Did Boston blow their draft?

[theBigLip]

I'll just say it up front - I don't like Boston. Never have, never will.

That being said, they have done a great job of rebuilding and are certainly ahead of us in trying to knock off the Cavs to be champs of the East. They have a great coach, a young team, tons of draft picks, cap space, and seems like they would make the leap next year into real contenders. A summary of their stockpile of draft picks:

2016: Receives Brooklyn Nets’ 2016 first-round pick via Kevin Garnett trade on 7/12/13. Receives Dallas Mavericks’ 2016 first-round pick (protected for 1-7 in 2016, 1-7 in 2017, 1-7 in 2018, 1-7 in 2019, 1-7 in 2020 and unprotected in 2021) via Rajon Rondo trade. Receives Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2016 first-round pick (protected for 1-12) via Phoenix.
2017: Have rights to swap 2017 first-round picks with the Brooklyn Nets via Kevin Garnett trade on 7/10/13.
2018: Receives Brooklyn Nets 2018 first-round pick via Kevin Garnett trade on 7/10/13.

So I was totally worried about them this summer. So what did they do in the draft? Jaylen Brown? Potential star but far from guaranteed. And certainly not next year or two. I seriously thought they would put a package together and get a star and we would be chasing them for the next 5 years. But it didn't happen. A bit of a relief. I'm still a little nervous about the next two drafts (hopefully Brooklyn gets better quickly), but for now, it seems like we didn't really lose any ground to them this summer.

Thoughts?

[Moses ShamMoses]

yeah it seems they might have blown a good opportunity this draft with all the 1st rounders. Nobody wants to draft that many prospects as there isn't room/opportunity to develop all of them. I really hope Brooklyn is able to land a few key guys in free agency to where they can be respectable again (I could see them being a 8-10 spot in the lottery if things go well for them). That would kill Boston's momentum for sure.

[Kilo]

Depends on Jaylen Brown. I would have probably taken the Bulls final offer on Butler though. Brooklyn should get better, but they're not making the play-offs, so the risk is always there that they could "win" the lottery and Boston swaps their mid 20's pick for 1st overall.

I loved Denver's draft - didn't realize they had so many first rounders - get Jamal Murray, Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley.

[captainrebel]

I must say I’m not a fan of Boston and was happy to hear they may have screwed themselves because they fleeced the hell out of Brooklyn.

[JohnReese]

I'm more worried about Pacers. They just need Whiteside or Howard to be Top4. How much cap space do they have?

[coordinator0]

I don't think the Celtics blew their draft, it just reach the hype surrounding it. They weren't in a good position to make a deal with the third pick in this draft. Simmons and Ingram were the only two elite prospects, and then there was a bigger drop off than years past to the next tier. Don't get me wrong I'm still a fan of those other prospects but they're not as enticing as you would like. The draft overall was very deep in potential role players, but no team is going to trade their star for a stockpile of them. Compound that by the rumors that a ton of teams were looking to trade down and very few were looking to trade up and that put Boston is a tough spot.

Jaylen Brown made sense to me. Kris Dunn was the safer and more proven prospect, but the Celtics were already deep at guard. If you believe in Brown's upside (and his apparently improved shooting stroke shown in workouts) then his future prospects as a combo forward to pair with Crowder was the best route to go for them. A rim-protecting center would have been better but there wasn't one available in that tier. I don't think they blew that one.

Guerschon Yabusele at 16 wasn't good though. I liked him as a prospect... in the early second round. I get that they wanted draft-and-stash guys but to me value should trump that regardless. They didn't get it here. He's a thick, offensive big not too much different than Sullinger but probably without the ability to truly moonlight at center. I think they did blow this one.

Ante Zizic at 23 was really nice on the other hand. He's exactly what you want in that spot for a guy to stash overseas while matching up with value. His fit on the team is somewhat questionable if you think they need a defensive anchor down low, like I do, but he's a good prospect as a position of current and future need regardless. I don't think they blew that one.

In the second round it was a mixed bag. Trading 31 (Deyonta Davis) and 35 (Rade Zagorac) to Memphis for a future first round pick was a bad deal in my opinion. Davis is already a first round value in my opinion and there were still a bunch of guys left on the board at 35 that were quality prospects besides Zagorac. That might have tied into them not want to add so much youth, but it still wasn't good. Demetrius Jackson and Ben Bentil were quality picks though. Taking Abdel Nader at 58 was a throwaway. I think they pushed in that round.

So overall I think the Celtics did okay. With the circumstances being what they were a trade for a great veteran wasn't happening with a package based around their picks in this draft. Even Brooklyn's future picks aren't quite as valuable until teams know exactly where they're going to actually be. They could end up being the third pick in a two-player draft... like Boston did this year.

[Snakebites]

They didn't blow it, more just their timing was off.

Their assets just weren't as valuable as they were hoping they'd be, couldn't fetch an all star level player for a price they were comfortable wtih, and were stuck in an awkward position where the BPA didn't fit with their team.

