Chris Sheridan: C's could trade for #4 pick (speculation)

[wiley]

This rumor has me excited about D'angelo Russell again.  He can start next
to Smart and he can play next to IT.  Bradley and Young duke it out for backup SG, until one is traded, probably AB because he has more trade value and less versatility than Young due to size.

[tazzmaniac]

WCS game is much more suited to the speed, and the open spacing, and the pick and roll game of the NBA. Once he gets the mental part of the NBA game down, he will be a strong valuable defender, a good rebounder, and rim protecter. Scoring will come, he shoots pretty well.

IMO In Kentucky, sharing real estate with Towns, he was playing in a closet. His main attributes were smothered, speed, lateral quickness, and open court running. When your 7' and can move like him, the kid was a wide receiver in high school, he can move, run, and cut. He should be a natural defender. As he matures in a few years and adds 20 pounds, he will be even better.

The Celtic could certainly use a young Tyson Chandler.

WCS played 3 seasons at Kentucky and only one of them was with Towns.  I don't think his main attributes were smothered.  They played him at PF to take advantage of his lateral quickness on defense.  Their defense caused many fast break opportunities which allowed him to take advantage of his speed and open court running.  Unfortunately in 3 years, WCS did little to develop his offense.  No jump shot.  No post game.  Teams were able to defend him with much smaller players because he wasn't a threat.  He also plays soft which is why he isn't a good rebounder. 

[Future Celtics Owner]

I would not want to trade future picks for #4. We can trade players because that will help our chances of getting a better pick in the lotto.

Also, the better value is to get Myles Turner 10-12 with Avery. Some even suggest that if Myles drops to the Jazz we could get him AND Rodney Hood for Avery. With IT and a better and older James Young this makes sense.

[Tr1boy]

I would like to get WCS as a "patch" or to add what the Celts need to balance the lineup (shot blocking). But as a player you can build around, not so excited about that

WCS provides very minimal on the offensive end.   One of the poorest passers in the draft, not comfortable shooting the ball. Straight line blow by and dunks are cool. But when the game gets tight and team defense gets stronger, he is near a pilon out there.  Also is a mediocre rebounder for his size

I would not give up more than the 16 and 28 to grab WCS

[SHAQATTACK]

Somehow I think WCS an Winslow might be available AFTER the fourth pick.

Winslow 6 th

WCS       8 th


Maybe 4 th is the only hope .....of getting a chance at those guys.


Sully .....might be a Knick

[Vermont Green]

I don't mind a good debate about WCS but getting back to the Knicks, if Denver is willing to offer Lawson and #7 or if PHO offers Bledsoe and #13, it is going to be tough for the Celtics to counter with Bradley and #16.  I don't think Bradley is all that far behind these guys, especially if you consider the $$ but he is behind.

So what if we say Bradley and BKN-2016.  We probably beat #13 with that but not #7 and Bradley still does not beat either player.  So now add #28 (or #33 if they prefer the non guaranteed pick).  I think BNK-2016 plus #28 beats #7 this year given the NYKs win now situation over rebuild but Bradley still does not beat Lawson likely (I think he is close but I know many do not value Bradley as high as I do).  So do we add Turner, a versatile but underwhelming depth guy?  I actually believe Bradley + Turner would help the Knicks more than Lawson.  Then we can also take back Calderon for $$ purposes although I am not sure who NYK plan to play at the point.

So in summary:

Bradley, Turner, #28, BKN-2016

for

#4 Plus Calderon.

I do not give up any more than this and even this trade we could "lose" depending on how the BKN pick turns out.  If the Knicks do this, I predict they trade the 2016 pick in 2016 for another player and potentially contend for a championship (depending on how they do in FA).

High draft picks do not help contending teams in the short term.  The Cavs traded Wiggins, a better prospect than the #4.  They may regret that down the road but they did not believe Wiggins would help LBJ this year and that was what they were all about.  I believe this will be the Knicks mindset as well and why they will be willing to trade a valuable pick for players plus future picks (which then get traded for more players).

