Chad Ford Mock

[clevelandceltic]

What player could they trade for that gets that group over the top or close to the top? I can only think of 2 LeBron and Durant. Those 2 you can play at the 3 or 4 but those two arent going anywhere so Im not banking the future on this group of guys.

Im sort of 80% sure this pick (which is top 5) will be packaged for a vet in line with what the Cavs did with Wiggins to get Lebron some help. In our case specially if we reach and lose to lebum in the ECF, expect danny to get immediate help by packaging tape this pick for an all star vet. There is no way the Cs keep this pick if Fultz or Ball or whoever will take 3 yrs to fully develop..these are not in line with the ages of IT Al JC and AB.

[tazzmaniac]

I dont see how Ball is better than Smith or even Tatum

I'd take Ball over Smith but not Tatum.  Other than on the fast break, Smith hasn't impressed me much.  Right now I'd take Fox over Smith and possibly Ntilikina as well.

Smith is more than just a menace on the fastbreak

He is good.

Highlight (19 pts 16 assists 5 days ago)

https://youtu.be/Vsv67XAvweY

Highlights against an overmatched team who doesn't have a starter over 6'7" (per the announcer) don't impress me.  In the games I've seen, Smith hasn't been good getting to or finishing at the rim in the half court.  His defense didn't standout positively or negatively. 

[Tr1boy]

I dont see how Ball is better than Smith or even Tatum

I'd take Ball over Smith but not Tatum.  Other than on the fast break, Smith hasn't impressed me much.  Right now I'd take Fox over Smith and possibly Ntilikina as well.

Smith is more than just a menace on the fastbreak

He is good.

Highlight (19 pts 16 assists 5 days ago)

https://youtu.be/Vsv67XAvweY

Highlights against an overmatched team who doesn't have a starter over 6'7" (per the announcer) don't impress me.  In the games I've seen, Smith hasn't been good getting to or finishing at the rim in the half court.  His defense didn't standout positively or negatively.

Little bit of a risk taker on the defensive end right now

[footey]

This is going to be a very tricky draft. Could see us trade down to take Giles and another lottery pick or swap down and pick up a real good center like Orlando's.

[saltlover]

This is going to be a very tricky draft. Could see us trade down to take Giles and another lottery pick or swap down and pick up a real good center like Orlando's.

At the risk of sounding argumentative, has Ainge ever traded down in a draft? I can remember him trading up, into, and out of drafts, but I can't ever remember him trading to a lower spot within a draft.

About the only way I see him trading down is he gets #1 or #2, falls in love with a non-guard, and Philly doesn't get a top 3 pick.  In that case I could see him moving down to Philly at #4 or #5 and grabbing future picks, as this would preserve some cap room and let him get the player he likes.  Even if the conditions were met, however, I'd still find it unlikely that Ainge could turn down someone like Fultz.

[mr. dee]

Pass. This guy is a chucker and too much isolation in his game. If you mean, he fits with CBS scheme, he sure does (in a bad way).

He's also bad at creating contact or finish through it.

[droopdog7]

Ball very similar to Jason Kidd.  Probably a better shooter than Kidd was at this stage (though he has one of the funkiest shots I've seen).  But I wouldn't project Ball as a volume scorer (same as Kidd).  More of a natural PG/facilitator that could dominate playing fast break basketball.

[Boris Badenov]

This is going to be a very tricky draft. Could see us trade down to take Giles and another lottery pick or swap down and pick up a real good center like Orlando's.

At the risk of sounding argumentative, has Ainge ever traded down in a draft? I can remember him trading up, into, and out of drafts, but I can't ever remember him trading to a lower spot within a draft.

About the only way I see him trading down is he gets #1 or #2, falls in love with a non-guard, and Philly doesn't get a top 3 pick.  In that case I could see him moving down to Philly at #4 or #5 and grabbing future picks, as this would preserve some cap room and let him get the player he likes.  Even if the conditions were met, however, I'd still find it unlikely that Ainge could turn down someone like Fultz.

Philly might be able to offer something like #4 and #7. I'm against trading down, on principle, but that's an intriguing possibility. There are 7-9 guys in play for top slots right now. Maybe they will get separation from each other, but if not, then two rolls of the dice beat one.

[CelticGuardian]

Pass. This guy is a chucker and too much isolation in his game. If you mean, he fits with CBS scheme, he sure does (in a bad way).

He's also bad at creating contact or finish through it.

Is this guy for real? Ball's main knock on him is that he needs to be more selfish and drive to finish instead of pass. His long 3 point shots don't seem to take his team out of their momentum, oddly enough, they have been destroying the NCAA in large part thanks to him. I think he's a winner and could prove he belongs here.

[mr. dee]

Pass. This guy is a chucker and too much isolation in his game. If you mean, he fits with CBS scheme, he sure does (in a bad way).

He's also bad at creating contact or finish through it.

Is this guy for real? Ball's main knock on him is that he needs to be more selfish and drive to finish instead of pass. His long 3 point shots don't seem to take his team out of their momentum, oddly enough, they have been destroying the NCAA in large part thanks to him. I think he's a winner and could prove he belongs here.

NBA is different level than College basketball. The league won't be so forgiving with his flaws. Even if he becomes a stud, it will take time for him to adjust with his style of play.