2019 NBA draft

[sully00]

Zion is not as good as Lebron as a prospect but where Zion ranked in high school doesn't make him any less of a prospect. Coach K even said he's way better than he thought he was...and he was a consensus top 5 player.

Anthony Davis was never pegged #1 years prior to the draft. He blew up late (grew a ton) and wasn't even the consensus #1 player in his class. Rivals ranked Austin Rivers ahead of him. Zion is a PF in the NBA and i don't understand the Kenneth Faried comparison. Compare them as freshman and you see that Zion is the superior prospect. That includes Anthony Bennett too who no one thought was going to go #1 in his draft.

Zion is getting 2.2 Steals and 1.8 blocks in only 28.8 MPG and has 8.1 DBPM to go along with an elite def win share / def rating. I dont see why you think he will struggle early in the NBA on that end...also 8.8 rebounds in less than 29 minutes isn't average. When he starts playing 32+ MPG he will average 10+ RPG imo. And don't get me started on the offensive end.

Anthony Davis was #1 in his class and the consensus #1 pick in that draft class there was no debate at all if someone else was on a different player then I wouldn't listen to them anymore.

The reason I brought up Faried is that he is an undersized guy who was super productive in college and productive in the NBA but can't get on the floor anymore. Zion is an avg rebounder for a big man though the league is trending this way with PF's it is generally because they are 3pt shooters on the offensive end and not in position to offensive rebound. I have my doubts about Zion operating on the perimeter in the NBA and 3pt shooting to this point has been a small part of his game with less than avg results. Not a big deal in itself plenty of players develop this at the NBA level but my concern comes back to what is his offense going to be in the NBA? He just hasn't shown much of a skilled offensive game to this point and once his athletic advantage is limited and is his size issue becomes more pronounced what is he going to do in the half court?

Blocks and steals do not make a good defender but they are statistically relevant so they influence advance statistics. They generally indicate a guy who is active on the defensive end they are not a bad thing by any means. My concern is how is going to do one on one against pro bigs on the perimeter and in the post. Understand when I talk about his lack of size the issue is compounded by the fact that there are no good bigs in NCAA ball right now he is operating against other guys who are 6'7"-6'8". I don't have access to the measurements database that draftexpress used to have to compare but that is what you want to see. To me it is just important to understand your not watching him give up the 4-6 inches he is going to be giving up in the pros.

Just to put into context last year 7 players 6'9" or bigger went in the lottery. This year there are 3 guys projected in the lottery who are 6'9" or bigger right now and one of them is from France. It is just the state of NCAA basketball this season. It is just important to understand that Zion isn't the greatest prospect even he is an unpredicted phenomenon and this is really rare at time when so much information is available and tracked.

[celticfan42487]

sully00 I think your main contention is you don't want to rate the new data found on him in college that high compared to the analysis of these players in high school.

I mean I get it, you believe in the old report and questions about him and others don't.

It is the contrarian opinion though. Most people have Zion now in a class of his own in this draft and there are arguments of what franchise player (Anthony Davis or KAT or LeBron) is he the best prospect since. That's the conversation now.

I think it's fair though to see how his impossible physical presence may or may not dominate in the NBA. It's also fair to wonder how many years his knees have given his impossible physicals.

To me he looks a bit like a Draymond Green with LeBron James' physicals. Throw him at the PF spot and let him go. Does his physicals break the rules on how to stop players and in a pick and roll will he be an unstoppable roll man? The experts now say yes absolutetly, but they're paid to hype up prospects. No one will read or listen to them if they say this draft sucks and there's nothing special about it.

[Ball4life32]

Zion is not as good as Lebron as a prospect but where Zion ranked in high school doesn't make him any less of a prospect. Coach K even said he's way better than he thought he was...and he was a consensus top 5 player.

Anthony Davis was never pegged #1 years prior to the draft. He blew up late (grew a ton) and wasn't even the consensus #1 player in his class. Rivals ranked Austin Rivers ahead of him. Zion is a PF in the NBA and i don't understand the Kenneth Faried comparison. Compare them as freshman and you see that Zion is the superior prospect. That includes Anthony Bennett too who no one thought was going to go #1 in his draft.