[Celtics4ever]

Quote
I would like to get WCS as a "patch" or to add what the Celts need to balance the lineup (shot blocking). But as a player you can build around, not so excited about that

WCS provides very minimal on the offensive end.   One of the poorest passers in the draft, not comfortable shooting the ball. Straight line blow by and dunks are cool. But when the game gets tight and team defense gets stronger, he is near a pilon out there.  Also is a mediocre rebounder for his size

I would not give up more than the 16 and 28 to grab WCS

The pro game is about movement, and college they can play zone.   He has some of the highest big man athletic marks and only Dwight Howard got as high on the standing vertical jump reach on his combine.   


Bird said this about him.   Yes, that Bird, Larry.

Cauley-Stein told IndyStar Pacers Insider Candace Buckner that three-time NBA champion and current Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird said the former UK standout is "a $100 million player."

Hmm, basketball IQ of blog guys vs. Larry Bird, sorry guys I am going with Bird on this one.

I do not get your comment about the bad passer.  Most scouting reports do not think this to be the case.

Strengths: Cauley-Stein is a player who is both extremely gifted from a measurements standpoint, but also in terms of athleticism ... At the Kentucky Combine he measured 7’.25’’ in shoes, with a 7’2’’ wingspan, and a great 9’2’’ standing reach ... He also is extremely nimble, and an explosive and quick leaper ... Willie also has tremendous defensive abilities, excelling at hedging on pick and rolls, as well as protecting the rim ... He’s seen a dip in shot blocking numbers due to his use as a pick and roll defender, and Karl Anthony Towns being used as the primary paint enforcer, but as a sophomore WCS blocked 2.9 shots per game as Kentucky’s primary rim protector ... His physical tools should allow these elite defensive traits to translate to the NBA level ... Cauley-Stein has the potential to be able to guard NBA wing positions at a high level, at least early in his NBA career ... He is also a strong finisher around the rim, and an ideal roll target in the NBA. His junior season at Kentucky he shot 72.5% at the rim, and he’s an active player on the offensive glass which helped him rack up 40 put backs in 38 games ... He had a number of highlight plays in which he went over and through defenders for highlight finishes at the rim ... Although not a major offensive threat, he has improved his free throw shooting every season starting from an anemic .372% as a freshman, to a significantly better .617% as a junior (granted 61% remains below average) ... This work has also shown up in his ability to knock down short jump shots in the half court game ... He also has a decent jump hook which could potentially be honed over time ... Cauley-Stein is also very productive in his time on the court ... Due to UK’s depth he played just 25.8 minutes per game, but his per 40 minute averages are 14.1 ppg 10 rpg 2.6 bpg and 1.8 spg ...

Weaknesses: Willie is very much a defensive oriented player, and a guy who really doesn’t project into much of an offensive contributor ... His work at the free throw line has shown some promise, but he projects mostly as a lob finisher, roll target, and garbage man in an NBA offense ... His touch and shooting are a real weakness in terms of game speed ... He’s also had some ups and downs over his career in terms of focus ... For a player with such immense phyical gifts, it's baffling that he wasn't a more productive player early in his college career ... Feel for the game is a major question mark ... WCS has exhibited more poise, and fire as a junior, but he still has shown times in which he’s seemed a little passive or not 100% into the game ... WCS has the feel of an athlete who is becoming a basketball player, and while the intrigue with his defensive abilities is apparent, he remains a project for the NBA level ... Continued improvement and growth in terms of focus will be needed in order to play a long 82 game NBA season ...

Overall: Willie Cauley-Stein is a player you can plug in your system in order to play high level defense, and provide both versatility guarding perimeter players and the ability to guard the rim ... His one side of the ball type of play will cause him to be drafted below players that have two way potential, but he has the ability to be very good, or possibly elite as a defender if he can harness his improved metal focus, and grow as a professional ...

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/willie-cauley-stein


Yes, WCS has limitations, but a lot of them will be less limiting in the pros.  No zone, so mobility and beating your man are crucial.   He will be a guy that you have to surround with shooters though, something we lack.

I would almost rather gamble on Porzingas if we are at four, or hope some besides Okafor drops.  I would take WCS at 6 but probably not at four.