2025 CelticsBlog Fantasy Draft: '05-'25 Edition

[RodyTur10]

Bam is very nice value this late.

Ahh, I was hoping I'd get to steal him late in the round.

You might?ve if Chet was still on the board. My big board today was Siakam, Chet, Bridges, and Bam and I thought Siakam was more likely to get snagged in the six picks between mine. But I did think he?d be a good fit for RodyTur and Rody saw it too.

I?m really happy with Bam. He doesn?t stretch the floor, but he does everything else. Can play him with KAT, Mobley, or KD at the PF spot and unlock some different things. You can effectively play him as a C, but as I want to keep KAT at C I?m listing Bam at PF.

Siakam Bam KAT is a backup frontcourt with good size and versatility, I think, paired with Kidd and Vince in the backcourt

I had Pascal Siakam in bold as my clear pick for today. Should have taken him yesterday and trusted that Robert Williams would have been available today. Wrong decision. Williams just tipped all the boxes for my required back-up center behind Marc Gasol: athletism, great team defense, disruptive and high energy, rim protector, switchability, low usage, team player, efficient and decent free throw shooter.

[Roy H.]

We haven't done a "critique my team" thread in this draft yet, but if people don't mind, I'll put my team up for review:

PG: Steph Curry (MVP), Jalen Brunson
SG: Jrue Holiday, Victor Oladipo
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Giannis (MVP, DPOY), Elton Brand
C: Kristaps Porzingis, DeAndre Jordan  Domantas Sabonis

I'll return the favor for anybody who comments (if they want me to).

[Roy H.]

I thought there was a 100% chance that Mo was going to end up with Kyrie. 

I hope you take a Cleveland year.  When he was next to Lebron, he seemed focused on winning a title.  It was only later that he became an anti-Semitic, team-breaking flake.

For all his faults, he was clutch in Cleveland and has maybe the best handle in NBA history:

[Celtic Fan Forever]

We haven't done a "critique my team" thread in this draft yet, but if people don't mind, I'll put my team up for review:

PG: Steph Curry (MVP), Jalen Brunson
SG: Jrue Holiday, Victor Oladipo
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Giannis (MVP, DPOY), Elton Brand
C: Kristaps Porzingis, DeAndre Jordan  Domantas Sabonis

I'll return the favor for anybody who comments (if they want me to).

I love how the backcourt is set up. Elite offense (Curry and Brunson) next to elite defense (Holiday and Oladipo). Only downside is you can?t really play Brunson and Curry at the same time but there are some fun combos to make here. Holiday/Oladipo for a late game stop and Oladipo can really get buckets leading a second unit- he can play alongside both of your starting guards.

I like Hedo as a secondary playmaker, but I worry slightly about the defense with him and Curry together in the starting lineup. Hedo is a little slow footed. Giannis and Holiday make up for a lot of ground defensively but I still think you need a big wing stopper to take some of Hedo?s minutes. Still some solid guys out there to fill that role.

I love Porzingis with this 5. He plays a better version of a big that has worked with Giannis in the past. Elite spacing and rim protection that lets Giannis roam on defense while having driving lanes on offense. Big fan of the fit of your starting lineup.

Brand is underrated,and he has a bit of a midrange game as to not clog for Giannis. Deandre Jordan is a great rim protector and rebounder - I would play him when Giannis sits.

I think your team needs one more shooter and one more lockdown defensive wing - but great team building as always, Roy.

[Donoghus]

Can't stand Kyrie but that is helluva value there.

[Moranis]

I would have only taken Irving with last pick in the draft as a value pick.  I don't like his game and he is a terrible human.

[Who]

I thought there was a 100% chance that Mo was going to end up with Kyrie. 

I hope you take a Cleveland year.  When he was next to Lebron, he seemed focused on winning a title.  It was only later that he became an anti-Semitic, team-breaking flake.

No, I like Kyrie's last 2 years in the Mavs the best.

