Ainge terrible mistake of not choosing to Randle in the pick 6, incomprehensible

[GreenFaith1819]

The more I read on Marcus the more I'm loving this kid.

Looks like he will bring a Lance Stephenson-like edge to our team.

I love it.

Just don't blow in LeBron's ear, Marcus lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8ecFlAu-l0

I trust Danny and I'm glad we got Marcus Smart AND James Young.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Randle not coming to the 2nd workout sealed the deal to pick Smart.

I like Randle but he started to act like he was a big deal

Vonleh had a bad attitude and just has a mediocre feel for game

Kind of bummed out still Gordon was not picked. Smart was a safe and good pick.  Might never be an all star but has a chance to make 2nd all defensive team , lead in steals and be in the league a long time

I think he actually will be an all star. Everyone on this board is allowed an opinion and I want to respect it. But my opinion is that everyone on here is going to fall in love with Marcus Smart. I believe he is the type of point guard that will drastically improve his shot in the nba. His ft percentages were 77 and 70 percent is first two years, so its not like Rondo or other guys we drafted where they came in with 50% ft and we thought that we could teach them too shoot. Like Stevens said he just needs to tweak his shot.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Im not low on Randle like I lot of the folks here. I think he's going to be a good player.

With that said, Smart's potential is probably higher than Randle's and he has better intangibles. Which is why I think DA made the right pick.

[crimson_stallion]

Drafting Smart allows us to trade Rondo, which saves us $100 million dollars.

Smart will never be the passer that Rondo is. We will end up giving Rondo 5 years $80M if he wants to stay, don't see the Celtics giving him a Deron Williams deal unless he comes out next year and has a amazing season and starts hitting jumpers and some 3's consistently.

This is true, Smart isn't the passer that Rondo is. 

But Rondo also isn't the scorer or defender that Smart is, so it goes both ways. There is more than one to peel a banana (to paraphrase the old saying). 

As much as Rondo's passing can provide a huge advantage, at the same time the statistics over the past few years don't seem to indicate that the team is any better when he is on the court then it is when he's on the bench.  I would suspect that this has to do with the fact that he simply doesn't seem to be as aggressive offensively as he used to be.  Now when he drives to the basket he is usually looking to draw attention and dish out to a teammate, and opposing teams seem to know that, and it seems like they just aren't giving him as much attention anymore. 

When Rondo is on the court it really does feel like we're playing 4-on-5 offensively, and sometimes I think that hurts the team as much as it helps.  Teams can pretty much let him do whatever he wants to do - as long as they defend the other 4 guys, Boston has no offense.  Rondo ain't beating you on his own - he's not dropping 40 on you.

The plus side is that Rondo is such a good passer and playmaker that he does get those other 4 guys a ton of easy baskets, but that only really makes up for his own offensive insignificance rather than actually providing any tangible advantage.

I think this is why Boston seems to play just as well when Rondo isn't there.  It's not because Rondo isn't a great playmaker (he is), it's just that whatever they lose in Rondo's playmaking they make up for with having an extra scoring threat on the court. 

This is why I don't think we'd be any worse with Smart at PG than we would with Rondo at PG.  Smart gives the team a different look.  Sure he might (like Rondo) have limitations as a shooter, but it doesn't matter.  Smart is an aggressive offensive player, and he will attack the basket with wreckless abandon every chance he gets.  Teams cannot ignore him on offense and just let him do his thing - he will punish them.  Having that extra offensive threat means teams need to collapse in the paint defensively to defend against penetration, and that helps to open up shooters (lke Bradley, Green, Sully, Olynyk) on the perimeter.

Rondo is a great PG, no question about it.  He's an absolute warrior, he's supremely talented, his BBIQ is absolutely through the roof.  But he does also have shortcomings in his game which (to a degree) forces Boston to play a certain style of basketball.  If we choose to keep Rondo, then I'm cool with that.  If we choose to trade him for a rim protector or a scorer and make Smart our PG of the future, then I'm cool with that too.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Im not low on Randle like I lot of the folks here. I think he's going to be a good player.

