The Celtics announced Saturday afternoon they have signed their No. 30 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft Baylor Scheierman to a rookie contract, according to a press release.
While terms of the deal were not disclosed -- per team policy -- HoopsRumors reports that Scheierman signed a four-year, $12.8 million rookie scale contract.
The last first-round pick of the 2024 NBA Draft is expected to make his Celtics debut at this year's Summer League in Las Vegas, which will tip-off on July 13.
Scheierman is listed as a 6-foot-6 forward/guard at 205 pounds and considered a left-handed sharpshooter. Named to the All-Big East First-Team with averages of 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season, Scheierman also shot 39% from deep for his entire college career -- including hitting a 3-pointer in 48 consecutive games while at Creighton.
After spending his first three seasons at South Dakota State, Scheierman transferred to Creighton for the final two years -- becoming the first player in Division I men's basketball history with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, and 300 3-pointers.
The 23-year-old wing helped lead Creighton to the Sweet 16 during this year's NCAA Tournament, before the Bluejays fell to Tennessee.
Over his five collegiate seasons, Scheierman appeared in 162 career games (133 starts) at both South Dakota State (2019-22) and Creighton (2022-24), where he averaged 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 31.6 minutes per contest.
Two years ago the Celtics brought in Scheierman prior to him transferring to Creighton for a workout, which finally led to Brad Stevens deciding to draft him almost two weeks ago.
"The first time coming through, obviously, was a couple of years ago," Scheierman said during his introductory press conference. "They really liked my game. Just my ability to kind of impact the game in different ways, whether that be shooting, passing, dribbling, or just my IQ. And they felt like I could get a little stronger, a little quicker, a little more explosive a couple of years ago."That's kind of what I tried to improve on these last two years at Creighton, and I feel like I did that, which kind of put me in the position to be where I am right now."
Stevens was impressed with not just Scheirman's shooting but also his physical development since the last time he was him workout in 2022.
"He's done a good job with his body. He has done a good job in the weight room," said the Celtics president of basketball operations in his post-draft presser. "He's always been super skilled, super smart, and super tough. Like, he's a basketball player now. He knows how to play."And so I think that getting his body to the level it's been in the last couple years and the way that that's translated to his performances in the Big East is not a surprise because he's just got a lot of good things going for him."
Scheierman took advantage of his time at Creighton the next two years by improving his game and eventually getting that call on night-one of this year's draft from Stevens when the Celtics were on the clock at No. 30.
"I was very anxious coming towards the end of the first round," Scheierman said. "And obviously, [I] got the phone call there while the Celtics were on the clock. And as soon as I got the phone call, I was super excited."Obviously, being picked by this organization that just came off an NBA championship, an organization that, obviously, doesn't just pick anybody to come into their team, it was an honor that they felt confident enough to pick me and felt like I could come in and just impact the team in any way I can and try to help them just continue this culture that they already have set."
Once the Celtics made their pick official, Scheierman immediately heard from his new head coach Joe Mazzulla and now teammates Jayson Tatum and even Al Horford that welcomed the rookie to Boston.
"Last night, Brad reached out to me," Scheierman said. "And obviously, I talked to him my first time working out there, and then obviously this past time working out there as well. Had some of the guys reach out. Jayson and Al reached out, and Coach Mazzulla as well. And that meant a lot to me."I'm obviously really excited to get there and meet everybody and my new teammates and really just try to be a sponge and learn from everybody and try to intake as much information as I can that will help me grow as a player in the NBA."
The Celtics are essentially bringing back nearly the whole 2024 championship team and Scheierman could eventually crack the rotation as an impact player off the bench when the team looks to go back-to-back come next season.
Joel Pavón
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