It just wasn't a good draft to have 8 picks in. And lets not count them out yet, still lots of assets on the way in future drafts.

[theBigLip]

I guess "blow it" might be extreme, but I certainly think they missed an opportunity. Seems like Butler, Hardin, etc, could have been had with a boatload of draft picks. I'm glad they didn't succeed in getting an elite player.

I guess we have to wait how free agency plays out, but who is #2 in the East right now? Toronto, Boston, Indiana, Detroit? Everyone is chasing the Cavs...

[Snakebites]

I guess "blow it" might be extreme, but I certainly think they missed an opportunity. Seems like Butler, Hardin, etc, could have been had with a boatload of draft picks. I'm glad they didn't succeed in getting an elite player.

I guess we have to wait how free agency plays out, but who is #2 in the East right now? Toronto, Boston, Indiana, Detroit? Everyone is chasing the Cavs...

I don't think the opportunities were as good as people think they were. I think people weren't placing great value on their current draft picks, and a guy like Butler would have cost more of their warchest than they were willing to part with.

Its certainly a shame that this draft was so weak for them. In a stronger draft they probably could have gotten Butler for the number 3.

[zeebneeb]

I'll just say it up front - I don't like Boston. Never have, never will.

That being said, they have done a great job of rebuilding and are certainly ahead of us in trying to knock off the Cavs to be champs of the East. They have a great coach, a young team, tons of draft picks, cap space, and seems like they would make the leap next year into real contenders. A summary of their stockpile of draft picks:

2016: Receives Brooklyn Nets’ 2016 first-round pick via Kevin Garnett trade on 7/12/13. Receives Dallas Mavericks’ 2016 first-round pick (protected for 1-7 in 2016, 1-7 in 2017, 1-7 in 2018, 1-7 in 2019, 1-7 in 2020 and unprotected in 2021) via Rajon Rondo trade. Receives Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2016 first-round pick (protected for 1-12) via Phoenix.
2017: Have rights to swap 2017 first-round picks with the Brooklyn Nets via Kevin Garnett trade on 7/10/13.
2018: Receives Brooklyn Nets 2018 first-round pick via Kevin Garnett trade on 7/10/13.

So I was totally worried about them this summer. So what did they do in the draft? Jaylen Brown? Potential star but far from guaranteed. And certainly not next year or two. I seriously thought they would put a package together and get a star and we would be chasing them for the next 5 years. But it didn't happen. A bit of a relief. I'm still a little nervous about the next two drafts (hopefully Brooklyn gets better quickly), but for now, it seems like we didn't really lose any ground to them this summer.

Thoughts?

I couldn't disagree more with the bolded. Boston is not, by any measure better then the Pistons, or in a better place.

I don't care that Thomas was an all-star he barely made it over Jackson, and because of Jacksons crunch time play I would absolutely take him over Thomas every single time.

Drummond is the best player between both teams by a wide margin, then it goes Jackson, then maybe Thomas, but goes back to Harris.

My steadfast hatred for Boston aside, I disagree, and in my opinion, it's not even close.

[The Penguin]

I guess "blow it" might be extreme, but I certainly think they missed an opportunity. Seems like Butler, Hardin, etc, could have been had with a boatload of draft picks. I'm glad they didn't succeed in getting an elite player.

I guess we have to wait how free agency plays out, but who is #2 in the East right now? Toronto, Boston, Indiana, Detroit? Everyone is chasing the Cavs...

I don't think the opportunities were as good as people think they were. I think people weren't placing great value on their current draft picks, and a guy like Butler would have cost more of their warchest than they were willing to part with.

Its certainly a shame that this draft was so weak for them. In a stronger draft they probably could have gotten Butler for the number 3.

This was my takeaway as well. Boston's surplus of "assets" look great on paper, when you are looking at future incoming picks. But when it comes to players like Butler, Cousins, Love the teams are going to want near proven blue chip assets to move them. You can't simply throw 7 non lottery picks at someone and expect to get Jimmy Butler. I think Boston has a handful of nice pieces in Crowder / Bradley / Smart / IT / Brown / 2 more Brooklyn picks. The rest of their "assets" are window dressing. From everything that's gotten out, teams are going to want at least 2 out of the first group to think about moving a guy like Butler while the Celtics are willing to give up 1 along with a bunch of shiny junk.


I think they were in a tough spot, but I'm not willing to kill them or say they blew their shot. Teams viewed picks 3-8 as being roughly equal in value this year. Sacramento is the only team I'm willing to say blew their draft (maybe Milwaukee if Thon is really 23 already and will be out of his athletic prime by the time he develops). I have no idea what Sacto was thinking, moving Chriss for 2 centers and a guy drafted in the 20s 2 years ago (although Bellinelli for pick #22 was a nice move).

[The Penguin]

I think Ainge is also starting to get a rep as a used car salesman a bit. He'll put a 2014 Mustang out to display but when you stop in he's just trying to sell you some 2001 Taurus. "Hey look, Marcus Smart, Brooklyn Picks, Jae Crowder"..."Oh, we can't actually move one of them, but what if I told you about Kelly Olynyk and these 3 draft picks that'll be in the 20s instead...."

