Celts Have Guarantee to Reggie Jackson?

[Bluewhale]

Avery is better then Jackson.

I won't go that far now. Avery doesn't show anything so far. I don't mind to pick Jackson if he had potential to be a good NBA player.

Ainge said Avery could be a #5 pick this draft? So be it. Let's still pick the best player we could have without any position concern.

Why Mavs pick Rodrigue Beaubois, Jose Barea, when they have Kidd and Terry? This doesn't make sense? But it paid pretty well for Mavs.

[Joselo16]

I'm not a Ainge believer, who blindly follows every move he makes, but he's in the right in drafting best player talent available, and not by need. If Jackson is the guy he sees as the best player at 25, then nab him. Past failures can't predict future one's, but Danny's "promises" have netted us nothing so far, in Greene and Giddens (not sure if Banks was one).

[GreenMachine]

Maybe DA just thinks there is very little chance he is on the board at 25. If he slips... he probably will be BPA.

[CelticTillDeath]

Avery is better then Jackson.

I won't go that far now. Avery doesn't show anything so far. I don't mind to pick Jackson if he had potential to be a good NBA player.

Ainge said Avery could be a #5 pick this draft? So be it. Let's still pick the best player we could have without any position concern.

Why Mavs pick Rodrigue Beaubois, Jose Barea, when they have Kidd and Terry? This doesn't make sense? But it paid pretty well for Mavs.

Ive been following Avery since he was in high school, and i can confidently say that Avery is better at almost every aspect of the game, except maybe ball handling. Im not saying Jackson is a slouch, because i do really like his skill set, but Avery is just the superior talent/player.

Defensively i feel like its not even close, even though they both possess similar physical attributes. Both are quick, strong, athletic, and long for their positions, but its the desire to be great defensively from Avery that separates the two in that category. Jackson has all the tools needed to be just as effective defensively as Avery, but Avery seems to just want it more on that end of the floor.

Offensively they are very similar as neither is really a "true" point guard when it comes to being a floor general. However, I do think Jackson is better suited to play the point at the NBA level more so then Avery, and i think Avery is the better scorer and is best suited at SG. I think Avery has the better form and effectiveness on his jump shot as well. I know we didnt see that consistently on the NBA level, but Avery led the nation in mid range shooting percentage while at Texas. Both of these guys really excel at driving to the basket and finishing around the rim. Both are terrific athletes, but i feel like Avery is faster, moves quicker laterally, and has the higher vertical lift. There is definitely a lot of similarities between the two, but in my eyes Avery is just the better player.

When you say "Avery hasnt shown us anything yet", that has a lot to do with him averaging 5 minutes a game when he actually would play. Lets not forget he came on to this team as a 19 year old rookie who was playing behind an All Star PG and SG. This was a team stacked with future HOF's and championship expectations, which is a lot for a kid his age to handle right away. He also suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and ended up cutting his training camp short. This limited his opportunities to get playing time early in the season when Delonte was suspended/injured. Then when Delonte came back, Avery was sent down to the D-League and away from the team. When Avery actually got playing time it was because we had a 20+ point leads and he would be on the floor with guys like Wafer, Harangody, Semih, Baby, Murphy, and Pavlovic. Its hard to look good when your on the floor with guys who are bottom of the bench type of players. The one game he played significant minutes with at least some talented players, was the very last game of the season against the Knicks. In that game Avery posted the following numbers: 27min, 20pts, 3rbs, 3ast, 2stls, 1blk, on 10-16 shooting. He showcased his ability to defend at a high level, attack the rim emphatically, and the ability to knock down the mid range shot with consistency. Had he not suffered the ankle injury and was groomed properly to play some minutes during the season, i think he could have been a big positive off the bench for us in the playoffs, specifically against Miami for his perimeter defense and athleticism. I expect to see Avery get more of an opportunity next year to fill a TA type roll off the bench.

As far as your comparisons to the Mavs drafting Roddy and JJ when they had Kidd and Terry, its apples and oranges when compared to this Celtics team. At this point in his career Kidd can only play a certain amount of minutes and Terry is a 6th man. Plus the Mavs were set at the PF/C spots with guys like Dirk, Chandler, Haywood, and Marion, all under contract who all log significant minutes. The Mavs NEEDED guard play and were all set in the front court. When you look at the Cs roster though, with Shaq and JO possibly retiring, with Krstic likely headed back to Europe, with Baby likely leaving, that leaves us with ONE big man on the roster in KG (who is also aging and needs to play less minutes to save himself for the playoffs). With Rondo and Ray locked up for next year, with the Cs showing a strong interest in bringing back Delonte, with Avery on board to play more minutes, and with Ainge looking into guys like JR Smith, Jamal Crawford, and other proven scoring athletes to come off the bench, we seem set at the PG/SG minutes. Where would Jackson fit in? Our biggest weakness all season long was rebounding and lack of athletes in the front court. With KG likely being the only big man coming back, and knowing what our weakness was, wouldnt you like to see Danny try to move up and get guys like Bismack, Faried, Williams, Tompkins, Harper, or JuJuan Johson to help fill a huge void in the front court? Doesnt that make more sense then adding another combo guard who will likely find himself sitting at the end of the bench all season long? ESPECIALLY if we might have to move up to draft Jackson? Id rather see us move up to grab athletic bigs then to move up and draft another "work in progress" combo guard. We NEED athletes who can rebound, play defense, and bring energy. We DONT NEED another combo guard who still needs to work on his game to be truly effective at the NBA level.