Zion is getting 2.2 Steals and 1.8 blocks in only 28.8 MPG and has 8.1 DBPM to go along with an elite def win share / def rating. I dont see why you think he will struggle early in the NBA on that end...also 8.8 rebounds in less than 29 minutes isn't average. When he starts playing 32+ MPG he will average 10+ RPG imo. And don't get me started on the offensive end.

Anthony Davis was #1 in his class and the consensus #1 pick in that draft class there was no debate at all if someone else was on a different player then I wouldn't listen to them anymore.

The reason I brought up Faried is that he is an undersized guy who was super productive in college and productive in the NBA but can't get on the floor anymore. Zion is an avg rebounder for a big man though the league is trending this way with PF's it is generally because they are 3pt shooters on the offensive end and not in position to offensive rebound. I have my doubts about Zion operating on the perimeter in the NBA and 3pt shooting to this point has been a small part of his game with less than avg results. Not a big deal in itself plenty of players develop this at the NBA level but my concern comes back to what is his offense going to be in the NBA? He just hasn't shown much of a skilled offensive game to this point and once his athletic advantage is limited and is his size issue becomes more pronounced what is he going to do in the half court?

Blocks and steals do not make a good defender but they are statistically relevant so they influence advance statistics. They generally indicate a guy who is active on the defensive end they are not a bad thing by any means. My concern is how is going to do one on one against pro bigs on the perimeter and in the post. Understand when I talk about his lack of size the issue is compounded by the fact that there are no good bigs in NCAA ball right now he is operating against other guys who are 6'7"-6'8". I don't have access to the measurements database that draftexpress used to have to compare but that is what you want to see. To me it is just important to understand your not watching him give up the 4-6 inches he is going to be giving up in the pros.

Just to put into context last year 7 players 6'9" or bigger went in the lottery. This year there are 3 guys projected in the lottery who are 6'9" or bigger right now and one of them is from France. It is just the state of NCAA basketball this season. It is just important to understand that Zion isn't the greatest prospect even he is an unpredicted phenomenon and this is really rare at time when so much information is available and tracked.

Zion is playing in the ACC compared to the OVC for Faried. Still Zion’s freshman year is better than any of Faried’s 4 years in the OVC.

I guess we’ll have to disagree on the rebounding. Zion will be a 10+ rebound per night guy in the league. He will still have the athleticism / strength advantage in the NBA. He has a good handle, he’s a good passer and has a very high b-ball iq. Jump shot is getting better and he’s still only 18 years old. He’s going to be a elite player on both ends barring injuries.

[sully00]

Zion is not as good as Lebron as a prospect but where Zion ranked in high school doesn't make him any less of a prospect. Coach K even said he's way better than he thought he was...and he was a consensus top 5 player.

Anthony Davis was never pegged #1 years prior to the draft. He blew up late (grew a ton) and wasn't even the consensus #1 player in his class. Rivals ranked Austin Rivers ahead of him. Zion is a PF in the NBA and i don't understand the Kenneth Faried comparison. Compare them as freshman and you see that Zion is the superior prospect. That includes Anthony Bennett too who no one thought was going to go #1 in his draft.

Zion is getting 2.2 Steals and 1.8 blocks in only 28.8 MPG and has 8.1 DBPM to go along with an elite def win share / def rating. I dont see why you think he will struggle early in the NBA on that end...also 8.8 rebounds in less than 29 minutes isn't average. When he starts playing 32+ MPG he will average 10+ RPG imo. And don't get me started on the offensive end.

Anthony Davis was #1 in his class and the consensus #1 pick in that draft class there was no debate at all if someone else was on a different player then I wouldn't listen to them anymore.

