CelticsBlog 2025 Fantasy DRAFT HERE thread!

[smokeablount]

These may have been reaches, but I love these picks. I was wondering where AK would/should land.

Great job Timdawgg

Donoghous is now on the clock!

[Donoghus]

The Milwaukee Bucks select Tracy McGrady

[tazzmaniac]

I debated between Shaq and Embiid.  I ultimately decided on the guy that was more efficient.

Shaq more efficient???  Don't think so.  Shaq just has a much more limited offensive skillset.  Comparing Shaq's 2004/5 season with Embiid's MVP season. 

                0-3     3-10     10-16    16-3P      3P          FT
Shaq        74.8     43.9     19.6        0.0       N/A        46.1
Embiid      80.7     43.5     51.4       48.9     33.0        85.7

Shaq and Embiid were similar from 3-10 feet but otherwise Embiid was much better.  Of course, the sledgehammer to the comparison is free throw shooting.  No one who shoots free throws that dismally should be called efficient. 

As for the overall comparison, Embiid is the significantly better defender.

Shaq was a better defender than Embiid, by virtually every metric.  More DWS, more blocks per game and a higher BLK%, etc.   Embiid definitely has way more offensive range, but in some respects that hurts his game.  If he spent more time inside, he'd score a lot more and would better use his size.  A lot of the modern players spread the floor too much instead of just utilizing their strength.  Embiid, with his size, should play like Shaq.  He'd dominant the league.  All the spreading the floor hurts his game.  33% on 3 attempts a game is just bad.  He doesn't need to do that.  Stay inside, put the other team in foul trouble, and hit at a great percentage.  Not sure it would help his health, but running all of the floor and handling the ball that much can't help it either.  He only played 66 games in his MVP season.  He needs to play more.  Work on his body and stay inside.  That is how he'd dominate and how the Sixers would win more games.

Embiid won the MVP. Not sure what else he should have done to be considered a dominant player. Problem is his injury history, not his shooting range.

Embiid's opponents are forced to contest shots on the perimeter. This means a) he spaces the floor for his teammates b) the Sixers can attack the switches generated by Embiid's picks on the perimeter, c) he generates better looks for himself in the paint cause opposing defenders cannot simply drop back to protect the rim. Personally, I consider peak Embiid (when healthy) a better player than Miami Shaq.

Love the Embiid-KG fit on D. Embiid drops. KG roams. They would both excel in their roles. Not overly excited by the Nash-Embiid combo tbh: a) Nash is at his best on the open court, whereas Embiid is effective primarily in the half court. b) Nash excels spamming the PnR. Embiid is more of an iso scorer rather than a mobile PnR partner for Nash. c) Embiid is effective only in a drop scheme meaning he needs a legit POA defender to provide cover for him in the PnR. That's definitely not Nash.

Fortunately for Who, he got an elite roll man and help defender in KG. When it comes to help D in particular, I think only Giannis is in the same tier with KG. It seems like they are everywhere at the same time thanks to their elite size and athleticism. Even so, I'd argue the Embiid-Nash defensive combo can be exploited by PnR-heavy, perimeter-oriented offenses, especially if KG's opponent is a reliable 3pt shooter.

For the record, I'll likely have an even bigger defensive issue trying to hide Jokic in the PnR. I tend to value offense over defense. Not sure whether I wanna settle for a defensive specialist to provide adequate cover for Jokic. I guess it depends on who's left on the board by the time I make my picks.

According to NBA.com stats, Embiid is at the top of the league in pick-and-roll roll man possessions.  In his one full season with Harden, Embiid led the league with 6.7 possessions and had a 1.23 PPP.  The following season without Harden Embiid's PPR possessions dropped to 5.0 with a 1.11 PPP.  The next best partner Embiid has had offensively was Redick when they ran the dribble handoff very effectively.  Butler/Embiid was a good pairing overall but they were still mostly trying to have Simmons be the PG.  Simmons was crap in the half court and Maxey is a small shooting guard.  I think the Nash/Embiid pairing would be excellent in the half court. 

As for transition which of the centers drafted so far are good in transition?  The centers who are good in transition are usually string beans who would get abused by the centers already drafted. 

[smokeablount]

With the 34th pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder select...

The greatest 3+D player/winner of all time...

A guy who can get you 40 points with less than 5 dribbles...

A proven #3 who doesn't need the ball, best C&S guy ever, and plays great D at 6'7"

Klay Thompson!


SGA
Klay
KD
x
Rudy

[smokeablount]

WE HAVE A TRADE!!!

#SHAMWOWSIMBOMB

[Celtic Fan Forever]

The Magic trade up and get their guy.

Ray Allen

CP3
Ray Allen
Pierce
Duncan

Man I should have just picked KG 2 overall- building a supercharged 08 Celtics

[Roy H.]

Ray Allen is a brilliant pick.

[smokeablount]

Celtics Fan Forever trades:

42, 59, 82

Roy trades:

35, 75, 86

[snively]

Roy wheelin' and dealin' this draft.

[snively]

The Bulls take Jimmy Butler

[tazzmaniac]

Roy wheelin' and dealin' this draft.

Definitely making it interesting.  I didn't expect to see him trading back after his big trade up. 

[smokeablount]

Roy wheelin' and dealin' this draft.

Definitely making it interesting.  I didn't expect to see him trading back after his big trade up.

I think he's hit a sweet spot with his picks. Even picking this late, between 40-60 he'll have great options that aren't much of a step down if he picks wisely, but almost no one can match a 1-2 punch, both in overall talent and cohesive fit, of a Curry/Giannis pairing.

I think we just saw a mutually beneficial trade between two top 4-5 teams.

[tazzmaniac]

Roy wheelin' and dealin' this draft.

Definitely making it interesting.  I didn't expect to see him trading back after his big trade up.

I think he's hit a sweet spot with his picks. Even picking this late, between 40-60 he'll have great options that aren't much of a step down if he picks wisely, but almost no one can match a 1-2 punch, both in overall talent and cohesive fit, of a Curry/Giannis pairing.

I think we just saw a mutually beneficial trade between two top 4-5 teams.

We'll see.  I don't think Curry/Giannis is much better of a pairing than your SGA/KD pairing for example.  And the Klay pick was a great addition.   

[Jvalin]

Was targeting Klay, but I'm happy to "settle" for

Anthony Edwards

[Who]

Okay, that hurts. That was my top 3 guys taken in the 3 picks right before me. #1 Jimmy #2 Ant #3 Ray.

So close ... yet so far.