More Draft

[Ricky_is_god]

Feel free to merge this if you want, but I just think the day before the draft there should be more than one thread dedicated to it. Plus, it's hard to keep track of an 11 page thread, and this gives people a chance to revise their earlier picks. So new draft ideas, strategies, hypothesis, and general pontification can go here. Here's what would be going through my head if I were in the C's war room:

Needs in order:

-Backup point (hopefully not Sam)
Attractive possibilities at 30: Mario Chalmers is the only guy I am interested in that range, and if he's gone, I'd like to see Pruitt get some time next year.

-Big man depth
-After watching some of the videos on Yahoo, my new favorite for this spot is Hardin. I know there have been knocks on his competitiveness, but I think KG, Cliff, and his old pal Leon could get him motivated. Other Options: Thompson, Ajinca, Hickson

-Backup swing man:
This is the area with the most possibility of being available:
After looking at tape, I am intrigued by Courtney Lee, he seems like a classic under the radar guy. He looks like he could play right away. Other Options:
Walker


When it comes down to it I am hoping for Hardin first, and if not then Lee, then Chalmers. I think we have the perfect environment for Hardin to grow, and his size and athleticism don't come by too often.

In the second round I want James Gist, but thats just mostly because I go to Maryland.

Thoughts?

[GuyClinch]

Thoughts? Needs shouldn't even enter into the picture if your drafting. It should be - who is likely to be the best NBA player left on the board. That's the only "need" we should be drafting for.

Pete

[Bad-Thoma]

I'm not as in touch with the draft as many on this board, but I'm hoping for a big with real size that has at least 2-3 years college experience, someone who isn't going to have to ride the pine for 2 years before getting a crack at contributing. **** the whole upside thing, obviously we aren't going to get an all-star or probably even a starter, but someone who can immediately give limited minutes backing up Perk. To me, this is a better option than over paying for some washed up big that never lived up to their potential on the free agent market, and we can't really afford anything much better than that. This is barring PJ coming back, if he's back then I'd go for a swingman, which I'm guessing will have the most attractive options that late in the draft anyways. As for PG, I like what I've seen of Gabe, I'd rather try to work him in than gamble on someone at 30.

[s1ickd]

i'm secretly hoping brandon rush slips to us. he's got micheal redd written all over him.

[LongTimeFan]

Guy:

I agree with you to a certain extent. We are the Celtics, the greatest basketball team in the world.

We want to draft the Best future Celtic available, as a rule. This is not the same as the best player available. Kobe Bryant is the consensus best player in the world, he'll never be, could never be a Celtic.

Defense is a large part of the Celtic ideal. Being a team player is also a large part as well as hard working.

Our board is different and it will always be different. Our best future Celtic available is going to be different than the best available player for everyone else.

When we draft the best player available, such as Green, there is a good chance he just won't fit.

The other issue I have is there is a risk/reward calculus that plays into this. We don't have room for a Pruitt clone, or a Baby clone. (Unless of course the brain trust has concluded they have no chance of making it.) We can develope only so many players and Powe and Baby have the backup PF spot covered.

We may also want to draft to maximise our trading portfolio.

So I agree with you as long as best player is largely influenced by the Celtic vision, our ideals and our teams ability to nurture the drafted player.

[Marley2Hendrix]

last year (w/ no hope of a RayRay or KG trade going down) I absolutely was enamored w/ getting Jules Wright aboard this team, & after seeing the fresh lift he provided for Nor'leans this past postseason, I still contend he's the type of guy we need (basically a younger james posey but trade in a lil less three ball action for more of an ability to penetrate.)

Favorite candidates for this are CDR, Bill Walker, Jamont Gordon... & PAT CALATHES!

CDR and Bill Walker are just hovering between 22 & 30, but hate to disagree w/ all the mocks, but I have no problem taking Calathes at 30. Smart player, knows his role, can extend the opponents D, and actually plays heady D himself. Too me, he's Jules Wright w/o the hops but more of a feel for the game. He compensates well for his lack of physical pop.

Going along w/ the other thread, George Hill remains a real possibility as Ainge has no problem stacking the roster w/ young guards, especially if he sees Pruitt as more of a 2 & he's been linked to workouts (AND WHO HAVE WE WORKED OUT DAMMIT!!!).

Also, semi connected, the draw of the lakers vs spurs made posey a ton of money. I'd much rather take Childress at the mle than pose. Pose couldn't help much against the hawks, was wildly ineffective as a pf w/ garnett as a center vs a number of teams in the regular season, and it was the softness of the LA frontcourt that allowed him to thrive as 3pt shooting/defensive disruptor at the 4 spot. Against SA, we see more baby at the 4 as pose couldn't match up w/ Duncan... food for thought, I love the man, but no way should he get a deal that stretches past Rays.