The reason I brought up Faried is that he is an undersized guy who was super productive in college and productive in the NBA but can't get on the floor anymore. Zion is an avg rebounder for a big man though the league is trending this way with PF's it is generally because they are 3pt shooters on the offensive end and not in position to offensive rebound. I have my doubts about Zion operating on the perimeter in the NBA and 3pt shooting to this point has been a small part of his game with less than avg results. Not a big deal in itself plenty of players develop this at the NBA level but my concern comes back to what is his offense going to be in the NBA? He just hasn't shown much of a skilled offensive game to this point and once his athletic advantage is limited and is his size issue becomes more pronounced what is he going to do in the half court?

Blocks and steals do not make a good defender but they are statistically relevant so they influence advance statistics. They generally indicate a guy who is active on the defensive end they are not a bad thing by any means. My concern is how is going to do one on one against pro bigs on the perimeter and in the post. Understand when I talk about his lack of size the issue is compounded by the fact that there are no good bigs in NCAA ball right now he is operating against other guys who are 6'7"-6'8". I don't have access to the measurements database that draftexpress used to have to compare but that is what you want to see. To me it is just important to understand your not watching him give up the 4-6 inches he is going to be giving up in the pros.

Just to put into context last year 7 players 6'9" or bigger went in the lottery. This year there are 3 guys projected in the lottery who are 6'9" or bigger right now and one of them is from France. It is just the state of NCAA basketball this season. It is just important to understand that Zion isn't the greatest prospect even he is an unpredicted phenomenon and this is really rare at time when so much information is available and tracked.

Zion is playing in the ACC compared to the OVC for Faried. Still Zion’s freshman year is better than any of Faried’s 4 years in the OVC.

I guess we’ll have to disagree on the rebounding. Zion will be a 10+ rebound per night guy in the league. He will still have the athleticism / strength advantage in the NBA. He has a good handle, he’s a good passer and has a very high b-ball iq. Jump shot is getting better and he’s still only 18 years old. He’s going to be a elite player on both ends barring injuries.

Your missing the point Faried is just a good comparison of a super productive undersized PF who was a much better rebounder than Zion and productive in the NBA but can't get mins on a good team.

The one thing that doesn't change dramatically for the good is rebounding % and Zion is at 16% the same as Jahlil Okafor, guys like AD and Julius Randle were 19%, Bagley and Carter were both 18% in the same lineup, nationally the guys in the top 10 are over 20%. This isn't deadly it just means he projects more as a 7-8 RPG not 10+. Great for a SF, okay for a PF in today's NBA. Usually when you think a guy is going to improve here it is because they are going to get bigger and stronger not something I expect in ZIon's case.

Like I have said all along this isn't a situation where I don't like the player (as was the case with Fultz) I genuinely like Zion and usually would be in the position of arguing how he can still be effective. I agree he can be a good player I would be on board with the idea that he could be a more athletic Draymond Green type of player. But lets not get that confused with being a generational talent.

I like Barrett he reminds me of Brandon Roy with good knees and he is as productive as Roy was as a senior.

[sully00]

sully00 I think your main contention is you don't want to rate the new data found on him in college that high compared to the analysis of these players in high school.

I mean I get it, you believe in the old report and questions about him and others don't.

It is the contrarian opinion though. Most people have Zion now in a class of his own in this draft and there are arguments of what franchise player (Anthony Davis or KAT or LeBron) is he the best prospect since. That's the conversation now.

I think it's fair though to see how his impossible physical presence may or may not dominate in the NBA. It's also fair to wonder how many years his knees have given his impossible physicals.

To me he looks a bit like a Draymond Green with LeBron James' physicals. Throw him at the PF spot and let him go. Does his physicals break the rules on how to stop players and in a pick and roll will he be an unstoppable roll man? The experts now say yes absolutetly, but they're paid to hype up prospects. No one will read or listen to them if they say this draft sucks and there's nothing special about it.

That is the difference I am Draymond Green with Draymond Green physicals not Lebron James physicals. If this was about him being a 3 at the next level that people felt he had the handles and range to be this overpowering SF then I would be more on board but it seems like everyone is seeing what I am seeing and undersized 4 but just have fantastic ideas of what he is going to be capable of at the next level. I am sorry he is not a better prospect than Ayton or Bagley and that was last year. It will be interesting to see play out.

