Randle, Smart Highlight Friday's Pre-Draft Workouts For Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Celtics continue their pre-draft workouts on Friday, welcoming in a group highlighted by potential lottery picks Julius Randle and Marcus Smart.
Randle, the Kentucky big man who averaged 15 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in his only season with the Wildcats, will workout alone, as Smart will be joined by five other draft hopefuls.
Randle's draft stock took a hit recently after it was reported by Yahoo Sports that he will likely need surgery on his right foot after the draft.
"The procedure is expected to keep Randle out six to eight weeks this summer, sources said, but there's a strong expectation within front offices that he'll be cleared for the start of training camp in the fall," the report said.
Randle has denied these reports, sending out a Tweet to Adrian Wojnarowski to check his sources:
https://twitter.com/J30_RANDLE/statuses/477132076320583680
But what matters is Randle is in town to give the Celtics a closer look at his game, and despite their depth with undersized forwards, he is a strong consideration for Boston with the sixth overall pick (and with the surgery news, maybe even the 17th pick). The Celtics are not expecting Randle to be limited during his individual workout on Friday, and if he does need surgery after the draft it will likely only cost him this year's Summer League.
Joining Smart in the second group on Friday will be Jordan Clarkson (Missouri), Gary Harris (MSU), Zach LaVine (UCLA), Eldrid Payton (Louisiana-Lafayette) and Nik Stauskas (Michigan). Harris, Payton, Strauskas and Levine, along with Smart, are all potential lottery picks in the draft, which will be held on June 26.
Smart is an intriguing player for the Celtics, as drafting him would allow them some trade flexibility with point guard Rajon Rondo, if that's the path they choose to go down. Smart averaged 18 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Cowboys last season, and has seen his draft stock rise over the last few weeks.
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