2022 NBA Draft Thread – (June 23rd, 8PM, ESPN)

[Hal14]

Tari Eason.

Projected to go somewhere in the 10-20 range.

I like the fit for him on the Celtics.

He's a PF. That's his natural position and where he projects in the NBA.

But has the perimeter skill set and defensive versatility to play on the wing. He also has a 7'0.5" wingspan, one of the stronger dudes in the draft class, beast of a rebounder so he can also play some center in a small ball lineup.

He's got a toughness, an edge, a nastiness to him, a competitive fire, he's a dog. We could use a guy like that on this team.

His best skill is the ability to relentlessly attack the basket - off drives, on the offensive glass, off cuts. He doesn't settle for jump shots. He attacks the rim like a beast and he finishes at the rim like a beast - while at the same time he is a decent outside shooter.

Good defender, too. Really gets up on his man, pressuring the ball. Gets some impressive steals, both on the ball and off-ball when jumping the passing lanes - off turnovers (where he gets a steal or a teammate gets it) he relentlessly gets out in transition, attacking, keeping pressure on the defense and throwing down some ferocious dunks on the break.

I think Eason could develop into a legit no. 3 scoring option to complement the Jays. You have Brown at the 2, tatum at the 3, eason at the 4 and Rob at the 5. Watch out!

This was his last game, vs a good Alabama team. Bama has a few losses already but they're loaded with talent..Eason had 26 pts and 10 rebs:

Watch on YouTube

This was 2 yrs ago and in High school, but worth checking out because it contains a bunch of plays where Eason outplays Paolo Banchero (projected by many to be the no. 1 pick) and Eason's team beats Banchero's team by like 30 points:

Watch on YouTube

[BostonCouchGM]

Tari Eason.

Projected to go somewhere in the 10-20 range.

I like the fit for him on the Celtics.

He's a PF. That's his natural position and where he projects in the NBA.

But has the perimeter skill set and defensive versatility to play on the wing. He also has a 7'0.5" wingspan, one of the stronger dudes in the draft class, beast of a rebounder so he can also play some center in a small ball lineup.

He's got a toughness, an edge, a nastiness to him, a competitive fire, he's a dog. We could use a guy like that on this team.

His best skill is the ability to relentlessly attack the basket - off drives, on the offensive glass, off cuts. He doesn't settle for jump shots. He attacks the rim like a beast and he finishes at the rim like a beast - while at the same time he is a decent outside shooter.

Good defender, too. Really gets up on his man, pressuring the ball. Gets some impressive steals, both on the ball and off-ball when jumping the passing lanes - off turnovers (where he gets a steal or a teammate gets it) he relentlessly gets out in transition, attacking, keeping pressure on the defense and throwing down some ferocious dunks on the break.

I think Eason could develop into a legit no. 3 scoring option to complement the Jays. You have Brown at the 2, tatum at the 3, eason at the 4 and Rob at the 5. Watch out!

This was his last game, vs a good Alabama team. Bama has a few losses already but they're loaded with talent..Eason had 26 pts and 10 rebs:

Watch on YouTube

This was 2 yrs ago and in High school, but worth checking out because it contains a bunch of plays where Eason outplays Paolo Banchero (projected by many to be the no. 1 pick) and Eason's team beats Banchero's team by like 30 points:

Watch on YouTube

Yeah, I’ve got him in the 7-10 range personally. I love that he put on some size and improved his shooting. It shows he cares. I see him as a natural SF with ability to defend PF, similar to Tatum. Paul George is my comp. I would be ecstatic if he fell to us but I think he’s gone by our pick unfortunately. If Sharpe reclassified there’s a great chance at least one of the 4s fall to us so I’m getting excited.

Who do you take if we had the choice between Jovic, Baldwin, Eason and Duren?

[Hal14]

Tari Eason.

Projected to go somewhere in the 10-20 range.

I like the fit for him on the Celtics.

He's a PF. That's his natural position and where he projects in the NBA.

But has the perimeter skill set and defensive versatility to play on the wing. He also has a 7'0.5" wingspan, one of the stronger dudes in the draft class, beast of a rebounder so he can also play some center in a small ball lineup.

He's got a toughness, an edge, a nastiness to him, a competitive fire, he's a dog. We could use a guy like that on this team.

