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

[Scoonie]

Gabriele Procida would be an awesome pick if he’s available.

He has the athleticism and explosiveness that most of the other European prospects don't have. He has a 35" vertical, is really fast, and is over 6'7 in sneakers. I wonder if he can guard/switch? He'll also obviously need to get a lot stronger.

Procida and Karlo Matkovic are the two European prospects most intriguing to me.

[Hal14]

Gabriele Procida would be an awesome pick if he’s available.

He has the athleticism and explosiveness that most of the other European prospects don't have. He has a 35" vertical, is really fast, and is over 6'7 in sneakers. I wonder if he can guard/switch? He'll also obviously need to get a lot stronger.

Procida and Karlo Matkovic are the two European prospects most intriguing to me.

Procida has gotten a little bit stronger over the course of the past year or so. Still could add some more strength though. His defense is decent. Shows some flashes of being really good on D but has some issues. He's still only 19.

The shooting ability at that size and the flashes of athleticism and ability to make plays at the pro level are very intriguing. Definitely a guy who should be on our radar - decent chance he'll be gone before our pick but you never know..

[Hal14]

Good article by Adam Spinella, the Box and One guy:

https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/5/27/23138213/nba-draft-combine-reveals-potential-2nd-round-targets-for-boston-celtics

[Scoonie]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy also looks like a good point guard prospect. Only 19 and not very athletic, but very skilled. Also measured a legit 6'5.5" in sneakers.

Watch on YouTube

[Scoonie]

Read on Twitter

[djFan71]

Good article by Adam Spinella, the Box and One guy:

https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/5/27/23138213/nba-draft-combine-reveals-potential-2nd-round-targets-for-boston-celtics

Thanks for posting. I like a lot of those guys, lol. RHJ or Jaylin and Jordan Hall or Mobley as UDFA all work for me.
Though, not as much as Terry or Keon if we could nab them somehow.

[Half-Full]

I feel that this draft has some very good players that will still be available when we pick. In addition, there will be some intriguing players who go undrafted. What I wonder about, though, is if there are any players that sufficiently pique the interest of the Celtics' brain trust enough that they might look to trade for a pick. Whether it be into the first round, or just to jump up to the top half of the 2nd round. I don't see cost as being prohibitive, but what do I know.

[Hal14]

Any our French poster familiar with Yoan Makoundou from Cholet? He is draft elegible and it seems his stock is rising and could get picked end of 2nd round...

I wouldn't pick him because he's about to turn 22 he is still very raw and not necessarily super productive in the french league (he has similar stats to Begarin that's a full two years younger as a reference point). In his defense, he's on clear upward trajectory as he started playing very late at 15 years old (and he's literally been called up to the franch national team yesterday) so there's a lot more upside to tap into than your regular 21/22 years old.

His most obvious asset is his NBA caliber athleticism:

Watch on YouTube

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

And here he is with the clutch block up 2 with 8 seconds left in game 1 of the playoffs this year:

Read on Twitter

He shot 34.5% from three and 76.8% from the line this year which is fine for a big but on low volumes so I don't know how real it is.

Ok I just watched a bunch of Makoundou videos. I'm sold. Yeah he's an older prospect (turns 22 in August) but like you said, he is a late bloomer who didn't start playing basketball till age 15. Similar in that regard to Ismael Kamagate and many people are projecting him as a 1st round pick.

Also, you look at some of the other top PF's in the draft this year:

-Keegan Murray. Born 10 days after Makoundou, yet Murray is a projected top 10 pick who could go as high as no. 4 to the Kings
-Tari Eason. He's 21 yrs old, and is a potential lottery pick
-EJ Liddell. Also 21 yrs old, projected to go mid to late 1st round
-Jake LaRavia - turns 21 later this year yet he's projected to go late 1st round, possibly early in the 2nd round

Compared to those 4 guys, Makoundou is the tallest one, has the longest wingspan and is the most athletic IMO. Those other guys may have had higher production but Makoundou is going against grown men in a pro league. And those other 4 guys are all projected to go way higher in the draft, so Makoundou offers tremendous value if he is still there at 53.

Also, while those other PFs may have averaged more PPG, PPG is also largely dependent on team context. For example, because of the team he was on, Keegan Murray was able to take lots of shots and the offense was entirely built around him. So of course he averaged double the amount of PPG compared to Makoundou. Murray also faced weaker competition than Makoundou.

Makoundou posted a 61.2 TS%, 14.5 rebounding %, 1.48 steals % and 5.02 blocks %. All very good numbers across the board and are very comparable to Murray, Liddell, Eason and LaRavia (again, all 4 of them are likely to go in the 1st round but Makoundou isn't even projected to go in the 2nd round because he's so underrated)

Makoundou is shooting 36.5% from 3 on the season on 1.8 attempts per game and in his last 7 games (a few of those are playoff games) he is shooting 40% from 3 on 2.9 attempts per game. So clearly his shooting is getting better.

Honestly, no other player in this draft class can match Makoundou's combination of size, athleticism and shooting. Here's the list of all draft eligible prospects who are 6'9" or taller and shot 36% or better from 3 this season:

Yoan Makoundou
Chet Holmgren
Jabari Smith Jr
Pete Nance

That's it, that's the list. Holmgren and Smith are projected to be the top 2 picks in the draft. None of the other 3 guys on the list above have Makoundou's athleticism.

Imagine this guy and Rob out there together wreaking havoc?

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

This guy is a 1st round pick IMO. But he's so underrated - nobody seems to be talking about him, he's not in any mock drafts so seems like he'll almost definitely still be on the board. We could get a steal.

