But Harangody knows he’s no different from anyone else here. Like everyone else on the summer league roster, he’s fighting for a contract. The games the Celtics will play over the next five days are an opportunity to show his stuff.
“It’s nice to hear,’’ Harangody said about the praise. “But organizations have easily let guys go after drafting them in the second round, so I know I can’t come out here and mess around. I’ve got to come out here and make this team.
“The way I approach it is I have to do everything possible to make this team just like everyone else out here. Being picked in the second round means nothing. There are no guarantees. I have to do everything I think I can to make this team.’’
Harangody came out of the draft process feeling slighted, not just this year but the year before when he entered early but ultimately pulled out after hearing that he’d likely be a second-round pick. He finished his senior season with the Irish as the only player in the history of the Big East to average 20 points and 10 rebounds for his career, but pro evaluators wondered how his game would translate to the NBA.
At 6 feet 8 inches, the knock on Harangody was that he was too small to defend at the professional level. But joining a Celtics team built on defense only has made him want to focus on that side of the ball more.
“That’s obviously one of the big question marks about me, whether I can guard out there,’’ Harangody said. “The Celtics put a huge emphasis on it, positioning and where you’re at on the floor. I’m aware of that — what I need to do out there. And they need to see me guard out there.
“I’m strong enough to push a guy off the block, but at times I’m out of position. An organization like this, they’re so focused on the defensive end you kind of know you’ve got to come in and do your thing.’’
