When the Celtics drafted Jordan Mickey in 2015, they hoped they were getting a back-of-the-rotation rebounder and rim protector. It was clear that he wouldn’t get major minutes as a rookie, but Boston hoped they could develop Mickey into a useful, inexpensive bench big.
The Celtics desperately needed an effective shot blocker to patrol the back line (and still do). Mickey averaged over three blocks a game in college and earned SEC First-Team All Defense honors in both of his years at LSU. Boston saw potential there and decided Mickey was worth rolling the dice on as an early second-round selection.