Official Draft Thread 2015-16

[Dogen]

Sabonis with another very strong game with 19 and 17. I've had him in my top 10.

He looked ready for the limelight tonight, very mature presence. Good genes, too. I like him, but not with the fourth pick. Maybe Danny can move up with the Boston and/or Dallas pick.

But now after seeing those clips of DeAndre Ayton, we should probably start tanking for 2018!

[return2glory]

Sabonis with another very strong game with 19 and 17. I've had him in my top 10.

He looked ready for the limelight tonight, very mature presence. Good genes, too. I like him, but not with the fourth pick. Maybe Danny can move up with the Boston and/or Dallas pick. :

That's what I was thinking too. I would trade the Dallas pick, Zeller, and Young to see that would be enough to move up to get Sabonis.

When it comes to rebounding, Sabonis is the exact opposite of KO and Zeller. Sabonis fights for rebounds where KO and Zeller stand around and look.

[DoubleHappiness]

I'm on record for liking Sabonis. Mark it. I don't have access to advanced stats but am also a fan of the eye test (educated) when it comes to the college game. How does the game translate?

Poetl has good stats but he's weak. I watched Olynyk's college games, loved his skill, but he was, and still is, weak. Sabonis is not that man. I like Sabonis around pick 12. Hield around 16-17. Poetl will bust. If you don't have youth or length you better have a killer instinct.

I was in doubt about Jae coming out of Marquette but his work ethic and overall ability to say "screw you, I'm making it in this league," allowed him to thrive. Same with Draymond. If you're a four year player and you want to succeed you better have the biggest chip on your shoulder and it needs to be permanently attached. You also need to excel on the defensive end of the ball with great lateral quickness. And Jae at Marquette was cat quick, always ready to mix it up and always beating drivers to their spots.

[Wes-J]

Meh, in Sabonis I see Ty Hansbrough, so I'm not getting all hot and bothered over him. Lack of length and athleticism is a major issue here. Tenacity only gets you so far. Considering we've got those issues already on the frontcourt I'm not seeing how we touch this guy. At some point we need to draft someone to stop the rush hour traffic in our lane.

[Wes-J]

buddy of mine reached out to me and said to research DeAndre Ayton. My friend saw him up close not too long ago and said he's the next great NBA center. Complete freak of nature. He is draft eligible in 2018. Hopefully the Nets still stink and we still own that pick! He looks super mobile in the highlights... he also was recently named to the First Team in High School as a JUNIOR along with seniors such as Jason Taytum & Josh Jackson, etc

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/deandre-ayton

Posted a couple of days ago that he is in the Hoop Summit in a couple of weeks. I'd guess he'll be one of the youngest guys.

Not sure what you are hearing but the big rankings sites I've read have said he's got unreal tools and good skill level, but his feel/effort level may be a work in progress, as they say.

Gracious that kid is not a kid. He looks 35!! He may have already peaked lol.

[Leprechaun18]

Sabonis moves well for a pf. He has good leg strength and gets around well. His father has probably taught him some tricks of the trade and D. Sabonis probably has more to his game than what he showed in college. I think that D. Sabonis will show well his first year in the NBA, because he is developed, but his future development will not be so great.

Poeltl who tweaked his ankle against Gonzage, has much more room for development. Poeltl must improve his leg strength and become more developed in his overall game. Poeltl showed a lot of development from last season but needs to keep improving and developing his game. I would wait till after the combine to make any judgements on these players.

[Yunsen]

Sabonis moves well for a pf. He has good leg strength and gets around well. His father has probably taught him some tricks of the trade and D. Sabonis probably has more to his game than what he showed in college. I think that D. Sabonis will show well his first year in the NBA, because he is developed, but his future development will not be so great.

Poeltl who tweaked his ankle against Gonzage, has much more room for development. Poeltl must improve his leg strength and become more developed in his overall game. Poeltl showed a lot of development from last season but needs to keep improving and developing his game. I would wait till after the combine to make any judgements on these players.

This is a weird thing to say since he only just turned 20.

The area he'll need development the most is his right hand. He goes to his left 90% of the time and it's really predictable. He's really good getting around guys for his shot but against bigger and longer defenders he'll need to be able to go up with his right more reliably.

[ConstableGeneva]

I have nothing to contribute except to say we'd need another Draft Thread soon. RIP Officlal Draft Thread 2015-16 (August 21, 2015 - March 26, 2016).

[DoubleHappiness]

Meh, in Sabonis I see Ty Hansbrough, so I'm not getting all hot and bothered over him. Lack of length and athleticism is a major issue here. Tenacity only gets you so far. Considering we've got those issues already on the frontcourt I'm not seeing how we touch this guy. At some point we need to draft someone to stop the rush hour traffic in our lane.

I don't see Hansbrough at all. But agreed on the issues. I probably should have clarified that I like Sabonis as sticking in the league, but I don't actually like him in green.

[robbie84]

I question if Sabonis is 6'10" in shoes as listed. Seems smaller.
He needs to prove he can shoot from deep over a large sample because that's what he'll be doing in the NBA.
His dad has a nasty stroke though and he's gotna great work ethic/demeanor.

