2023 NBA Draft – Thurs, 8PM, June 22

[playa-hater]

We're set up to be contenders for the next 5 years. We're not trading a proven vet like Smart for a young, unproven draft pick.

That's the opposite strategy of what we're trying to do. That's the strategy for rebuilding teams.

How long do you think Al and or RW will last?? 5 years ?? LOL no chance. Sorry but Kornet Kaben Jelly or Muscala are not the answer. To contend a team needs balance. We are way too thin upfront. Al is already starting to show his age these playoffs and RW is definitely not the same.

You can't wait for the tires to fall off before you make the change.

There's many ways to acquire players.

-Trade for a proven vet
-Sign a proven vet via free agency
-Draft someone with pick 35
-Trade Smart to move up in the draft

You suggested the last option. I'm just saying that I'd prefer to do 1 of the other options - that's what contending teams do, imo.

We can also have Rob/Al split mins at the 5, with Tatum at the 4. Or Grant at the 4. And if there's a small amount of mins at the 5 left over when Al/Rob are out, we can have Muscala/Griffin/Kornet in there. Just like we did this season.

But yes, eventually we'll need to add someone (who can play the 4 and/or the 5) who is a starter-level guy. Maybe that is this offseason, maybe it's next offseason..

I'm perfectly fine with trading full up proven veteran or signing a free agent veteran if I thought there was someone out there... But I think there are very slim pickings in that department.. Maybe something will shake free from the Apple tree...

Certainly trying to get an Isaiah Stuart type would be nice... If it's even possible..

Meanwhile whoever we get at the 35th pick won't be ready to help us contend in the next couple of years and most likelihood..

But also remember we are far up against the cap so making trades while signing anyone who's legit will be very difficult

[Kalela]

And think he projects more as a PF who can play some small ball 5 than a wing per se.

He is like OG Anunoby. Even moves like him. Anyway wing or not, what impresses me the most about him is his man-to-man defense. He is able to stay with and shut down quick guards and he is also able to defend big strong forwards just as well.

[Hal14]

And think he projects more as a PF who can play some small ball 5 than a wing per se.

He is like OG Anunoby. Even moves like him. Anyway wing or not, what impresses me the most about him is his man-to-man defense. He is able to stay with and shut down quick guards and he is also able to defend big strong forwards just as well.

We can agree to disagree - imo, Prosper is more like Siakam than OG.

But obviously, if he can be like Siakam, that's a hell of a pick at 35. So I'm not completely against taking him.

Saw Prosper go late 1st round in a mock the other day - so it seems like his stock is rising.

Also doesn't hurt, he's got a very cool name

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

[Kalela]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Yeah Vukčević is looking good. He looks like he is more than just a shooter too.

[Hal14]

Kalela, your guy showing out at the combine:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

He could potentially be our PF of the future.

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

I think the Celtics front office is reading this board lol. My guy Isaiah Miranda is working out for the C's on Monday. And apparently, djfan's guy Jordan Walsh worked out for the C's..

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-arkansas-jordan-walsh-has-strong-nba-draft-combine-opening-as-deadline-to-remain-in-draft-looms-170514371.html

Walsh, 19, worked out for Brooklyn and Boston, sources said, and received good feedback thus far. He projects as an early second-round pick with more room to grow as the combine continues in Chicago this week.

[Kalela]

6'10 without shoes with 7'3" wingspan. Very athletic too. The knock: he is very raw offensively.

Read on Twitter

[Marvel]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Yeah Vukčević is looking good. He looks like he is more than just a shooter too.

I like Vuk. There is def upside there where he could be (i'm gonna use a cliche here) a steal.

[Hal14]

Still like 5 weeks till the draft, so this list will definitely get bigger.

But as of now, these are the guys who have worked out for the Celtics:

Landers Nolley - Wing
Oscar Tshiebwe - Big
Justin Powell - Wing
Isaiah Miranda - Big (workout scheduled for 5/22)
Jordan Walsh - Wing

Miranda and Walsh are guys we could potentially take at pick 35. The others are potential UDFA targets.

Also, there may be more guys on the list. These are just the ones I have seen reported online.

The common thread? Begarin turned 19 during his draft year. Davison was 19 on draft night. Walsh and Miranda are both 19.

Brad will bring in older guys for workouts to have a look and to possibly grab as an UDFA. But he seems to prefer guys who are 19 on draft night or turn 19 during their draft year. When you can get them into the celtics system earlier at a young age - you have more time to mold them. And they typically have higher upside.

Well, I think at this point we know the reasons why teams typically prefer drafting guys who are younger and earlier on their their development..

[Smart2Nesmith43]

I don't know why but Udoka being in Houston aside I kind of wanted us to end up with 35. I don't think the difference between 33 and 35 is anything. However giving up the 35th pick for Muscala would have been a bit of a stinger to me. Maybe I'm crazy. I like him and hope he plays a good role for us next year. He started strong then had to have gotten hurt.

You are not crazy but you are definitely a victim of the sunk cost fallacy. The second pick was already gone so the only thing that mattered for the Celtics was getting 33 instead of 35.

I think I'm on an island here, and he is mocked lower than where we pick, but I like Tubelis. He really runs the floor for a big and just seems to know how to play. He'd be beating bigs down the floor all night (if he ever saw the floor, lol).

I like guys especially bigs that run the floor hard. I still remember Tyler Zeller stealing a couple buckets every night by beating his man down the floor. If only he had other NBA skills he might have averaged more than 6 points per game.

Interesting - another mock draft that has us taking Whitehead.

https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nba-mock-draft-8-san-antonio-spurs-land-the-no-1-pick-with-victor-wembanyamas-future-team-revealed-012751198.html

Ooh I DO like him. Seems like a late riser.