[gocelts]

I wouldnt make too much out of this. Im sure Danny saw alot of this kid, but it doesn't mean he made a promise. If this were the case though I'm actualy okay with it, as I am not out of my mind expecting us to draft a starting productive center at #25. Danny typically drafts on BB IQ and value and apperently this kid has both.

Just like aquiring Telfair and Rondo at around the same time, If he "likes" a kid, hes going to take him regardless of need in hopes that they develop later on down the road. If Jackson beats out Avery and becomes a staple in our backcourt rotation then the bottom line is that this was a good pick and last years was not. If Bradley beats out Jackson, than last year was a great pick and this years was not. Either way we have a better player as odds would suggest that they couldnt possibly both suck. Just because Bradley may not be developing here and West may or may not stay healthy doesnt mean that drafting a backup pointguard is off limits. In addition, just because Danny made a bad move before, doesnt mean he's going to stop getting players that he likes.

As far as other needs go, Kristc said he wants to play here and if he resigns he still has value in a trade later on, and I actually think that Jermaine Oniel will come back for his last season. He was productive in the playoffs and was allowed to sit out half the season this year...why would he not come back? I think all this talk about retirement is just lip service leading to the fact that after next year he's done. Yes we need more scoring from the bench, and another young big, however our scoring options are limited in this draft, and the big men are BIG projects. Anticipate these needs will be addressed with the MLE and the LLE.

[Captain_Caveman]

A point guard? What does this tell you about Avery Bradley?

It tells you that Ainge learned from Red that you always, always, always take the best player available.

That was Red's mantra about the draft. Seems to have worked out well enough.

[captain green]

I hope this isn't true.
6'9 or taller and best weak side help plus blocking please.
Reggie Jackson, please Danny's lost his mind, he already has his project in Bradley.
Most the guys that are 6 to 6'3 suck that he drafts plus we haven't needed any of them at all.

He's coming off some stupid mistakes is he in snow ball mode?

[LightAzcura]

If this kid is really 6'3" with a 7 foot wingspan...he could be our "SG of the future" if he pans out. Don't know much about the kid so we'll see...I'm just saying that's decent enough size to play SG.

[Marvel]

Where are people getting the idead that Reggie can't shoot?

80% FTs, 54% 2Pt, 55% FG, 37% 3Pt.

Avery Bradley - Texas:

54% FTs, 45% 2Pt, 43% FG, 37% 3Pt.

I love both players and i hope we can keep Bradley, but maybe Danny's thinking Reggie can evolve into a full time SG. Reggie has a huge wingspan, athletic, long, can play off ball...has the size to play SG.

[Slartibartfast]

Interesting player. Rondo-esque length, build and athleticism, with a bit more height. I can see why Danny would be intrigued. Hard to see why he's so low in the draft.

[Marvel]

Me thinks, if Danny is genuinly high on Reggie, he's looking at Utah's 12th.

[sully00]

It wouldn't surprise me that Ainge would promise Jackson if he thinks he can be a player. After about 5 in this draft it is a head scratcher. You can't be trying to fill needs you need to find someone who can play. Jackson may have needed a some security to stay in the draft. If your Ainge you want as many guys worthy of a first round pick to be in the draft as possible.

[Celts17Pride]

Reggie Jackson Celtics rumor again:

Apparently the Celtics aren't concerned about Jackson's minor knee surgery in mid-May, as a source insists he won't get past Boston. He would need some grooming, but the lengthy, two-way player could eventually be a dynamic option behind Rajon Rondo.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1PGkOi2eY

Where there is smoke there is fire?

[Marvel]

I would be STOKED if we got Reggie. One of my targets.

[Colossus]

Why get Reggie when we already have Bradley?

[sicknastydunker]

Reggie is a monster
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafkiHxunjk[/youtube]

[Banks2Pierce]

DraftExpress

I can tell you 100% that its false. Wish I could say more. Soon hopefully. RT @JDPappa3: You buying that Boston promised Reggie Jackson? 3 minutes ago via Seesmic Desktop

[BRUNiNHO91]

If you add the fact that Danny and Doc are so high on Avery Bradley to the fact that we are in desperate need of athletic big men, and it just makes this so hard to believe.

[nasbahceltic]

I don't understand the logic in reaching for a Big when you're picking 25th in the draft. BPA has always been my favored strategy as better players = better trade chips. Get as many good players as you can and then sort it out later. Ainge has always said people make mistakes in the draft when they reach for size. I can definitely see him being high on a guy like Reggie Jackson.

[canman1971]

I don't understand the logic in reaching for a Big when you're picking 25th in the draft. BPA has always been my favored strategy as better players = better trade chips. Get as many good players as you can and then sort it out later. Ainge has always said people make mistakes in the draft when they reach for size. I can definitely see him being high on a guy like Reggie Jackson.

Exactly, and I believe this is how Danny works. Danny will have a draft board, and when 25 comes up, whoever is left standing at the top of his, he will pick. You get the best player you can, and figure things out from there.