Poll: Grade the Celtics draft

[Kuberski33]

I went B.

I like the Langford pick, I think he's going to impress people in time. The Williams pick was VALUE! All the draft experts I trust loved him, the ones who didn't unfortunately get the TV airtime...

Wouldn't have minded taking a center in the 2nd round but I do think the 2 guards we grabbed have upside. The Baynes trade was fine for me, opens up the cap space to get serious this summer.

Only reason it's a B is because I think they wanted Clarke at 22 and got outmanoeuvred, which is a shame.

this sums it up for me. plus, my standard is this - these are mid to late first rounders and two second rounders. how many credible nba players will come from this draft?

 langford i worried about his 3 point shooting, the rest of his game is supposed to be okay. then i learned he had a torn ligament in his shooting hand. so, maybe..... he turns out to be a good nba player.

williams is undersized for a pf, but very strong, works hard, doesnt mind dirty work under the basket, excellent passer, and a good shooter. from 3 point range he only shot around 32% in college, but his FT% is high...so maybe. and at #22 you take your chances. lots of folks had him ranked much higher. fine pick at #22.

the dynamic duo of the second round - i was delighted he got edwards. and surprised me with waters. both are similar i think. great skills, fast, good shooters, they both play hard, both are smart players, great FT shooters, both are short. if not for the last part, they would have gone a lot earlier.

second round picks SHOULD be gambles. i dont know if either will become nba players, but i think edwards at least has a better chance than many of the others chosen in the second round.

i gave only a B since i would have preferred a few other players over langford. but i trust the celtics to know more.

A NOTE: langford, williams, edwards all got to the FT line 6 to 7 times a game. this was a problem for the celtics last year.

This is actually a good summation of how I feel about the draft. Williams seems to bring some of Al's characteristics in that you can run the offense through him (Brad's words), he's smart and he can pass & shoot.  I've been saying for 2 years that they've needed cover for Al's skill set.  Now they may have it - though Al unfortunately appears to be moving on. 

But your point about getting to the FT line - it's obvious that Ainge was as put-off by the constant 3 point chucking as everyone else seemed to be.  The team is badly in need of some guys who can draw fouls - and of course make the shots. 

A. Sherrod described Langford as a more talented Evan Turner. Evan Turner's skill set has been missing from this team ever since he left.  If these 2 guys are even just good enough to be rotation players on a decent team, Danny did really well because now the skill sets of the players start to compliment each other - unlike last season.

[droopdog7]

I went B.

I like the Langford pick, I think he's going to impress people in time. The Williams pick was VALUE! All the draft experts I trust loved him, the ones who didn't unfortunately get the TV airtime...

Wouldn't have minded taking a center in the 2nd round but I do think the 2 guards we grabbed have upside. The Baynes trade was fine for me, opens up the cap space to get serious this summer.

Only reason it's a B is because I think they wanted Clarke at 22 and got outmanoeuvred, which is a shame.

I don’t buy this at all.  If they really wanted Clarke, DA would have drafted him at 20 and kept him.  You’re not going to get cute if there is a guy you really want.

[Monkhouse]

I am coming around on this draft. I admit my binkies in Morant, (out of our range,) Reddish, (think he will bounce back and surprise a lot of draft evaluators,) and Little + Bol Bol, (medical records must've been awful, and Little seriously must not have impressed anyone enough,) really left me upset and frustrated.

But I like Williams, and Edwards/Waters seem like great young dynamic guards that can be a perfect spark plug for this team. I don't like Romeo, but I do remember that he was supposed to be in the top 7. So hopefully, he can rejevunate himself, and remain healthy to be a consistent cog in our offense.

And as many users have said, these players all had a penchant for getting to the line.

I grade this a B+

[hwangjini_1]

You can't grade till you watch them play vs NBA caliber competition.  So I'll be optimistic and give them a B because it seems like Langford has a high potential ceiling and Williams could be a cross between Al & Leon Powe.

