2023 NBA Draft – Thurs, 8PM, June 22

[165bows]

Purdue now 36th overall on D, up from 208th last year. Taking a top 3 pick and an NBA camp invite Senior out of the starting lineup and that team has gotten way better. Edey train or bust.
Edit: So who we going to grab with the other seconds?

I’m 45 minutes from Purdue, but I’m just not sold on Edey as a pro. College basketball is just bad now though. The play and officiating has dropped off big time. There’s some good coaches for sure, but just as many who are only good recruiters. Even the guys who come in ready to make big NBA impacts aren’t making the same kind of impacts in NCAA anymore. It’s sad because I used to love college basketball as much or more than the NBA as a whole. Now I catch a few games beginning of the year, get burnt out until tourney time which is always special still at least (although even March Madness is forgettable once it’s over anymore it seems like).

That's the weird thing, even as the game changes for younger players, there are still great college guys that come out that are on and off the radar.

[shackles10]

Purdue now 36th overall on D, up from 208th last year. Taking a top 3 pick and an NBA camp invite Senior out of the starting lineup and that team has gotten way better. Edey train or bust.
Edit: So who we going to grab with the other seconds?

I’m 45 minutes from Purdue, but I’m just not sold on Edey as a pro. College basketball is just bad now though. The play and officiating has dropped off big time. There’s some good coaches for sure, but just as many who are only good recruiters. Even the guys who come in ready to make big NBA impacts aren’t making the same kind of impacts in NCAA anymore. It’s sad because I used to love college basketball as much or more than the NBA as a whole. Now I catch a few games beginning of the year, get burnt out until tourney time which is always special still at least (although even March Madness is forgettable once it’s over anymore it seems like).

That's the weird thing, even as the game changes for younger players, there are still great college guys that come out that are on and off the radar.

Outside of the can’t miss prospects I trust freshman less and less. Not saying there aren’t good ones we should take a chance on, just that I have trust issues. James Young still holds space in my head.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

This may be all in vain, if the Cs make a deal or two.
The Year Without a Draft Pick, sort of like the time,
Baby New Year was kidnapped by Eon The Terrible...
I don't think there have been many seasons, where the
Celtics have been shut out entirely from the Draft,
but this could be one.

[165bows]

This may be all in vain, if the Cs make a deal or two.
The Year Without a Draft Pick, sort of like the time,
Baby New Year was kidnapped by Eon The Terrible...
I don't think there have been many seasons, where the
Celtics have been shut out entirely from the Draft,
but this could be one.

I think it makes sense for them to sign a couple second round guys with the MLE this year upcoming. They probably won't spend it on a vet FA if they keep Gallo, so it's a good time to use it to save money. They've got plenty of prior seconds to use as options, but could be 1 or 2 new ones with the picks they have. So maybe their prior strategy of younger, stash/upside guys, but also in play maybe they go for a more experienced guy or two this year to develop but use as current depth at the same time.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

This may be all in vain, if the Cs make a deal or two.
The Year Without a Draft Pick, sort of like the time,
Baby New Year was kidnapped by Eon The Terrible...
I don't think there have been many seasons, where the
Celtics have been shut out entirely from the Draft,
but this could be one.

I think it makes sense for them to sign a couple second round guys with the MLE this year upcoming. They probably won't spend it on a vet FA if they keep Gallo, so it's a good time to use it to save money. They've got plenty of prior seconds to use as options, but could be 1 or 2 new ones with the picks they have. So maybe their prior strategy of younger, stash/upside guys, but also in play maybe they go for a more experienced guy or two this year to develop but use as current depth at the same time.

The Raptors did that with Koloko but also added Porter, though they had the full MLE at the time... so, there's room for various machinations, but I think it's more likely the Cs will stick with a veteran free agent for that slot.

[Hal14]

Hell of a game the other night in the Big East between Uconn and Xavier.