His best skill is the ability to relentlessly attack the basket - off drives, on the offensive glass, off cuts. He doesn't settle for jump shots. He attacks the rim like a beast and he finishes at the rim like a beast - while at the same time he is a decent outside shooter.

Good defender, too. Really gets up on his man, pressuring the ball. Gets some impressive steals, both on the ball and off-ball when jumping the passing lanes - off turnovers (where he gets a steal or a teammate gets it) he relentlessly gets out in transition, attacking, keeping pressure on the defense and throwing down some ferocious dunks on the break.

I think Eason could develop into a legit no. 3 scoring option to complement the Jays. You have Brown at the 2, tatum at the 3, eason at the 4 and Rob at the 5. Watch out!

This was his last game, vs a good Alabama team. Bama has a few losses already but they're loaded with talent..Eason had 26 pts and 10 rebs:

Watch on YouTube

This was 2 yrs ago and in High school, but worth checking out because it contains a bunch of plays where Eason outplays Paolo Banchero (projected by many to be the no. 1 pick) and Eason's team beats Banchero's team by like 30 points:

Watch on YouTube

Yeah, I’ve got him in the 7-10 range personally. I love that he put on some size and improved his shooting. It shows he cares. I see him as a natural SF with ability to defend PF, similar to Tatum. Paul George is my comp. I would be ecstatic if he fell to us but I think he’s gone by our pick unfortunately. If Sharpe reclassified there’s a great chance at least one of the 4s fall to us so I’m getting excited.

Who do you take if we had the choice between Jovic, Baldwin, Eason and Duren?

Yup, I have eason ranked in the 7-10 range too. Seems like most mock drafts though have him in the 10-20 range. As of now we'd be picking in the 12-14 range so seems like a decent chance he'll still be there but yeah, he may be gone..

I would take Eason over those other guys. Not super high on Jovic or Baldwin. Both seem soft and I worry about their defense and ability to get to the rim off the dribble. Duren I see as a pure center, I don't think you can play him and Time Lord at the same time. And it seems like Time Lord has cemented his place as our center of the future. At this point I feel like center is the one position we would not take in the 1st round..

We need to either draft a guy with this pick who could potentially be a star, or trade the pick in a package that gets us a star in return..

[playa-hater]

I don't make any comments or judgments on any players until I see them and see them often. But this draft seems very mediocre off first glance. Sure there will be some nice pickups. but I very under whelmed so far.

But with Romeo-Nesmith and Begarin still being young and talented, would be nice If Boston can actually get a taller forward.. a 3-4 or even a 4-5 type. Except for Ty TY, not impressed with the PGs so far.

Still early though.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

[Half-Full]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

It's a bit early for me to be thinking about who we might end up with in the 2022 draft, but I was intrigued by your post and went to YouTube to check him out.

Watch on YouTube

Interestingly, the reviewer compares his game to Tatum's (both the good and the bad), and I can see why. He's someone I will be keeping my eye on. I wouldn't be surprised to see him rising up the mocks as the draft nears.

[playa-hater]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

It's a bit early for me to be thinking about who we might end up with in the 2022 draft, but I was intrigued by your post and went to YouTube to check him out.

Watch on YouTube

Interestingly, the reviewer compares his game to Tatum's (both the good and the bad), and I can see why. He's someone I will be keeping my eye on. I wouldn't be surprised to see him rising up the mocks as the draft nears.

If we were a team that was good at developing high ceiling low floor prospects, I might be all over this choice. Not that any rookie I have faith in under "he that shall be nameless", but even less so with a pick like this.

[playa-hater]

Meanwhile for those believing in Boston's need for a PG.. Is there anyone you feel confident that would be good enough to step in as a starter that the Js would "let run the ship"

I mean the Js want the ball in their hands. Would any rookie be trusted by Ime and the Js enough to allow him to flourish??

Just wondering out loud.

[Hal14]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

The fact that he's 6'10" and shooting above average % from 3 as an 18 yr old playing in a good pro league automatically makes him a 1st round pick. Guys like that don't grow on trees.

Question is, where in the 1st round should he go?

I'm a little bit lower on him (currently ranked no. 23 on my big board) because:

-What position does he play? His skill set is more of a wing, but I don't think he's quick enough to play the wing in the NBA. He's skinny, lacks physicality, good but not great rebounder, below average rim protection so not sure about him playing PF. He's kind of like a tweener, in between the 3 and the 4 spot.

