Celtics get Jordan Walsh, four future second rounders, in busy draft night - bostonsportsjournal

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JB

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Jun 23, 2023, 8:30:31 AM6/23/23
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Celtics get Jordan Walsh, four future second rounders, in busy draft night

Jun 23, 2023 • 2:29 AM


Brad Stevens went on a trading binge Thursday night, executing four draft night deals to eventually turn the 25th overall pick into Jordan Walsh and four future second-round picks. 

Stevens flipped 25 for 31 and two future first-round picks. The 31st pick went to Charlotte for picks 34 and 39. 39 was moved for a future second while 34 turned into the 38th pick and a future 2nd. 

Walsh was selected at 38. 


"We had a list of guys that we were really comfortable with. (Walsh) was on that list," Brad Stevens said. "He's a good prospect. He's young. We don't expect him to come in and take the world on fire in the first couple of months, summer league, first year."

Walsh actually sounds a lot like a taller Marcus Smart. He’s 6’6” but he has a huge wingspan. 

“Explosive athlete with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, a relentless approach, and good instincts,” writes Kevin O’Connor in his Ringer draft capsule. “He comes up with 50-50 balls by diving on the floor. He takes charges. He flies around and makes second and third efforts on single possessions. He’s everywhere.”

"He has a special ability laterally with his wingspan to swallow people up defensively," Stevens said. "He really creates havoc with his arms and with his energy and with his ability to move his feet."

And his one weakness? Shooting. Though Stevens doesn't seem too worried about that. 

"He's a better shooter. And we had him in twice for workouts. He is just getting better and better," Stevens said. "I've always thought his touch looked good, but he looked hesitant at times. And so I think over time he'll become a really good shooter who has the athleticism to finish and drive closeouts, but he'll be ahead on the defensive end from the start. He’ll get knocked down a few times, though.”

Meanwhile, the stockpile of second-round picks fits right into what I’ve been saying a side effect of the new CBA would be. Teams don’t want to be locked into salaries for guys who might be available for less -- or two-way deals -- in the second round. 

Here's the complete list of  picks Boston acquired. 

  • Dallas’ 2024 second round pick
  • The best of Detroit’s, Golden State’s, or Washington’s 2025 second round pick
  • The best of Minnesota’s, New Orleans’s, New York’s, or Portland’s 2026 second round pick
  • Atlanta’s 2027 second round pick

"I think the value of second round picks is obviously, not only do you have a tool that you can use in trades, but also you have the ability now with the second round exception in the new CBA  to do some things," Stevens said. 

If the Celtics' staff didn’t feel rotational help existed in the first round, then trading down and getting a bunch of seconds makes sense. Walsh can sign whatever contract he negotiates with Boston, or they can agree to put him on a two-way at first and see how the season goes. They can always upgrade him later if they need to. 

Stevens is starting to navigate this new NBA world. I know the Belichickian comparisons have been flying around a lot tonight, but this is the way to do it if you know the guy you want is going to be available later. 

Who knows if Walsh will actually develop into the next Smart-type player for Boston. Sometimes a lunatic defender is just a lunatic and there's no growth. If that's the case, the Celtics can move on with little ramification -- as opposed to waiting for option years in the standard first-round contract. 

But if they have found someone with the attitude, effort, and drive to improve, then they’ll have a few years of him at a bargain number. 


david Pontrelli

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Jun 23, 2023, 8:41:23 AM6/23/23
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Did Ainge donate some blood to Stevens? Seems he has "Stockpile Syndrome", too. (But, it's a good thing in yhis case.)

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Jordan Walsh GettyImages-1474439573-1600x900.jpeg

Daniel Metz

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Jun 23, 2023, 9:19:56 AM6/23/23
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His whole family is going crazy and he's just kind of in shock, trying to take it all in, contemplating the gravity of this moment and how it will be a turning point for the rest of his life. I assume the older people behind him are his mother and his grandmother and his grandfather, beaming with pride, sharing their love and experiencing the joy for him as he is overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. And then finally a smile sets across his face - nothing more.

It tells me he is from a good family and it tells me he is a serious person with a strong and thoughtful character. No bravado, no outsized ego. Just his family around him celebrating him as he realizes his dream is coming true. And I strongly get the impression that he knows the work is just beginning.

As of now I'm a fan of this kid. When does summer league start?? 

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david Pontrelli

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Jun 23, 2023, 9:23:57 AM6/23/23
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With only 20 names left to call, this kid got the shock of his life. He went from rags to riches in just a few hours. Good for he and his family.

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CeltsSteve

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Jun 23, 2023, 9:31:49 AM6/23/23
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Very keen observations, Daniel. 

Further down in the comments there was this video clip of him in the NCAA tournament against a #1 seed Kansas:



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CeltsSteve

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Jun 23, 2023, 9:36:22 AM6/23/23
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To me I can’t decide which one he resembles more: Popeye Jones or Charlie Villanueva.  Kinda of both. 
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Jack Jemsek

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Jun 23, 2023, 10:23:38 AM6/23/23
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Inline image

The guy looks like a beast . . . talk about an NBA-ready body!

Walsh has the same height & wingspan as Kawhi Leonard 6’6” - 7’3” . . . and has the 2nd widest wingspan on the Cs after Rob-Will - nice!

