By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Facing a roster squeeze even before selecting two players in round one, the Boston Celtics opted for the draft-and-stash approach with their final pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, selecting point guard Yam Madar with the No. 47 overall pick.
A 6-foot-3 talent out of Israel, Madar has spent the last three seasons with Hapoel Tel Aviv, playing in 70 total games for the club over that stretch. Madar is off to an encouraging start this season, too, with 16.5 points and 5.75 assists to go with a 43.6 field goal percentage through his first three contests of the 2020-21 campaign.
Considered an energetic two-way presence, Madar can apparently wow with his speed and size.
“Madar possesses good size for his position at 6-foot-3 to go along with an electrifying quickness and developing frame,” NBA.com wrote of the 19-year-old ahead of this year’s draft. “He is a quick decision maker who has great court vision and ball-handling skills, playing lower and wider with his feet. He makes his teammates better with his excellent play-making ability. He’s a great passer who often surprises the fans with his quick and sharp dimes.”
The defensive aspects of Madar’s game may be especially intriguing to the Celtics as he develops, too, as Madar held opponents to 23-for-69 shooting from long distance in 21 games in Israel a year ago.
His NBA.com profile considered him to have a ‘competitive spirit’ defensively, which the C’s would surely welcome at the 1.
With Madar’s selection, and barring another move in round two, the Celtics’ 2020 draft class is headlined by wing Aaron Nesmith selected at No. 14 overall, and with guards Payton Pritchard (No. 26 overall) and Madar behind him.
Ty Anderson talked about the Celtics’ draft prospects (and predicted Aaron Nesmith) on the newest episode of the Sports Hub Sidelines podcast. Listen below.
