At #6, who do you Like/Dislike if this happens: (poll added)

[Gant]

"This" being the most likely scenario: Wiggins, Embiid, Parker, and Exum are taken top 4.

Utah takes a player off the board, but since we have no idea who that might be, keep all the other names available.


Assuming the Celtics don't trade. They keep the pick. Here's the question: Who do you strongly like and strongly dislike of the realistic candidates at this pick?


me:
Negative guys:

Of the candidates, I worry most about Vonleh. He measures great, but his feel for the game seems mediocre at best. I hope Utah takes him.

Gordon's scoring deficit worries me too much.


Positive guys:

I like Smart a lot. He's super tough, super strong, a bull, and a terror on defense. I don't even mind trying to pair him with Rondo (despite the obvious problem that brings up) because there are a lot of positives Brad Stevens could work with.

I like Randle too. He's just got a pure knack offensively, and that gives him a reason to be on the floor while the rest of his game develops.


The rest of the guys I either am more unsure of, or don't know well enough to comment, although I do love the way McDermott scores. I can't have a real opinion on Saric (or the other internationals) for this reason.

[Pacino62]

Without getting into detail due to lack of time. Here it is.

Love-Saric, Vonleh and Smart

Do not like-Randle and Gordon


I also love Mccy D. Not at that pick though. 8 or higher and I take him.

[tlee324]

i'm not in love with Smart, but I recognize his strength and frame are NBA level, and had the potential to be a shut down defender. his lack of explosiveness and attitude worry me. Still, if he gets it together, he could turn out to be a better defending Billups style of PG.

I love Gordon's defense to death. His offense may be too awful to develop, though. He'd be a two year project at least. Same with Vonleh, although his all around potential is the highest of the second-tier picks.

I feel mcdermott is being heavily underestimated.

Saric is talented offensively, but can Boston sustain another big with poor defensive production?

I still believe a player will emerge and turn heads after the workouts.

[2Mas]

Randle - Think he'll be a worse version of Sully. like solid starting pf, but not a consistent all star. Like a 15 & 8 David West type guy. I'd pass though.

Smart - To me, this is our pick if we keep it. This dude has the ebst chance to be a star. Needs to learn how to shoot better & slow down, but he posses the most ability to be a steal. There's a lot of good, some meh but there's a lotttt to like about Smart & the stuff he doesn't have can be fixed. Great effort & d too. I love him.

Gordon - To be best case he's a shawn marion. a sf/pf who'll get you like 16-7 in a offense happy small ball team. Doesn't really have an offensive game. We don't need more effort- put back hustle guys. Now if we trade Rondo & blow it all up, than I'm down for him, but while we're trying to return to glory w/ Rondo, I'd rather not.

Dougy D - I like him. Think he'll be better than ppl think. Just not with the 6th pick.

Vonleh - I'm most iffy on him. People love wingspan & what not, but I'm not convinced he can that great. Think ppl fall in love with the potential. Now he's young as hell, so he has time. If we go full rebuild, than yeah I'm def interested. But I'd pass for now.

[humblebum]

I'm high on Randle and Smart and have been throughout. These guys both got tons of exposure in college so people are more keen on their weaknesses. But if you look at what they do well and their age, there is just a ton of upside to work with.

Start with their size/strength, their competitive fire, their leadership and then their ability to score the ball and get to the FT line. All of these areas are needs for the Celtics despite the fact there may be some conflict with current players on the roster. Both could make immediate impacts for the Celtics.

I'm not a fan of Gordon. He does a lot if little things and his athleticism is great but he doesn't really have a position offensively or defensively at the next level. He doesn't have any touch or any dynamics to his offense that look like building block skills. He's a tweener, IMO.

Don't really know the other prospects in this range that well but McDermott is intriguing.

[Bad-Thoma]

Likely at 6?

dislike-

Gordon- I don't actually dislike his game just his fit, we have enough of an offensive deficit already.

McD- I'd love to see him land in green for his shooting alone and his IQ would fit nicely with what the C's are building. Just not at 6.

like-

Randle- He's a straight athletic and aggressive beastmode pf. I think he's best available and a likely pick if he makes it past Utah.

Smart- Another beast athletically who will attack the rim. I think Utah takes him though, he and Randle will be best available and he fills a need.

In DA we trust-

Vonleh- Physically he's what you want in a center- fluid, long, and the frame to carry some beef. The ability to learn the game is more than I will guess at but if DA believes I'll be excited about this kid. He can't be as confused as Fabulous Melo.

