If properly developed, Tacko Fall could be a valuable piece moving forward for the Boston Celtics
The former University of Central Florida center, who went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, was given a chance to prove himself by the Boston Celtics in the Las Vegas summer league. He ended up being one of the most intriguing players to watch throughout the tournament thanks to his large 7-foot-6 frame and gregarious personality.
Through five games, Fall impressed, averaging 7.2 points, four rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting an outstanding 77.3 percent from the field. He averaged 12.6 minutes per game.
The Celtics rewarded Fall’s productive summer league debut with an Exhibit 10 contract, similar to the one he signed after the draft. It’s a non-guaranteed, one-year deal which would pay him the league minimum. It’s also a two-way contract that would allow Fall to play in the G-League if he didn’t make the Celtics out of training camp.
But as GM Danny Ainge said in a recent interview with NBC Boston’s Chris Forsberg, the organization is taking Fall’s development very seriously because he could turn into a valuable asset at center, especially after the departure of Al Horford to Philly.
Danny Ainge on Tacko Fall: "We want to take his development very very seriously. He’s a high priority for us to try to really develop into a player.” pic.twitter.com/mwcbx0zu4o
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 17, 2019
Along with Horford, Aron Baynes and Marcus Morris have also moved on to different organizations. Even though the C’s brought in Enes Kanter to replace Horford, There will still be a lot more minutes to go around in the Boston frontcourt, so Fall will definitely have the opportunity to prove that he deserves the chance to contribute at the NBA level.
Why he could be a valuable asset
Considering his enormous frame, Fall moves up and down the court very well. He’s got pretty decent athleticism for such a big man, which is rare to see when a guy is 7-foot-6. Fall is so large that he literally doesn’t even need to jump to dunk the basketball.
It doesn’t matter if he’s in summer league or the NBA, when he posts up down low to receive lob passes, it will be extremely tough for anyone to get the ball off him. This was a signature move of his during the summer league, making it look way too easy:
Fall would be the tallest player in the NBA if he makes the team out of training camp and would also have the largest wingspan in the league at 8-foot-2. Fall first got notoriety of how he handled Zion Williamson in the NCAA tournament earlier this year, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
He held his own against Williamson, so what’s to say he can’t hold his own in the NBA? He has the defensive abilities to be a monster down low given his size alone. But he’s also relatively strong as well. Fall is 310 pounds at 7-foot-6, which is a respectable weight considering his height.
I really don’t believe he will have any problem adapting to the league if he makes the team. It’s all going to come down to how he plays in training camp and how much he develops as a player. He is gifted with a gigantic frame that is made to play basketball. I just hope Fall can make the most of his talents and make an impact at the NBA level this year.
He has the physicality, size, strength, and athleticism to excel in the association. His game might be a little bit raw, so he could spend some time in the G-league where he can get more consistent minutes. But one way or another, I do believe Tacko Fall will get his opportunity in Boston this season whether it’s right off the bat or sometime throughout the 2019-20 campaign.