He has become a real PG under Jason Kidd. He has cut out the over-dribbling / ball-stopping part of his game. Not the most creative PG but he keeps the ball moving. That is enough for me. His defensive effort is also more consistent than before. He is a good team player these days. Never thought it would happen but Kidd brought it out of him. He finally grew up (basketball wise).

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Cannot deny Kyrie is an unbelievable talent and value at this stage, but he was firmly on my ?do not draft under any circumstances? list

[Donoghus]

We haven't done a "critique my team" thread in this draft yet, but if people don't mind, I'll put my team up for review:

PG: Steph Curry (MVP), Jalen Brunson
SG: Jrue Holiday, Victor Oladipo
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Giannis (MVP, DPOY), Elton Brand
C: Kristaps Porzingis, DeAndre Jordan  Domantas Sabonis

I'll return the favor for anybody who comments (if they want me to).

I love how the backcourt is set up. Elite offense (Curry and Brunson) next to elite defense (Holiday and Oladipo). Only downside is you can?t really play Brunson and Curry at the same time but there are some fun combos to make here. Holiday/Oladipo for a late game stop and Oladipo can really get buckets leading a second unit- he can play alongside both of your starting guards.

I like Hedo as a secondary playmaker, but I worry slightly about the defense with him and Curry together in the starting lineup. Hedo is a little slow footed. Giannis and Holiday make up for a lot of ground defensively but I still think you need a big wing stopper to take some of Hedo?s minutes. Still some solid guys out there to fill that role.

I love Porzingis with this 5. He plays a better version of a big that has worked with Giannis in the past. Elite spacing and rim protection that lets Giannis roam on defense while having driving lanes on offense. Big fan of the fit of your starting lineup.

Brand is underrated,and he has a bit of a midrange game as to not clog for Giannis. Deandre Jordan is a great rim protector and rebounder - I would play him when Giannis sits.

I think your team needs one more shooter and one more lockdown defensive wing - but great team building as always, Roy.

I absolutely love this backcourt.  It's loaded and you have a nice mix of offense and defense there.  Especially offensively. 

Giannis/Zinger are going to give interior defenses fits.  Feel like Giannis will thrive in the lane as a result of playing alongside Zinger. 

[Roy H.]

I would have only taken Irving with last pick in the draft as a value pick.  I don't like his game and he is a terrible human.

I'm curious, how did you view him in his early days in Cleveland?  Like, back in the Dion Waiters era?

I was a giant Kyrie fan pretty much up until the trade with Boston, and pretty much until the All-Star break of his final season here.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

10 man rotation:

Chris Paul/Fred VanVleet
Ray Allen/OG Anunoby
Paul Pierce/Gordon Hayward
Chris Bosh/Serge Ibaka
Tim Duncan/Andrew Bogut

Curious to hear some feedback and critiques

[Roy H.]

We haven't done a "critique my team" thread in this draft yet, but if people don't mind, I'll put my team up for review:

PG: Steph Curry (MVP), Jalen Brunson
SG: Jrue Holiday, Victor Oladipo
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Giannis (MVP, DPOY), Elton Brand
C: Kristaps Porzingis, DeAndre Jordan  Domantas Sabonis

I'll return the favor for anybody who comments (if they want me to).

I love how the backcourt is set up. Elite offense (Curry and Brunson) next to elite defense (Holiday and Oladipo). Only downside is you can?t really play Brunson and Curry at the same time but there are some fun combos to make here. Holiday/Oladipo for a late game stop and Oladipo can really get buckets leading a second unit- he can play alongside both of your starting guards.

I like Hedo as a secondary playmaker, but I worry slightly about the defense with him and Curry together in the starting lineup. Hedo is a little slow footed. Giannis and Holiday make up for a lot of ground defensively but I still think you need a big wing stopper to take some of Hedo?s minutes. Still some solid guys out there to fill that role.