Saric- Lots of holes in his game but has produced at a high level against solid competition and has the combination of youth and experience. Another one that I won't guess at translating to the NBA but if Danny believes in I'll get excited about. Tweener status worries me a bit defensively, gets pushed around easily in the post and lacks lateral quickness.

edit:
I also like Nurkic. He has a way to go but he has the potential to be a true, 2 way center. On the downside he also looks like he has the potential to be Darko if things go wrong. If he guarantees he will come over right away I'd be OK with him as a surprise pick, nervous about his mentality but still thinking a solid upside gamble.

[greenroom31]

I really think Ainge is going to try to make a trade, but if we do keep the pick and stay at #6 here are my thoughts.

Like: Randle, Gordon
Randle is over-criticized and evaluated compared to the other prospects so I think people nit-pick on him. He's tough, a hard worker, and has the size and strength to be a great PF. Gordon is a great athlete and has an excellent handle for his size. A bit concerned about his shot and not sure if he'd be a great fit on the current team, but I don't think you make the #6 pick based on the construction of your current (5th worst in the league) team. I think Gordon could have the highest upside of any player at this spot.

Dislike: Vonleh, Nurkic, McDermott
Vonleh is almost the opposite of Randle to me -- hasn't shown toughness or skills over nearly as long a period but measures very well and sort of skyrocketed at the combine. Too much of a gamble for me. Nurkic is raw, fouls a lot, plays limited minutes and no guarantee he even comes over for a couple of years. Also worried that he would be intimidated and soft in the NBA. McDermott I don't mind but just see limited upside... he seems more like a role-player than a potential star, so why draft at #6?

Neutral: Smart, Saric
These guys both seem like wild-cards to me. I'm not totally sold on Smart being a PG, so he could end up being an undersized SG who doesn't have a particularly great shot. Love his toughness and strength though. Saric has had success in Europe but seems frail physically and not sure his confidence carries over to the NBA. Also not sure he can defend any SFs in the league. I haven't seen him enough to be definitely for or against him, but would have some concerns for sure if we took him at #6.

[sam_I_am]

I like all the options. But none are perfect. I think Randle and Smart are solid and sure things but you can see the ceiling already. Gordon and Vonleh are so young but have more upside - but that means risk. Saric and McDermott have incredible skills but do they have a position in NBA?

Randle at best is going to be in his own way a guy like Randolph, Monroe, Boozer, Al Jefferson - 20/10 guys who lack either the size, athleticism, length to be the ultimate big man. For 5 years Randle will be a huge asset. When it is time to pay him he will command a hefty salary but will be a liability because you will still need a 13 million dollar man to rim protect.

Smart: Will bring the Tony Allen type toughness to the team. He is a beast but he needs the ball to be effective and he can't shoot. Not sure he can coexist with either Bradley or Rondo. I still love his toughness and his size for PG position.

Gordon I love this kid. He has the most professional and winning demeanor of anybody I've seen in lottery. Definitely has a future as commentator and probably as coach. Makes good decisions, plays with a high motor, has playmaking ability and can thrive as a glue guy who doesnt need plays run for him to make an impact. That means he will have a role on any team from day 1. Has remarkable athleticism but short arms which is a problem for a wing. Is a tweener and lacks ability to drive to basket (to take advantage of athleticism) and lacks a jump shot. He is young enough and his attitude is great - I think he is worth the risk but he could never be more than a hustle guy off the bench.

Vonleh This guy progressed so fast. First heard about him at start of college season as a guy who is raw but might be a high reward developmental guy. Then he started putting up rebound and ppg numbers the equal of Randle but with a 43% 3 point shot. He has great touch and the ball just sticks to his hands. I think he has the potential to be top 3 guy in draft but he will probably be a D leaguer next year.

Saric and McDermott Both of these guys strike me as players you are afraid to draft and afraid not to draft. I think McDermott has the tools to be a star but what if he isn't big enough or fast enough. Sometimes I think all of his great moves will get swallowed up in NBA and he will become a spot up shooter off the bench. Other times I think he is the next Chris Mullin. I don't know enough about Saric but the guy seems to be a prick and I like that. He produces at an elite level but will he be the next Kukoc or the next Bargnani?

Nurkic 6-11, 280 with skill is pretty hard to pass up. A guy that big setting picks for Rondo and Green could be incredible. But I am afraid of big white stiffs. I think I would take him after 10 only. I really have no idea about him.