[bigboi]

[quote="sully00"][quote="celticfan42487"][quote="sully00"]

Do you understand stats you are talking about? Why does Zion have a TS% in the 70's? Because he dunks the ball against college players too weak and short to do anything about it. Can he do that in the pros at 6'6"? Probably not. Both Barrett and Reddish were ranked higher as prospects coming into the season they are both taller than him can shoot better than him Barrett is a better play maker than him.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kenneth-faried-1.html

This Kenneth Faried in college not quite as crazy PER numbers and TS% but close and much better rebounder. At 6'8" the guy can't even start in the league.

What position do you see Zion playing? I am not dismissing the guy's season it has been terrific and I think you do have to select him in the top 2 or 3 picks because of the weakness of the draft. But save you stats and fake outrage dude is not a consensus anything yet except for the same people who though Markell Fultz was a superstar.[/quote]

Sully I hear your height concerns, and I do have concerns too. But there are plenty of people that are saying Zion is the best prospect since Anthony Davis and some think since LeBron for a reason. He's setting records this year stats wise.

It's okay to not believe in him and think it won't translate, but that is no longer close to the majority view. At the very least Zion being a superstar view is akin to the Hillary Clinton will win the election a month before she went against Trump. That's what all the experts say and for many good reasons.

Maybe they're wrong, I wouldnt mind if they are as we have no shot at him. But he's considered the best prospect in ANY draft in a long time.[/quote]

I don't even have a problem with taking him #1 I am just not convinced that is what is going to happen. These comparisons to Lebron are a joke I don't if it reflects people's age or what. Lebron James would have been the #1 pick in the draft his sophomore year of High School. Anthony Davis was pegged as the #1 pick for years prior to his draft. That just isn't who Williamson is.

Barrett scored 30 points in his first game ever. He has scored 30 6 times and has last 3 games have been triple double and two 30 point games. If Williamson shuts it down right now you could see Barrett make a run at 30/10/5 (more likely 25/8/5) but still a monster season. This conversation is weird because by stating the obvious and not hating on Zion at all people are getting all worked up. Barrett is having an outstanding year for a Freshman and he is the prototype body for his position he was the guy scouts have felt would be #1 pick all along.

Zion has terrific advanced stats but what records do you think he is setting? What position do you think he is going to play? I don't see a SF. He is an avg rebounder for a big. This idea that he is the best prospect is crazy talk part of that is having the body for the job. Williamson is the 5'9" PG who lead the nation in scoring he is just doing it at Duke.

He might be the next Charles Barkley but the reality is Barkley went 5th in the draft and Jordan and Hakeem won all the titles. Huge fan of Barkley but besides the big numbers his teams didn't accomplish very much until he changed his game and became more of a SF.

I wouldn't trade Tatum for Zion. I would take Ayton, Bagley, Simmons, Towns, Embiid, and Porzingis over Zion. Wiggins is where it gets kind of weird as he is really kind of flaming out but he was a much bigger prospect than Zion is and so was Parker.[/quote]

Again, you have zero clue what you’re talking about. High school ranking doesn’t matter. Austin Rivers was ranked ahead of Davis on plenty of high school ranking sites. And Wiggins wasn’t even close to as big of a prospect. You’re full of nonsense. I watched every Kansas game, Wiggins’ hype tapered down heavy. Not only was Zion the most hyped player since Lebron in high school because he looked like a linebacker moving like D Rose but he’s dominating college with ease. Like it’s not even close, the gap between him and Barrett isn’t even close. Zion impacts the game on defense and offense and they don’t even feed him as much they should. Also who cares if it’s mostly layups and dunks, Lebron couldn’t shoot period and was a monster.

[sully00]

Sully I hear your height concerns, and I do have concerns too. But there are plenty of people that are saying Zion is the best prospect since Anthony Davis and some think since LeBron for a reason. He's setting records this year stats wise.