-His advanced stats so far this season (net rating, PER, TS%, assist to turnover rate) are pretty bad. This tells me that while he's scoring points, he might be an empty stats kind of guy

-Might be the worst defender in this draft class, which goes along with point above about poor net rating this season

-Not loving the body language. Often times has a pouty face or will flail his arms about when he or a teammate has a call go against them

-Really upright, doesn't really get down in his stance defensively and doesn't get down low enough when handling the ball (obviously makes it easier for defender to steal it from him, makes it so he has less control of the ball)

-Good shooter but not as good creating off the dribble / attacking the basket

[return2glory]

Tari Eason.

Projected to go somewhere in the 10-20 range.

I like the fit for him on the Celtics.

He's a PF. That's his natural position and where he projects in the NBA.

But has the perimeter skill set and defensive versatility to play on the wing. He also has a 7'0.5" wingspan, one of the stronger dudes in the draft class, beast of a rebounder so he can also play some center in a small ball lineup.

He's got a toughness, an edge, a nastiness to him, a competitive fire, he's a dog. We could use a guy like that on this team.

His best skill is the ability to relentlessly attack the basket - off drives, on the offensive glass, off cuts. He doesn't settle for jump shots. He attacks the rim like a beast and he finishes at the rim like a beast - while at the same time he is a decent outside shooter.

Good defender, too. Really gets up on his man, pressuring the ball. Gets some impressive steals, both on the ball and off-ball when jumping the passing lanes - off turnovers (where he gets a steal or a teammate gets it) he relentlessly gets out in transition, attacking, keeping pressure on the defense and throwing down some ferocious dunks on the break.

I think Eason could develop into a legit no. 3 scoring option to complement the Jays. You have Brown at the 2, tatum at the 3, eason at the 4 and Rob at the 5. Watch out!

This was his last game, vs a good Alabama team. Bama has a few losses already but they're loaded with talent..Eason had 26 pts and 10 rebs:

Watch on YouTube

This was 2 yrs ago and in High school, but worth checking out because it contains a bunch of plays where Eason outplays Paolo Banchero (projected by many to be the no. 1 pick) and Eason's team beats Banchero's team by like 30 points:

Watch on YouTube

I watch him the other day vs Tennessee. He got bullied by their center.

He is a nice player, but he has a weird shot that won't translate in the NBA, vs bigger and faster players. They have to change his entire form on that weird shot. That point of release on his shot is way too low.

[return2glory]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

NBA Draft net has him at # 17 currently. Two of the European players I like this year are Jovic and Roko Prkacin. Lot of mock drafts have Roko in the 2nd round. I would look at him in the 1st round but he is having a down year this season and not sure what's going on with his FT%.

Watch on YouTube

[Curmudgeon]

If you want a look at Jovic watch the last game tape posted in the Yam Madar thread. Jovic has a nice stroke. Skinny though (as is Madar).

Two years ago the league proposed to the union lowering the draft age from 19 to 18. Apparently the proposal is stalled because of some dispute over player physicals. I've not been able to discover any information on the substance of this dispute.

I would love to see the age lowered next month. If that happens it will be a much more interesting draft.

Instead of making the draft age 19, the rule should be that no one can sign an NBA contract or play in the NBA until age 19. Teams should be allowed to draft 12 year-olds if they want. FIBA teams routinely sign 15 and 16 year-olds to play on their developmental teams.

[BostonCouchGM]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

The fact that he's 6'10" and shooting above average % from 3 as an 18 yr old playing in a good pro league automatically makes him a 1st round pick. Guys like that don't grow on trees.

Question is, where in the 1st round should he go?

I'm a little bit lower on him (currently ranked no. 23 on my big board) because:

-What position does he play? His skill set is more of a wing, but I don't think he's quick enough to play the wing in the NBA. He's skinny, lacks physicality, good but not great rebounder, below average rim protection so not sure about him playing PF. He's kind of like a tweener, in between the 3 and the 4 spot.