[SirTankalot]

Randle at best is going to be in his own way a guy like Randolph, Monroe, Boozer, Al Jefferson - 20/10 guys who lack either the size, athleticism, length to be the ultimate big man. For 5 years Randle will be a huge asset. When it is time to pay him he will command a hefty salary but will be a liability because you will still need a 13 million dollar man to rim protect.

See, I don't get this right here. You need someone to protect the rim, but you don't need two bigs who can do that. Randle is as close to a lock to being a good NBA starter for the next 10 years as any other player in the draft, if not the most. He has become vastly underrated from his experience at Kentucky.

And for those who say, Celtics shouldn't take Randle because of Sullinger, the team won 25 games. Take the most talented player and sort everything out later.

[UConn celt]

Like: Randle
He's my clear cut favorite. I'm hopeful he'll be there because Utah already has Favors. Most people compare Randle to Randolph, but I think he reminds me of Lamar Odom a lot too, and I mean that in a good way, because I think Randle's got a much better head on his shoulders than Odom. He didn't have to show it much at Kentucky, but he's got a nice jump shot that he can shoot off the dribble. I also saw flashes of an above average handle for a big guy, even saw him successfully run the break a few times. The main knock on him is he won't be able to bully people inside like he did in college, which is true, but I saw enough flashes to think he can successfully play on the perimeter as well as down low. And obviously he's an explosive athlete with a great first step.

Iffy: Vonleh, Saric, Gordon
Vonleh's got great physical tools and is very young so has a ton of room for growth, but he's also got a long way to go. From watching a handful of Indiana games, he had a bad habit of playing smaller than he was. Also did a lot of over dribbling. These things can be fixed, but he's got a lot to work on. I like a lot of things about Gordon, but his ceiling seems like a super role player, and drafting on intangibles can be dangerous, as those things usually aren't revealed until after a guy's in the league. I think we should be looking for more of a franchise altering player than a role player at this spot. Saric I really haven't seen much of other than a few clips here and there. If Danny likes him I'll trust him, but don't know if we want another big who struggles on D.

Dislike: Smart, McDermott. Don't dislike McDermott so much as I think he's just going to be a bench player at the next level. Probably a good bench player, but not what you're looking for at 6. Smart I lost a lot of faith in this year. Great size/strength for a guard, and I remember hearing last year he was sort of a mix of Wade and Billups, but he has neither the athleticism/fluidity of Wade, nor the shooting ability of Billups. And he might be a headcase. No thanks

[campybatman]

Personally, I'm all right with Ainge drafting Julius Randle with the sixth pick if you agree with the notion that you select the best available player. I concur. And, when in doubt, draft a player out of Kentucky. Granted, drafting a UK player can be either a hit or a miss depending on where you're picking. For example, Rajon Rondo and Antoine Walker were hits. On the other hand, Ron Mercer was a miss. Also, Walter McCarty was a good acquisition. But Tony Delk and Keith Bogans weren't...

I was initially intrigued by Noah Vonleh, but I'm not as high on him anymore. Why? Well, it has occurred to me that there hasn't been a lot of players from recent memory who have had a significant impact in the league from the draft to come out of Indiana since Isiah Thomas. I mean, the jury is still out on Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller. I guess, there's Eric Gordon but he can't seem to stay healthy. And Calbert Cheaney was a serviceable player over his career. Perhaps, Vonleh's a player you trade down from the sixth pick for.

Although there's a level of intrigue for players, such as Vonleh, Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine, I've to admit that they should've remained in school for another year. Therefore, I believe that there's only a handful of players that deserve their status as the top picks of the first round that appear to be NBA ready. In my opinion, Randle's one of them. Also, remember before the season when the national media considered Randle as a legitimate candidate to challenge Andrew Wiggins for the position of the top pick in this year's draft. I haven't lost sight of that.

[b3n]

Gordon I love this kid. He has the most professional and winning demeanor of anybody I've seen in lottery. Definitely has a future as commentator and probably as coach. Makes good decisions, plays with a high motor, has playmaking ability and can thrive as a glue guy who doesnt need plays run for him to make an impact. That means he will have a role on any team from day 1. Has remarkable athleticism but short arms which is a problem for a wing. Is a tweener and lacks ability to drive to basket (to take advantage of athleticism) and lacks a jump shot. He is young enough and his attitude is great - I think he is worth the risk but he could never be more than a hustle guy off the bench.

