potential No. 1 overall pick if he matches up well against top Pac-12 players.
Lonzo Ball, UCLA — Called “Jason Kidd with a jump shot,’’ Ball is a smooth facilitator and one of the main reasons the Bruins are No. 2 in the country. He does everything well, is unselfish, and has a high basketball IQ. He dominated the California high school scene, so this was not unexpected. He is projected as a one-and-done and some folks say he’s UCLA’s best guard since Russell Westbrook.
Malik Monk, Kentucky — That was Monk scoring 47 points against North Carolina last week. The freshman from Arkansas has scored in double figures in every game. He drained eight 3-pointers in his monster game against the Tar Heels. He is slight but the Celtics have been seeking a pure scorer at shooting guard since the departure of Ray Allen.
Josh Jackson, Kansas — The swingman has been steady for the Jayhawks — perhaps not as flashy as his cohorts but there have been comparisons to Paul George. He is averaging 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds. He struggles from the 3-point line and on free throws but is loaded with potential.
De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky — The Katy, Texas, native is fast — really fast. He’s a flashy and athletic point guard who can push the ball and also score. Kentucky has had a storied history with point guards, and Fox compares with all of them after a handful of games. Would he be ready to start immediately in the NBA? Probably not, but he’s a serious prospect.
Dennis SmithJr., N.C. State — He suffered a torn ACL in high school, but Smith has been dynamic for the Wolfpack, averaging 19 points and 5.5 assists. Like Fultz, he hasn’t gotten as much national exposure as Fox or Ball, but he could emerge as the best of the bunch by season’s end.
COMING ON STRONG
Thunder’s Adams emerges as a force
Steven Adams was considered a risk when he was drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh by the Thunder in 2013. He averaged just 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in college and despite his NBA size, there were questions about whether he was ready for the rigors of the league.
Adams decided to enter the draft after one season. His decision has turned out well as he has emerged as one of the NBA’s top defensive centers and enforcers. He’s averaging a career-best 11.7 points this season for Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City.
Adams was in the same draft as the Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk and visited Boston for one of his pre-draft workouts. He wasn’t available when the Celtics drafted 13th — he was taken 12th by the Thunder. Adams said he knew he was taking a risk by leaving Pitt but viewed the process as a life experience.
“I didn’t even know I’d make it, mate, to be honest,’’ said the New Zealander. “I didn’t even know I’d be drafted. From college, I thought I’d just give [the NBA] a crack and work as hard as I can. Luckily for me I was able to be put into an organization and group of guys that just wanted to help me grow.’’
Adams said he didn’t know he would be a lottery pick, despite his 7-foot frame. He was raw at Pittsburgh, considered a player with potential but hardly a one-and-done candidate.
“Probably a couple of days before when they gave out the invitations to [the green room],’’ Adams said when asked when he believed he could be a lottery pick. “It was pretty cool. I didn’t even know I’d be drafted. At the time I just thought I’d have fun with the process and it was probably the best time of my life flying around to different organizations and just working out for them. I really enjoyed that and since I did that, I would have come away with a win anyway even if I didn’t get drafted, just because of the experience.’’
MAKING HIS MARK
Morris settling down in Detroit
Marcus Morris appears to have found a home in Detroit. The Pistons are his third team in five-plus seasons and he has become the starting small forward. Morris is usually a matchup issue for opponents because of his 6-foot-9-inch, 235-pound frame and ability to shoot from the perimeter.
Morris wasn’t happy in his first NBA home in Houston. He was traded to join his twin brother, Markieff, in Phoenix. That combination worked well for a while, so much so that both agreed to four-year contract extensions for a hometown discount. But after Marcus became disenchanted with his role, he was traded to Detroit.
Markieff felt betrayed and he was dealt to Washington at the deadline last February. Although they are no longer teammates, the Morris brothers seem to be in good situations.
“It’s been great. I enjoy the city, I enjoy the atmosphere,’’ Marcus said. “I like Detroit. I’d like to stay here.’’
After pushing the Cavaliers in their first-round playoff series last season, the Pistons were expected to make major strides. Instead, they have been wildly inconsistent, losing seven of their last 11 games, including four consecutive double-digit losses. The talent is there, with six players averaging in double figures and their top three scorers age 24 or under.
But with youth comes inconsistency and difficulty in adjusting to roles. Also, former Boston College standout Reggie Jackson missed the first six weeks of the season after knee surgery.
“It comes with growing pains,’’ Morris said. “Every team starts somewhere. Every great team always grows together. It happens. I think we’re all trying to take that next step together.’’
Coach Stan Van Gundy has not hidden his disappointment in the team’s recent play, calling last week’s 31-point loss to Chicago “disgusting.’’ Van Gundy is a fiery coach who is brutally honest with players. He also was given the title of president of basketball operations to reshape the Pistons.
“I enjoy him, a high-intensity guy,’’ Morris said. “He’s always into the game. He’s always locked in. He’s all about winning. It’s a good thing.’’
Morris was considered a potential franchise cornerstone when he left the University of Kansas. He has worked himself into a productive starter for a growing team.
“I am always going to be me, no matter what,’’ he said. “The scenery might change but not the person. Guys look up to me, and I kind of like leading by example.’’
