Possible #30 picks

[CoachBo]

I don't think we need to reach, and I don't necessarily think we need the pick at all.

CDR interests me a BUNCH more than Billy Walker, because Walker's got some character issues. His college coach had a big-time problem controlling his outbursts during games.

But ... if we can answer our short-term needs outside the draft, then deal the pick for a pick or picks in future years.

[Casperian]

Does anyone know anything about Nathan Jawai?  I've never seen him play, but I read his nbadraft.net profile and am very intrigued.  According to his profile, he has size, athleticism, and a nasty attitude, which I think will serve him well in the NBA.  He doesn't have much experience though.  Has anyone seen him play?

An australian friend of mine, whose eye for basketball I trust, told me about Jawai. He was convinced he should be a lottery pick. I rarely heard him talk about a player in such an ecstatic way. Character guy, aggressive, a bruiser with a soft touch and a lot of potential.

But I can`t give you first-hand experience...

Take it for what it is, some guy in australia told another guy on the internet he could be a very good player^^

[Chris]

Does anyone know anything about Nathan Jawai?  I've never seen him play, but I read his nbadraft.net profile and am very intrigued.  According to his profile, he has size, athleticism, and a nasty attitude, which I think will serve him well in the NBA.  He doesn't have much experience though.  Has anyone seen him play?

An australian friend of mine, whose eye for basketball I trust, told me about Jawai. He was convinced he should be a lottery pick. I rarely heard him talk about a player in such an ecstatic way. Character guy, aggressive, a bruiser with a soft touch and a lot of potential.

But I can`t give you first-hand experience...

Take it for what it is, some guy in australia told another guy on the internet he could be a very good player^^

I have liked everything I have heard about the guy, but the lack of competition in Australia scares me.  In general guys who are bruisers thrive in leagues with weaker competition, but it doesn't always translate to the NBA, where everyone is as big and strong as they are.

I don't know if this is the case with Jawai...but I think workouts are going to be VERY important for him.

[Scribbles]

Does anyone know anything about Nathan Jawai?  I've never seen him play, but I read his nbadraft.net profile and am very intrigued.  According to his profile, he has size, athleticism, and a nasty attitude, which I think will serve him well in the NBA.  He doesn't have much experience though.  Has anyone seen him play?

An australian friend of mine, whose eye for basketball I trust, told me about Jawai. He was convinced he should be a lottery pick. I rarely heard him talk about a player in such an ecstatic way. Character guy, aggressive, a bruiser with a soft touch and a lot of potential.

But I can`t give you first-hand experience...

Take it for what it is, some guy in australia told another guy on the internet he could be a very good player^^

I have liked everything I have heard about the guy, but the lack of competition in Australia scares me.  In general guys who are bruisers thrive in leagues with weaker competition, but it doesn't always translate to the NBA, where everyone is as big and strong as they are.

I don't know if this is the case with Jawai...but I think workouts are going to be VERY important for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJszNGHjNA

There's a close to 10 minute youtube video on Jawai if anyone is interested/hasn't seen it. 

[vjcsmoke]

Hopefully Jawai is not the next Ben Pepper...

Here's a highlight clip of him, but you can't really get much out of it considering he is playing against nonexistent defenses.
The question is can he get off his moves against NBA big men?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX42AEpO-EY

The other question on my mind, is this guy a true 6-10?  Or is he more like a 6'8 but listed higher than he actually is?
He doesn't look all that tall.  The thing that interests me more is that he seems to have better hands than Perkins.
Garnett is excellent at creating opportunities for Perkins, but he seems to fumble away half of those easy chances because he doesn't catch the ball well.
If Jawai turns out to be a Perkins clone with better hands, he's probably worth a 2nd round pick.

[P2]

I want DeVon Hardin. 6'11", very athletic.

[Chris]

I want DeVon Hardin. 6'11", very athletic.

I keep hearing his name, but the one time I tried to watch him, he didn't play. 

Everyone talks about his athleticism, but how is his feel for the game and his skill level?

[jaketwice]

I want Hibbert.  He is exactly what we need. And we have the defense to prevent him suffering too much from his lack of skills...

Any chance he slips?

[Chris]

I want Hibbert.  He is exactly what we need. And we have the defense to prevent him suffering too much from his lack of skills...

Any chance he slips?

OK, I will give up on my crusade against him for a bit, convince me on him.  How is he exactly what we need?  What does he bring to the table, other than being tall?

[BrickJames]

OK, I will give up on my crusade against him for a bit, convince me on him.  How is he exactly what we need?  What does he bring to the table, other than being tall?

Perk is an energy guy who isn't afraid to do the dirty work.  He's tenacious and has a good feel for the game.

Wait, you're talking about Hibbert...

[celticsfan8591]

I want Hibbert.  He is exactly what we need. And we have the defense to prevent him suffering too much from his lack of skills...

Any chance he slips?