I'm with you - worth the risk & for most of the same reasons. He's 6' 7.5" with a wingspan of 6' 11.75", so I'm not sure I agree with him having short arms though. If we keep the pick, he is my choice at #6. He kind of reminds me of a sane Metta World Peace.

[165bows]

Like - Gordon, Smart

Intrigued - Saric, Vonleh

Don't like - Randle

Wondering which one of these guys should be in Tier 2: Anderson, Warren, Nurkic

[sam_I_am]

Randle at best is going to be in his own way a guy like Randolph, Monroe, Boozer, Al Jefferson - 20/10 guys who lack either the size, athleticism, length to be the ultimate big man. For 5 years Randle will be a huge asset. When it is time to pay him he will command a hefty salary but will be a liability because you will still need a 13 million dollar man to rim protect.

See, I don't get this right here. You need someone to protect the rim, but you don't need two bigs who can do that. Randle is as close to a lock to being a good NBA starter for the next 10 years as any other player in the draft, if not the most. He has become vastly underrated from his experience at Kentucky.

And for those who say, Celtics shouldn't take Randle because of Sullinger, the team won 25 games. Take the most talented player and sort everything out later.

The thing I don't understand is why he is considered a below the rim big man when his verticle of 36 is equal to Blake. He was considered a #1 pick preseason along with Wiggins and many compared him to Webber coming out of high school. And he was about as successful as Webber as a freshman without a legit PG - and despite the hype a less talented freshman fab 5 than Webber.

If he fell to 6 I would take him. I agree - worry about Sully later.

[sam_I_am]

One more thing about Saric: he is only 20 and impacting the game a lot like a 22 yo sixth pick did as a senior in Indiana. Seems just as athletic as LB and capable of playing either forward slots with equal amount of defensive trepidation. Larry-lite maybe?

[ryaningf]

DISLIKE
SMART:Doesn't have natural PG instincts. Great defender. Has difficultly recognizing good from bad shots. Let's the incredible fire he plays with side-track him at times. Great in the open court and off the dribble. He's a good athlete and incredibly strong, but will struggle defending NBA PGs if they don't let him hand check like he did in college. UPSHOT:It's just going to take him a while to learn the NBA game as a PG and couple that with his iffy J and poor decision making skills and I'm not interested in him at 6.
RANDLE:Great rebounder. Garbage man around the rim. Didn't show much of a perimeter game in college. Good FT shooter. Zero interest in defending, even though he played for a coach who made his reputation coaching man-to-man defense. Terrible turnover percentage when he tries to do too much. When limited to 2-dribble drives--outstanding. Should be a straightline, no-frills, efficient player, but gets sidetracked trying to create shots for others. Showed good progression from beginning of the year, increased willingness to move the ball (not searching for shots or otherwise dicking around with the ball) and play with the proper pace. Team got better as he took a backseat offensively--red flag or indication that he's more suited to being a garbage man role player and not a lead dog? UPSHOT:Won't defend, doesn't shoot 3s, and can only play PF. In today's NBA, that's not going to cut it. Can probably develop a J and eventually a 3 point shot, but the defense and the lack of versatility will always be handicaps.

