Official Draft Thread 2015-16

[Homerclease]

Spoiler:

If we don't get lucky and end up with Top 3 pick, I hope we can find a deal and trade it. I know it's only January but it looks like it's a two man draft (Simmons and Ingram) with a wild card Bender.

Obviously, there's going to be a guy picked 17th who's going to be a borderline all-star, but it's hard to project outliers like Jimmy Butler and Leonard. And no, no one though Kawhi is going to be a super star. Not even Spurs.

If I had to guess I would say it's going to be Luwawu. This guy should be Top 10 in this draft, on potential alone. 6'7'' with a 7'2'' wingspan who can make 3s. His bust scenario is Thabo Sefolosha. He's projected 15th at DraftExpress.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msd4OQimjDI[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRgX1n-qox8[/youtube]

What's up with those jerseys? On sale at Walmart?

Random idea for a drinking game. Take a shot every time Jamal Murray goes left. Make sure you have 911 on speed dial. Hot comparison of the day: Murray is Kendall Marshall if you replace playmaking with scoring. Who can he defend in the NBA?

Disclaimer, I thought Porzingis is going to be a solid role player like Spencer Hawes was his first 5-6 years, not a potential star. So, yeah, I'm far from expert. But I'm still better than Chad Ford, amirite

Gonna have to disagree on this one, I'd be more than happy to walk away with a Poeltl or Rabb if the pick falls in the 4-8 range. Celtics need help in the front court next year and I'm not sure they are going to find it in free agency

[Banks2Pierce]

My point was that if you pick 5th in this draft, chances are you'll draft a solid player. It's not good enough for us. Nets' pick is our best chance for major improvement. If we fail to get an all star type player with it (drafting a guy with major upside like Simmons or trading pick for an impact player) we're on a road to become a treadmill team. It's just a way it is. One of those picks has to turn into gold because Durants of this world are not coming here to play with IT and Poeltl.

I'm pretty much in the same place. The return would still have to be major, though. Guys that are going to be 4th-8th man quality on rookie contracts will probably spike in value. Even if they take 2 years to get going.

[165bows]

Eh, 2017 pick swap with the Nets could easily be just as good if not better asset. Probably drop in the draft a few spots but sounds like a lot more potential available. FA this summer will be a blood bath.

[Powe-Fessional]

Thanks for posting that video Aim. I've wanted to watch Luwawu for a bit, but I just haven't found the time. I like him a lot. He does a couple of things that make it move a little bit.

One: He looks like a good athlete on the floor. His size, wingspan, athleticism all are pluses for me. Good spurts of speed, but like Smart needs to learn how to turn the corner, vary his speeds, etc to become a craftier offensive player. Obviously needs to fill out and add muscle, but it's not as dire as Godzingis.

Two: Shot looks pretty smooth. A low release, but that doesn't really bother me. My one caveat I guess is balance. I feel like sometimes he takes a shot leaning one way or the other when he doesn't have to. When you're shooting on the run it's sometimes inevitable that you're going to lean that direction, and that's okay. But in order to get more consistent positive results with your shot you need to be square to the basket.

Three: He can finish and dribble with both hands, and that's EXTREMELY important. For as much as people love Julius Randle (and I am not in that category) that guy only goes left. Same thing right now with Murray on UK. In order to be an effective all-around player you need to be good at both.

Four: It's a small thing, but it's a reason why I like Ingram so much. Guy at times will play PG for his EL team. I like guys that have position versatility. He's a wing, but if he's able to initiate the offense you can get really creative with guys off the ball like IT, Hunter, Young, using screens, back-door cuts, pin downs, etc to get them open looks at the basket. IT has been pretty remarkable handling the basketball this year (He's currently having his best distribution month of his career at 7.7 assists a game over the course of 14 games), but I love when they turn him into the "SG" and run him off screens to get an open shot. Running the offense through your wing at age 21 is just intriguing to me. He can make the one-handed pocket pass, lob it over the top, etc. He needs seasoning here, but there's a lot to already look at.

Five: When he wants to he's a very good defensive player. Fights through screens, can cover all 90' of the floor. Good team defender in some of the clips that Mike put together (switching, rotating, etc.).

Big fan. Like him more than Korkmanz. Draft Express has him at 15. I think he'll go higher than that. I'm not sure what you label Simmons as, but I'd put Luwawu with Jaylen Brown right now behind Ingram and Simmons for the top wings.

