2019 NBA Draft: Full Mock Draft 3.0, Atlanta Hawks Pick #8 & #10 After Lottery

#22. Boston Celtics — Talen Horton-Tucker

With the team’s third and final selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics can once again take a mammoth swing on a player with big-time upside who also happens to be one of the youngest prospects in the draft class.

Talen Horton-Tucker was a late riser in the 2019 NBA Draft process, but his combination of skills and interesting physical traits make him an almost singularly fascinating prospect.

First off, THT is built like a Geodude (pardon the Pokémon reference) in that he is small-ish and stocky yet has impressively long arms. Just so we have the tale of the tape, THT clocks in at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, yet has a whopping 7-foot-1 wingspan. Horton-Tucker also has massive hands, which means that length and size combines to make him an exceptional finisher around the rim.

Of course, all of those measureables mean nothing if he isn’t able to use them, but THT’s functional athleticism means he projects to be an excellent switch defender with the ability to move laterally and mirror his mark beautifully in one-on-one defense.

On offense, like with many prospects, the question is about Horton-Tucker’s three-point shot, but he did show a penchant for making difficult passes in his lone college season at Iowa State, so there is potential there.

If THT loses a little bit of weight, he might be the steal of the 2019 NBA Draft in the late first round.