LIKE
GORDON:Incredible intelligence, work ethic, and character, somebody who's going to achieve 99.44% of his potential. Outstanding athlete who applies that athleticism for every second he's playing, has a motor that was compared to Noah by Billy Donovan (who coached Noah in college). Accomplished defender on the perimeter and interior, somebody who uses great technique to augment great athleticism, somebody who can guard 4 positions right now at the NBA level and will eventually be able to guard 5s too when he gets a little older/stronger. Struggled at the line and even though his form has been overhauled he managed to put a good percentage from 3 point land during his freshman season. Earlier in the year had a propensity for long 2s, but as the season progressed started carving out spots from 3 point land or in the lane, which helped his efficiency. Gets knocked for offensive awkwardness, but has high AST/TO% and solid shooting percentages from the field, meaning he was effective even though it didn't always look pretty (contrast with Randle whose dribble drive game has more fluidity but many many more turnovers and bad shots). High AST/TO% also shows high understanding for the game, something that bodes well for him getting higher usage and more isolation opportunities as he ages. Possesses good ballhandling skills, good decision-making skills--a guy who can get the rebound, lead the break, and finish at the rim and make it look easy. The kind of guy who's comfortable with the press, in the community, a natural leader and face of the franchise, somebody you can build a brand with and handle all the public relation BS that's a huge part of being a professional athlete. Even though he's one of the youngest guys in this draft, handles himself like a man and professional at the age of 18. UPSHOT:Both the safest pick and the one with the highest potential. Has a clearly defined role in the NBA right now even if he doesn't improve, with the potential to be one of the greatest players in the game if he can continue to improve his offensive game. Has the kind of intelligence/character/work ethic normally associated with guys with limited athleticism (think Scal or Battier type intelligence) but also has otherworldly athleticism. Reminds me of Grant Hill in that way--a super smart, high character guy who works extremely hard and also happens to be one of the best athletes in the world. MOST IMPORTANTLY, possesses the skillset to defend both Lebron and Durant, guys you're going to have to go thru if you want to win a championship in the next 5-7 years.
VONLEH:Under the radar all season. Showed great touch from the field and the makings of a solid post game. Great measurables--long wingspan, standing reach, and HUGE hands. Not the most athletic big and is very reserved emotionally. Seems introverted and while smart off the court that intelligence hasn't translated to the court as much, as evinced by low assist #s and a tendency to keep making the same mistakes. Good work ethic, high motor, cares about doing what his coaches want him to do. Defensive ability is there, though understanding and execution of team scheme wasn't great, it wasn't terrible either, showed a willingness and desire to defend and solid anticipation and shotblocking skills. Has high potential as a scorer at the center spot, somebody who can kill you from 3 or in the lane depending on matchups. UPSHOT:Might end up being the best center in this draft. Seems to be scratching the surface of how good he can be. Will need 2-3 years to develop and gain confidence and maturity but in time could be best player in this draft. Has a somewhat high bust potential due to reserved nature and a question of how good he really wants to be and whether he can deal with the professional lifestyle.

UPSHOT OF THE UPSHOT:People talk about taking BPA and figuring it out later, but role and the makeup of the team are determining factors in how good a guy will be on your team. See, it's not BPA in an ideal world where everyone gets every advantage to reach their potential, it's BPA on your actual team with your actual coach running your actual system with the rest of your actual players. I'm not taking Smart or Randle at 6 because our best player is a PG and our 3 best young assets (Bradley, Sully, and Olynyk) all play SG and PF/C. Smart and Randle are redundant and just not as good as the guys in front of them. Gordon is the most unique player in this draft and one well suited to guarding the 2 guys you'll need to beat if you want to win a championship before 2020. Vonleh is a stretch 5 who projects as an above average defender in time. They are clearly the better players.

The other factor weighing against Randle and Smart is that his draft is loaded with PFs and SGs, so there are comparable guys we could get at 17 if we desired. Payton and Ennis are both comparable (or, in my mind, superior) prospects to Smart. And a guy like Clint Capela or Nurkic is going to be sitting at 17 if we want to add yet another PF to our collection. Even a guy like Adrien Payne may end up being a better piece on this team than Randle would be because he can stretch the court and play 2 positions.

EDIT: Saric is the wildcard at 6. I don't know enough about him to have a solid opinion, but what I've seen suggests he could be a 6'10" SF who can create his own shot and shots for others. In other words, somebody we could use. If Danny likes him at 6, I'd be on board.

[Gant]

DISLIKE
SMART:Doesn't have natural PG instincts. Great defender. Has difficultly recognizing good from bad shots. Let's the incredible fire he plays with side-track him at times. Great in the open court and off the dribble. He's a good athlete and incredibly strong, but will struggle defending NBA PGs if they don't let him hand check like he did in college. UPSHOT:It's just going to take him a while to learn the NBA game as a PG and couple that with his iffy J and poor decision making skills and I'm not interested in him at 6.
RANDLE:Great rebounder. Garbage man around the rim. Didn't show much of a perimeter game in college. Good FT shooter. Zero interest in defending, even though he played for a coach who made his reputation coaching man-to-man defense. Terrible turnover percentage when he tries to do too much. When limited to 2-dribble drives--outstanding. Should be a straightline, no-frills, efficient player, but gets sidetracked trying to create shots for others. Showed good progression from beginning of the year, increased willingness to move the ball (not searching for shots or otherwise dicking around with the ball) and play with the proper pace. Team got better as he took a backseat offensively--red flag or indication that he's more suited to being a garbage man role player and not a lead dog? UPSHOT:Won't defend, doesn't shoot 3s, and can only play PF. In today's NBA, that's not going to cut it. Can probably develop a J and eventually a 3 point shot, but the defense and the lack of versatility will always be handicaps.

