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Draft Workout: C’s Bring in a Batch of Shot-Blockers

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WALTHAM, Mass. – As the Boston Celtics embark on their offseason, one of the glaring holes they may look to fill is a physical, shot-blocking presence in the paint.

The C’s invited six NBA hopefuls to a Draft workout Wednesday morning at their training facility in Waltham; it may have been no coincidence that half of them were prolific shot-blockers in the NCAA this past season.

Division I leading shot-blocker Jordan Mickey of LSU headlined the crew, which also included Syracuse big man Rakeem Christmas and University of California’s all-time leading blocker David Kravish.

Also in attendance were SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis of Arkansas; Marcus Thornton, a speedy, high-scoring guard out of William & Mary; and Ohio State point guard Shannon Scott.

Mickey swatted a nation-high 3.6 blocks per game, which matched the Celtics’ league-worst team total last season at the NBA level. He believes he could positively influence a team in need of his defensive abilities.

“I feel like I could make a great impact,” said Mickey. “I play defense, I block shots. That’s kind of what got me noticed at the collegiate level, so I feel I can do that (in the NBA).”

At 6-foot-8, Mickey is quite undersized for a blocker of his ability, but Director of Player Personnel Austin Ainge compared him to numerous players who have overcome their lack of height to make an impact in the paint. He noted that “a lot of times height is overrated.“

“Paul Millsap is a great player; he’s (6-8),” said Ainge. “Draymond Green is (6-7) and plays a lot of center. Ben Wallace was NBA Defensive Player of the Year at (6-9), so I think a lot of that is overblown.”

Another strong shot-rejecter displaying his talents at the workout was Kravish, whose 226 career blocks is a Cal record.

The senior and two-year captain said blocking shots is “something I’ve always kind of had a knack for since I was little.”

“It’s more than just athleticism,” he continued. “It’s more than just timing, being in the right place at the right time; it’s a combination of the things. It’s almost like a sixth sense to really be a good shot-blocker.”

The third interior defensive presence making his mark at the Draft workout was Christmas, who, like Kravish, played four years of college hoops. His journey, however, has been a bit more unconventional; he graduated in 2014, becoming what is widely believed to be the first three-year grad in Syracuse men's basketball history.

He had always been a great rebounder and shot-blocker for the Orange, but also stepped into a scoring role during his final season. His points per 40 minutes jumped from 9.8 to 19.0.

As a grad student last season, he had fewer classes to attend, so he devoted his time to the gym.

“I had a lot of time on my hands,” said Chrismas, who averaged 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game during his final campaign. “I was always in the gym with (assistant) coach (Mike) Hopkins. He got me to where I am right now.”

At Wednesday’s workout, he quickly grew comfortable playing in the presence of another coach: Brad Stevens.

“He made me feel welcome here,” said Christmas. “I was just out here giving it my all and doing what I normally do. I was trying to block shots, play defense, rebound, doing the stuff I normally did at Syracuse.”

Bobby Portis brings energy, versatility

Perhaps the most recognizable name at Wednesday’s workouts was Portis, a 6-11 sophomore out of Arkansas.

Ainge is impressed with the versatility and physicality that the reigning SEC Player of the Year brings to the table.

“He’s tough, he’s very physical and he knows how to play for a young kid,” said Ainge. “He’s got a great feel for the game. He can pass, he can shoot, dribble … he’s pretty good at everything.”

The athletic power forward says his high energy and versatility would complement a young and exciting Celtics team.

“I think I could help them out a lot, simply because I can bring that motor,” said Portis, who averaged 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a sophomore.

“If they need a player that’s going to come in and be that rim-runner, or be that guy who’s going to protect the rim, or be that guy who’s going to dive on the floor and hype his teammates up … I can do a lot of things.”

Marcus Thornton finds scoring rhythm

No player at the Draft Combine had a quicker three-quarter court sprint (3.02 seconds) than Thornton (no relation to the Marcus Thornton who suited up for the C’s last season).

But Thornton’s speed was not the only aspect of his game that excited Ainge on Wednesday, as he noted that the William and Mary guard “made a lot of shots.”

The 6-3 guard said he had been struggling with his shot lately and was happy to rekindle his abilities in front of a team like the Celtics.

“This is one of the greatest teams in NBA history,” said Thornton. “To play in front of a great coach and play with these other great players, to have this opportunity has been great for me, so I’m glad I was able to have a good showing today.”