2023 NBA Draft – Thurs, 8PM, June 22

[Hal14]

Well said by Coach Spins. I'm high on Cissoko as well and would love it if we drafted him. It appears likely he'll still be there at 35.

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[threrf23]

Sure, there's some similarities to Bam. But Bam can actually hit the mid range jump shot pretty well - TJD can't hit jumpers at all from anywhere. Plus, Bam is quicker, more tenacious defensively. And he was 3 years younger when he was drafted than TJD.

Bam was three years younger when drafted, but as far as a comparison is concerned, that's somewhat besides the point. They entered college at the same age and you can compare their progress from the same ages.

In key areas TJD posted nice stats as a freshman and I presume he would have been a first round pick, maybe a lottery pick if he declared for the draft.

Anyways around 21/22 Bam shot 40%, maybe less outside of 3 feet and still is not a good jump shooter. And the two are comparable at the free throw line so I don't see a big difference there.

[Hal14]

Updated list of guys we've had in for a workout:

Olivier-Maxence Prosper - F - Marquette
Trayce Jackson-Davis - PF/C - Indiana
Jordan Walsh - W/F - Arkansas
Andre Jackson Jr - G/W - UConn
Vincent Valerio-Bodon - F - Sopron KC (Hungary)
Jalen Slawson - F/C - Furman
Tosan Evbuomwan - F - Princeton
Charles Bediako - C - Alabama
Leaky Black - F - UNC
Drew Peterson - F - USC
Chris Livingston - W - Kentucky
Justin Powell - W - Washington State
Landers Nolley II - F - Cincinnati
Jazian Gortman - G - OTE
Jake Stephens - C - Chattanooga
Alex Fudge - W/F - Florida
Oscar Tshiebwe - C - Kentucky
Taevion Kinsey - W - Marshall
Kao Akobundu-Ehiogu - C - Memphis
Taylor Funk - F - Utah State
Craig Porter Jr - G - Wichita State
Patrick Gardner - C - Marist
Jelly Walker - G - UAB
Justyn Mutts - F - Virginia Tech
Demarcus Demonia - Wing - Texas A&M-Commerce
Osun Osunniyi - C - Iowa State
Enrique Freeman - Wing - Akron
RayJ Dennis - PG - Toledo
Jamarius Burton - Pitt
Sam Griesel - Nebraska
Isaiah Miranda - Stretch Big - NC State (withdrew from the draft)
Dillon Jones - G/W - Weber State (withdrew from the draft)
Terrence Shannon Jr - G/W - Illinois (withdrew from the draft)
Coleman Hawkins - F - Illinois (withdrew from the draft)
Jamal Shead - PG - Houston (withdrew from draft)
Mike Sharavjamts - W/F - Dayton (withdrew from draft)
Branden Carlson - C - Utah (withdrew from draft)
Clifford Omoruyi - C - Rutgers (withdrew from draft)
Norchad Omier - F - Miami (withdrew from draft)
Jaylen Forbes - G - Tulane (withdrew from draft)
Alijah Martin - PG - Florida Atlantic

*Brad is stealth so this might not be a complete list
*The first 4 guys are potential targets with pick 35. However, we'd probably have to trade up if we want to get Prosper

[Hal14]

Sure, there's some similarities to Bam. But Bam can actually hit the mid range jump shot pretty well - TJD can't hit jumpers at all from anywhere. Plus, Bam is quicker, more tenacious defensively. And he was 3 years younger when he was drafted than TJD.

Bam was three years younger when drafted, but as far as a comparison is concerned, that's somewhat besides the point. They entered college at the same age and you can compare their progress from the same ages.

In key areas TJD posted nice stats as a freshman and I presume he would have been a first round pick, maybe a lottery pick if he declared for the draft.

No, we can't do that. At ages 20, 21 and 22 Bam was playing in the NBA. TJD was playing in college. Those are VASTLY different levels of competition.

In 2019-2020, Bam was the starting center (and only big man) for a team that went to the NBA finals. That season, TJD was a freshman in college.

