2020 NBA Draft Thread

[snowman]

This draft is where Danny should earn or lose his job going forward. We have 3 1st round picks to up grade the bench this off season. Javonte Green (great athlete, and story but hit only 9 3 pointers and scored a total of 163 points ALL SEASON !!!, for a shooting guard) Semi Ojeleye (why is he still playing, he has scored 21 total points in the playoffs, in 13 games and 122 minutes) and Vincent Poirier ( Vinney sexy pants has a total of 41 points and 43 rebounds ALL SEASON !!!) If we are to upgrade our bench, start with replacing these 3 with the 3 1st round picks. If Danny can't upgrade these 3 guys with our picks in this draft, even a so - called weak draft, then Danny is the one that needs to go.

14th pick, Saddiq Bey hopefully takes Semi's roster spot. He is a bit lighter but taller than Hayward, and a great shooter. Great eventual replacement.
26th pick Kira Lewis hopefully takes Green's roster spot. Should be better than Waters too, at least not a defensive liability.
30th pick Daniel Oturu hopefully takes Poirier's roster spot. ( Man was I wrong on this guy. There is a post somewhere of me predicting him a starter by end of season. Crow sure tastes bad.)
Waters hopefully takes Edwards roster spot.

If we makes these moves and maybe a tweak here or there ( like moving on from Wannamaker, and letting Smart be full time 2nd team point) or other small moves, our bench will be better.

I would love to see:
PG: Kemba, Smart, Kira Lewis, Waters ( replacing Edwards unless a major turn around by Edwards))
SG: Brown, Landford,
SF: Hayward, Saddiq Bey, (FA)
PF: Tatum, G. Williams, Daniel Oturu
C: Theis, R. Williams, Kanter
Pick 47 and Fall should be 2 ways. Waters should replace Edwards, but probably won't)
released or traded: Wannamaker, Semi, Poirier, Green, and Edwards.

[100proof]

Is there a knockdown shooter like Herro in this draft? Is Nesmith that guy?

Isaiah Joe

That is a guy we MUst have IMO.

Watch on YouTube

[Squigglepuffin]

Is there a knockdown shooter like Herro in this draft? Is Nesmith that guy?

Nesmith is no doubt a knockdown shooter. Saddiq Bey is another. If we are talking purely 3 pointers, a third would be Jamhi'us Ramsey. It's interesting bc imo Nesmith has the best NBA body and athleticism. Saddiq Bey will just not be a bust. He's a safe pick. Jamhi'us Ramsey could end up being better than both but atm isn't better than either.

Bey is a more likely pick imo due to the fact that we already have Langford as a future SG and Bey is more of a SF which fills a need (and I know BPA is Ainge's strategy but this draft more than any other in recent memory is full of future busts - and Bey just won't bust (but I do wonder if he might have knee problems in the future since they bend in awkwardly every time he shoots). He's a very safe pick imo.

Also, Bey and Ramsey have a much quicker shot release than Nesmith.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Statistically its a true statment, this is one of the early Daryl Morey things, its been documented numerous times there are exceptions to every rule, For example in citing your steve kerr example, as a freshman he hardly ever got to the line he took 52 free throws, however if you look overall at his college carrer he shot 81.5% The problem with freshman free throw percentage for non stars is an extremely limited sample size, both the players we are talking about are not effected by it. https://medium.com/push-the-pace/fact-or-fiction-is-college-free-throw-percentage-better-than-college-three-point-percentage-at-8c77a7e3f09a

I just don't buy it. I am sure that FT% tends to be correlated with three point shooting performance; that does not mean it is an indicator of a good three point shooter. And it certainly does not mean that it is a better indicator than actual three point shooting.

I'm not saying Steve Kerr was a bad three point shooter (edit - FT shooter). And I mean, Steve Novak was an historically elite three throw (edit - free throw) shooter, Kyle Korver was elite, Steph Curry was/is an excellent free throw shooter. But if you needed to look at their FT% to know those guys were great three point shooters, you had issues. It figures that these guys would be great FT shooters, it doesn't figure that Brad Wanamaker would turn into Steph Curry if he shot more, just because he shoots a great FT%.

