Ranking Pruitt, BBD, JR, & Walker

[johnnyrondo]

It would be interesting to see how the C's rank Pruitt, BBD, Bill Walker, and JR Giddens. Or how do people thing they rank them? Or lastly, how do you rank them?

I think the C's ranke them JR, BBD, Walker, and lastly Pruitt

I'd probabably rank them BBD, JR, Walker (if his medicals are ok), Pruitt

I think the interesting thing to note is that everyone assumes that this draft means the end of Tony Allen, which it very well might, but I think this draft might also affect Pruitt. I don't think they look at Pruitt as a viable backup pg for this coming year, so if they only keep a couple guys to develop, he could be the odd man out. Often competing teams are forced to cut someone they'd rather not when they have the opportunity sometime during the season to sign a veteran. I'd say this draft puts Pruitt's security in doubt. So what are your rankings and how do you think the Celtics rank them right now?

p.s. I'm so close to my first star I can smell it. I always had this dream of having 70 TP's before I got my first star though.

[moskqq]

Pruitt won't be cut because he has 2 years remaining on a guaranteed 3 year contract. While Pruitt may never be the backup PG they hoped for he could have a role as a backup SG.  Pruitt needs to improve his basketball IQ and fundamentals in order to be an asset to the Celtics.

In ranking the players listed one should rank them first on NBA readiness and not future "potential" (because unmet potential seems quite common).  In this regard BB must be rated first (he has seen PT during a championship run).  While JR has yet to play in the NBA he seems more defensively ready than Pruitt so I'd give him the edge.  Of the remaining two players, Walker is among the walking wounded and is a raw talent whereas Pruitt is healthy and has had a year of "seasoning". Thus Walker should be rated last yet may have the greatest upside.

[BudweiserCeltic]

As far as this team is constructed, I'd rank them:

1. JR Giddens
2. Gabe Pruitt
3. Glenn Davis
4. Bill Walker (if he comes back healthy, he can become number 2 or 1 for me)


I'm a big Davis supporter, but I think he needs to go via trade. Find a way to package him and Scal, and see what you can get. If needed, include Tony Allen (I myself would rather keep him).

[cordobes]

NBA readiness:

1. BBD
2. Pruitt (I hope; probably I'm wrong if we assume that he's a PG)
3. Giddens
4. Walker

Potential:

1. Giddens
2. BBD, Walker
3. Pruitt

[amenhotep04]

Pruitt hasn't gotten much love at all on these boards.  When Bilas said on draft night Pruitt didn't play defense, he didn't know what he was talking about. Pruitt was known for his defense at USC.  He's not a great one on one defender, but is someone who plays the passing lanes. He's got a nice shot, and has a decent handle.  He's a tweener and is more or less Delonte West with more athleticism, and not as fragile.  He's a team player, and a good guy to have in a back-up role.  He'll never be a superstar, but he should, if given a chance, contribute to the team.

BBD is what, 6'6" though listed three inches taller.  He'll never be more than a back-up in this league, but he did have a pretty good rookie year.

As far as ranking however, without two of the guys even playing in the league, at this moment they are BBD, Gabe, JR, and Walker.  Potentially however, in five years having a rotation of Rondo, Pruitt, JR, and Walker (in whatever order) looks pretty good, and reliable.  Of course, the line-up will be much different by then.  Nevertheless, I'd say JR has the most upside, then Walker, then Pruitt, then BBD.

Really though, ranking depends on the needs of the team, injuries to the team and to the four individual players, as well as individual characteristics.  There's no doubt in my mind that if Tony had not blown out both knees he'd be a far more developed player, and would have been resigned.