[Gant]

If Sabonis is clearly the best still on the board when they pick, take him...
...but the Celtics will never become contenders until their frontcourt is longer and more athletic.

Sabonis doesn't solve the frontcourt problem. He perpetuates it.

[Gomes3PC]

He's already a better rebounder than Hansbrough. He's also a lot younger, so more room to grow. Feels like Sabonis has a better wingspan as well.

[165bows]

Meh, in Sabonis I see Ty Hansbrough, so I'm not getting all hot and bothered over him. Lack of length and athleticism is a major issue here. Tenacity only gets you so far. Considering we've got those issues already on the frontcourt I'm not seeing how we touch this guy. At some point we need to draft someone to stop the rush hour traffic in our lane.

The Hansbrough comp had occurred to me too. I think Sabonis could be a little better than that. My guess is he is stronger, and I think a better post game and passer as well.

I looked it up and was pretty surprised to see Hansbrough was primarily an 8 boards/game guy. Bbref doesn't list minutes from back then but it must have been substantial for the points he was putting up. Senior year he put a 20/8 line, surprisingly weak on the boards.

Agree though he is more like a nice complimentary piece unless he can really develop a shot. I think he actually ends up a lot like Sully in the pros. Good rebounder, can do a bit of everything but not quite big/athletic enough to fully capitalize on it. Sabonis seems opposite in motor though so worth a look.

What BfB said seems pretty reasonable, lots of potential solid rotation/starter level guys in this draft even if there isn't much high end stuff.

[mbsnmisc]

The other important thing to note is that both Curry and Redick had to completely reinvent themselves in the NBA to become anything more than 8th man one-way scorers a la Jordan Crawford. Curry dramatically improved his handle and got stronger, while Redick became probably the best off-ball player outside Ray Allen in the last 15+ years. Both those guys struggled mightily initially transitioning to the NBA, especially Redick.

For every Redick or Curry, there is a Jimmer or a Morrison. Lots of great college shooters don't translate - not because they can't shoot, but because in the NBA that is not a sufficient threshold to survive.

The point is, yes, Hield can shoot, and that will probably translate to the NBA. But will his defense, ballhandling, and passing be up to snuff? He's going to be undersized for a SG, can he find a way to get his shot off against a guard like Klay Thompson or Avery Bradley? And defensively, is he going to hold up well enough so he's not just a basket-trader a la Crawford?

You'd think after watching Crowder, Smart and Bradley for the last 1.5-3 years that folks would start to understand that succeeding as a perimeter player in the NBA is more than just scoring.

I am not dismissing Hield but he has a lot more questions about his length, defensive abilities, ballhandling, etc. than you can justify taking in the top-5 of even a weak draft. Maybe in the 7-12 range like where Curry/Redick went.

EDIT - add Dougie Buckets as another guy who had to completely reinvent his body and game to thrive in the NBA. I'm not saying Hield can't do it, but let's not assume that you can just plug Hield in Day 1 and he'll be a positive contributor. I think you can say that at least for the likes of Ingram, Simmons, Dunn, and probably Murray/Poeltl (crappy Zags game notwithstanding). Sounds like Bender too, though I defer to guys like Fischella on Euros.

Hield's offensive game is already better than Crowder/AB, Smart's. His ball handling, pick and roll and screen runs are in another league compared to those current C's.
The thinking is that because of his incredible work ethic, IQ and enormous wingspan that he'll be at least an average DeRozan level defender.

I don't understand why so many people think Hield being a 4 year player is a negative.
For some guys it works out better ala Lilliard.
The nit picking us ridiculous.

I don't watch much NCAA hoops. I have caught Hield on some highlights and cutups. The man is a shooter. He has that nice high arc that all great shooters have. A criticism that I hear is that he is a straight line driver. I think his handle and change of direction are fine. He also has, to my eye, NBA athleticism. People over rate height. He has a huge wingspan. Unless he has a "Zeller" neck, his standing reach should be at least average for a 2.

I told my son last night that Hield will go top 5 in this draft. He told me I was stupid, (and ugly, which I thought was a little harsh). I think GM's are gonna fall in love with this guy when he drains 25 threes in a row during workouts and they talk to coaches about his incredible work ethic.

We lack shooting. We all know the numbers, top 10 in 3 point attempts, bottom 5 in three point percentage. I don't think that Hield is Wardell S. Curry Jr. or anything, but I would rather him over some 18 year old Euro who is three years away from being three years away or another combo guard who can't really shoot.

I am taking my bandwagon out of the garage. I am going to spend all weekend tuning it up and getting it ready for the draft. If you want to ride along you better join now, seats are free, but once it starts rolling there are no stops until draft day.-

[Homerclease]

If Sabonis is clearly the best still on the board when they pick, take him...
...but the Celtics will never become contenders until their frontcourt is longer and more athletic.

Sabonis doesn't solve the frontcourt problem. He perpetuates it.