I love Porzingis with this 5. He plays a better version of a big that has worked with Giannis in the past. Elite spacing and rim protection that lets Giannis roam on defense while having driving lanes on offense. Big fan of the fit of your starting lineup.

Brand is underrated,and he has a bit of a midrange game as to not clog for Giannis. Deandre Jordan is a great rim protector and rebounder - I would play him when Giannis sits.

I think your team needs one more shooter and one more lockdown defensive wing - but great team building as always, Roy.

Thanks, CFF.  My take on your squad:

PG: Chris Paul, Fred VanVleet
SG: Ray Allen, OG Anunoby
SF: Paul Pierce, Gordon Hayward
PF: Chris Bosh, Serge Ibaka
C: Tim Duncan, Andrew Bogut

While my favorite era of basketball was the 1980s up until the mid-1990s, the years I most intensely watched it was maybe 2000-10.  Your team is exactly in my wheelhouse.

Pierce and Ray obviously work well together.  They won a title together, and but-for KG's injury, I think they win three.  Duncan is the best player of his era.  Full stop.  Not Kobe.  Not KG.  Duncan. 

CP3 is one of the best PGs of all time.  The only very slight critique I have about him is that he holds the ball a lot.  I suppose all passers do.  But -- and if anybody is paying attention, I'd like feedback on this -- I thought our Big Three suffered a little the more prominent Rondo's role became.  As he became more ball dominant, the team's movement seemed to suffer.  CP3 was a better finisher and a better shooter than Rondo, but I have a prejudice for the "multiple ball handlers out of the backcourt" thing:  Danny + DJ, Parker + Manu, etc.

So long as Bosh isn't matched up against dudes with a ton of muscle and size, he's a valuable asset, especially if you get him in his 3PT shooting days.  And luckily, there aren't a ton of PFs drafted so far who can muscle him.

Your bench is just stifling on D, and I'm a believer in Hayward as a 6th-man type who can do a bit of anything.

I think your team is set; whatever you do in the next two rounds is a luxury.  I might look for a beefier PF off the bench, along with perhaps some elite athleticism elsewhere, particularly if that guy can attack the rim.

[Donoghus]

10 man rotation:

Chris Paul/Fred VanVleet
Ray Allen/OG Anunoby
Paul Pierce/Gordon Hayward
Chris Bosh/Serge Ibaka
Tim Duncan/Andrew Bogut

Curious to hear some feedback and critiques

That starting five is ridiculously fundamentally solid.  We already know Ray/Pierce works.  The front court of Pierce/Bosh/Duncan is incredible and spacing won't be an issue there.  The passing on that team is elite.   Really like the Ibaka pick.  Early Ibaka was a shot blocking force.   Gordon is a great 6th man to have.

The team chemistry is gonna be awesome.

[smokeablount]

SGA / Kidd
Klay / Vince
KD / Siakam
Mobley / Bam
Rudy / KAT

Please weigh in, and I will try to do the same later after work or late night. But remember- I already wrote 1.5 editions of power rankings so even if they were bad, give me some love/hate!

[Moranis]

I would have only taken Irving with last pick in the draft as a value pick.  I don't like his game and he is a terrible human.

I'm curious, how did you view him in his early days in Cleveland?  Like, back in the Dion Waiters era?

I was a giant Kyrie fan pretty much up until the trade with Boston, and pretty much until the All-Star break of his final season here.

I thought he was very overrated. I think I gave the trade to Boston a C for Boston. Got a lot of flak on this board for it. Had Ainge actually pulled the trigger on the Kawhi trade (or even George), the Irving trade would have made more sense. I just never felt Kyrie could be a #1 guy and his inconsistency overall and his lack of effort on defense always annoyed me.

I also think Irving is where I really discovered on/off differential and its value.  For basically his 2 years here, I told this board the team was basically just as good without him and were better off trading him for assets.  Again not making me many fans on here. Though I was pretty clearly right about Irving.  Just not good enough or consistent enough to be the lead guy and he is clearly crazy.  I wouldn't want him on my team.