The former Michigan guard tore his ACL while working out for the Celtics, his agent told ESPN.
The 22-year-old Matthews, who is regarded as one of the 2019 NBA Draft’s better defenders, is expected to miss most or all of the 2019-20 season while his knee recovers. He is reportedly scheduled to have surgery in Chicago.
Matthews, 6-6, averaged 12.2 points and 5 rebounds per game for a Wolverines team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of this year’s NCAA Tournament before falling to runner-up Texas Tech. He enters the draft alongside his collegiate teammate Ignas Brazdeikis, who won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2019.
This injury could affect Matthews’ draft stock, but other league hopefuls such as Auburn’s Chuma Okeke and Missouri’s Jontay Porter are also dealing with recent ACL tears.
Boston has three first-round picks and one second-round pick in this year’s draft. However, the Celtics are also rumored to be interested in moving assets to trade for the Rockets’ Clint Capela or the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis this summer.