It's okay to not believe in him and think it won't translate, but that is no longer close to the majority view. At the very least Zion being a superstar view is akin to the Hillary Clinton will win the election a month before she went against Trump. That's what all the experts say and for many good reasons.

Maybe they're wrong, I wouldnt mind if they are as we have no shot at him. But he's considered the best prospect in ANY draft in a long time.

I don't even have a problem with taking him #1 I am just not convinced that is what is going to happen. These comparisons to Lebron are a joke I don't if it reflects people's age or what. Lebron James would have been the #1 pick in the draft his sophomore year of High School. Anthony Davis was pegged as the #1 pick for years prior to his draft. That just isn't who Williamson is.

Barrett scored 30 points in his first game ever. He has scored 30 6 times and has last 3 games have been triple double and two 30 point games. If Williamson shuts it down right now you could see Barrett make a run at 30/10/5 (more likely 25/8/5) but still a monster season. This conversation is weird because by stating the obvious and not hating on Zion at all people are getting all worked up. Barrett is having an outstanding year for a Freshman and he is the prototype body for his position he was the guy scouts have felt would be #1 pick all along.

Zion has terrific advanced stats but what records do you think he is setting? What position do you think he is going to play? I don't see a SF. He is an avg rebounder for a big. This idea that he is the best prospect is crazy talk part of that is having the body for the job. Williamson is the 5'9" PG who lead the nation in scoring he is just doing it at Duke.

He might be the next Charles Barkley but the reality is Barkley went 5th in the draft and Jordan and Hakeem won all the titles. Huge fan of Barkley but besides the big numbers his teams didn't accomplish very much until he changed his game and became more of a SF.

I wouldn't trade Tatum for Zion. I would take Ayton, Bagley, Simmons, Towns, Embiid, and Porzingis over Zion. Wiggins is where it gets kind of weird as he is really kind of flaming out but he was a much bigger prospect than Zion is and so was Parker.

Again, you have zero clue what you’re talking about. High school ranking doesn’t matter. Austin Rivers was ranked ahead of Davis on plenty of high school ranking sites. And Wiggins wasn’t even close to as big of a prospect. You’re full of nonsense. I watched every Kansas game, Wiggins’ hype tapered down heavy. Not only was Zion the most hyped player since Lebron in high school because he looked like a linebacker moving like D Rose but he’s dominating college with ease. Like it’s not even close, the gap between him and Barrett isn’t even close. Zion impacts the game on defense and offense and they don’t even feed him as much they should. Also who cares if it’s mostly layups and dunks, Lebron couldn’t shoot period and was a monster.

I am pretty confident I know what I am talking about ask yourself where you were on Markel Fultz and get back to me. Hype don't mean ****. That is what I am talking about Steven A and whatever other clown on ESPN says doesn't really matter they have no clue. Once the season ends scouts and front offices can talk a little more everything gets adjusted to what the people who run draft sites start hearing from NBA people compared to their personal rankings.

I am not saying that Zion isn't going to first in this draft, it isn't a very good draft he may be the best option for some teams. But it doesn't mean he isn't a 6'6" 285lb PF. While there haven't been many guys with that body type going #1 they have gone in the lottery, it just doesn't usually end well. If I had to make the call I would want to see this guy against some legit 6'11" competition and it isn't going to happen this year so then you are going to have to rely on what scouts are saying but that information isn't out there yet.

And don't kid yourself the reason there is so much hype around Zion is that this draft sucks. There are no other story lines, no intrigue, no bigs. It is blah.

[bigboi]

I don't even have a problem with taking him #1 I am just not convinced that is what is going to happen. These comparisons to Lebron are a joke I don't if it reflects people's age or what. Lebron James would have been the #1 pick in the draft his sophomore year of High School. Anthony Davis was pegged as the #1 pick for years prior to his draft. That just isn't who Williamson is.

Barrett scored 30 points in his first game ever. He has scored 30 6 times and has last 3 games have been triple double and two 30 point games. If Williamson shuts it down right now you could see Barrett make a run at 30/10/5 (more likely 25/8/5) but still a monster season. This conversation is weird because by stating the obvious and not hating on Zion at all people are getting all worked up. Barrett is having an outstanding year for a Freshman and he is the prototype body for his position he was the guy scouts have felt would be #1 pick all along.