Coach him up, improve his shooting, and with some luck and hard work, Jordan Walsh may end up in the rotation sooner than later and be a holy terror for the Celtics opponents aka Tony Allen and Marcus Smart (this doesn’t mean he’s destined to be traded to the Grizzly LOL).

david Pontrelli

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Jun 23, 2023, 10:37:27 AM6/23/23
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Porzingis has a 7'6" span, from what I've read. And, he has the most difficult shot to block in the league.
But this kid is really long at 6'6 or 6'7. And he's a defensive pain in the rear. 
Remember, Smart had one of, if not the lowest scoring average in the league for a couple of years.
This kid is raw offensively but seems ahead of the curve defensively.


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Jack Jemsek

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Jun 23, 2023, 10:58:48 AM6/23/23
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Forgot about the new guy Porzingis. . . seeing a pattern in the BS acquisitions. . . . 

Reiterating - I’m not selling short on Jordan Walsh - good lord and he just turned 19 . . . I think he’s a keeper!

david Pontrelli

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Jun 23, 2023, 11:29:21 AM6/23/23
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I think so too. 

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CeltsSteve

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Jun 23, 2023, 11:31:59 AM6/23/23
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Even if he begins his NBA career going 0-25 from beyond the arc, you may well be right (“keeper”).



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CeltsSteve

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Jun 23, 2023, 5:05:25 PM6/23/23
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Summer League for the Celtics begins July 8th.

If he provides this level of play, Brad drafted a diamond in the rough.




On Fri, Jun 23, 2023 at 8:19 AM Daniel Metz <danie...@gmail.com> wrote:
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CeltsSteve

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Jun 23, 2023, 7:05:58 PM6/23/23
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Here he is as a 15-year old freshman making the winning basket at the final buzzer to win the state championship.

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Daniel Metz

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Dec 6, 2025, 6:34:48 PM (8 days ago) Dec 6
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Just remembering this thread we had falling in love with the potential of Jordan Walsh. 



JB

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Dec 6, 2025, 6:56:59 PM (8 days ago) Dec 6
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On Dec 6, 2025, at 6:34 PM, Daniel Metz <danie...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just remembering this thread we had falling in love with the potential of Jordan Walsh. 





Rachel C

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Dec 6, 2025, 7:15:04 PM (8 days ago) Dec 6
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💚💚💚

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Dr. Rachel Ciporen
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CeltsSteve

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Dec 6, 2025, 11:41:28 PM (7 days ago) Dec 6
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JB

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Dec 7, 2025, 1:39:30 AM (7 days ago) Dec 7
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On Dec 6, 2025, at 11:41 PM, CeltsSteve <celts...@gmail.com> wrote:

Jordan Walsh is the 1st non-center in NBA history to log 45+ points on 90% shooting over a 3-game span.
***************

Otherworldly?



PastedGraphic-1.pngPastedGraphic-2.png

Jack Jemsek

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Dec 7, 2025, 9:36:11 AM (7 days ago) Dec 7
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For Jordan Walsh to continue this efficiency tear on national TV, while stifling LA’s best offensive player in Austin Reaves, was quite the statement.

Consider that for the entire 2024-25 season, Walsh played the least amount of minutes on the team ahead of the two-way players - a whopping total of 83.5 minutes. 

After the 1st 8 games the Celtics played thus season (through 11/4), Walsh was still sitting squarely at the very end of the bench with a total of 24.0 minutes played, 13th most on the team behind Tillman’s 60.6 minutes. Simons had the most off the bench with 212.5 minutes total.

From Nov 5th to date, Walsh has played the 4th most minutes on the team, and has the best plus/minus per minute on the team behind Queta.  Also during this 15 game stretch, he ranks 3rd most for the team in the following categories: Rebs, steals, blocks, FG%.

Regarding overall box score stats, he ranks roughly ~60th in the NBA these last 15 games.

And he’s only only beginning at just 21 years old … 

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NCC

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Dec 7, 2025, 10:13:30 AM (7 days ago) Dec 7
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Vinny Natale

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Dec 7, 2025, 11:05:39 AM (7 days ago) Dec 7
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On top of his current playing speaking so loudly .. I continue to be quite impressed with everything that comes out of his mouth when I see him in post game interviews.

Would be great to have him be one of those Celtic for life players.

Who are the last notable ones we've had who were Celtics only (not counting current players).  

No one is coming to mind for me right away after McHale and Bird?

Okay.  Paul Pierce!

But who else?

Vinny Natale

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Dec 7, 2025, 11:08:33 AM (7 days ago) Dec 7
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Of course, I said Pierce but then forgot I'd already disqualified him before I started thinking more about it!

This answer completely shocked me and explained why I could not think of anyone else!

" Over the last 25 years, the only Celtics players who both (a) played at least five seasons and (b) are retired with their entire NBA careers spent solely with Boston are long-ago stars such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and John Havlicek, not modern‑era players. In the 2000–2025 window there are effectively no new retirees who meet both conditions; everyone who fits the 5‑plus‑seasons test in that span has played for at least one other NBA team."



CeltsSteve

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Dec 8, 2025, 8:25:07 PM (6 days ago) Dec 8
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CeltsSteve

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Dec 8, 2025, 11:29:07 PM (5 days ago) Dec 8
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               👆👆👆👆

Click the link to view the video




CeltsSteve

Vinny Natale

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Dec 11, 2025, 7:56:53 PM (3 days ago) Dec 11
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First team ALL-NBA defense??!!!
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