Chad Ford's Third Mock Draft

[quikblink]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-080602

Has the Celtics taking Alexis Ajinca 20 yo, 7'1, 240 from France

[Jeff]

kinda looks like a French Mark Blount 

[Roy Hobbs]

kinda looks like a French Mark Blount 

The facial expression isn't *quite* dopey enough, though. 

If Nick Batum falls to #25, the Celtics have to trade up to get him.  He just has too many physical gifts to pass on.  I want to walk away from the draft with one of Batum, Buddinger, Douglas-Roberts, Rush, or Bill Walker.

[Zarex]

Given the Celtics current situation, I don't understand the logic of drafting a guy and "storing" him overseas for a couple of years.  Why would the Celtics want to bring over a useful prospect AFTER the team's championship window has begun closing?  James Posey, P.J. Brown, Eddie House, Tony Allen and Sam Cassell are all potential free agents who will need to be replaced. If the Celtics can't draft a center or wing who can help them at least by midseason, they will likely move the pick.

[P2]

kinda looks like a French Mark Blount 

The facial expression isn't *quite* dopey enough, though. 

If Nick Batum falls to #25, the Celtics have to trade up to get him.  He just has too many physical gifts to pass on.  I want to walk away from the draft with one of Batum, Buddinger, Douglas-Roberts, Rush, or Bill Walker.

I hope for one of Hardin/Jawai, and Walker/Rush/CDG. I could bet money that we will buy another pick, with so many other teams selling theirs.

[Chris]

Given the Celtics current situation, I don't understand the logic of drafting a guy and "storing" him overseas for a couple of years.  Why would the Celtics want to bring over a useful prospect AFTER the team's championship window has begun closing?  Sam Posey, P.J. Brown, Eddie House, Tony Allen and Sam Cassell are all potential free agents who will need to be replaced. If the Celtics can't draft a center or wing who can help them at least by midseason, they will likely move the pick.

Actually, it makes perfect sense.  By "storing" him over seas for a couple of years, it opens up a Roster spot (and possibly saves them money.  Then they can use that roster spot to fill with a veteran who is more likely to contribute in the next couple of years, rather than a kid who likely is still learning the game.

Generally speaking, you rarely get guys at the end of the first round, who have both potential, and are ready to play.  Generally they are either very raw, but with a ton of upside (Ajinka is definitely in this group), or they are ready to contribute, but don't have much of a future as more than a role player.

[LarBrd33]

I have faith in Ainge.  Guy is a god.

[cordobes]

kinda looks like a French Mark Blount 

The facial expression isn't *quite* dopey enough, though. 

If Nick Batum falls to #25, the Celtics have to trade up to get him.  He just has too many physical gifts to pass on.  I want to walk away from the draft with one of Batum, Buddinger, Douglas-Roberts, Rush, or Bill Walker.

I agree about Batum. And he's not only about athletic potential; he averaged 9 pts, 4 rbs, 3 ast, 2 stl in the Euroleague and went second in the vote for the french league MVP trophy. It's not Gallinari/Pekovic level, but it's still quite impressive for a youngster. If Serge "the new KG" Ibaka is drafted ahead of Batum, GMs have really gone too far with the "athletic big with tons of upside" lovefest.

I'm not the biggest Ajinca's fan, and he won't be NBA ready before at least 2/3 more years, if he ever will, but he's an acceptable choice at the 30th, I guess. 

[Chief]

Given the Celtics current situation, I don't understand the logic of drafting a guy and "storing" him overseas for a couple of years.  Why would the Celtics want to bring over a useful prospect AFTER the team's championship window has begun closing?  Sam Posey, P.J. Brown, Eddie House, Tony Allen and Sam Cassell are all potential free agents who will need to be replaced. If the Celtics can't draft a center or wing who can help them at least by midseason, they will likely move the pick.

Actually, it makes perfect sense.  By "storing" him over seas for a couple of years, it opens up a Roster spot (and possibly saves them money.  Then they can use that roster spot to fill with a veteran who is more likely to contribute in the next couple of years, rather than a kid who likely is still learning the game.

Generally speaking, you rarely get guys at the end of the first round, who have both potential, and are ready to play.  Generally they are either very raw, but with a ton of upside (Ajinka is definitely in this group), or they are ready to contribute, but don't have much of a future as more than a role player.

I believe that is what this team did with Dino Radja. Bulls also did this with Kukoc.

[RebusRankin]

Why does Ford keep having the Celtics take foreign bigs?

[Who]

Why does Ford keep having the Celtics take foreign bigs?

Danny drafts domestic doesn't he? I can't think of a single foreigner drafted since Danny took over.

I always thought that he liked the comfort zone that came along with drafting American players. The better understanding of what you're getting and what level of competition they're playing against.

Anyways that's not a reason for him not drafting an international player in the future. It would surprise me though.

[nickagneta]

I don't put much stock in the mock drafts until about a week before the draft. There's just too many draft camps, personal workouts, and team sponsered tryouts that take place as well as the interviews that need to occur. Stll way too much time to make firm projections.

That said, I like Hardin, Hickson and Douglas-Roberts, the three guys selected right in front of Boston. Many of the mock drafts have Danny going with a foreign prospect and doing the San Antonio training thing by leaving them in Europe. I don't see that happening.

Danny, if they keep the pick, which I seriously doubt they will, will go with the best player available, not the best Euro available who he can leave there and allow to develop. If the Euro happens to be the best player he will be chosen but many mock drafters have him going Euro just for the sake of going Euro. Big mistake of an assumption, I think.

I say the Celtics have already indicated they will not get younger this year because they pulled out of the Summer League. I also think that Danny thinks he has got enough young players right now and needs to see where they stand before trying to go further with more youth.

Look for a trade that moves the both picks(1st and 2nd) for a future pick, or an outright sale of the pick itself. Just my opinion.

[timboup]

kinda looks like a French Mark Blount 

The facial expression isn't *quite* dopey enough, though. 

If Nick Batum falls to #25, the Celtics have to trade up to get him.  He just has too many physical gifts to pass on.  I want to walk away from the draft with one of Batum, Buddinger, Douglas-Roberts, Rush, or Bill Walker.

I take it you're looking for ray allens predecessor?

[fairweatherfan06]

I think that's a misconception, I think he just hasn't found an overseas player worth the risk that coinciding with his draft position that he'd take over an American youth whom he has seen in person.  But if he doesn't trade the pick I think it'll happen this draft at some point.

[2008champs]

Why does Ford keep having the Celtics take foreign bigs?

Danny drafts domestic doesn't he? I can't think of a single foreigner drafted since Danny took over.

I always thought that he liked the comfort zone that came along with drafting American players. The better understanding of what you're getting and what level of competition they're playing against.

Anyways that's not a reason for him not drafting an international player in the future. It would surprise me though.

I just don't think there were any foreigners he wanted at the spots we were picking at.  We know that he was intrigued by Yi Jianlian.  He brought in Jiri Welsch.

It would be terrific if Batum slides to us.