He looks like an ideal 4, who can also play some small ball 5.

Watch on YouTube

This dude looks like the most underrated player in the draft.

Will this be the 2nd year in a row we take a French player in the 2nd round? I hope so!

Oh and his season is actually still going! His team is playing today in the playoffs.

[winsomme2]

This dude looks like the most underrated player in the draft.

Will this be the 2nd year in a row we take a French player in the 2nd round? I hope so!

Oh and his season is actually still going! His team is playing today in the playoffs.

Interesting prospect but I think I would still pick Isaiah Mobely if we're going for an athletic big with the pick.

I equally think Mobley is super underrated at this point and honestly can't believe he's not on more teams' radars.

[Hal14]

This dude looks like the most underrated player in the draft.

Will this be the 2nd year in a row we take a French player in the 2nd round? I hope so!

Oh and his season is actually still going! His team is playing today in the playoffs.

Interesting prospect but I think I would still pick Isaiah Mobely if we're going for an athletic big with the pick.

I equally think Mobley is super underrated at this point and honestly can't believe he's not on more teams' radars.

I agree that Mobley is big time underrated. I'd be happy with either Mobley or Makoundou. I just think Makoundou has a higher ceiling, since he is a year younger, more athletic, better rim protector and lob finisher. Mobley does have more refined ball skills though..

[Scoonie]

Interesting prospect but I think I would still pick Isaiah Mobely if we're going for an athletic big with the pick..

I like Mobley, but he’s not athletic. He’d very much be a below average athlete at the NBA level.

[Hal14]

This is just in the 1st half of Cholet's playoff game today. Makoundou has 14 points at the half:

Read on Twitter

If he keeps this up, no way he's gonna fall to us at 53.. but he still seems to be flying under the radar when it comes to the mock drafts on mainstream sites..

[Smart2Nesmith43]

This is just in the 1st half of Cholet's playoff game today. Makoundou has 14 points at the half:

Read on Twitter

If he keeps this up, no way he's gonna fall to us at 53.. but he still seems to be flying under the radar when it comes to the mock drafts on mainstream sites..

Well his team got eliminated today (best of three format in the first round of the playoffs in France) so he won't keep raising his stock at least

[Hal14]

This is just in the 1st half of Cholet's playoff game today. Makoundou has 14 points at the half:

Read on Twitter

If he keeps this up, no way he's gonna fall to us at 53.. but he still seems to be flying under the radar when it comes to the mock drafts on mainstream sites..

Well his team got eliminated today (best of three format in the first round of the playoffs in France) so he won't keep raising his stock at least

haha that's true.

Brad, c'mon. bring Yoan in for a workout!

Cholet losing today, helps the chances of Makoundou still being there at 53.

[playa-hater]

In light of our game 7 win, I will yet again promote the idea that RW is always injured and Al is getting old..

this draft may not produce a good Big for us, but damn we could really use one..

[Hal14]

In light of our game 7 win, I will yet again promote the idea that RW is always injured and Al is getting old..

this draft may not produce a good Big for us, but damn we could really use one..

Size. Shooting. Defense. It really comes down to those 3 things. Makoundou checks all the boxes..

So does Isaiah Mobley and Jabari Walker..

[winsomme2]

In light of our game 7 win, I will yet again promote the idea that RW is always injured and Al is getting old..

this draft may not produce a good Big for us, but damn we could really use one..

Size. Shooting. Defense. It really comes down to those 3 things. Makoundou checks all the boxes..

So does Isaiah Mobley and Jabari Walker..

Where are you on Jaylin Williams from Arkansas?

Looks like he's staying in the draft.

[Hal14]

In light of our game 7 win, I will yet again promote the idea that RW is always injured and Al is getting old..

this draft may not produce a good Big for us, but damn we could really use one..

Size. Shooting. Defense. It really comes down to those 3 things. Makoundou checks all the boxes..

So does Isaiah Mobley and Jabari Walker..

Where are you on Jaylin Williams from Arkansas?

Looks like he's staying in the draft.

I like him. Could be a solid pick for us if he still there. I think he's probably gonna go before our pick though. Some people are even saying he might go late in the 1st round. I see him as more of a 5 though than a 4 - since his outside shot is not so good, and his mobility/quickness is good but not great. So I'm not sure if we could play him and Rob at the same time..

Mobley, Jabari walker and Makoundou - i think we could play them at the 4 alongside rob - and all 3 could also play some at the small ball 5..

That being said, Jaylin williams is still only 19 so potentially has a higher ceiling..

[playa-hater]

If anyone would like to fill in some of these slots in, please do..

Top players who may fall/be at 53..

Centers/PF combination

1-
2-
3-

Big Wings (3-4 types)

1-
2-
3-

smaller wings (2-3types)

1-2-3

PG/combo guard types

1-
2-
3-

ESPECIALLY THIS ONE!
TOP 3 regardless of position

1-
2-
3-

way behind you guys and have no idea about anyone yet...

[winsomme2]

Top players who may fall/be at 53..

Centers/PF combination
1- Isaiah Mobley
2- Jabari Walker
3- Trevion Williams

Big Wings (3-4 types)

1- Gabe Brown
2- Brady Manek
3- Justin Lewis

smaller wings (2-3types)

1- Jordan Hall
2- Julian Champagnie
3- Ron Harper Jr

PG/combo guard types
1- Andrew Nembhard
2- Alondes Williams
3- Marcus Sasser


ESPECIALLY THIS ONE!
TOP 3 regardless of position

Changing daily but....

1- Jordan Hall
2- Julian Champagnie
3- Isaiah Mobley