Welcome to Boston, Hugo Gonzalez!

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Hugo reminds me of Wally Szczrbiak in the sense that college aged, female Celtics fans are gonna be like "he's really hot."

(this is not the type of sentence I was hoping or expecting to be typing when the draft started.)

There were other players I liked more. But Brad just hasn't really swung on a player in the draft. We're at such a moment of inflection that if this is the guy he thinks can give the most value over the next few years, and if he thinks his coach is going to give Hugo development minutes, then sure, I can get behind the pick.

I liked that Brad did something unexpected.

but when you look at this kids production at Real, Hugo didn't really do much, doesn't really shoot it... But if Brad believes in him and believes coach will play him... okay, why not. I just was not expecting this pick and I havent been surprised by a Celtics draft in a while, thats all

For context, Real Madrid have Hezonja (former #5 pick), Musa (former #29 pick) and Deck (former NBA player) all in their primes in front of him. Apart from Flagg there isn't a wing in this draft that would get consistent minutes on this team.

[Jellybeans]

He better come over right away and play gleague

[themoneyteam2]

Worth noting he’s likely putting up Jasapar numbers if he went to Illinois instead of playing on a euro league super team at Real Madrid. He was better than Jasapar growing up in Spain the past few years

[redslastlaugh]

J Kyle Mann Ringer's draft grade: B-

T.J. McConnell recently emphasized that playing hard is a skill, and although Gonzalez is significantly bigger and longer, he plays his ass off like a much less physically gifted player. The question is whether his struggles as a shooter will put a limit on his impact as an NBA player. For that reason, I’m a little cooler on Hugo’s upside, but “winning organization adds tireless, toolsy wing” sounds like a formula that could pan out.

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/draft-grades

[31to6]

For a guy I’d not heard of until 20 minutes ago, I like him a decent amount.

Wanted a big. But I always do.

I like this guy’s build and motor!

[Shak_Celts]

First 20 minutes of an hour and 40 minute long video, this kid shoots like me on 2K, no touch at all! It’s crazy because it doesn’t look that bad coming out.


The next 2 to 3 minutes that I just watched now he has a touch all of a sudden. This might be an up-and-down video. I’ll let y’all know.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Worth noting he’s likely putting up Jasapar numbers if he went to Illinois instead of playing on a euro league super team at Real Madrid. He was better than Jasapar growing up in Spain the past few years

Gonzalez had similar counting stats but was (much) more impactful than Demin when they both played for Real Madrid U18. Then one guy went to beat up on kids in the NCAA, the other spent the season in one the most competitive programs on the planet. One guy went 8th, the other 28th. Make it make sense.

[GreenBloodedC]

I saw a broadcast stating that he had a potential to be in the top 10 if he agreed to play in US College instead

[ThePigeon]

D for disappointed
Fleming was there
You could trade for Mark Williams

Oh well, it is what it is
Good luck getting playing time under Joe 'we don't like rookies'

[themoneyteam2]

D for disappointed
Fleming was there
You could trade for Mark Williams

Oh well, it is what it is
Good luck getting playing time under Joe 'we don't like rookies'

There’s a reason every team passed on Fleming. There’s a reason teams who need big men also didn’t want Mark and his medical concerns.

And Joe hasn’t had a rookie worth a damn to play. It’s not like he’s holding them back. If a rookie is good enough, he will play.

[babyjax13]

I think he is a lateish lotto to teens level talent. It is no surprise he did not play much for Real, it is a better team than the Jazz were last year.

[babyjax13]

J Kyle Mann Ringer's draft grade: B-

T.J. McConnell recently emphasized that playing hard is a skill, and although Gonzalez is significantly bigger and longer, he plays his ass off like a much less physically gifted player. The question is whether his struggles as a shooter will put a limit on his impact as an NBA player. For that reason, I’m a little cooler on Hugo’s upside, but “winning organization adds tireless, toolsy wing” sounds like a formula that could pan out.

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/draft-grades

I don't think anyone has more **** you energy and effort than Hugo. He is really fun. Would have loved him at 21 if Utah stayed there. A lot of his summer games are both free and legal to watch on YouTube. He was much better than Demin, but was also just more physically developed than everyone at the youth level and as they developed the performance gap narrowed a lot. If the draft were done 10 months ago the international prospects taken today (pardon me if I miss someone) would probably be

1. Traore
2. Gonzales
3a. Saraf
3b. Essengue
4. Demin

Big gap

5. Jakucionis

Big gap

6. Yang

With Beringer not being on the first round radar.

[ThePigeon]

D for disappointed
Fleming was there
You could trade for Mark Williams

Oh well, it is what it is
Good luck getting playing time under Joe 'we don't like rookies'

There’s a reason every team passed on Fleming. There’s a reason teams who need big men also didn’t want Mark and his medical concerns.

And Joe hasn’t had a rookie worth a damn to play. It’s not like he’s holding them back. If a rookie is good enough, he will play.