It's guaranteed though one of these guys will have a good summer league game and everyone here will be crowing about what a 'steal' he is - until he shoots 0 for 9 in his next game.  And then a bunch of posters will think that one of the 2nd round guys - who obviously can't play - will be a trade asset that half the league is lining up to acquire. 

we are CS. it's what we do. 

[slamtheking]

gave it a F. 
- I know the trades happened last night and involved moving picks and Baynes but I really consider that separately from grading who they drafted.  The trades I would give an A- to.  Moved Baynes to open more salary for signing a good FA (who's hopefully worth the $ they'll throw at him).  At this point, have to think it's Vucevic to fill that gaping hole at Center.  Figure Adams would now be plan B but I'd prefer Adams based on his defense and rebounding.
- the drafted players I give an F based on a combination of the question marks in each of their games, their lack of size which we desperately need and that at each selection there seemed to be either a better player still on the board (no, not Bol) or a player of similar level in terms of BPA but would better fit the holes in the current roster.

Langford and Williams may very well turn out to be decent players.  I don't see them as future starters, much less stars.  granted, drafting at those spots isn't likely to get an all-star but I think there were better choices available.  I can only hope Danny has a plan in mind where he fills the holes at PG, PF and C in free agency.  if Vucevic is the center, who's the PG?

[saltlover]

I went B.

I like the Langford pick, I think he's going to impress people in time. The Williams pick was VALUE! All the draft experts I trust loved him, the ones who didn't unfortunately get the TV airtime...

Wouldn't have minded taking a center in the 2nd round but I do think the 2 guards we grabbed have upside. The Baynes trade was fine for me, opens up the cap space to get serious this summer.

Only reason it's a B is because I think they wanted Clarke at 22 and got outmanoeuvred, which is a shame.

I don’t buy this at all.  If they really wanted Clarke, DA would have drafted him at 20 and kept him.  You’re not going to get cute if there is a guy you really want.

I buy it a little.  Memphis moved from 23 to 21 after we traded down from 20 to 24 — they clearly believed we were going to take him at 22.  That said, Clarke could have been at the top of the Celtics board, but not on a different tier than a couple other players also on their board (Williams, for example), and so they were willing to trade down and risk his getting picked.

[TheSundanceKid]

I went B.

I like the Langford pick, I think he's going to impress people in time. The Williams pick was VALUE! All the draft experts I trust loved him, the ones who didn't unfortunately get the TV airtime...

Wouldn't have minded taking a center in the 2nd round but I do think the 2 guards we grabbed have upside. The Baynes trade was fine for me, opens up the cap space to get serious this summer.

Only reason it's a B is because I think they wanted Clarke at 22 and got outmanoeuvred, which is a shame.

I don’t buy this at all.  If they really wanted Clarke, DA would have drafted him at 20 and kept him.  You’re not going to get cute if there is a guy you really want.

I buy it a little.  Memphis moved from 23 to 21 after we traded down from 20 to 24 — they clearly believed we were going to take him at 22.  That said, Clarke could have been at the top of the Celtics board, but not on a different tier than a couple other players also on their board (Williams, for example), and so they were willing to trade down and risk his getting picked.

Agree, I don't think it was Clarke or bust, but I think they were getting the right value out of the draft and when they traded #20, Clarke was their choice for #22, but not a tier above others.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I'd give it a B.

I'm okay with the Romeo Langford pick. I think the kid still has the potential to be a good all-around player. I want to see him shoot with a healthy hand.

Grant Williams is indeed undersized, but he is a GOOD basketball player, and I want GOOD basketball players.

Love the Carsen Edwards pick, fearless scorer.

Not really giving much care into the Tremont Waters selection, but it's at #51. Yeah, he was DPOY despite being undersized, but so was Tyler Ulis, and he's out of the NBA. I wish him luck, though. If he turns out to be a decent player, then heck yeah.

[Phantom255x]

C

I'm upset we didn't take one of Sekou/Little when we had the chances to.

