As part of WEEI.com’s coverage of the 2012 NBA draft, we are profiling all players considered likely candidates to be drafted June 28. The Celtics own three picks: 21, 22 (from the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade) and 51.

Scott Machado led the nation in assists last season. (AP)

SCOTT MACHADO

Position: Point guard

School: Iona

Age: 22

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 206 pounds

Achievements: 2012 MAAC Player of the Year, 2012 All-MAAC first team, 2012 All-MAAC Tournament team, 2011 All-MAAC first team, 2011 All-MAAC Tournament team, 2009 MAAC Rookie of the Year

Key 2011-12 stats: 13.6 points, 9.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 35.5 minutes, 3.3 turnovers, 49.5 FG%, 40.4 3P%

What he brings: Machado is a pure point guard with very good passing ability and court awareness. He has good decision-making ability and has improved his jump shot enough to be considered a backup point guard option at the NBA level.

Machado does not have the ideal size for an NBA point guard and is not quick enough to be a reliable perimeter defender against pro talent. He is a compact 6-foot-2 and does not have the length to make up for his lack of lateral quickness.

Machado is not likely to be a starting NBA point guard, but he could serve as a solid bench option at the pro level.

Where the Celtics could get him: Machado is projected as a late second-round pick if he is selected at all, so the Celtics have options should they be looking for a backup for Rajon Rondo.

Notes: Machado led all of Division 1 last season with 281 total assists (9.9 per game). He is the all-time leader in Iona and MAAC history with 880 career assists. … If Machado is drafted, he will be the first player from Iona selected since Sean Green went to the Pacers in the second round in 1991.

Recent articles:

Detroit Free Press: Iona point guard Scott Machado on Pistons’ radar

ESPN: Iona’s Machado inspired by Linsanity

Video: Here is a highlight package of Machado (3) in his team’s matchup with Niagara on Jan. 6.

As part of WEEI.com’s coverage of the 2012 NBA draft, we are profiling all players considered likely candidates to be drafted June 28. The Celtics own three picks: 21, 22 (from the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade) and 51.

Bradley Beal is a sweet-shooting 18-year-old who should be long gone by the time the Celtics are on the board. (AP)

BRADLEY BEAL

Position: Shooting guard

School: Florida

Age: 18

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 201 pounds

Achievements: 2012 All-SEC first team, 2012 SEC All-Freshman first team, 2012 All-SEC Tournament first team

Key 2011-12 stats: 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 34.2 minutes

What he brings: Beal is a threat from outside thanks to his accurate, quick-release 3-point shooting stroke. Beal also is a good rebounding guard, as he led his team with 6.7 boards in his lone season at Florida. His 3-point shooting, as well as his high basketball IQ and strong work ethic, have drawn comparisons to Ray Allen.

While Beal projects well as a marksman at the NBA level, he only has average explosiveness and leaping ability for an NBA guard, and he has average size for an NBA shooting guard at 6-foot-5.

Beal still has developing to do, but his one year in college left him projected as an NBA starter who can make an impact on a team.

Where the Celtics could get him: Beal is projected as a top-10 pick, so the C’s would have to put together a big package to move up that far.

Notes: Beal was named Gatorade High School Player of the Year at Chaminade Prep in St. Louis. … Beal was named tournament MVP while representing Team USA at the U-17 World Championships in 2010.

Recent articles:

Sports Illustrated: Cleveland Cavaliers will draft Florida guard Bradley Beal if available

Sporting News: Bradley Beal still has plenty to prove

Video: Here is a highlight video of Beal’s lone season at Florida.

As part of WEEI.com’s coverage of the 2012 NBA draft, we are profiling all players considered likely candidates to be drafted June 28. The Celtics own three picks: 21, 22 (from the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade) and 51.

Furkan Aldemir is known as a strong rebounder, but any NBA that drafts him shouldn't expect to see him in the NBA for at least a few years. (AP)

FURKAN ALDEMIR

Position: Power forward

Team: Galatasaray (Turkey)

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-9

Weight: 220 pounds

Achievements: 2011 U-20 European Championships All-Tournament team

Key 2011-12 stats: 8.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 20.7 minutes, 60.6 FG%

What he brings: Aldemir is a strong rebounder thanks to his physicality in the post as well as his soft hands and smart anticipation. The Turkish big man has a strong frame that will help him be effective in the post, which is where almost all of his production comes from on both ends of the court.