A bunch of prospects who could go 2nd round or possibly UDFA guys in this game:

Watch on YouTube

My favorite? Colby Jones. He would look GREAT in green. He's currently #24 on my big board though so he could go 1st round - although I think I'm a little higher on him than some of the mainstream sites like Bleacher Report, CBS, SI and stuff so I think he's actually projected to go 2nd round..

[165bows]

Hell of a game the other night in the Big East between Uconn and Xavier.

A bunch of prospects who could go 2nd round or possibly UDFA guys in this game:

Watch on YouTube

My favorite? Colby Jones. He would look GREAT in green. He's currently #24 on my big board though so he could go 1st round - although I think I'm a little higher on him than some of the mainstream sites like Bleacher Report, CBS, SI and stuff so I think he's actually projected to go 2nd round..

What do you think of Azuolas Tubelis? He’s around where the Celtics could draft in most mock drafts. Seems like the kind of jack of all trades master of none big man that they like.

[TatumMVP]

My Favorites is Emoni Bates hope we can draft him with SRP and Leonard Miller that kid going to be a steal.

[Hal14]

My Favorites is Emoni Bates hope we can draft him with SRP and Leonard Miller that kid going to be a steal.

Yes, a couple of guys with some size and high upside who could be there in the 2nd round.

Neither is very good defensively. But they're both young enough that there's plenty of time for them to improve on that end..

[Hal14]

Kevin McCullar Jr. has that dog in him.

He's absolutely a top 60 guy in this draft class IMO.

Guys who are 6'6" or taller and have a skill - something they can do better than pretty much everyone else in the draft class. Those guys get drafted.

What's his skill? He's a ball hawk. He's EXTREMELY good at seeing an opportunity to go for a deflection/steal, timing it perfectly and then going for it aggressively (but not too aggressively so he gets called for the foul) and then ripping the ball away from the offensive player, knocking it away, or picking off a pass (he even said in an interview that one guy he looks up to and tries to play like is Marcus Smart).

2 examples of this in the game yesterday vs Kentucky:

Watch on YouTube

:01 he comes over on help D and knocks it away to force the turnover
4:13 look at the anticipation here, sees ball and then goes and gets it! Then quickly pushes it, turning defense into offense and Kansas gets an easy transition layup

Here's some other nice plays he made in this game:
1:26 attacks a closeout, leans into to the contact, strong finish for the and-1
2:53 again we see the hustle and how he has a nose for the ball and just makes winning plays on both ends of the floor, fighting for the and-1 put-back
3:28 good cut to the basket, and-1 finish
5:13 boom, knocks down a 3 off the catch

Could be a really solid pickup in the 2nd round..

McCullar and Colby Jones (both 6'6" wings) are guys I think could be a really good fit here..

[return2glory]

Zach Edey with a career high 38 points yesterday to go along with 13 rebounds. Michigan St is a good defensive team, but I couldn't understand why Tom Izzo refused to double team Edey.

Most drafts don't even have Edey in either round. He is coming on strong. Someone is going to take a chance on him in the 2nd round. I don't mind if it's the Celtics with one of their 2nd round picks.

[return2glory]

Trayce Jackson-Davis from Indiana has been beasting of late. I really like his low post scoring, his rebounding, ability to change and block shots and his ball handling. If he had a jumper, he would be a first rounder. Right now he is projected to go around the mid second round.

[djFan71]

Kevin McCullar Jr. has that dog in him.

He's absolutely a top 60 guy in this draft class IMO.

Guys who are 6'6" or taller and have a skill - something they can do better than pretty much everyone else in the draft class. Those guys get drafted.

What's his skill? He's a ball hawk. He's EXTREMELY good at seeing an opportunity to go for a deflection/steal, timing it perfectly and then going for it aggressively (but not too aggressively so he gets called for the foul) and then ripping the ball away from the offensive player, knocking it away, or picking off a pass (he even said in an interview that one guy he looks up to and tries to play like is Marcus Smart).