TJD played 4 years of college basketball - because he wasn't good enough to turn pro until now. If he was good enough to get drafted in the 1st round, he would have already done it by now.

Bam was playing in his 2nd all-star game this year, while TJD was beating up on college kids who were 3-5 years younger than him. Like I said, TJD is a good player and I think he could be a solid pick for the Celtics - but making too much of a direct comp to Bam is unfair to him.

Bam was hitting 3's on us in the bubble 3 years ago. He was killing us with his mid range jumper in the playoffs and regular season this year. TJD (at age 23, facing college kids) still can't shoot from anywhere, see 9:56 mark here:

Watch on YouTube

[playa-hater]

*** IF/When the KP trades becomes official

+ Boston trades up into the first somehow.. (Grant or PP) +35

Who do you think Brad/Boston wants in the first??

Can we rule out a center?

I thought I read somewhere that Boston likes Propser and Jacquez.. was that for 35?? Or for trade up??

BTW I like Propser a lot Meh on Jacquez.

Thoughts??

[Hal14]

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[threrf23]

TJD played 4 years of college basketball - because he wasn't good enough to turn pro until now. If he was good enough to get drafted in the 1st round, he would have already done it by now.

faulty logic

Also, I'm clearly not comparing freshman (or senior) TJD to last year's Bam, I am comparing freshman TJD to freshman Bam and noting similar skills-related progress in the years that followed.

[Hal14]

*** IF/When the KP trades becomes official

+ Boston trades up into the first somehow.. (Grant or PP) +35

Who do you think Brad/Boston wants in the first??

Can we rule out a center?

I thought I read somewhere that Boston likes Propser and Jacquez.. was that for 35?? Or for trade up??

BTW I like Propser a lot Meh on Jacquez.

Thoughts??

The article said we're interested in Prosper or Jaquez if we trade up. But you never know, we may end up taking someone else - Brad is stealth.

I still think we could draft a big. Al is still very old, only got 2 yrs left. Rob and KP are injury prone.

This KP move does make me think that if we take a big, it would perhaps be a guy who's younger, more of a long term development piece (Nnaji?) rather than a guy who's probably ready to come in and contribute right away (TJD).

But with KP and Rob both being more rim protector bigs in the roamer role, perhaps a guy who can play either the 4 or the 5 (who can switch out on the perimeter) would be a solid pick. So perhaps Clowney? He is really young and still raw, so more of a long term development piece, but the potential is there if you develop him that he could be a guy who could slide seamlessly between playing the 4 or the 5, could shoot, can protect the rim AND switch on the perimeter defensively.

Clowney is being mocked in the 18-26 range, so perhaps he'd a guy we grab if we trade up..

But probably Jaquez or Prosper if we trade up. Perhaps if we stay at 35, we grab a wing like Walsh or Andre Jackson.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I'm watching Box and One on Olivier-Maxence Prosper and he looks like a young Gerald Wallace..

[Kalela]

Although I still really like Gueye and Nnaji, the Porzingis trade means Celtics are unlikely to draft a center. The good news is this draft has many wings who will be decent role players in the NBA and at least one of them will fall to the Celtics even if they don't trade up.

[BK_2020]

Bam was hitting 3's on us in the bubble 3 years ago. He was killing us with his mid range jumper in the playoffs and regular season this year. TJD (at age 23, facing college kids) still can't shoot from anywhere, see 9:56 mark here:

I don't know anything about these prospects but I can tell you that Bam didn't hit a single three against us in the playoffs.

[CelticsPride18]

Now that we need a wing any interest in Julian Phillips?

[Hal14]

Bam was hitting 3's on us in the bubble 3 years ago. He was killing us with his mid range jumper in the playoffs and regular season this year. TJD (at age 23, facing college kids) still can't shoot from anywhere, see 9:56 mark here:

I don't know anything about these prospects but I can tell you that Bam didn't hit a single three against us in the playoffs.

I must have been thinking of some reg season games where he did and/or some deep 2 pt jumpers..