While he projects as a power forward at the NBA level, he will have to improve his athleticism and quickness if he wants to get any playing time. He will be a good rebounder, but he does not have much offensive touch to make him anything more than that.

Where the Celtics could get him: Aldemir is projected to be taken in the middle or latter part of the second round. Picking him is a gamble, as he’ll likely stay in Europe for at least a few years.

Notes: Aldemir was the top rebounder at the U-20 European Championships in both 2011 and 2010. … He was an early entrant to the 2011 NBA draft but later withdrew.

Video: Here is a clip of Aledmir with Galatasaray.

As part of WEEI.com’s coverage of the 2012 NBA draft, we are profiling all players considered likely candidates to be drafted June 28. The Celtics own three picks: 21, 22 (from the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade) and 51.

Concerns about his back have dropped Jared Sullinger's stock, making it a possibility that he'll still be around when the Celtics select in Round 1. (AP)

JARED SULLINGER

Position: Power forward

School: Ohio State

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-9

Weight: 268 pounds

Achievements: 2012 All-America first team (Sporting News), 2012 All-Big Ten first team, 2011 All-America first team (Sporting News), 2011 All-Big Ten first team, 2011 USBWA National Freshman of the Year

Key 2011-12 stats: 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 51.9 FG%, 40.0 3P%

What he brings: Sullinger is slightly undersized as an NBA post player but should be able to use his strength and length to have success at the next level. He not only is a very good rebounder but a good finesse shooter in the paint, which makes him the type of forward who can record double-doubles consistently in the NBA.

Sullinger also surprised many as a 3-point shooter in his sophomore year at Ohio State, recording a .400 3-point field goal percentage on the season (16-for-40). While he may need to adjust to NBA 3-point range, he has the ability to knock down mid-range shots consistently.

He is a little undersized and is not the best athlete, but Sullinger has the skill and work ethic to be a starter in the NBA after two years at Ohio State.

Where the Celtics could get him: Many experts had Sullinger being taken by the Warriors at No. 7 overall. However, recent concerns about Sullinger’s back plus unimpressive pre-draft tests have him falling down draft boards in the 15-25 range, so the Celtics might have a shot at him.

Notes: In his senior year of high school in Columbus, Ohio, Sullinger led his Northland High School team to a 21-0 record, averaging 24.5 points and 11.7 rebounds on the season. In the 2010 McDonald’s All-American game, he was named co-MVP along with Harrison Barnes.

Recent articles:

ESPN: Jared Sullinger’s back a concern

Sports Illustrated: Sullinger measures up as prospects face the tape at pre-draft combine

Video: Here are highlights from Sullinger’s 2011-12 season.

As part of WEEI.com’s coverage of the 2012 NBA draft, we are profiling all players considered likely candidates to be drafted June 28. The Celtics own three picks: 21, 22 (from the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade) and 51.

After two standout seasons at North Carolina, forward Harrison Barnes has a bright NBA future. (AP)

HARRISON BARNES

Position: Small forward

School: North Carolina

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-8

Weight: 228 pounds

Achievements: 2012 All-ACC first team, 2012 All-America second team, 2011 ACC Rookie of the Year

Key 2011-12 stats: 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 29.2 minutes

What he brings: Barnes is an athletic 6-foot-8 small forward who has the range and accuracy to be effective with mid-range and 3-point shots at the NBA level. While he used to be an interior player in high school, he is projected to play the wing at the next level, and he is still learning the position. Barnes has the potential to be a go-to player at the NBA. He has been compared to the Pacers’ Danny Granger.

While his shooting ability is unquestioned, the main flaw for Barnes is the lack of an explosive first step. Barnes has the ability to make tough shots, but struggles to create easy shots for himself off the dribble. If he can improve his ball-handling and ability to attack the basket, Barnes could be a star in the league.

Where the Celtics could get him: Barnes is projected to land somewhere between picks 4-9, so the Celtics would need to create a big trade package if they have interest in him.