[ddb]

These BK picks are gold. If Danny hangs onto them and drafts well, there is a decent chance he could go Seattle/OKC mode (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) over the next three years. Obviously thats best case scenario, but it sort puts that trade into perspective

[truth18]

Thread broken, I blame the Grey jerseys lol

[BfB]

The powers that be seem pretty intent on trading for a big name player, but it is intriguing to think about stagfering 2-3 top 5 picks into an already young core and simply waiting out the current eastern conference powers.

[Gomes3PC]

This is probably why Ainge will think long and hard if Dunn is available:

https://twitter.com/RobDauster/status/683410612454572033

So far with 26/8/6/3/1 on 9/17 shooting including 4/7 from 3.

[chakdaddy]

This is probably why Ainge will think long and hard if Dunn is available:

https://twitter.com/RobDauster/status/683410612454572033

So far with 26/8/6/3/1 on 9/17 shooting including 4/7 from 3.

This is why - he's a **** moron with a combo guard/tweener fetish.

Welcome to Maine Kris Dunn; get in line behind Rozier.

[Gomes3PC]

This is probably why Ainge will think long and hard if Dunn is available:

https://twitter.com/RobDauster/status/683410612454572033

So far with 26/8/6/3/1 on 9/17 shooting including 4/7 from 3.

This is why - he's a **** moron with a combo guard/tweener fetish.

Welcome to Maine Kris Dunn; get in line behind Rozier.

If you think Dunn and Rozier are comparable, you're brain dead. Dunn is currently leading the nation in assist rate. He is not remotely a tweener. He is as pure a PG as you will find. He also has a better frame, better jumper, and plays better D than Rozier.

[Edug27]

These BK picks are gold. If Danny hangs onto them and drafts well, there is a decent chance he could go Seattle/OKC mode (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) over the next three years. Obviously thats best case scenario, but it sort puts that trade into perspective

Simmer down big fella. Better chance it will be Smart, Olynyk, and Young type picks in the next 3 years. The real best case scenario is we draft Simmons and he turns out to be Lebron 2.0

[Homerclease]

These BK picks are gold. If Danny hangs onto them and drafts well, there is a decent chance he could go Seattle/OKC mode (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) over the next three years. Obviously thats best case scenario, but it sort puts that trade into perspective

Simmer down big fella. Better chance it will be Smart, Olynyk, and Young type picks in the next 3 years. The real best case scenario is we draft Simmons and he turns out to be Lebron 2.0

How is it a better chance? You think those nets picks are going to be mid 1sts? Or is this a knock on Ainges drafting ability?

[Edug27]

These BK picks are gold. If Danny hangs onto them and drafts well, there is a decent chance he could go Seattle/OKC mode (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) over the next three years. Obviously thats best case scenario, but it sort puts that trade into perspective

Simmer down big fella. Better chance it will be Smart, Olynyk, and Young type picks in the next 3 years. The real best case scenario is we draft Simmons and he turns out to be Lebron 2.0

How is it a better chance? You think those nets picks are going to be mid 1sts? Or is this a knock on Ainges drafting ability?

OKC had 3 seasons of top 4 picks if I'm not mistaken ... BK will not provide that to us. Maybe one pick in the top 6 if lucky

[BfB]

BKN has very little chance of improvement over the next three years. They are not going to atteact elite free agents, have nothingmof value to trade, and are without premium picks.

Every team has cap money the next two offseasons, BKN is no longer a sexy new destination as it was when Deron Williams and D Howard were intrigued by it.

There is a much much greater chance that BKN is a bottom 5-8 team than a 14-17 team over the next 3 years.

[Gomes3PC]

The main reason Brooklyn won't get better is they have an absolutely atrocious GM. All the cap space in the world doesn't matter when you have Billy King deciding how to spend it.

[ddb]

Simmer down big fella. Better chance it will be Smart, Olynyk, and Young type picks in the next 3 years. The real best case scenario is we draft Simmons and he turns out to be Lebron 2.0

How is it a better chance? You think those nets picks are going to be mid 1sts? Or is this a knock on Ainges drafting ability?

OKC had 3 seasons of top 4 picks if I'm not mistaken ... BK will not provide that to us. Maybe one pick in the top 6 if lucky

Did I, or did I not say "best case scenario"? Do you know what that means, or no?
Obviously nailing 3 Top 4 picks in a row is hard to do, if you even have get type of opportunity....but please take some time and say something of substance explaining to us how BK is going to improve.. free agency is the ONLY way they can improve.
Or they can let Billy King try to trade Lopez or Thad Young to reacquire some type of draft presence, but that isnt improving them anytime soon.
So percentages, and history are both giving the Celtics a heck of a shot of drafting Top5 with all 3 of those picks....unless of course Durant shocks the world and signs with BK.