-His advanced stats so far this season (net rating, PER, TS%, assist to turnover rate) are pretty bad. This tells me that while he's scoring points, he might be an empty stats kind of guy

-Might be the worst defender in this draft class, which goes along with point above about poor net rating this season

-Not loving the body language. Often times has a pouty face or will flail his arms about when he or a teammate has a call go against them

-Really upright, doesn't really get down in his stance defensively and doesn't get down low enough when handling the ball (obviously makes it easier for defender to steal it from him, makes it so he has less control of the ball)

-Good shooter but not as good creating off the dribble / attacking the basket

I'm not at all interested. I get the appeal. Legit 6'10" and shoots 40% from three. And at least one of these stretch bigs seems to be taken in the first half of the 1st round each year but I don't want it to be us. He seems to lack maturity from the footage I've seen. Very low BBIQ. It could just be boredom but it's a turnoff to me. There's plenty of talent that should be available at the 4 for us at our pick where we don't need to take a project with issues.

[Curmudgeon]

He's not a project with issues. He's just skinny.

[Hal14]

He's not a project with issues. He's just skinny.

I think BostonCouchGm was referring to some of the issues around maturity, body language, low basketball IQ, high turnovers, poor defense (combined with the skinny frame) add it all together and it's a project.

[Hal14]

Nikola Jovic is a 6'10 forward that can dribble, pass, shoot, drive and score in the post. I keep seeing him mocked in the 20s. Why is everybody so low on him ?

NBA Draft net has him at # 17 currently. Two of the European players I like this year are Jovic and Roko Prkacin. Lot of mock drafts have Roko in the 2nd round. I would look at him in the 1st round but he is having a down year this season and not sure what's going on with his FT%.

Watch on YouTube

I like Prkacin too. Actually plays pretty similar to Tari Eason. Tough kid, not afraid to mix it up and get physical with people. Good but not great shooter. Good at attacking the basket with a variety of moves, good finisher inside. I think Eason is a little better defensively and just overall a little better, but Prkacin is an inch taller and 2 yrs younger.

I had Prkacin ranked in the 15-20 range. But then he suffered a foot injury, had surgery and is out 3-4 months which is why he is ranked lower now. He's expected to return sometime in March or April. I'd rather wait and see how he looks when he comes back from the injury before moving him up in the rankings - but at this point I figure he's maybe a guy we could take 2nd round but probably not in the 1st..

[Hal14]

Meanwhile for those believing in Boston's need for a PG.. Is there anyone you feel confident that would be good enough to step in as a starter that the Js would "let run the ship"

I mean the Js want the ball in their hands. Would any rookie be trusted by Ime and the Js enough to allow him to flourish??

Just wondering out loud.

Possibly. These are the PGs who I feel could possibly be good enough to start in the NBA - maybe not in year 1 but decent chance it could happen by year 2 or 3.

Tyty Washington
Jean Montero
Kennedy Chandler
JD Davison
Matteo Spagnolo
Mike Miles
Iverson Molinar

When I have some more time, I might do a short breakdown of each..

[Larry_Russell]

I will be completly shocked if the Celtics nab a PG in this draft.

I mean, you always go for BPA, but I cannot them doing so at all.


Smart/Pritchard/YAM

That is the trio for the forseeable future, imo.

Issue right now is a long term solution at the wing. PErhaps that gets addressed by trade, but got to look at the draft for that as well.

Mathurin
Keels
Houston
Johnny Davis
K. Brown
Jaden HArdy
Baldwin Jr
Daniels

[return2glory]

If Ime is coach again next season, does it matter who we draft? What will the Celtics being looking at in draft pick with Ime? Someone who can sit well on the bench and cheer?

We have 2 back to back 1st round picks with the 14th overall and neither one gets any minutes.

[playa-hater]

Meanwhile for those believing in Boston's need for a PG.. Is there anyone you feel confident that would be good enough to step in as a starter that the Js would "let run the ship"

I mean the Js want the ball in their hands. Would any rookie be trusted by Ime and the Js enough to allow him to flourish??

Just wondering out loud.

Possibly. These are the PGs who I feel could possibly be good enough to start in the NBA - maybe not in year 1 but decent chance it could happen by year 2 or 3.

Tyty Washington
Jean Montero
Kennedy Chandler
JD Davison
Matteo Spagnolo
Mike Miles
Iverson Molinar

When I have some more time, I might do a short breakdown of each..

For the record, Hal while you are my polar opposite on my Ime stance and I will always blast anyone on that stance, you are always extremely appreciated by me for your Draft analysis. Now get to work!