[playa-hater]

I'm trying really hard to find good reasons to like Jamie Jacquez.. So I looked at even more scouting film.. Ironically the first thing they said he was good at was iso basketball...

He's coming to Boston...

[Hal14]

Another sleeper I like...

Jordan Miller.

Cons
-He's old, recently turned 23
-While he's good at basically everything, there isn't anything he is elite at
-Some people are skeptical about his shooting, since he's a 5th year senior who didn't shoot well from 3 prior to this season - and even this season he shot good but not great (35% from 3 on moderate volume)

Pros
-NBA ready, 23 yrs old so ready to come in and contribute from day 1
-Wing
-Extremely versatile on both ends of the floor.
-Plays with a toughness, an edge, a chip on his shoulder, a fearlessness
-He actually played most of his mins this season at the 4. With his toughness, athleticism and ability to rebound the basketball, can certainly play the 4 in the NBA. But his best position at the next level is the 3. It's definitely a plus, to have the versatility to play either spot

Ok, let's dive deeper.

This article gives a good rundown on Miller:
https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/err-on-the-side-of-jordan-projecting

In that article, they break down areas of Miller's game that are strengths, with clips to show him performing well in those areas:
-Shooting from 3
-Being able to create his own shot off the bounce, and score in isolation
-Passing
-Cutting
-Ball handling
-Crashing the offensive boards for put-backs / tip-ins
-Interior defense/rim protection
-Perimeter defense / switchability

I know what you're thinking. A 6'7" wing who can do all of these things well. Can play the 3 or the 4. And plays with a toughness/edge/urgency...he's gotta be a lottery pick, right?

Most mocks right now have him as a late 2nd rounder. Mainly because he's so old (23) and is a late bloomer who wasn't even really on draft radars until this year's NCAA tournament.

He had a huge game in the elite 8, to lead Miami past Texas and into the Final 4:

Watch on YouTube

Lastly, here's a short video that gives us a glimpse into Miller's well rounded game:

Watch on YouTube

Bumping this.

Honestly don't think it would be that crazy of a pick if we took Jordan Miller at 35.

Dude is TOUGH as nails. Very versatile on both ends of the floor. Plays with a chip on his shoulder.

Good defender, good slasher, solid passer.

And he's CLUTCH. Check out this game and feel free to skip to 11:00 where he hits a huge 3 to tie the game up with under a minute left:

Watch on YouTube

Swiss army knife type of wing. Not a liability on either end of the floor. Can defend. Decent shooter. Older prospect so he's more of a plug and play guy - not a development project.

Might be a little bit of a reach at 35, but I could see him being a solid role player off the bench for us. I also can picture him going to Miami and killing us so I'd rather take him so that doesn't happen lol.

[Marvel]

Bam was hitting 3's on us in the bubble 3 years ago. He was killing us with his mid range jumper in the playoffs and regular season this year. TJD (at age 23, facing college kids) still can't shoot from anywhere, see 9:56 mark here:

I don't know anything about these prospects but I can tell you that Bam didn't hit a single three against us in the playoffs.

Bro attempted 1 and missed 1

[return2glory]

We have so many more options at 25 now. Possibly Kris Murray, Maxwell Lewis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Brandin Podziemski, Ben Sheppard, James Nnaji, Leonard Miller, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Noah Clowney. About 2-3 of these guys should be there.

[threrf23]

So, I think we now have the 25th pick, in addition to the 35th

[playa-hater]

So, I think we now have the 25th pick, in addition to the 35th

35 to Washington..

[playa-hater]

I said this like twenty pages ago so time to say it again.. We should be looking at talent all over this draft ... No one really knows if anyone Stevend makes a trade and gets a first round pick.

Most of the guys we are looking at a late first And early second round picks...

Don't be surprised is all I am saying..

No matter what you think of Stevens one thing cannot be denied.. The man knows how to work in stealth mode.

Look who was right again...

You guys have less than 20 hours to get to work and tell me who the freak. We should be getting at pick twenty five not thirty five..

Yeah I know we may end up trading it again.... But I did say We need to look all over this draft..