Now, on a grand scale, glancing at FT% might work better than glancing at 3PT% in terms of predicting a player's shooting ability, in part because FT% is theoretically much less affected by age and development curve and spacing and defense. Therefore there is less context to analyze incorrectly or overlook.

btw, Markus Howard projects as a Steph Curry caliber shooter by almost any measure, I'd love for us to walk away with him.

FT% was a slightly better indicator than 3pt% historically because the sample was larger. The top players would take 2 to 3 3’s a game [or less than 100 a year], but go to the line 7 to 8 times a game [or more than 250]. As the sample was bigger, this gave slightly better confidence in the results.

In today’s game, this has changed. Players routinely shoot just as much, if not more, threes than FTs. As such, my best guess is that FT% as an indicator of shooting quality likely isnt more slightly more predictive as it historically was.

[SmartWentCrazy]

Precious Achiuwa. Good size, athletic, good handle and defense. Perfect fit for the Celtics current roster.

he would be in my top 5 in the whole draft IF he proves he can shoot, and I mean really shoot.. as of now he looks like a bit of a shooting project..

Achiuwa vs Azubuike vs Reed: Career Numbers - 2019-20 season numbers in ( )

Close 2Pt% (Bigs)*
=================
1 Udoka Azubuike .851
24 Paul Reed .663
30 Precious Achiuwa .641 - He's extremely right hand dominant. When he uses his left hand, bad things happen.

*2019-20 only

Steal Rate (Bigs)
=================
1 Paul Reed 2.8 (3.3)
6 Precious Achiuwa 2.0
14 Udoka Azubuike 1.2 (1.0)

Block Rate (Bigs)
=================
4 Udoka Azubuike 9.4 (10.9)
9 Paul Reed 7.9 (9.7)
18 Precious Achiuwa 6.4

DRB% (Bigs)
===========
7 Paul Reed 25.1 (25.9)
9 Precious Achiuwa 24.6
12 Udoka Azubuike 23.9 (26.9)

FT% (Bigs)
==========
10 Paul Reed .739 (.738)
49 Precious Achiuwa .599
53 Udoka Azubuike .416 (.441)

Assist% (Bigs)
==============
18 Paul Reed 8.8 (11.5)
25 Precious Achiuwa 7.5
32 Udoka Azubuike 6.2 (7.1)

3ptA/100pos (Bigs)
==================
20 Paul Reed 2.7 (3.2)
22 Precious Achiuwa 2.3
39 Udoka Azubuike 0.0 (0.0) - This is a good number.

Draft Age (prior to 9/01/2020)
Precious Achiuwa (20)
Udoka Azubuike (20)
Paul Reed (21)

Level of Competition
Paul Reed (Big East)
Udoka Azubuike (Big 12)
Precious Achiuwa (AAC) - Which among the three conferences is the toughest? It's debatable between two of them. There is no debate on which conference among the three is the weakest.

I must be missing something...

Precious is highly overrated

[SmartWentCrazy]

Celts like the idea of trading up for Okongwu, Okoro, or Vassell?

Just going to quote myself a minute here, lol.

I’m fine on the last two but would prefer we didnt trade up for a big.

[themoneyteam2]

Hard pass on Nesmith and I'm very confident the Celtics won't take him anyways.

[CelticsPride18]

Hard pass on Nesmith and I'm very confident the Celtics won't take him anyways.

Also pass on Bey I think he will be terrible on defense too slow and I doubt his ability to get his shot off at the pro level.

[threrf23]

Hard pass on Nesmith and I'm very confident the Celtics won't take him anyways.

Also pass on Bey I think he will be terrible on defense too slow and I doubt his ability to get his shot off at the pro level.

His shot does look awkward as hell.

[100proof]

Hard pass on Nesmith and I'm very confident the Celtics won't take him anyways.

Also pass on Bey I think he will be terrible on defense too slow and I doubt his ability to get his shot off at the pro level.

His shot does look awkward as hell.

Which Bey?

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Personally I think the 2nd one is a better prospect.

[Half-Full]

There is more potential in this draft than I had previously thought. It is quite possible that the Celtics could come away with one or more quality bigs at picks number 26 and 30. Of course, there are few sure things at the tail end of the first round, but Paul Reed, and Xavier Tillman are both players that look ready to go, and should be available at 26 and 30 if the Celtics are interested. Each player has some limitations, whether it's size (Tillman), perimeter game/jump shot (both), which is why they would likely be available at those picks, but both players also bring positives to the table. Basketball IQ, energy and hustle, and defensive game. It would be interesting to see them both fighting it out for a roster spot. There are also bigs that could be available at pick 14 if the Celtics are interested. Patrick Williams, Precious Achiuwa, or perhaps someone higher rated who takes a tumble down to pick 14.