LOVE the Edwards pick.

I hate to sound like a pessimist, but Grant Williams kind of just screams "Sullinger" at me, which I would not like. Hope I'm wrong, and hopefully Williams will be healthier than Sully was in his career.

Don't hate the Langford pick but it seemed like a reach at #14 and there were better players available there.

Boy if Sekou becomes close to the next Giannis, we'll never hear that down either 

[TheSundanceKid]

C

I'm upset we didn't take one of Sekou/Little when we had the chances to.

LOVE the Edwards pick.

I hate to sound like a pessimist, but Grant Williams kind of just screams "Sullinger" at me, which I would not like. Hope I'm wrong, and hopefully Williams will be healthier than Sully was in his career.

Don't hate the Langford pick but it seemed like a reach at #14 and there were better players available there.

Boy if Sekou becomes close to the next Giannis, we'll never hear that down either 

Sullinger without the weight was a starter level player so I'd take that. Especially at #22.

I guess I'm a lot higher on Langford than most on this board!! He's got shades of DWade to me with his smooth movement. There's obviously a lot of flaws in his game but he has BBIQ, a good body and can play through contact. The rest can be learned far easier, just depends if he wants to.

[Monkhouse]

C

I'm upset we didn't take one of Sekou/Little when we had the chances to.

LOVE the Edwards pick.

I hate to sound like a pessimist, but Grant Williams kind of just screams "Sullinger" at me, which I would not like. Hope I'm wrong, and hopefully Williams will be healthier than Sully was in his career.

Don't hate the Langford pick but it seemed like a reach at #14 and there were better players available there.

Boy if Sekou becomes close to the next Giannis, we'll never hear that down either 

They play nothing alike. Williams is a better defender, and when questioned about his ability to lose weight and prove his dedication, he came into the season with 5.4% body fat.

[Excapegoat]

This is my first post here.

I admitted not knowing Edwards except for a singe game in the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament against UVA.  I went to UVA.  I am a fan of DeAndre Hunter. Hunter was on Edwards the entire game and Edwards still managed to score 42 points.  I would never forget Edwards' name again.

[Spicoli]

I wanted the team to select Bol instead of Williams, but i absolutely LOVE the Edwards pick. That guy is in the Lou Williams mold. He can come off the bench and put up 40. I love it.

[Roy H.]

I have absolutely no idea.

I wanted Little and Clark, alongside a center.  We obviously didn't get that, so I'm a bit disappointed.  But, I absolutely suck at draft evaluation.  So, it's an incomplete.

I do think the Williams kid is going to become a fan favorite.  My instant thought was "Leon Powe" without the knee issues.  With Edwards, he could be a poor man's IT, or he could be Lester Hudson.

[Monkhouse]

Williams seems like JB and him will really hit it off..

I'm actually pleased with this pick. No doubt Stevens will force him to expand his range.

As a child, Grant learned to play seven instruments, including clarinet, violin, piano and drums. He became a nationally ranked chess player in elementary school and competed in a Math Olympiad.

He performed in musicals in high school, singing a duet in the production “Anything Goes” as a senior.

He is nearly fluent in Spanish and hopes to learn French next.

He chose Tennessee after considering several Ivy League offers, including Harvard and Yale.

When he’s not on the court, Williams probably can be found engrossed in a board game called Settlers of Catan. He plays several times a day in a group that consists mostly of the team’s walk-ons. Williams brings Catan on road trips to pass time in the hotel. He even autographed a fan’s Catan box after a public practice in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend.

“When we’re on the free-throw line in games, Grant loves to shout out [the shooter’s] free-throw percentage,” senior forward Kyle Alexander said. “I don’t know if he’s trying to mess with their head or what. But we’ll be ready to block out and he’ll say, ‘This guy is a 66 percent free-throw shooter. It’s coming off.’ Or, “This guy shoots 83 percent. First one is going in.’ We’re like, ‘Grant, how do you know this?’ “