Rookie Leaders

[Goldstar88]

Notice all the top rookies are on thin roster bottom teams.

Weird how early opportunities lead to higher counting stats.

Lists are cool though I like lists.

You forgot the, “notice how the top picks are performing better then the players selected later in the draft.” TP for the insight

I think Chilly's point is that bad teams will play rookies, regardless. What is amazing is that Pritchard is doing so well despite playing with great players and actual expectations. We saw what he did last night with no depth at PG. He would be in the running for rookie of the year with that type of opportunity every game.

I was also bummed out about Haliburton - even more so knowing that it's evidently going to take Nesmith time to figure it out - but he and FPP play the same position and I'm not totally sure who is better.

Nesmith was a terrible pick, but Danny has been terrible drafting in the 10-20 range his entire career as far as I can remember..

1. let's not rush to judgement nesmith who has played less than 20 organized basketball games in the past year.

2. ainge drafted:
al jefferson #15
avery bradlye #19
terry rozier #16

you might want to toss in olynyk, though not drafted by the celtics they wanted them
 
in addition, from #21 on in the first round ainge drafted:
delonte west
tony allen
jared sullinger
robert williams
grant williams
pritchard

I’m sorry, but his drafting is definitely below average. Almost all those guys are bench players. The only picks outside the top 5 that would have been legit starting quality players for almost any team would be Big Al and Rondo in their prime. Rondo was also a draft night trade from Phoenix. Think Danny made/kept 16 first round picks outside of the top 5 since he became GM. First draft being in 2004. Also, I understand that the 2nd round is a complete crapshoot, but with that being said, I can’t think of A single 2nd round pick made by DA that  ended up working out.

Tony Allen, Avery Bradley and Terry Rozier were all starters on teams that made deep playoff runs

I didn’t say that they haven’t started before, I’m just saying that they are more role players than true starters. Even in their prime, I think those guys are like a 6 man. Wouldn’t start on most teams.

If you think that DA is a bad at drafting players when looking at that list then I think you have unrealistic expectations surrounding the draft as a whole.  Most players drafted outside the lottery don't see a second contract let alone become starters on playoff teams.  Many lottery players wash out of the league. DA has drafted well in the lottery and outside it.  Players like Rondo, Giannis and Middleton (all-stars drafted outside the lottery) are the rare exceptions to the rule.

Do I wish the DA had drafted GA over KO, yes, but that's really easy opinion to have with hindsight. 

DA is one the top 3 or 4 GMs in the NBA.

All of this is a bit OT.  PP has been great but the ROY is basically a PPG exercise.  I expect Edwards to get it since MN is going to give him plenty of shots (for good or for bad).

I never said that DA was a bad GM. He’s a very good GM. I simply said that he is a below average at drafting. By comparison in that same Time Span, Denver , who has done a good job drafting players outside of the top 10 have selected:

Michael Porter Jr #14
Juan Hernangomez #15
Malik Beasley #19
Nikola Jokic #41
Evan Fournier #20
Kenneth Farried #22

How much do you attribute to drafting vs internal development due to coaching?

95% drafting. I mean, if development/coaching played a large role wouldn’t we be seeing progress with Waters, Edwards, Greene, Taco and G Williams? They are what they are. I don’t expect them to improve very much.

[Sophomore]

Waters and Edwards are 2d round picks - 33 and 51. Finding value there is not easy or common. Tacko and Javonte tell us nothing about Ainge’s drafting skills, because both went undrafted and he got them as free agents to try out as longshots. Javonte seems to be at least playable.

Rob Williams and Payton Pritchard were drafted in the mid-20s? It’s not easy to find a rotation player that deep, and I think Ainge did it. Rob has the potential to start later this year or next.
 
It’s just too early to say much about Grant (21), Romeo (14), or Nesmith (14). If Romeo can get healthy he looks like at least a Rozier-level player. Nesmith, who knows. 

It’s disappointing not to find a star late in the draft - a Tony Parker or a Jokic - but very few teams do.

[aingeforthree]

Waters and Edwards are 2d round picks - 33 and 51. Finding value there is not easy or common. Tacko and Javonte tell us nothing about Ainge’s drafting skills, because both went undrafted and he got them as free agents to try out as longshots. Javonte seems to be at least playable.

Rob Williams and Payton Pritchard were drafted in the mid-20s? It’s not easy to find a rotation player that deep, and I think Ainge did it. Rob has the potential to start later this year or next.
 
It’s just too early to say much about Grant (21), Romeo (14), or Nesmith (14). If Romeo can get healthy he looks like at least a Rozier-level player. Nesmith, who knows. 

It’s disappointing not to find a star late in the draft - a Tony Parker or a Jokic - but very few teams do.

All I know is Ainge built us up yet again as a contender through his drafting. Just a solid GM, who, let’s face it, is smarter than most at the GM position.

It’s going to be tough for any future pick to crack minutes on this roster. I don’t care if you’re picked 1st overall, or late. Good luck trying to beat out some of these young guys for minutes.

I can’t wait to see Ainge add another great piece to the team when he uses the big trade exception. I assume he goes big time scorer off the bench, or grabs someone who upgrades the Theis/Tristan/Grant Williams positions.

He’s got this thing setup perfectly. No surprise there

[Tr1boy]

Oleh Kosel: LaMelo Ball just recorded his 10th assist so now he’s the youngest NBA player to get a triple-double. Sitting down for a rest with a line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes.