LIKE
GORDON:Incredible intelligence, work ethic, and character, somebody who's going to achieve 99.44% of his potential. Outstanding athlete who applies that athleticism for every second he's playing, has a motor that was compared to Noah by Billy Donovan (who coached Noah in college). Accomplished defender on the perimeter and interior, somebody who uses great technique to augment great athleticism, somebody who can guard 4 positions right now at the NBA level and will eventually be able to guard 5s too when he gets a little older/stronger. Struggled at the line and even though his form has been overhauled he managed to put a good percentage from 3 point land during his freshman season. Earlier in the year had a propensity for long 2s, but as the season progressed started carving out spots from 3 point land or in the lane, which helped his efficiency. Gets knocked for offensive awkwardness, but has high AST/TO% and solid shooting percentages from the field, meaning he was effective even though it didn't always look pretty (contrast with Randle whose dribble drive game has more fluidity but many many more turnovers and bad shots). High AST/TO% also shows high understanding for the game, something that bodes well for him getting higher usage and more isolation opportunities as he ages. Possesses good ballhandling skills, good decision-making skills--a guy who can get the rebound, lead the break, and finish at the rim and make it look easy. The kind of guy who's comfortable with the press, in the community, a natural leader and face of the franchise, somebody you can build a brand with and handle all the public relation BS that's a huge part of being a professional athlete. Even though he's one of the youngest guys in this draft, handles himself like a man and professional at the age of 18. UPSHOT:Both the safest pick and the one with the highest potential. Has a clearly defined role in the NBA right now even if he doesn't improve, with the potential to be one of the greatest players in the game if he can continue to improve his offensive game. Has the kind of intelligence/character/work ethic normally associated with guys with limited athleticism (think Scal or Battier type intelligence) but also has otherworldly athleticism. Reminds me of Grant Hill in that way--a super smart, high character guy who works extremely hard and also happens to be one of the best athletes in the world. MOST IMPORTANTLY, possesses the skillset to defend both Lebron and Durant, guys you're going to have to go thru if you want to win a championship in the next 5-7 years.
VONLEH:Under the radar all season. Showed great touch from the field and the makings of a solid post game. Great measurables--long wingspan, standing reach, and HUGE hands. Not the most athletic big and is very reserved emotionally. Seems introverted and while smart off the court that intelligence hasn't translated to the court as much, as evinced by low assist #s and a tendency to keep making the same mistakes. Good work ethic, high motor, cares about doing what his coaches want him to do. Defensive ability is there, though understanding and execution of team scheme wasn't great, it wasn't terrible either, showed a willingness and desire to defend and solid anticipation and shotblocking skills. Has high potential as a scorer at the center spot, somebody who can kill you from 3 or in the lane depending on matchups. UPSHOT:Might end up being the best center in this draft. Seems to be scratching the surface of how good he can be. Will need 2-3 years to develop and gain confidence and maturity but in time could be best player in this draft. Has a somewhat high bust potential due to reserved nature and a question of how good he really wants to be and whether he can deal with the professional lifestyle.

UPSHOT OF THE UPSHOT:People talk about taking BPA and figuring it out later, but role and the makeup of the team are determining factors in how good a guy will be on your team. See, it's not BPA in an ideal world where everyone gets every advantage to reach their potential, it's BPA on your actual team with your actual coach running your actual system with the rest of your actual players. I'm not taking Smart or Randle at 6 because our best player is a PG and our 3 best young assets (Bradley, Sully, and Olynyk) all play SG and PF/C. Smart and Randle are redundant and just not as good as the guys in front of them. Gordon is the most unique player in this draft and one well suited to guarding the 2 guys you'll need to beat if you want to win a championship before 2020. Vonleh is a stretch 5 who projects as an above average defender in time. They are clearly the better players.

The other factor weighing against Randle and Smart is that his draft is loaded with PFs and SGs, so there are comparable guys we could get at 17 if we desired. Payton and Ennis are both comparable (or, in my mind, superior) prospects to Smart. And a guy like Clint Capela or Nurkic is going to be sitting at 17 if we want to add yet another PF to our collection. Even a guy like Adrien Payne may end up being a better piece on this team than Randle would be because he can stretch the court and play 2 positions.