He seems unlikely to rise late considering his injury will prevent him from participating in workouts. The question is probably more about how far he'll drop.

Whitehead is:
- a wing
- one and done prospect out of Duke
- wears number 0
- injured his foot his freshman year of college

That sounds an awful lot like Tatum coming out of Duke so hopefully for his sake he can play a little bit like Tatum too.

[Hal14]

There's been some talk about trying to get a guy with this pick who can be an eventual Horford replacement.

While that is very tricky to do, if we dumb down the criteria a little bit and say we are looking for a guy like this:

-Big man who can potentially slide between both the 4 and the 5
-At least 6'9"
-Has some shooting ability
-Good mobility, can really move laterally, as well as move up and down the floor well for a big
-Good passing ability
-Can handle the ball a little bit
-Plays with a fire, an intensity
-Good defensive versatility. Has shown flashes of being able to defend the perimeter and the interior
-Could be on the board still at pick 35

I honestly don't know if anyone meets that criteria better than Coleman Hawkins.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

He's not perfect. The main flaws are that his 3 pt % wasn't great in college, he was a little bit turnover prone (perhaps better spacing in the NBA and playing with better teammates, including a real PG, some real ball handlers which Illinois did not have could help) and is on the older side, being 21..and turning 22 in December. He's not perfect - but that's why he's not a 1st round pick. But he could be a solid pick at 35..

And he's a guy to keep on the radar for this pick.

Could still return to college for another year if he doesn't get great feedback from NBA teams..

Looks like Hawkins is a LIFT guy, too. The agency ran by Mike Miller. Interesting. Seems like he is really growing his company. He's got JD Davison. He's got Isaiah Miranda. Lots of guys under LIFT these days..

[playa-hater]

I hate that I lost interest in this f****** draft because of how f****** annoying this Boston Celtic team is...

So many years without a championship is one thing but being so talented and still being this bad is more frustrating than any of the other 36 freaking years..

There is just so much total incompetence with this f****** team

[Hal14]

35 is a reach for Sanogo...or is it?

Read on Twitter

[165bows]

35 is a reach for Sanogo...or is it?

Read on Twitter

Idk interesting question. Here’s him compared to TJD who is a full two years older. TJD has a few statistical advantages but not a ton at all for the age gap. I do think TJD has better overall athletic tools.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=trayce-jackson-davis--adama-sanogo

Shooting from deep is obviously a separating skill for these small ball fives and then the question of who do these guys guard and how well is tough to answer with numbers. And prob the first and foremost question.

Great pass in the second clip there though.

[hugepatsfan]

I hate that I lost interest in this f****** draft because of how f****** annoying this Boston Celtic team is...

So many years without a championship is one thing but being so talented and still being this bad is more frustrating than any of the other 36 freaking years..

There is just so much total incompetence with this f****** team

Not saying there hasn't been frustration, but I think you're a bit ignorant to what "total incompetence" is.

[165bows]

From #25-35, Pacers and Hornets have half of those picks right in front of the Celtics’ pick. Kind of crazy.

[playa-hater]

I hate that I lost interest in this f****** draft because of how f****** annoying this Boston Celtic team is...

So many years without a championship is one thing but being so talented and still being this bad is more frustrating than any of the other 36 freaking years..

There is just so much total incompetence with this f****** team

Not saying there hasn't been frustration, but I think you're a bit ignorant to what "total incompetence" is.

Cute.. I suppose you can enlighten me

[Hal14]

35 is a reach for Sanogo...or is it?

Read on Twitter

Idk interesting question. Here’s him compared to TJD who is a full two years older. TJD has a few statistical advantages but not a ton at all for the age gap. I do think TJD has better overall athletic tools.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=trayce-jackson-davis--adama-sanogo

Shooting from deep is obviously a separating skill for these small ball fives and then the question of who do these guys guard and how well is tough to answer with numbers. And prob the first and foremost question.

Great pass in the second clip there though.

Fair point. Sanogo is 2 years younger and has shown much more upside as a shooter. Just based on that, one could argue taking Sanogo over TJD.

Yet TJD is being mocked in the 26-34 range, wheres Sanogo is mocked late 2nd round in some, undrafted in others.

Interesting..

[165bows]

35 is a reach for Sanogo...or is it?

Read on Twitter

Idk interesting question. Here’s him compared to TJD who is a full two years older. TJD has a few statistical advantages but not a ton at all for the age gap. I do think TJD has better overall athletic tools.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=trayce-jackson-davis--adama-sanogo

Shooting from deep is obviously a separating skill for these small ball fives and then the question of who do these guys guard and how well is tough to answer with numbers. And prob the first and foremost question.

Great pass in the second clip there though.

Fair point. Sanogo is 2 years younger and has shown much more upside as a shooter. Just based on that, one could argue taking Sanogo over TJD.

Yet TJD is being mocked in the 26-34 range, wheres Sanogo is mocked late 2nd round in some, undrafted in others.

Interesting..

Great thing about Rob W is he could play alongside a player like Sanogo if he could hit his higher end of realistic upside. Ie, strong, skilled with the ball, can shoot and rebound but maybe not the real height or shot blocking of a true center.

Not sure if he’s that guy or not but he’s got a good fit and can obviously handle the ball a little bit.

In terms of dropping down, getting 39+41 from Charlotte seems fair. Or perhaps 37/50 from OKC.

I’d posted about Vukcevic a bit earlier in the year as a potential fit. Wonder who much he rises from where he is currently mocked. Guy does have a great looking shot.