Celtics select Jayson Tatum 3rd overall

The Boston Celtics have selected Duke forward Jayson Tatum with the No. 3 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.

The Celtics had owned the No. 1 pick before trading down, with GM Danny Ainge indicating his club would get the player it coveted two spots down.

A top-5 recruit last year, Tatum lived up to expectations alongside the other blue-chippers in his deep class, with some feeling he's the best forward in the draft. He projects as an NBA three, although he played a lot of power forward in his lone college season, clearing space for Duke's perimeter attack. On the perimeter himself, he's improved his stroke since high school and possesses an array of separation moves.

The consensus knock on Tatum is that the 6-foot-8, 205-pounder is not a jump-out-of-the-gym, explosive athlete by NBA standards. Still, the upside far outweighs the risk, and the development of more consistency will benefit the St. Louis native.