Zion has terrific advanced stats but what records do you think he is setting? What position do you think he is going to play? I don't see a SF. He is an avg rebounder for a big. This idea that he is the best prospect is crazy talk part of that is having the body for the job. Williamson is the 5'9" PG who lead the nation in scoring he is just doing it at Duke.

He might be the next Charles Barkley but the reality is Barkley went 5th in the draft and Jordan and Hakeem won all the titles. Huge fan of Barkley but besides the big numbers his teams didn't accomplish very much until he changed his game and became more of a SF.

I wouldn't trade Tatum for Zion. I would take Ayton, Bagley, Simmons, Towns, Embiid, and Porzingis over Zion. Wiggins is where it gets kind of weird as he is really kind of flaming out but he was a much bigger prospect than Zion is and so was Parker.

Again, you have zero clue what you’re talking about. High school ranking doesn’t matter. Austin Rivers was ranked ahead of Davis on plenty of high school ranking sites. And Wiggins wasn’t even close to as big of a prospect. You’re full of nonsense. I watched every Kansas game, Wiggins’ hype tapered down heavy. Not only was Zion the most hyped player since Lebron in high school because he looked like a linebacker moving like D Rose but he’s dominating college with ease. Like it’s not even close, the gap between him and Barrett isn’t even close. Zion impacts the game on defense and offense and they don’t even feed him as much they should. Also who cares if it’s mostly layups and dunks, Lebron couldn’t shoot period and was a monster.

I am pretty confident I know what I am talking about ask yourself where you were on Markel Fultz and get back to me. Hype don't mean ****. That is what I am talking about Steven A and whatever other clown on ESPN says doesn't really matter they have no clue. Once the season ends scouts and front offices can talk a little more everything gets adjusted to what the people who run draft sites start hearing from NBA people compared to their personal rankings.

I am not saying that Zion isn't going to first in this draft, it isn't a very good draft he may be the best option for some teams. But it doesn't mean he isn't a 6'6" 285lb PF. While there haven't been many guys with that body type going #1 they have gone in the lottery, it just doesn't usually end well. If I had to make the call I would want to see this guy against some legit 6'11" competition and it isn't going to happen this year so then you are going to have to rely on what scouts are saying but that information isn't out there yet.

And don't kid yourself the reason there is so much hype around Zion is that this draft sucks. There are no other story lines, no intrigue, no bigs. It is blah.

What does Markelle Fultz have to do with anything? Lmao. Realistically, it will be even easier in NBA. People said the same thing about Ben Simmons. Zion Williamson is hyped because he’s good, simple as that. You had the nerve to say Bagley would go ahead of him lmao. Not only does Zion have an insane motor but he’s even more athletics than Bagley. He’s hyped because he’s literally a generational athlete that’s dominating college ball.

[greenroom31]

And don't kid yourself the reason there is so much hype around Zion is that this draft sucks. There are no other story lines, no intrigue, no bigs. It is blah.

The reason there is so much hype around Zion is because he is an athletic freak with a good handle and a solid jumper. He's built like a tank but can still jump incredibly high and has great agility. People have been following this kid since junior high because he does things very few people can do on a basketball court.

[Curmudgeon]

The reason there is so much hype around Zion in this thread is that people like torturing themselves by discussing an exciting player who will be drafted #1 by some team other than the Celtics. You need a magnifying glass to find any discussion of players the Celtics might actually draft, even though they could have as many as 4 picks.

[williambh3]

It’s looking more and more like the clips will make the playoffs. Right now we’re looking at something like #14, #19 and #23. We’ll probably trade 1-2 to of them, but who are some guys you like in that range? Assuming no top 10 guys fall.

I like Nickeil Alexander-Walker as someone who could step in soon as a rotation guard with some upside.

Also like Brandon Clarke, Grant Williams, and P.J. Washington as energy 4s, small ball 5s who could get minutes right away and develop into a high end 3rd big like montrezl.