I used to want Hibbert, but after seeing him play a couple times on TV I din't want any part of him.  He's painfully slow in everything he does, and he really isn't a dominant player on either end despite regularly being 5 inches taller than the other center.  He has some skills and he's obviously very tall, but I don't think he has the athleticism to be effective against 7 footers in the NBA.

[greg_kite]

I want Hibbert.  He is exactly what we need. And we have the defense to prevent him suffering too much from his lack of skills...

Any chance he slips?

I used to want Hibbert, but after seeing him play a couple times on TV I din't want any part of him.  He's painfully slow in everything he does, and he really isn't a dominant player on either end despite regularly being 5 inches taller than the other center.  He has some skills and he's obviously very tall, but I don't think he has the athleticism to be effective against 7 footers in the NBA.

If Hibbert slips to 30 I think they would have to take him.  There was talk of him being top 10 last year.  You can't teach height.  7-2 with a touch around the basket?  To me it's a low risk high reward type of pick.  His ceiling would be maybe Ilgauskas.  Unless they can get a Brandon Rush type of 2 guard I would go for Roy.  For the argument that he can't play NBA level 7 footers just look back to his last game against Greg Oden in '07.  He didn't do too bad.  He dominated Aaron Gray in '07, who's earned a spot in the Chicago rotation.  I think he can hold his own in the NBA and be a good rotation role player.

[jaketwice]

I want Hibbert.  He is exactly what we need. And we have the defense to prevent him suffering too much from his lack of skills...

Any chance he slips?

OK, I will give up on my crusade against him for a bit, convince me on him.  How is he exactly what we need?  What does he bring to the table, other than being tall?

I think that when you're where the Celtics are in the draft, you have to pick according to need.  Buuut, when you're at 30, you're not going to get anyone to fill a need on a nightly basis.  Douglas-Roberts is wasted on our team. So is Brandon Rush. Are either of these guys going to beat out Posey for minutes?

And really, no big-minutes type of player is going to be available. OJ Mayo is about as realistic a prospect as Santa Claus - and that's even BEFORE the big post New-Years weight loss.

I do not think Hibbert is a big minute player. He's slow; he's a bad defender; he seems to get confused ("Roy go TOWARDS the basket!!!").  However, he does do two things well: he gets points in the paint, and he can swing the ball.

As the Celtics are an aging team, they need someone who can come in and provide some certain offense.  Notice I didn't say "instant." Hibbert is like a plodding fairy tale giant! But he shoots 60% from the field.

The game plan is simple: the jump shots aren't falling?  Rest the big three, and put Hibbert in with a couple of rebounders (he doesn't do that well either).  Running the offense through a big man a). allows the team time to catch its breath; b). provides more certainty in points scored; c). causes the opposition's big men to work harder on defense; d). can end runs of points by the opposition (which it is hard to do now) because when points are scored, it necessitates a slower game.

The Celtics do not have a post game. It would be useful to have a reliable post option. Hibbert could be that option.

And before you get going about "oh we'd suffer on defense with him in the game" consider that a player's utility should not solely be derived from his in game contributions.  A dominant big man could scramble the opposition's line-up. 

Hibbert - or any offensive-minded big man - would add a new dimension to the team.

[P2]

I think we will keep the #30 pick, and buy another one in the 15-25 range (probably from Seattle). With the two picks we're going to select Douglas-Roberts/Rush/Walker and Jawai/Hardin.

[kw10]

Does anyone know anything about Nathan Jawai?  I've never seen him play, but I read his nbadraft.net profile and am very intrigued.  According to his profile, he has size, athleticism, and a nasty attitude, which I think will serve him well in the NBA.  He doesn't have much experience though.  Has anyone seen him play?

An australian friend of mine, whose eye for basketball I trust, told me about Jawai. He was convinced he should be a lottery pick. I rarely heard him talk about a player in such an ecstatic way. Character guy, aggressive, a bruiser with a soft touch and a lot of potential.

But I can`t give you first-hand experience...

Take it for what it is, some guy in australia told another guy on the internet he could be a very good player^^

I have liked everything I have heard about the guy, but the lack of competition in Australia scares me.  In general guys who are bruisers thrive in leagues with weaker competition, but it doesn't always translate to the NBA, where everyone is as big and strong as they are.

I don't know if this is the case with Jawai...but I think workouts are going to be VERY important for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJszNGHjNA

There's a close to 10 minute youtube video on Jawai if anyone is interested/hasn't seen it. 

I have seen Nathan Jawai play a few times, he is everything you hear about him being an absolute beast over here. First, I won't deny claims that say he thrives in weaker comps and won't translate to the NBA. Having said that, he does have the size, strength and athleticism to play at this high level. He is young, but I trust if he can some good conditioning (to last him the wear and tear of the long schedule) which I believe he will, I don't see why this guy can't be a solid contributor. He won't be Shaq in NBA for sure, but I don't see why he can't be a Glen Davis type of player, except with more height, athleticism and force down low