Official Pre-Lottery Draft Predictions for two first round picks

[footey]

#5--Smart (even if Exum is still on the board)

#17--Warren

Wow. You like Smart that much. How come?

I think he's tough as nails, and he's got a good a strong NBA body.  He just looks like a guy who will come in and help an NBA team right away.  His downside is his outside shooting stroke, but apparently that's one of Exum's weaknesses as well. 

I think Marcus Smart will be a tenacious defender in the NBA, pretty much from the jump.  Exum's ceiling could be higher, but I also think his basement could be much lower. 

If we land at 5 where the odds are greatest that we'll land, I've convinced myself that Smart is the smart choice.

I think a case can absolutely be made for Smart over Exum. Both players are streaky outside shooters at best. Both have very good size for a point, and have the bodies to play the 2 if needed. Both pass pretty well, but are still a work in progress.

Exum has better speed, athletic leaping ability. The athleticism gives him more upside.

Smart is stronger, better right now as a defender, and a very competitive leader.

I would pick Exum personally for the upside, and i believe he would be a more natural fit at the 2 if we paired one of these players with Rondo.

Exum has 2 inches height advantage, and seems is quicker.  I think he is a year or two younger as well.  Just think he has more potential to be a swing 1-2 guard.  But that's just based on his hype and limited video. I am going on a very small sample size. I was gung ho on Yi back in 2007, so what do I know!!

[Celtics18]

#5--Smart (even if Exum is still on the board)

#17--Warren

Wow. You like Smart that much. How come?

I think he's tough as nails, and he's got a good a strong NBA body.  He just looks like a guy who will come in and help an NBA team right away.  His downside is his outside shooting stroke, but apparently that's one of Exum's weaknesses as well. 

I think Marcus Smart will be a tenacious defender in the NBA, pretty much from the jump.  Exum's ceiling could be higher, but I also think his basement could be much lower. 

If we land at 5 where the odds are greatest that we'll land, I've convinced myself that Smart is the smart choice.

I think a case can absolutely be made for Smart over Exum. Both players are streaky outside shooters at best. Both have very good size for a point, and have the bodies to play the 2 if needed. Both pass pretty well, but are still a work in progress.

Exum has better speed, athletic leaping ability. The athleticism gives him more upside.

Smart is stronger, better right now as a defender, and a very competitive leader.

I would pick Exum personally for the upside, and i believe he would be a more natural fit at the 2 if we paired one of these players with Rondo.

Exum has 2 inches height advantage, and seems is quicker.  I think he is a year or two younger as well.  Just think he has more potential to be a swing 1-2 guard.  But that's just based on his hype and limited video. I am going on a very small sample size. I was gung ho on Yi back in 2007, so what do I know!!

I liked Yi, as well.  I'm going to save myself the embarrassment of listing all the "busts" that I've been high on over the years. 

[Celtics18]

#5--Smart (even if Exum is still on the board)

#17--Warren

I'm Changing mine:

#5--Saric

#17--Nurkic

[No Nickname]

Chad Ford has him at #19.  So it's not a reach and you couldn't trade down too far for fear of missing out. 

My point is, there's no way he'd be projected for that part of the draft if he were as talented as your comparison would suggest.

He'll probably be a bench role player.  An energy 4/5 who can stretch the floor a bit.

Most teams can use a player like that, but with Sullinger and Olynyk already on the roster, I think the Celtics can get more value with the 17th pick.

Payne went at #15 to the Hawks.  You could very well be right that Payne may end up a bench role player.  I think he looks like the Junkyard Dog with a three-point shot.

In any event, my projection for Payne to go at this part of the draft was spot on (15 instead of 17).  My comparison may or may not be accurate for the type of player he will be, but the idea that he shouldn't be selected until after #17 proved to be wrong.