2 examples of this in the game yesterday vs Kentucky:

Watch on YouTube

:01 he comes over on help D and knocks it away to force the turnover
4:13 look at the anticipation here, sees ball and then goes and gets it! Then quickly pushes it, turning defense into offense and Kansas gets an easy transition layup

Here's some other nice plays he made in this game:
1:26 attacks a closeout, leans into to the contact, strong finish for the and-1
2:53 again we see the hustle and how he has a nose for the ball and just makes winning plays on both ends of the floor, fighting for the and-1 put-back
3:28 good cut to the basket, and-1 finish
5:13 boom, knocks down a 3 off the catch

Could be a really solid pickup in the 2nd round..

McCullar and Colby Jones (both 6'6" wings) are guys I think could be a really good fit here..

Hopefully they don't shoot up the board like Jalen Williams. I got excited about him last year, then he kept climbing and climbing.

[djFan71]

DET, SAS & CHA need to trade off their good (ish) players and properly tank past HOU. This winning over 1/4 of their games stuff is unacceptable.

[sam_I_am]

I’m not sure this guy has NBA level talent but he looks like a pure scorer who can shoot from anywhere. He can also rebound really well for a guard. Brandin Podziemski of Santa Clara.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Hal14]

Hell of a game the other night in the Big East between Uconn and Xavier.

A bunch of prospects who could go 2nd round or possibly UDFA guys in this game:

Watch on YouTube

My favorite? Colby Jones. He would look GREAT in green. He's currently #24 on my big board though so he could go 1st round - although I think I'm a little higher on him than some of the mainstream sites like Bleacher Report, CBS, SI and stuff so I think he's actually projected to go 2nd round..

What do you think of Azuolas Tubelis? He’s around where the Celtics could draft in most mock drafts. Seems like the kind of jack of all trades master of none big man that they like.

He's ok. I'm not super high on Tubelis. Nt super low on him. I have him as a late 2nd rounder. I like Coleman Hawkins and Sanogo more for the C's. But I suppose Tubelis is right there in the mix with those guys..

[165bows]

Hell of a game the other night in the Big East between Uconn and Xavier.

A bunch of prospects who could go 2nd round or possibly UDFA guys in this game:

Watch on YouTube

My favorite? Colby Jones. He would look GREAT in green. He's currently #24 on my big board though so he could go 1st round - although I think I'm a little higher on him than some of the mainstream sites like Bleacher Report, CBS, SI and stuff so I think he's actually projected to go 2nd round..

What do you think of Azuolas Tubelis? He’s around where the Celtics could draft in most mock drafts. Seems like the kind of jack of all trades master of none big man that they like.

He's ok. I'm not super high on Tubelis. Nt super low on him. I have him as a late 2nd rounder. I like Coleman Hawkins and Sanogo more for the C's. But I suppose Tubelis is right there in the mix with those guys..

I guess he's been around a bit though I haven't seen much of him. Just seems like a potential Mitch McGary type of decent all around big that would work pairing with any of our guys - but mid second rather than first round. Has a little shooting potential looks like, and def handles and passes the way this team likes its big to. Handful of decent bigs in the second potentially imo, and I'm not one to get super hyped ahead of time. But I like Daron Holmes eg more than JuJuan Johnson from back in the day.

[Kalela]

Is the 2nd round pick from the Rockets protected? In some places, it says it is unprotected while others say it is protected from 31-33 or something like that. Celtics can get a really good player with that pick.

[Curmudgeon]

No love for the little guy at Providence? Villanova couldn't stop him, and we are low on smurfs at the moment.
Bryce Hopkins isn't bad either.

[Hal14]

No love for the little guy at Providence? Villanova couldn't stop him, and we are low on smurfs at the moment.
Bryce Hopkins isn't bad either.

I like Hopkins. He's tough, strong frame. Can score on all 3 levels. Can handle it a little bit. Decent defender, decent passer, very good rebounder. He's certainly a guy to have on the radar..