Did the Boston Celtics find something like a Marcus Smart replacement in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft? Taken at No. 38 overall out of Arkansas, forward Jordan Walsh is known for his absurd 7-foot-2 wingspan and using it to disrupt the offense of opposing teams and a motor so high it can get him into trouble.
He’s also not the greatest shot, which makes for a poor man’s Smart in a forward’s body, at least according to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley. “With … Smart off to Memphis, Boston needed a new tone-setting, all-purpose defender,” writes Buckley. “(Walsh) looks the part of an NBA player at 6-foot-5 and 3/4 without shoes and a wholly absurd 8’11” standing reach, and he defends like an NBA player, too.”