[snowman]

What do you guys think of Bol Bol ? Boom or Bust

We need to start to groom Horford's replacement.

[Bleeding Green]

Bol Bol is such a project, let someone else draft him. You want to deal with 4 years of developing some guy that is 9 feet tall with 10 foot limbs and will just always, always, always be injured? And then he maybe is healthy and productive and then some other teams signs him during his RFA after you spent all that time developing him?

I've seen Rui Hachimura a few times the last month and he looks so **** good. I want this dude so bad and he's gotta be there at 14 at the very least. I was really high on Jontay Porter last year, too. If he's healthy at the combine I'm taking him too. If the Celtics end up with 3-4 picks in the first from 12-24 they need to get one of these guys.

[radcot]

Bol Bol is such a project, let someone else draft him. You want to deal with 4 years of developing some guy that is 9 feet tall with 10 foot limbs and will just always, always, always be injured? And then he maybe is healthy and productive and then some other teams signs him during his RFA after you spent all that time developing him?

I've seen Rui Hachimura a few times the last month and he looks so **** good. I want this dude so bad and he's gotta be there at 14 at the very least. I was really high on Jontay Porter last year, too. If he's healthy at the combine I'm taking him too. If the Celtics end up with 3-4 picks in the first from 12-24 they need to get one of these guys.

FWIW, NbaDraft.net currently has Hachimura going at # 4, Porter at #21.

[Bleeding Green]

Bol Bol is such a project, let someone else draft him. You want to deal with 4 years of developing some guy that is 9 feet tall with 10 foot limbs and will just always, always, always be injured? And then he maybe is healthy and productive and then some other teams signs him during his RFA after you spent all that time developing him?

I've seen Rui Hachimura a few times the last month and he looks so **** good. I want this dude so bad and he's gotta be there at 14 at the very least. I was really high on Jontay Porter last year, too. If he's healthy at the combine I'm taking him too. If the Celtics end up with 3-4 picks in the first from 12-24 they need to get one of these guys.

FWIW, NbaDraft.net currently has Hachimura going at # 4, Porter at #21.

I guess this is a weird draft to rank. Tankathon has Rui at 17 and Porter at 12.

[Curmudgeon]

If I have #23 at the end of the day, I'm using it on Markus Howard if he declares. Amazing player. But my first priority is Doumbouya, and if I had to combine picks to move up to get him, I would.

[djFan71]

Any love for Jalen McDaniels? Physical tools seem to be all there - tall wing type with some guard skills. He'd be a project since he's crazy skinny. I am not a college guy and haven't really seen anything more than clips (which are a lot of just dunks), so just curious if any of you have any thoughts?

[soxfan2003]

The reason there is so much hype around Zion in this thread is that people like torturing themselves by discussing an exciting player who will be drafted #1 by some team other than the Celtics. You need a magnifying glass to find any discussion of players the Celtics might actually draft, even though they could have as many as 4 picks.

I see the real reason Zion is discussed so much is he
1) could be a factor in an AD trade and he is also kind of a unique player that is a bit more controversial than some other top prospects of the past. His lack of height stirs debate.
2) A lot of people suspect the Celtics may end up trading most of their first round picks this year for AD.
3) Until recently, lots of people still question whether or not Clippers pick will convey this year.
4) With the odds so low of the Celtics getting a pick in the top 2-4 this year, less people are probably drawn to watch college bball this year to give an opinion on various players.

It really isn't that the Zion discussion is out of line but the discussion of who the Celtics might draft if they keep their picks appears very quiet for perhaps some of the reasons I outlined and other reasons.

[Curmudgeon]

If Ainge empties the cupboard for a year of AD he ought to be fired.

[brackdan70]

If I have #23 at the end of the day, I'm using it on Markus Howard if he declares. Amazing player. But my first priority is Doumbouya, and if I had to combine picks to move up to get him, I would.

I am with you on Sekou Doumbouya. Low risk high reward if we can get him this years collection of picks.