MIXED REVIEWS
Knicks, Bulls are works in progress
The Knicks and Bulls made major moves to enhance their teams by acquiring Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, respectively. The moves have been moderately successful at best. The Knicks are in the middle of the playoff pack in the Eastern Conference, with Rose averaging 16.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 25 of the team’s first 29 games.
Wade, meanwhile, is averaging 19.3 points and shooting a career-high 32.9 percent from the 3-point line. But the Bulls have looked putrid in stretches this season, with Wade commenting that too much pressure is placed on All-Star Jimmy Butler.
ESPN analyst Hubie Brown was asked about the Knicks’ offseason moves, which included acquiring Joakim Noah via free agency.
Noah, who averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in his best season for the Bulls in 2013-14, has been reduced to 21 minutes per game, 4.7 points, and 4.4 shot attempts per game.
“Rose and Noah missed almost the entire camp, OK,’’ Brown said. “Then both guys have been injured since they started the season. But give the Knicks a lot of credit now, the Knicks are 15-13. Now, the Knicks are 10-4 at home. Well, any time that Rose plays, they naturally have much better offensive flow, and they’ve got a guy that can get you 16, 18 points. Now, will he remain healthy? Will Noah remain healthy? That’s the question.
“The Wade factor, as they move through the season, one of the Jekyll and Hyde teams is Chicago. Because you look at that and say, Chicago right now is only [14-14]. Why do they play in spurts? They have six guys up front, meaning the starter and the backup. Then [Bobby] Portis as a seventh guy.’’
The Bulls have been one of the more frustrating teams in the league, having started strong only to lose at home to the likes of the Lakers and Wizards, and back-to-back losses to the Bucks by a combined 37 points.
“They have excellent frontcourt talent, but then in the backcourt, the Wade-Rajon Rondo combination is good some nights,’’ Brown said. “Their last game they were terrific, the entire unit was terrific, but previous to that they were struggling. So I always go back to when you change, like they had to change, a point guard and a two-guard, and a center on your starting unit, then that complicates your bench flow.
“Wade has been doing a solid job, but what they lack is a good backup at that position.’’
Brown said putting together super teams or a collection of standout players who are accustomed to being No. 1 options is a difficult endeavor. The Warriors, however, have made the transition look seamless, with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant all likely headed for the All-Star Game and the Warriors 26-4 entering the weekend.
“Give Durant his due. No one thought that he would take the necessary last shot,’’ Brown said of Durant being a closer in Golden State. “When Boston went out and got Ray Allen and made the big trade for [Kevin] Garnett — when they joined Paul Pierce, every one of those guys averaged between 22 and 24 shots. When they came to Boston, they win the championship, and all three guys went into 14 shots a game.
“Coaches know how tough that is, all right. Because the player, at the status that they are — at the all-NBA level — when you ask a guy to step all the way back and accept five or six less shots than he’s accustomed to getting, he has to buy into that.
And Durant has done a magnificent job doing that, because he’s taking, believe it or not, as of today, 16.7 shots where Curry and Thompson are averaging 17. Now, who would have thought that?
“Yet, because of his incredible ability to get to the line and shoot a high percentage, he’s right up there at 25.7 [points per game]. So you’ve got to give him a ton of credit for how he has blended.’’
Layups
The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame released its list of nominees and it’s hard to envision more than one or two former NBA players being inducted in this year’s class. Players such as Tracy McGrady, Chris Webber, Tim Hardaway, Mark Aguirre, and Terry Cummings are eligible for induction but none of those players would be considered cinches. And in McGrady’s case, his résumé may be hurt by the fact he did not play in college. For standout NBA players who may be on the Hall of Fame bubble over the years, a great college career has increased their chances since pre-professional careers are considered. But there have been questions over recent years about Hall of Fame qualifications and whether the committee has lowered its bar for induction. For years, many former NBA and ABA players complained about the induction process with many college coaches seemingly being elected in the middle of their careers, causing resentment with former players waiting for their call. College coaches were not taking the spots of player candidates but it seemed more difficult for bubble players from the 1960s and ’70s to be inducted. Now the Hall seems to be making up for that by electing players such as Mitch Richmond, Dikembe Mutombo, Bernard King, Alonzo Mourning, and Yao Ming. The question is whether that trend will continue . . . George Karl likely coached his last NBA game after some excerpts were released from his book “Furious George,’’ which ripped players such as Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Kenyon Martin from their days with the Nuggets. It’s not that Karl would be blackballed for such a book if he had previous major success, but having led only one team to the NBA Finals (the 1995-96 Sonics) and having flamed out in his last coaching job in Sacramento, Karl would find it difficult to get another job under normal circumstances. But airing out his grievances only leads to the perception that Karl is bitter. Karl has had a history of decaying relationships with his former players, including Ray Allen, who played for Karl in Milwaukee . . . There will be no immediate adjustment to the one-and-done college rule in the new collective bargaining agreement, but commissioner Adam Silver said a committee will be formed to determine whether it still remains a viable rule. There could be a slew of one-and-dones in this year’s draft, including UCLA’s Lonzo Ball and Kentucky’s Malik Monk.
Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
