The Boston Celtics took Dillon Mitchell with the 40th overall pick in this year’s draft, knowing full well his jumper was a massive, glaring question mark. This isn’t just another project for Boston; if they can turn Mitchell into a 32-percent-or-better three-point shooter, it could be their most impressive shooting-development success yet, especially given his starting point.
Elite Talent, Glaring Flaw
Let’s be clear, Mitchell isn’t some shot in the dark without other skills. The 6-foot-7 forward, who’s 23 now and was 22 on Draft Night, is undeniably one of the better athletes and defenders from his draft class. He spent four years in college, making stops at Texas, Cincinnati, and St. John’s, and consistently used those traits to be a disruptive defender and a reliable rebounder on both ends of the floor. And honestly, after digging into his college film, some of the more understated parts of his game are seriously intriguing. Mitchell is good with the ball in his hands, an underrated passer who averaged a career-high three assists per game in his final year. The guy just reads the game at a high level. On offense, that high basketball IQ shows up through timely cuts, a strong understanding of spacing, and freelanced screen setting. On defense, his anticipation skills are what lead him to cut off drives and snag steals in passing lanes.
So, if Mitchell was an elite athlete and defender, a strong rebounder, a high-level processor of the game, and a capable handler and passer, what pushed him to the middle of the second round? You guessed it: his jumper. The numbers are brutal, man. Mitchell shot just 6.7 percent from three on 15 attempts during his senior season and barely connected on 49.4 percent of his free throws. And this wasn’t an isolated dip, either. He finished his college career shooting a paltry 13 percent from three and 47 percent from the free-throw line, leaving a giant question mark for every NBA team. Some folks were probably even wondering if he’d ever be able to shoot, period.
Boston’s Proven Track Record vs. Mitchell’s Challenge
But if any organization in the NBA is built to tackle this kind of shooting crisis, it’s the Boston Celtics. They’ve developed a reputation as one of the league’s best player-development organizations. Seriously, it’s extended to improving the shooting of players who came into the league with major questions about their jumper. Over the years, Boston has helped several players recently make significant strides from three, and the results speak for themselves. The Celtics have a proven track record of developing shooters. Now, they’re faced with what could be their ultimate test.
This is where it gets real. Mitchell has the IQ, the defense, the passing, and the athleticism. But for him to unlock his potential and truly carve out a significant role for the Celtics, that shot absolutely has to come around. All eyes are going to be on Mitchell and the Celtics’ renowned development staff. This project is going to be fascinating to watch unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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