That is the issue. How can a rookie drafted at the end of the first round or second round will be good enough to play if he doesn't get any playing time?

To develop you will need to play the rookie through their mistakes. It will maybe cost a couple of games but will do wonders to the player
Look at Kornet - steady playing time and suddenly he is a beast. PP, steady playing time and he wins 6th man of the year (when a year before he wanted to leave the team). Queta developed when he got playing time. etc. JD wins G-League MVP but looks scared playing with the main team.

Play the young player. Develop them. Maybe avoid an injury or two to your other players

Joe literally said he doesn't like rookies

[BillessuR6]

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/next-big-thing-hugo-gonzalez-leading-spains-next-generation

[babyjax13]

D for disappointed
Fleming was there
You could trade for Mark Williams

Oh well, it is what it is
Good luck getting playing time under Joe 'we don't like rookies'

There’s a reason every team passed on Fleming. There’s a reason teams who need big men also didn’t want Mark and his medical concerns.

And Joe hasn’t had a rookie worth a damn to play. It’s not like he’s holding them back. If a rookie is good enough, he will play.

That is the issue. How can a rookie drafted at the end of the first round or second round will be good enough to play if he doesn't get any playing time?

To develop you will need to play the rookie through their mistakes. It will maybe cost a couple of games but will do wonders to the player
Look at Kornet - steady playing time and suddenly he is a beast. PP, steady playing time and he wins 6th man of the year (when a year before he wanted to leave the team). Queta developed when he got playing time. etc. JD wins G-League MVP but looks scared playing with the main team.

Play the young player. Develop them. Maybe avoid an injury or two to your other players

Joe literally said he doesn't like rookies

He played 14 minutes per game for Real Madrid in league play, so he did play, and he earned a role on a team full of ex-nba talent. If he can earn 14 minutes a game there as an 18 year old he can do it in the NBA as a 19 year old. I think he has the right mentality for Mazzulla too.

[ThePigeon]

There’s a reason every team passed on Fleming. There’s a reason teams who need big men also didn’t want Mark and his medical concerns.

And Joe hasn’t had a rookie worth a damn to play. It’s not like he’s holding them back. If a rookie is good enough, he will play.

That is the issue. How can a rookie drafted at the end of the first round or second round will be good enough to play if he doesn't get any playing time?

To develop you will need to play the rookie through their mistakes. It will maybe cost a couple of games but will do wonders to the player
Look at Kornet - steady playing time and suddenly he is a beast. PP, steady playing time and he wins 6th man of the year (when a year before he wanted to leave the team). Queta developed when he got playing time. etc. JD wins G-League MVP but looks scared playing with the main team.

Play the young player. Develop them. Maybe avoid an injury or two to your other players

Joe literally said he doesn't like rookies

He played 14 minutes per game for Real Madrid in league play, so he did play, and he earned a role on a team full of ex-nba talent. If he can earn 14 minutes a game there as an 18 year old he can do it in the NBA as a 19 year old. I think he has the right mentality for Mazzulla too.

I sure hope so

He can't shoot the 3, so I doubt it

[phincsfan]

Stevens coached a guy two different times who was excellent without the ball. If he believes in his iq than I trust him.

I was never fully impressed with Fleming.

A big who can contribute next season would be nice in the 2nd rd.

[ParticleMan]

When Kasparas started falling i thought for sure we'd manage a trade-up. instead brad gets gonzalez who is a lot like kasparas but not as good a shooter and more raw. it'll be interesting to see how that pans out.

i see some similarities in makeup with Rico. both are high-energy, high-motion guys who are not afraid of the moment. both are risk takers, scheierman from distance and gonzalez on drives. neither are elite athletes (tho gonzalez obviously better) but have decent size and will have to rely on craftiness and high IQ on D. both are dawgs. in general i like the makeup of both guys and i think they can potentially be rotation players but their upside is limited.

[Garbanzo]

Great pick!

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Minutes played this season
Hansen Yang 1732
Ben Saraf 1371
Noa Essengue 1334
Nique Clifford 1274
Walter Clayton 1271
Kon Knueppel 1189
Tre Johnson 1145
Cooper Flagg 1135
Danny Wolf 1128
Derik Queen 1093
VJ Edgecombe 1080
Kasparas Jakucionis 1051
Jeremiah Fears 1027
Ace Bailey 1000
Collin Murray-Boyles 980
Asa Newell 958
Drake Powell 947
Dylan Harper 945
Nolan Traoré 938
Jase Richardson 912
Egor Demin 908
Will Riley 899
Liam McNeeley 867
Khalam Maluach 828
Thomas Sorber 752
Hugo Gonzalez 738 (950 if you include the U18 Euros last summer)
Yanic Konan Niederhauser 728
Carter Bryant 714
Cedric Coward 198

People don't understand how many more games Real plays than your average college team. If you include the time spent with the youth Spanish national teams during the summer he has played pretty much the same amount of game time as your average first rounder over the last 12 months.