With that said, Smart's potential is probably higher than Randle's and he has better intangibles. Which is why I think DA made the right pick.

Yeah. Randle has short arms.

Wingspan =/= arm length, guys.

[tyrone biggums]

Nothing to see here. Remember if Randle was picked this thread would be "How could Boston allow LA to draft Magic Johnson Jr."

[crimson_stallion]

Randle not coming to the 2nd workout sealed the deal to pick Smart.

I like Randle but he started to act like he was a big deal

Vonleh had a bad attitude and just has a mediocre feel for game

Kind of bummed out still Gordon was not picked. Smart was a safe and good pick.  Might never be an all star but has a chance to make 2nd all defensive team , lead in steals and be in the league a long time

Why are so many people so iffy on Smart, yet many of the same people wanted Gordon so badly?  Smart's only major downfall is his shooting.  Gordon's shooting is even WORSE.

Smart's solid free throw shooting at least suggests he has some potential as a shooter, as guys who can shoot free throws decently have typically turned out to be at least decent shooters.

Gordon's <50% FT percentage on the other hand is historically low, and suggests he will probably never be even a passable shooter in the NBA. 

Gordon's biggest advantages are his defensive ability, his dominant physical attributes for his position, and his intangibles (desire to win, hard working, hustle guy, etc).  Marcus Smart has all of those same advantages as a PG in the NBA.

I really don't see the hype in Gordon.  I think his absolute ceiling is that of a poor man's Josh Smith, because IMHO Josh Smith is better in pretty much every regard:

* Better shooter (scary as that is)
* Better inside scorer
* Better ball handler
* Better rim protector
* Better passer
* Better rebounder
* Physically stronger
* More athletic

I think Gordon will certainly be a solid starter (maybe a glue guy type) on a good team, but he'll never be anything more than that.  I think anybody who predicts Gordon to be an All-Star is going to be very, very dissapointed.  The comparisons to Blake Griffin are not even close to realistic.  Griffin had the height (6'10") and strength to compete against NBA PF's the instant he entered the league, in addition to his insane athleticism.  He was also a dominant rebounder and a skilled inside scorer.  He had a clear NBA position, everybody knew he was going to be a PF because he had all the right attributes for it.

Gordon has none of those skills.  He rebounds well for a SF, but mediocre for a PF.  His quickness is great for a PF, but not so elite for a SF.  His size is great for a SF, but lacking for a PF.  His strength is lacking for both positions.  He lacks the shooting range to be a SF, yet lacks the inside game to be a PF.  He'll probably be Tayshaun Prince 2.0 - not a terrible thing (he's had a solid NBA career) but nothing mind blowing.

At least that's my prediction. 

I believe Smart is a much bette shooter (relative to the SG position) than Gordon is (relative to the SF position). 

Maybe Gordon can create himself a niche as an defensive PF who can step out and hit the occasional open three.  Something like a taller Gerald Wallace.  I hope he can, because he seems like a good kid so I'd like to see him do well.  I just don't see it though.  I see him as one of those guys who is just hyped through the roof due to his athleticism to the point where people just look straight past all of his other many limitations.  I think if Aaron Gordon can develop into Josh Smith 2.0, then he'll be doing very well for himself.  Way too high at #4 but I'm glad Orlando took him, because I was really afraid Ainge would take him if he slipped to #6 and that would have left me very dissapointed. 

Regarding Vonleh, I'm not sure where this idea came abut that Vonleh has a bad attitude.  I think that might have been blown out of proportion.  Everything I've read and all the comments I've heard from those who have been aroud Vonleh in the past (coaches, etc) has indicated that he is a really nice kid who is incredibly hard working and a great teammate.

What I have noticed when peole have interviewed him though is that he seems really quiet - a bit of an introvert.  He seems to lack that 'mean streak' - kinda like Jeff Green.  Maybe comes across as a guy who might be a little lacking in confidence, which might leave people concerned that he might not have the drive or motivation to reach the potential he undoubtedly has.