Just as with bigs, there seem to be some decent point guards that will be available when the Celtics are picking. Kira Lewis, Tyrell Terry, Cole Anthony, Maledon, Tre Jones. One way or another, it seems that the Celtics could come away with players that could displace some of the end of benchers that are currently on the team. It would not surprise me if one of the three first round picks proves to be a rotation player sooner rather than later. Of course, it is my half-full optimism that is saying that. The draft is a crap shoot, and I have no crystal ball. Just like every other fan, I form my opinions by reading the comments of others, checking the mock drafts, gleanings from the internet, and viewing YouTube player highlights and scouting reports. In fact it was the comments of others in this thread that made me check out Paul Reed and Xavier Tillman, and both have firmly established themselves on my radar now.

[CelticsPride18]

Also pass on Bey I think he will be terrible on defense too slow and I doubt his ability to get his shot off at the pro level.

His shot does look awkward as hell.

Which Bey?

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Personally I think the 2nd one is a better prospect.

Saddiq

[100proof]

There is more potential in this draft than I had previously thought. It is quite possible that the Celtics could come away with one or more quality bigs at picks number 26 and 30. Of course, there are few sure things at the tail end of the first round, but Paul Reed, and Xavier Tillman are both players that look ready to go, and should be available at 26 and 30 if the Celtics are interested. Each player has some limitations, whether it's size (Tillman), perimeter game/jump shot (both), which is why they would likely be available at those picks, but both players also bring positives to the table. Basketball IQ, energy and hustle, and defensive game. It would be interesting to see them both fighting it out for a roster spot. There are also bigs that could be available at pick 14 if the Celtics are interested. Patrick Williams, Precious Achiuwa, or perhaps someone higher rated who takes a tumble down to pick 14.

Just as with bigs, there seem to be some decent point guards that will be available when the Celtics are picking. Kira Lewis, Tyrell Terry, Cole Anthony, Maledon, Tre Jones. One way or another, it seems that the Celtics could come away with players that could displace some of the end of benchers that are currently on the team. It would not surprise me if one of the three first round picks proves to be a rotation player sooner rather than later. Of course, it is my half-full optimism that is saying that. The draft is a crap shoot, and I have no crystal ball. Just like every other fan, I form my opinions by reading the comments of others, checking the mock drafts, gleanings from the internet, and viewing YouTube player highlights and scouting reports. In fact it was the comments of others in this thread that made me check out Paul Reed and Xavier Tillman, and both have firmly established themselves on my radar now.

HAve to come out of this draft with a dead eye shooter. Gotta Get Isaiah Joe

[Spin Move]

he would be in my top 5 in the whole draft IF he proves he can shoot, and I mean really shoot.. as of now he looks like a bit of a shooting project..

Achiuwa vs Azubuike vs Reed: Career Numbers - 2019-20 season numbers in ( )

Close 2Pt% (Bigs)*
=================
1 Udoka Azubuike .851
24 Paul Reed .663
30 Precious Achiuwa .641 - He's extremely right hand dominant. When he uses his left hand, bad things happen.

*2019-20 only

Steal Rate (Bigs)
=================
1 Paul Reed 2.8 (3.3)
6 Precious Achiuwa 2.0
14 Udoka Azubuike 1.2 (1.0)

Block Rate (Bigs)
=================
4 Udoka Azubuike 9.4 (10.9)
9 Paul Reed 7.9 (9.7)
18 Precious Achiuwa 6.4

DRB% (Bigs)
===========
7 Paul Reed 25.1 (25.9)
9 Precious Achiuwa 24.6
12 Udoka Azubuike 23.9 (26.9)

FT% (Bigs)
==========
10 Paul Reed .739 (.738)
49 Precious Achiuwa .599
53 Udoka Azubuike .416 (.441)

Assist% (Bigs)
==============
18 Paul Reed 8.8 (11.5)
25 Precious Achiuwa 7.5
32 Udoka Azubuike 6.2 (7.1)

3ptA/100pos (Bigs)
==================
20 Paul Reed 2.7 (3.2)
22 Precious Achiuwa 2.3
39 Udoka Azubuike 0.0 (0.0) - This is a good number.