[Marley2Hendrix]

2 more quick tidbits, good to see the draft central on the C's homepage that used to be surprisingly useful still features the RayRay trade... ugh. Again, any helping finding lists of workouts gets Walker WIGGLE!!!1! dedicated to them.

Also, I still have a tremendous manlove for Bama's Hendrix who keeps creeping closer and closer to the top of the second/end of the 1st. Smart cat and just like perk, forget the height, he has a shorter head/neck but enough length and girth to match up w/ a number of nba centers.

[Prophet_C]

i'm secretly hoping brandon rush slips to us. he's got micheal redd written all over him.

Sweet an overpaid chucker who doesn't play any d.

He won't fall that far.

[return2glory]

I'm hoping we trade up and get Roy Hibbert.

[return2glory]

If we stay at 30, I would want(if available):

1. Alexis Ajinca - 7 footer who can rebound, block shots, and play D. He needs to buff up though.
2. C.Douglas-Roberts - A good all around wing player.
3. Serge Ibaka - Shawn Kemp potential.
4. Mario Chalmers - Very good defensive PG.
5. Nathan Jawai - 6'10, 280. He can play in the post, he's a banger with explosiveness and long arms.
6. Jamont Gordon- Combo guard that can do it all.
7. JR Giddens - Better athlete than Tony Allen ever was. Great rebounding SG that can play D.
8. Courtney Lee - NBA ready SG. Will be a great offensive addition of the bench.
9. Trent Plaisted - 6'10 center out of BYU. Has good post moves, good rebounder, but awful FT shooter.
10. DeVon Hardin- 6'11 C with NBA body. Very explosiveness jumper and good defensive player. Smart guy in the class room, but an underachiever on the court.

[Pogue Mahone]

Also, I still have a tremendous manlove for Bama's Hendrix who keeps creeping closer and closer to the top of the second/end of the 1st. Smart cat and just like perk, forget the height, he has a shorter head/neck but enough length and girth to match up w/ a number of nba centers.

Yes. Si. Oui. Shi de.

There was an article from May (somewhere around the 23rd) in the Globe where Ainge was quoted as saying there was 50 players that would be worked out.

I know that the following players have been worked out (double, sometimes triple confirmation):

Martin Zeno
Courtney Lee
DeVon Hardin
Richard Hendrix
George Hill
Jeremy Pargo
Gary Forbes
James Mays

* I also read that the Celtics attended a group workout to see Ante Tomic (no listing of the other players involved.)
** There was a quote from Rony Turiaf saying that Alexis Ajinca "had a good workout with Boston."
*** Tennessean.com is reporting Jamont Gordon worked out for Boston, as well.
(I got work to do but if I get some time, I will update this list.)

Viva la Hendrix! I think Sasha Kaun is the pick if he lasts to #60. He already is contracted overseas so he has a built in development plan sans a roster spot. Of course, I wouldn't mind a high-upside flyer to take an umm flyer on .. flyer.

[return2glory]

If we stay at 30, I would want(if available):

1. Alexis Ajinca - 7 footer who can rebound, block shots, and play D. He needs to buff up though.
2. C.Douglas-Roberts - A good all around wing player.
3. Serge Ibaka - Shawn Kemp potential.
4. Mario Chalmers - Very good defensive PG.
5. Nathan Jawai - 6'10, 280. He can play in the post, he's a banger with explosiveness and long arms.
6. Jamont Gordon- Combo guard that can do it all.
7. JR Giddens - Better athlete than Tony Allen ever was. Great rebounding SG that can play D.
8. Courtney Lee - NBA ready SG. Will be a great offensive addition of the bench.
9. Trent Plaisted - 6'10 center out of BYU. Has good post moves, good rebounder, but awful FT shooter.
10. DeVon Hardin- 6'11 C with NBA body. Very explosiveness jumper and good defensive player. Smart guy in the class room, but an underachiever on the court.

I'm happy with this pick. But I don't want to see TA go. JR was ny favorite SG where we where picking. Jamont Gordon is a combo guard and I didn't feel that we needed him because have we Pruitt. So, I'm happy with the JR selection.

[GuyClinch]

I am not sure about Giddens being a better athlete then TA. TA is almost pure fast twitch as it is... But I love Danny's selections this time. What do you do when you have late picks and a championship roster? Take a few swings at the fences.. Screw need. You don't count on Rookies for needs.

Worst case scenario we get a couple of defensive studs - like TA. Best case we get ourselves a Josh Howard.. Now we just need another big via free agency and resign Eddie and Posey.

Pete