The Boston Celtics have the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. In their first mock draft, experts Jonathon Givony and Jeremy Woo, see Boston landing 19-year-old Spanish basketball player Juan Núñez.

Núñez has always been a basketball phenom since he was a child. At 11-years-old, he joined the Real Madrid youth system in 2015 and was a standout passer. By 2019, Núñez was named MVP of the Euroleague Next Generation Tournament.

At 16-years-old, Núñez played in the semifinals for Real Madrid’s senior team. He scored two points and earned a Spanish Supercup winner to his resumé.

Núñez has played for Ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga for the last two years, winning the German BBL Championship in 2023.

Fresh off a championship, Núñez (6-foot-4, 190 lbs.) is on the radar of NBA teams. He averaged 10.4 points per game on 51/37/54 shooting splits with 5.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals last season.

He’s well polished and highly intelligent on offense. He has counter moves for his counter moves and understands how to use his body to maneuver himself all over the court. Núñez can make all the shots from within the arc and in the paint.

What I noticed when watching Núñez’s games is that he’s a crafty passer but especially out of the pick-and-roll where he oftentimes isn’t passing to the roller, but kicks it outside which I saw confused many teams in the BBL.

Núñez’s high basketball IQ on offense allows him to be a great defender as he’s able to read the game so well and so fast to the point where he’s essentially anticipating what’s going to happen before it does.

He’s able to jump the passing lanes and create turnovers. He can hold his own in the post and get steals with his active hands. Although the offensive game where Núñez shines, he’s great on defense too and it’s an under appreciated quality to his game.

Núñez could possibly help a lesser team in the NBA right now. But for a team like the Celtics, he would benefit from a developmental season in Maine- on assignment or a two-way- just to sharpen his skills and to get familiar with the way Boston plays.

The way he’s able to create and score with the ball in his hands is elite, but I wonder if it will make him a good enough NBA point guard or if he’s more of a two-guard where he focuses on scoring before passing- both of which are good problems to have.

The Celtics have a deep point guard rotation as it is. They just re-signed Payton Pritchard, Jrue Holiday, and they need to find a way to retain Derrick White sooner than later. JD Davison is also coming off his second season on a two-way deal, where he became a top player in the GLeague during that time.

Núñez could be a great addition for Boston for the near future, considering the limitations they’ll have to roster build as a second apron team over the next few years. If he’s available, it’s worth the pick to develop him with high expectations.

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Photo Credit: Christian Kaspar-Bartke, Getty Images