I get the feeling this migh be what the Celtics staff were referring to when they reportedly cited "personality concerns" with Vonleh.  I don't in any way got the impression that he is a bad kid or that he has a bad attitude.  I think that when you're looking in the top 8 of a draft as loaded as this one, GM's probably look for guys who have a leader's mentality in addition to an impressive skill set.  I think Vonleh seems to have the mentality of a role player, even though he has the skills and physical attributes to be a future star.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I get the feeling this migh be what the Celtics staff were referring to when they reportedly cited "personality concerns" with Vonleh.  I don't in any way got the impression that he is a bad kid or that he has a bad attitude.  I think that when you're looking in the top 8 of a draft as loaded as this one, GM's probably look for guys who have a leader's mentality in addition to an impressive skill set.  I think Vonleh seems to have the mentality of a role player, even though he has the skills and physical attributes to be a future star.

I recall *reading him say he wants to play SF. Wish I could find the link again.

A big who wants to play outside despite physical gifts. Josh Smith or Antoine with a slightly better outside shot?

[gar]

Think the OP needs to take a few breaths and think this through.
- We have five bigs under contract - 3 PF's.
- We have been looking for a Combo Guard to pair with Rondo and Bradley forever.
- There is no guarantee we with have both Rondo and Bradley this year or next.
- The only two SG's we have under contract are team options (Johnson and Babb).
- Our backup PG is Phil Pressey (Pressey and Young are going to be fun in SL)

I think the question is whether we could have moved up for Payne or Nurkic; but Randle will struggle in the NBA. Sully has a bigger butt, bigger hands and longer arms. Randle is more athletic for sure; but not a guaranteed All Star.

[MBunge]

Now, it's clear that was wrong. Garnett and Pierce should have been surrounded by the future of the franchise, drafted and acquired carefully instead of the wild, wasted first round picks that are Ainge's hallmark. Anyone seriously think San Antonio won't put a good team on the floor when Tim Duncan retires? Of course they will.

Instead, it appears to me that the Pitino Era is at the door, trying to get in. Tragic, because those who hold the Celtics franchise have a sacred trust to respect its traditions. It should NEVER get this bad.

Is this sarcasm?  An attempt to parody the amateur GM's you find here and on every team's site?

I would think the guy who came up with Tony Allen, Delonte West, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo without ever having a lottery pick AND engineered one of the greatest single offseason reboots in NBA history would get a little credit.

Mike

[cltc5]

Now, it's clear that was wrong. Garnett and Pierce should have been surrounded by the future of the franchise, drafted and acquired carefully instead of the wild, wasted first round picks that are Ainge's hallmark. Anyone seriously think San Antonio won't put a good team on the floor when Tim Duncan retires? Of course they will.

Instead, it appears to me that the Pitino Era is at the door, trying to get in. Tragic, because those who hold the Celtics franchise have a sacred trust to respect its traditions. It should NEVER get this bad.

Is this sarcasm?  An attempt to parody the amateur GM's you find here and on every team's site?

I would think the guy who came up with Tony Allen, Delonte West, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo without ever having a lottery pick AND engineered one of the greatest single offseason reboots in NBA history would get a little credit.

Mike

I was not a C's fan then but looking back, that was quite a nice roster.  I like the youth movement we have here, and unlike that previous roster, I think now Danny has the right coach. 

[AidaCelt]

I'm sure some have sided with the Smart pick over Randle just because he is now a C.

For me, I've never been a huge fan on Randle's due to the same reasons others have already stated (limited post game, no range, game based on overpowering opposition).

From the limited footage I've seen of both, this was both a pick for need - I think either Rondo gets traded or AB is offered a contract elsewhere that the C's don't match, 3 existing non-rim protecting PF's already.

In some people's opinions Randle or Vonleh may have been the better pick, but in nobody's world should it be considered INCOMPREHENSIBLE!