EDIT: Saric is the wildcard at 6. I don't know enough about him to have a solid opinion, but what I've seen suggests he could be a 6'10" SF who can create his own shot and shots for others. In other words, somebody we could use. If Danny likes him at 6, I'd be on board.

I like this post very much. It is the opposite of what I put down above, but it's very well stated.

This second tier of players we're considering here all have something that makes you happy and something that makes you fret. A few of these names are going to be really good though.

I do think Gordon might be on Danny's list, just because he has a skill that can keep him on the floor, which is what Ainge seems to covet.

[FlopShow2013]

"This" being the most likely scenario: Wiggins, Embiid, Parker, and Exum are taken top 4.

Utah takes a player off the board, but since we have no idea who that might be, keep all the other names available.


Assuming the Celtics don't trade. They keep the pick. Here's the question: Who do you strongly like and strongly dislike of the realistic candidates at this pick?


me:
Negative guys:

Of the candidates, I worry most about Vonleh. He measures great, but his feel for the game seems mediocre at best. I hope Utah takes him.

Gordon's scoring deficit worries me too much.


Positive guys:

I like Smart a lot. He's super tough, super strong, a bull, and a terror on defense. I don't even mind trying to pair him with Rondo (despite the obvious problem that brings up) because there are a lot of positives Brad Stevens could work with.

I like Randle too. He's just got a pure knack offensively, and that gives him a reason to be on the floor while the rest of his game develops.


The rest of the guys I either am more unsure of, or don't know well enough to comment, although I do love the way McDermott scores. I can't have a real opinion on Saric (or the other internationals) for this reason.

Can you make a poll?

[Gant]

"This" being the most likely scenario: Wiggins, Embiid, Parker, and Exum are taken top 4.

Utah takes a player off the board, but since we have no idea who that might be, keep all the other names available.


Assuming the Celtics don't trade. They keep the pick. Here's the question: Who do you strongly like and strongly dislike of the realistic candidates at this pick?


me:
Negative guys:

Of the candidates, I worry most about Vonleh. He measures great, but his feel for the game seems mediocre at best. I hope Utah takes him.

Gordon's scoring deficit worries me too much.


Positive guys:

I like Smart a lot. He's super tough, super strong, a bull, and a terror on defense. I don't even mind trying to pair him with Rondo (despite the obvious problem that brings up) because there are a lot of positives Brad Stevens could work with.

I like Randle too. He's just got a pure knack offensively, and that gives him a reason to be on the floor while the rest of his game develops.


The rest of the guys I either am more unsure of, or don't know well enough to comment, although I do love the way McDermott scores. I can't have a real opinion on Saric (or the other internationals) for this reason.

Can you make a poll?

Can a poll be made that poses two questions: Who do you like? / Who do you dislike? ...both with multiple options in the same thread?

I don't know how to do that, but if someone does please make one in a separate thread. It's a good idea.

[FlopShow2013]

"This" being the most likely scenario: Wiggins, Embiid, Parker, and Exum are taken top 4.

Utah takes a player off the board, but since we have no idea who that might be, keep all the other names available.


Assuming the Celtics don't trade. They keep the pick. Here's the question: Who do you strongly like and strongly dislike of the realistic candidates at this pick?


me:
Negative guys:

Of the candidates, I worry most about Vonleh. He measures great, but his feel for the game seems mediocre at best. I hope Utah takes him.

Gordon's scoring deficit worries me too much.


Positive guys:

I like Smart a lot. He's super tough, super strong, a bull, and a terror on defense. I don't even mind trying to pair him with Rondo (despite the obvious problem that brings up) because there are a lot of positives Brad Stevens could work with.

I like Randle too. He's just got a pure knack offensively, and that gives him a reason to be on the floor while the rest of his game develops.


The rest of the guys I either am more unsure of, or don't know well enough to comment, although I do love the way McDermott scores. I can't have a real opinion on Saric (or the other internationals) for this reason.

Can you make a poll?

Can a poll be made that poses two questions: Who do you like? / Who do you dislike? ...both with multiple options in the same thread?

I don''t know ho to do that, but if someone does please make one in a separate thread. It's a good idea.

Okay let me help you...

Poll question: Pick our # 6...

You can ignore those 1-4 that you have mentioned obviously out.

Then put next very possible guys (I would say 6 choices and the 7th one as Other).

People can discuss the same way they are who they like or dislike.

Also, from Poll you will know the trend who they like and dislike.