Agree with this. If the mavs miss the playoffs and the pick falls in the 12-14 range, Labissere would be my top target. Guys like Rabb, Skal and Deyonta Davis are the type this team is missing. Look for the euro guys with the Celtics own pick and at the top of the second.

[return2glory]

Meh, in Sabonis I see Ty Hansbrough, so I'm not getting all hot and bothered over him. Lack of length and athleticism is a major issue here. Tenacity only gets you so far. Considering we've got those issues already on the frontcourt I'm not seeing how we touch this guy. At some point we need to draft someone to stop the rush hour traffic in our lane.

Hansbrough is 6'8, Sabonis is nearly 7 feet tall. His dad is one of the greatest centers of all time, so I'm sure he has learned a thing or two growing up.

[return2glory]

If Sabonis is clearly the best still on the board when they pick, take him...
...but the Celtics will never become contenders until their frontcourt is longer and more athletic.

Sabonis doesn't solve the frontcourt problem. He perpetuates it.

I disagree. His back to the basket game is better than Zeller and KO. He doesn't block that many shots, though he had 5 blocks last night. He brings toughness and KO, Zeller, and Amir don't bring. He fights under the glass, something you rarely see out of KO or Zeller.

This team needs toughness and rebounding from our bigs and Sabonis gives us that.

[Darth Celtic]

The other important thing to note is that both Curry and Redick had to completely reinvent themselves in the NBA to become anything more than 8th man one-way scorers a la Jordan Crawford. Curry dramatically improved his handle and got stronger, while Redick became probably the best off-ball player outside Ray Allen in the last 15+ years. Both those guys struggled mightily initially transitioning to the NBA, especially Redick.

For every Redick or Curry, there is a Jimmer or a Morrison. Lots of great college shooters don't translate - not because they can't shoot, but because in the NBA that is not a sufficient threshold to survive.

The point is, yes, Hield can shoot, and that will probably translate to the NBA. But will his defense, ballhandling, and passing be up to snuff? He's going to be undersized for a SG, can he find a way to get his shot off against a guard like Klay Thompson or Avery Bradley? And defensively, is he going to hold up well enough so he's not just a basket-trader a la Crawford?

You'd think after watching Crowder, Smart and Bradley for the last 1.5-3 years that folks would start to understand that succeeding as a perimeter player in the NBA is more than just scoring.

I am not dismissing Hield but he has a lot more questions about his length, defensive abilities, ballhandling, etc. than you can justify taking in the top-5 of even a weak draft. Maybe in the 7-12 range like where Curry/Redick went.

EDIT - add Dougie Buckets as another guy who had to completely reinvent his body and game to thrive in the NBA. I'm not saying Hield can't do it, but let's not assume that you can just plug Hield in Day 1 and he'll be a positive contributor. I think you can say that at least for the likes of Ingram, Simmons, Dunn, and probably Murray/Poeltl (crappy Zags game notwithstanding). Sounds like Bender too, though I defer to guys like Fischella on Euros.

Hield's offensive game is already better than Crowder/AB, Smart's. His ball handling, pick and roll and screen runs are in another league compared to those current C's.
The thinking is that because of his incredible work ethic, IQ and enormous wingspan that he'll be at least an average DeRozan level defender.

I don't understand why so many people think Hield being a 4 year player is a negative.
For some guys it works out better ala Lilliard.
The nit picking us ridiculous.

I don't watch much NCAA hoops. I have caught Hield on some highlights and cutups. The man is a shooter. He has that nice high arc that all great shooters have. A criticism that I hear is that he is a straight line driver. I think his handle and change of direction are fine. He also has, to my eye, NBA athleticism. People over rate height. He has a huge wingspan. Unless he has a "Zeller" neck, his standing reach should be at least average for a 2.

I told my son last night that Hield will go top 5 in this draft. He told me I was stupid, (and ugly, which I thought was a little harsh). I think GM's are gonna fall in love with this guy when he drains 25 threes in a row during workouts and they talk to coaches about his incredible work ethic.

We lack shooting. We all know the numbers, top 10 in 3 point attempts, bottom 5 in three point percentage. I don't think that Hield is Wardell S. Curry Jr. or anything, but I would rather him over some 18 year old Euro who is three years away from being three years away or another combo guard who can't really shoot.

I am taking my bandwagon out of the garage. I am going to spend all weekend tuning it up and getting it ready for the draft. If you want to ride along you better join now, seats are free, but once it starts rolling there are no stops until draft day.-

I am also a fan of drafting Hield if we don't move up in the lotto. I'm fine with him 4-6. I assume we are going to trade the pick for an established star, but who knows.

[Darth Celtic]

Sabonis with another very strong game with 19 and 17. I've had him in my top 10.

He looked ready for the limelight tonight, very mature presence. Good genes, too. I like him, but not with the fourth pick. Maybe Danny can move up with the Boston and/or Dallas pick.

But now after seeing those clips of DeAndre Ayton, we should probably start tanking for 2018!

We don't have to tank for him. Nets will still be terrible.