Notes: Barnes was a highly recruited prospect coming out of high school before attending North Carolina, winning the Morgan Wootten player of the year award in 2010. In the 2010 Jordan Classic, Barnes was named co-MVP with Kyrie Irving. Barnes could end up playing alongside Irving next season should the Cavaliers take Barnes at No. 4.

Recent articles:

CBS Sports: Cavaliers will not let Harrison Barnes slip past them

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Lottery hopeful Harrison Barnes wisely following in Kyrie Irving’s footsteps

Video: Here’s a compilation of Barnes highlights from the 2011-12 season.

As part of WEEI.com’s coverage of the 2012 NBA draft, we are profiling all players considered likely candidates to be drafted June 28. The Celtics own three picks: 21, 22 (from the Thunder in the Kendrick Perkins trade) and 51.

Jeremy Lamb is headed to the NBA after two impressive seasons at UConn. (AP)

JEREMY LAMB

Position: Shooting guard

School: UConn

Age: 20

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 180 pounds

Achievements: 2012 All-America honorable mention (AP), 2012 All-Big East first team

Key 2011-12 stats: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 37.2 minutes

What he brings: Lamb is a well-rounded shooting guard who stands out as one of this draft’s options at the position along with Bradley Beal of Florida and Austin Rivers of Duke.

While Lamb is a good scorer thanks to his ability to hit pull-up jump shots, he is even better on the defensive end and plays well off the ball. Lamb is noted for his freakish 7-foot wingspan on his 6-foot-5 body, which adds to his already good size at the shooting guard position. Lamb is also a smart player who doesn’t make too many mental mistakes and gets good positioning on both ends of the court.

Lamb, who played two seasons at UConn, has been compared to players like Richard Hamilton or Kevin Martin leading up to the draft. He has the ability to be a good complementary starting scoring option for a team, but more importantly a great defender who can help lock down the opposition’s top scorers.

Where the Celtics could get him: Most projections have Lamb going somewhere between picks 7-13, which is currently out of the Celtics range. If the Celtics want Lamb, they will have to trade up and might have to package both of their first-round picks in the deal.

Notes: Lamb was a key part of UConn’s national championship run in 2011 as a freshman, when he played a key role as a complementary scoring option to current Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker. … Lamb, who grew up in Georgia, competed with Team USA at the U-19 FIBA World Championships, leading the team with 16.2 points per game and 18 steals in nine games. … Lamb’s father, Rolando Lamb, played basketball at Virginia Commonwealth. In the opening round of the 1984 NCAA tournament, Rolando hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to defeat Northeastern (led by now-UConn coach Jim Calhoun).

Recent Articles:

Hartford Courant: Lamb fighting laid-back reputation

CSN Washington: Could Lamb satisfy the Wizards’ wing craving?

Video: Here’s a highlight mix of Lamb.

Yahoo! Sports NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski joined Dennis & Callahan Friday morning to discuss the Celtics’ Game 6 loss to the Heat, and the incredible performance by LeBron James. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.

While LeBron has been criticized for not making enough of an impact in crucial playoff games, he silenced the critics Thursday night, something Wojnarowski said he expects to happen more often now.

“He can summon that and you’ve seen it before,” he said. “You will probably see it again Saturday night. I don’t know if you will see 45 points on Saturday night but I he has had moments in the past in big games where he has played great in Game 7s. You saw him and [Paul] Pierce have that duel back in Cleveland and Boston was the better team then. He has got the better team now.

“There have been moments where he just isn’t engaged. You saw it in Game 5 against Boston in his last season at Cleveland and then obviously last year in the finals. People wait to see that happen again and it’s not going to happen again.”

Wojnarowski attributed the performance to the increased maturity of James, something that has changed since his days in Cleveland.

“He didn’t come out last night and say, ‘Hey, I got fueled the last two days by what everyone said.’ He didn’t do that. He said, ‘Listen, I just went back to how I play and how I built my game.’ I thought his answer was – I really think he matured mentally … He always looked more frenetic when he was younger and not at peace. [Now he is] more mature,” Wojnarowski said. “When you would see him bouncing around in Cleveland, around the locker room, you don’t see that anymore.”

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