Draft Age (prior to 9/01/2020)
Precious Achiuwa (20)
Udoka Azubuike (20)
Paul Reed (21)

Level of Competition
Paul Reed (Big East)
Udoka Azubuike (Big 12)
Precious Achiuwa (AAC) - Which among the three conferences is the toughest? It's debatable between two of them. There is no debate on which conference among the three is the weakest.

I must be missing something...

Precious is highly overrated

Precious is really athletic for his size, the mistake is to thnk he is a 4/5 when he is really more traditionally a 3/4 who does not have a great shot. More Shawn Marion that Amare Stoudamire if you catch my drift, he is a really good athlete though, if he develops his jump shot (always a huge if) he could be really really valuable, he is not a true freshman but he is a guy with a huge wingspan and the speed to switch onto gaurds and major hops. He could grow into the Theis role and eventually be better if he worked really hard. He has a 4 body though not a 5 body but in this NBA that is kinda what you want. His athletiscm is rare, his skill level is not, will he be stromile swift or a Andre Kirlenko, 2 guys of simler size and athletiscm who had very different careers.

[playa-hater]

VOTING RUNOFF!!!

I want and hope everyone can do a runoff vote using these 5 players..

Just pick one.. If these 5 players were available and we can only draft 1.. who is your finally pick as of now at 14

Seddiq Bey

Kira Lewis jr

Patrick Williams

Precious Achiuwa

Aaron Nesmith

just want to finish this Runoff for Pick 14..

hopefully by tonight I can have some more votes..

[SmartWentCrazy]

Out of the runoff, going Patrick Williams.

In general, seeing top Kentucky player after top Kentucky player continue to outperform their draft slot makes me even higher on Maxey.

[CelticsPride18]

Out of the runoff, going Patrick Williams.

In general, seeing top Kentucky player after top Kentucky player continue to outperform their draft slot makes me even higher on Maxey.

Kentucky guards have been so good in the last few drafts specially the ones drafted in the lottery. The only miss is Malik Monk.

[AgentGreen]

If Vassell drops then there is no discussion imo, best 3 and D player in the draft.

My top 3 would be: 1. Vassell, 2. Nesmith, 3. Jalen Smith

[Half-Full]

HAve to come out of this draft with a dead eye shooter. Gotta Get Isaiah Joe

Current projections have him going in the second round. We'll have to see if the Celtics value him enough to take with one of their late first round picks.

[JHTruth]

There is more potential in this draft than I had previously thought. It is quite possible that the Celtics could come away with one or more quality bigs at picks number 26 and 30. Of course, there are few sure things at the tail end of the first round, but Paul Reed, and Xavier Tillman are both players that look ready to go, and should be available at 26 and 30 if the Celtics are interested. Each player has some limitations, whether it's size (Tillman), perimeter game/jump shot (both), which is why they would likely be available at those picks, but both players also bring positives to the table. Basketball IQ, energy and hustle, and defensive game. It would be interesting to see them both fighting it out for a roster spot. There are also bigs that could be available at pick 14 if the Celtics are interested. Patrick Williams, Precious Achiuwa, or perhaps someone higher rated who takes a tumble down to pick 14.

Just as with bigs, there seem to be some decent point guards that will be available when the Celtics are picking. Kira Lewis, Tyrell Terry, Cole Anthony, Maledon, Tre Jones. One way or another, it seems that the Celtics could come away with players that could displace some of the end of benchers that are currently on the team. It would not surprise me if one of the three first round picks proves to be a rotation player sooner rather than later. Of course, it is my half-full optimism that is saying that. The draft is a crap shoot, and I have no crystal ball. Just like every other fan, I form my opinions by reading the comments of others, checking the mock drafts, gleanings from the internet, and viewing YouTube player highlights and scouting reports. In fact it was the comments of others in this thread that made me check out Paul Reed and Xavier Tillman, and both have firmly established themselves on my radar now.

Don't understand the Tillman love at all. Undersized big with pedestrian athleticism with no proven shot-making or stretch ability. Sounds like an absolute stiff to me..