Alsp Maxey scores 39pts in 44 min??? Took 33 shots

[RodyTur10]

Contrary to the narrative pushed before the draft, this looks to be a very strong draft class.

Ball and Haliburton look like they could be future All Stars. Teenagers Edwards, Wiseman and Williams show tons of potential as well. And you have Avdija, Vassell, Bey, Achiuwa, Maxey, Pritchard and Bane who all already look like legit NBA players.

Hayes, Smith and Nesmith are the few lottery rookies with rough starts of their careers.

[Redz]

Oleh Kosel: LaMelo Ball just recorded his 10th assist so now he’s the youngest NBA player to get a triple-double. Sitting down for a rest with a line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes.

Alsp Maxey scores 39pts in 44 min??? Took 33 shots

Seems he was padding his stats, can we call that a Maxey Pad?

[NKY fan]

Contrary to the narrative pushed before the draft, this looks to be a very strong draft class.

Ball and Haliburton look like they could be future All Stars. Teenagers Edwards, Wiseman and Williams show tons of potential as well. And you have Avdija, Vassell, Bey, Achiuwa, Maxey, Pritchard and Bane who all already look like legit NBA players.

Hayes, Smith and Nesmith are the few lottery rookies with rough starts of their careers.

Nesmith not getting playing time will be a big hurdle for him. He also have to compete with the talented shooters coming in the next few years that are more ready to play. Might be a bad set of circumstances for Nesmith ... Romeo faces similar hurdles but his main issue is injuries .. oh well

[NKY fan]

Oleh Kosel: LaMelo Ball just recorded his 10th assist so now he’s the youngest NBA player to get a triple-double. Sitting down for a rest with a line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes.

Alsp Maxey scores 39pts in 44 min??? Took 33 shots

Seems he was padding his stats, can we call that a Maxey Pad?

I watched him play live in one of his last games before covid . He didn’t jump out at me compared to the rest of the players but I guess he took this 9 month break to work on his skills.

[Tr1boy]

Contrary to the narrative pushed before the draft, this looks to be a very strong draft class.

Ball and Haliburton look like they could be future All Stars. Teenagers Edwards, Wiseman and Williams show tons of potential as well. And you have Avdija, Vassell, Bey, Achiuwa, Maxey, Pritchard and Bane who all already look like legit NBA players.

Hayes, Smith and Nesmith are the few lottery rookies with rough starts of their careers.

Nesmith not getting playing time will be a big hurdle for him. He also have to compete with the talented shooters coming in the next few years that are more ready to play. Might be a bad set of circumstances for Nesmith ... Romeo faces similar hurdles but his main issue is injuries .. oh well

Lets see what Nesmith can do without added pressure. No choice but to play him in the next 3 to 5 games

[moiso]

Oleh Kosel: LaMelo Ball just recorded his 10th assist so now he’s the youngest NBA player to get a triple-double. Sitting down for a rest with a line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes.

Alsp Maxey scores 39pts in 44 min??? Took 33 shots

Seems he was padding his stats, can we call that a Maxey Pad?

Not to be confused with the Maxi (Kleber) Pad.

[NKY fan]

Contrary to the narrative pushed before the draft, this looks to be a very strong draft class.

Ball and Haliburton look like they could be future All Stars. Teenagers Edwards, Wiseman and Williams show tons of potential as well. And you have Avdija, Vassell, Bey, Achiuwa, Maxey, Pritchard and Bane who all already look like legit NBA players.

Hayes, Smith and Nesmith are the few lottery rookies with rough starts of their careers.

Nesmith not getting playing time will be a big hurdle for him. He also have to compete with the talented shooters coming in the next few years that are more ready to play. Might be a bad set of circumstances for Nesmith ... Romeo faces similar hurdles but his main issue is injuries .. oh well

Lets see what Nesmith can do without added pressure. No choice but to play him in the next 3 to 5 games

He may have to play the 4 tonight. He might be ok in that role in limited minutes

[RodyTur10]

Contrary to the narrative pushed before the draft, this looks to be a very strong draft class.

Ball and Haliburton look like they could be future All Stars. Teenagers Edwards, Wiseman and Williams show tons of potential as well. And you have Avdija, Vassell, Bey, Achiuwa, Maxey, Pritchard and Bane who all already look like legit NBA players.

Hayes, Smith and Nesmith are the few lottery rookies with rough starts of their careers.

Nesmith not getting playing time will be a big hurdle for him. He also have to compete with the talented shooters coming in the next few years that are more ready to play. Might be a bad set of circumstances for Nesmith ... Romeo faces similar hurdles but his main issue is injuries .. oh well

Lets see what Nesmith can do without added pressure. No choice but to play him in the next 3 to 5 games

He may have to play the 4 tonight. He might be ok in that role in limited minutes

From what we've seen so far I think Nesmith is more a '4' than a '2'.

[Goldstar88]

Oleh Kosel: LaMelo Ball just recorded his 10th assist so now he’s the youngest NBA player to get a triple-double. Sitting down for a rest with a line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes.

Alsp Maxey scores 39pts in 44 min??? Took 33 shots

Seems he was padding his stats, can we call that a Maxey Pad?

I watched him play live in one of his last games before covid . He didn’t jump out at me compared to the rest of the players but I guess he took this 9 month break to work on his skills.

That joke was a little too dry, Redz.  Lol