As the Celtics have lost assets the last few years one thing that leaps right out is the near misses the C's have had in the draft. Chances to rebuild their asset stock through the draft that they've JUUUUUST missed on. I thought I'd compile a list and allow people to respond what their most painful Celtics draft miss was. These could be when a guy went just ahead of the C's pick, when the c's traded a pick they could have used on a great draft guy, or when a guy went soon AFTER the C's pick and they took someone else. Some ideas:
2013 Olynyk over Giannis: This was actually a trade up, the C's had the 16th pick and when the trade for the 13th was announced I was sure Boston was doing it to take Giannis, even though he was a complete unknown it seemed like the perfect risk for a team about to rebuild. Instead they took Kelly "T-Rex Arms" Olynyk. But hey, we'll always have that Wizards Playoff game. This will always be my own, personal worst miss. Because Giannis was my guy in that draft (I love athletic, long, "potential" guys).
2014 Missing out on a top three pick: This draft was hyped to have a strong top three. As it turns out Wiggins and parker never met their potential, and Smart at 6 was a fine pick. But man, Embiid at 3 in the year when you tied for the 4th worst record. Also, James Young draft complete waste at 17, but nobody picked close by really stands out.
2015 Missed Booker by 3 spots: This is the year the C's took Terry, fine pick at 16. Of course Devin booker went 13 so maybe the c's would have been better off missing the playoffs instead of losing to the hawks in the first round. Might have lucked into Booker.
2016 Zizic, Yabu picks wasted: Brown at 3, great pick. They also had 16 and 23 which were Yabuselle and Zizic. Malik Beasley, Caris LeVert went 19 and 20. Siakam and Brogdon went 27 and 36. I can't claim i was high on any of those guys still missed opportunity. Feels like a year you missed on better talent because you were trying to compete and decided to stash guys.
2017 No Complaints: Nailed the Fultz/Tatum swap. No other picks.
2018 Traded #8 For Kyrie: Here's where things heat up. C's traded pick that became #8 for Kyrie, which is a move most people were fine with. But man, if they hadn't. Sexton who went 8 would have helped, but 10, 11 and 12 in that draft were Mikal Bridges, SGA, Miles Bridges and then at 14 Michael Porter Jr all of whom would have been ideal pieces next to Jaylen and Jayson. Tried to accelerate the timeline, things back fired. Probably should have just picked one timeline. Did get RWIII at 27, great pick.
2019 Hero at 13, Langford at 14: Celtics were linked with Hero, Celtics had draft ammunition to move up to get him, he goes one spot ahead of Langford. Brutal. Celtics also had 20 which they traded for 24 and 33. They traded 24 along with Baynes I think to move off his money to PHO, they used 33 on Carsen Edwards. Probably should have just kept Thybulle at 20. Wasted pick, but hey at least ownership saved some money! Yay Wyc! Took Grant at 24, fine pick.
2020 Haliburton at 12, Nesmith at 14: Another draft where a guy who the C's were linked too, mostly because he was a perfect fit, goes just ahead of the C's spot. To rub salt in the wound the c's also had 26 and 47, so some ammo to move up. PHO took Jalen Smith at 10, who was projected to be in the late first round by most. Could the c's have done a 14+26 for 10 deal to get Haliburton? We will never know.
BONUS
2020 Nesmith 14, Cole Anthony 15: Anthony is averaging 20/6/6 this year if you haven't been watching the Magic. One pick after Nesmith. Brutal.
DOUBLE BONUS:
2020 Trade Bane at 30: We traded this pick for 2 second rounders. Kanter was also in the deal, but POR ended up taking him basically for free, so it really was just to dump the pick. The C's traded Bane who is averaging 18/4.5/2.5 basically just because they didn't want another young guy on the roster that year. Just stupid.
2021 Horford trade loses us Sengun: Sengun was projected to be a top 10 pick by most analysts, C's make the Kemba/Horford swap in advance of draft costing the 16th pick which ended up being Sengun. OKCA actually tardes the pick to HOU for 2 1st rounders. He's averaging 9/5/2.5/1/1 in 18 minutes per game with an intriguing scoring/passing mix as a big. Horford has been better than Kemba for sure, but he's sub 30% from three and this trade was mostly done to save ownership 7 million a year (Kemba at 34 million, Horford at 27) this year and next (luxury tax savings!).
So what have been your favorite/most painful draft misses the last 9 years?
Topic: Missed Draft Opportunities since the End of the Big 3 (Read 5643 times)