I did your work for you. You're welcome

[Andrew McCeltic]

The powers that be seem pretty intent on trading for a big name player, but it is intriguing to think about stagfering 2-3 top 5 picks into an already young core and simply waiting out the current eastern conference powers.

Was just thinking our trio of in-ish-siders had been quiet lately.. I'm worried Ainge and the owners don't have the patience to do a rebuild right. Who would even be the big name player? Other than Cousins, the only big-enough name I can see us making a play for is Deandre Jordan.. Horford's about to be a free agent and could get poached by Orlando.. Gallo is a medium name guy..

I'd offer the '18 pick to the Sixers today, top 3 protected, for Noel, with Philly getting a different draft selection (maybe our '18 pick) if the Nets' is top 3.. Would rather do deals like that, to deepen our base of prospects..

[Andrew McCeltic]

BKN has very little chance of improvement over the next three years. They are not going to atteact elite free agents, have nothingmof value to trade, and are without premium picks.

Every team has cap money the next two offseasons, BKN is no longer a sexy new destination as it was when Deron Williams and D Howard were intrigued by it.

There is a much much greater chance that BKN is a bottom 5-8 team than a 14-17 team over the next 3 years.

They're a bottom 10 team, sure, but I don't salivate over having the 7th pick this year, swapping the 16th for the 8th next year, and having the 10th in 2018..

The Nets don't have to rebuild into a contender to hurt us, they just have to rebuild into mediocrity. Look at the guys the Knicks got this summer- Afflalo, Robin Lopez, Kyle O'Quinn- Brooklyn signs a few guys like that and they're in ok shape. They could do ok trading Lopez, maybe Young, and if they find a taker for Joe Johnson, they could be trending upward quick.

[Edug27]

How is it a better chance? You think those nets picks are going to be mid 1sts? Or is this a knock on Ainges drafting ability?

OKC had 3 seasons of top 4 picks if I'm not mistaken ... BK will not provide that to us. Maybe one pick in the top 6 if lucky

Did I, or did I not say "best case scenario"? Do you know what that means, or no?
Obviously nailing 3 Top 4 picks in a row is hard to do, if you even have get type of opportunity....but please take some time and say something of substance explaining to us how BK is going to improve.. free agency is the ONLY way they can improve.
Or they can let Billy King try to trade Lopez or Thad Young to reacquire some type of draft presence, but that isnt improving them anytime soon.
So percentages, and history are both giving the Celtics a heck of a shot of drafting Top5 with all 3 of those picks....unless of course Durant shocks the world and signs with BK.

I did your work for you. You're welcome

So feisty. One usually hears thank you before replying you're welcome. But you're right, it is the best case scenario. Id bet large amounts that it won't happen, but nonetheless, it's best case. I think we are underestimating how easy it is to not finish bottom 5 in the league. And the history that you speak of, shows that Boston does not have much luck in the lottery. Nets are a 2 game win streak from possibly being at the 7 spot. (before the lotto)

[BfB]

BKN has very little chance of improvement over the next three years. They are not going to atteact elite free agents, have nothingmof value to trade, and are without premium picks.

Every team has cap money the next two offseasons, BKN is no longer a sexy new destination as it was when Deron Williams and D Howard were intrigued by it.

There is a much much greater chance that BKN is a bottom 5-8 team than a 14-17 team over the next 3 years.

They're a bottom 10 team, sure, but I don't salivate over having the 7th pick this year, swapping the 16th for the 8th next year, and having the 10th in 2018..

The Nets don't have to rebuild into a contender to hurt us, they just have to rebuild into mediocrity. Look at the guys the Knicks got this summer- Afflalo, Robin Lopez, Kyle O'Quinn- Brooklyn signs a few guys like that and they're in ok shape. They could do ok trading Lopez, maybe Young, and if they find a taker for Joe Johnson, they could be trending upward quick.

You're confusing things here. BKN has no incentive to "tank" - that is not synonymous with having incentive to "max out" into mediocrity.

Team building requires smart asset management. BKN roasted itself with the BOS trade and tried to see what they had to work with in the aftermath. Their next logical step is to maximize their existing assets while minimizing salary committments.

Spending all their money to max into mediocrity only ensures that a 3 year lotto drought extends into a 5-6 year drought while tying up their money in hard to move assets with latteral market value at best.

The smart play would be to sign/acquire some young players who have underachieved and may have "breakout" potential while managing cap space. The alternative is trading Lopez/Young and trying to get some late 1sts.

I think BKN has learned their lessen about quick fixes - Prokov has taken some lumps and is more likely to put a more sound, long term strategy into place.