[Snakebites]

I guess "blow it" might be extreme, but I certainly think they missed an opportunity. Seems like Butler, Hardin, etc, could have been had with a boatload of draft picks. I'm glad they didn't succeed in getting an elite player.

I guess we have to wait how free agency plays out, but who is #2 in the East right now? Toronto, Boston, Indiana, Detroit? Everyone is chasing the Cavs...

I don't think the opportunities were as good as people think they were. I think people weren't placing great value on their current draft picks, and a guy like Butler would have cost more of their warchest than they were willing to part with.

Its certainly a shame that this draft was so weak for them. In a stronger draft they probably could have gotten Butler for the number 3.

This was my takeaway as well. Boston's surplus of "assets" look great on paper, when you are looking at future incoming picks. But when it comes to players like Butler, Cousins, Love the teams are going to want near proven blue chip assets to move them. You can't simply throw 7 non lottery picks at someone and expect to get Jimmy Butler. I think Boston has a handful of nice pieces in Crowder / Bradley / Smart / IT / Brown / 2 more Brooklyn picks. The rest of their "assets" are window dressing. From everything that's gotten out, teams are going to want at least 2 out of the first group to think about moving a guy like Butler while the Celtics are willing to give up 1 along with a bunch of shiny junk.


I think they were in a tough spot, but I'm not willing to kill them or say they blew their shot. Teams viewed picks 3-8 as being roughly equal in value this year. Sacramento is the only team I'm willing to say blew their draft (maybe Milwaukee if Thon is really 23 already and will be out of his athletic prime by the time he develops). I have no idea what Sacto was thinking, moving Chriss for 2 centers and a guy drafted in the 20s 2 years ago (although Bellinelli for pick #22 was a nice move).

I do think that in a stronger draft the number 3 pick with a couple of those later picks probably would have netted them Butler. Cousins would have cost a lot more, might not have been able to get him for any realistic price. This was a draft lots of teams were interested in trading out of.

[Moose10Fan]

My cousin is a hardcore Celtics fan, any issues they have is a delight to me.


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[DBC10]

Their only curse was being stuck at the #3 spot when they have a lot of assets but no one wants to trade with them for it.

Sucks that they didn't have anyone they could realistically choose at 3 without looking silly either way.

[Brapman]

Every team on the planet is the next draft away from getting the next Tim Duncan/LeBron/Wade/Kobe etc. Yes, the C's have a bunch of nice potential draft picks. But draft picks are always crap shots, with rare exceptions. Maybe one of these years, the Celtics will draft a big star - which will put them into the championship consideration 4-5 years from that point. Until then, they are a team full of nice role players and starters who would be the 4th best starter on a championship team - maybe.

[Pharaoh]

Surely Dunn & Brooklyn pick in 2018 gets them Noel?

Noel
Crowder
?
Bradley
IT
Smart

That's a nice core to sell to free agents

[Snakebites]

Surely Dunn & Brooklyn pick in 2018 gets them Noel?

Noel
Crowder
?
Bradley
IT
Smart

That's a nice core to sell to free agents

Not even sure Noel represents a consolidation of assets though. They already have enough power forwards and centers that are only good at one aspect of the game. Olynyk, Amir, Jonas, Sullinger....

Its almost as though they think if they collect enough of them they'll be able to meld them into one player that has all of the positive attributes.

He's definitely not worth TWO of the Brooklyn picks. I'd hesitate on one.

[sfballa13]

If I was Ainge I would have offered every single pick this year i believe it was #3, 16, 23 as well as a key player like Crowder and try to go after a superstar like Butler

Honestly Ainge should have offered #3, 16, 23 + BOTH brooklyn picks + Olynyk for Cousins + WCS + Gay and called it a day

I was REAL worried about Boston but i am glad how it worked out. Unless Jaylen Brown blows up it looks like we can breathe easy for one more year

[Pharaoh]

Surely Dunn & Brooklyn pick in 2018 gets them Noel?

Noel
Crowder
?
Bradley
IT
Smart

That's a nice core to sell to free agents

Not even sure Noel represents a consolidation of assets though. They already have enough power forwards and centers that are only good at one aspect of the game. Olynyk, Amir, Jonas, Sullinger....

Its almost as though they think if they collect enough of them they'll be able to meld them into one player that has all of the positive attributes.

He's definitely not worth TWO of the Brooklyn picks. I'd hesitate on one.

He was certainly worth more than the #3 in this past Draft IMO

And I'm one of the few that don't believe Ainge is dealing from a position of strength.

Yes, there's a lot of assets to combine.

Yes, there's a handful of capable players to combine

But if he doesn't strike a deal he's depending on the Draft to take that team from treadmill to contender.

That might work but a bird in the hand and all that.

At some point he needs to bite the bullet & make a good deal if there's no great deals available.

Noel, Crowder, Badley, IT, Smart is better than what they have now...and he could have the Memphis pick next year AND the swap with Brooklyn!