[Who]

(1) Walker
(2) Giddens
(3) BBD
(4) Pruitt

Pruitt is talented but he dips because I'm not sure he has a true position which is more workable as a backup than a starter. I'm not sure how much better BBD gets without losing the weight and getting down to a Haslem size, and working hard from there. Solid backup seems a good place for BBD and he's likely the best equipped to help the team immediately next season although that may change by training camp if Giddens learns quick. BBD is the fifth big in the rotation and the team likely will hire a replacement for PJ keeping him as the fifth wheel. Giddens on the other hand has a shot at Tony's role if he can prove his talent to the team. I'd give Walker a slight advantage on Giddens because I think he has more star potential in the NBA while Giddens has more good role player potential. Giddens more in line with a Posey, a scrapper who helps out his team with hustle and solid player. Walker has some serious upside when healthy which is hard to overlook.

[indeedproceed]

I'd say in terms of next season

BBD
Giddens
Pruitt
Walker

as far as long-terms plans of the team

Walker
Giddens
Pruitt
BBD

and in terms of talent, today

Giddens
BBD
Pruitt
Walker (because of injury)

I agree with everyone that Walker was a huge steal for us. I think the difference being is that as who said, Giddens seems like a high energy guy that can come in and score and hustle. He's too green to play even minutes like Posey though. If the team thinks they can get something out of Giddens and Pruitt next season, it would be interesting to see where that puts our beloved Eddie House.

[bbc3341]

I think there is a tendency to underrate Pruitt because we have kind of a feel for the level of NBA he is whereas with Giddens and Walker, there is still the bloom on the rose so to speak - but without a doubt BBaby has NBA bona-fides and has proven he can be a part of an NBA rotation, the other 3 are still questionable, but JR probably has the most potential to be more than just a rotation guy...

[indeedproceed]

I think there is a tendency to underrate Pruitt because we have kind of a feel for the level of NBA he is whereas with Giddens and Walker, there is still the bloom on the rose so to speak - but without a doubt BBaby has NBA bona-fides and has proven he can be a part of an NBA rotation, the other 3 are still questionable, but JR probably has the most potential to be more than just a rotation guy...

I agree about underrating Pruitt, but Giddens is effectively a senior in college, while Pruit is a year younger with 1 year of D-League experience. I think we're assuming too much with everyone besides BBD, these guys are all so young its impossible to even predict how they'll perform next season, let alone long term. Be we do it anyways cuz we're bored.

[MrBlonde]

Pruitt does not have 3 years guaranteed, only the 1st two years are guaranteed.  The last year is a team option.

[cdif911]

ranking these guys doesn't make much sense as they play different positions.  Its like ranking Pokemon cards and Digimon cards against each other, you can't use one in the other game, so it doesn't make sense...

secondly, ranking the rookies is impossible, because we haven't seen them against NBA talent...

If I had to Rank BBD vs. Pruitt, I'd say BBD all the way, just because he's shown he can contribute at the NBA level and Pruitt has not - for the rookies, I don't know what they can do on the big stage, give it a few months and we'll have an idea

[MattG12]

It would be interesting to see how the C's rank Pruitt, BBD, Bill Walker, and JR Giddens. Or how do people thing they rank them? Or lastly, how do you rank them?

I think the C's ranke them JR, BBD, Walker, and lastly Pruitt

I'd probabably rank them BBD, JR, Walker (if his medicals are ok), Pruitt

I think the interesting thing to note is that everyone assumes that this draft means the end of Tony Allen, which it very well might, but I think this draft might also affect Pruitt. I don't think they look at Pruitt as a viable backup pg for this coming year, so if they only keep a couple guys to develop, he could be the odd man out. Often competing teams are forced to cut someone they'd rather not when they have the opportunity sometime during the season to sign a veteran. I'd say this draft puts Pruitt's security in doubt. So what are your rankings and how do you think the Celtics rank them right now?

p.s. I'm so close to my first star I can smell it. I always had this dream of having 70 TP's before I got my first star though.

a tommy point for you!

[Zoots]

I'm curious why a lot of people rank Walker's long term potential greater than JR's.

I'll be honest, I really didn't watch either one before a couple of nights ago, so all I've seen are Youtube clips.

Do you regard Walker higher because he is a power 3 player ala Pierce?  Can he shoot competently from the outside?  Of the clips I've seen, it's all dunking (which were impressive, btw).

JR seems every bit as athletic, and with a better jumper, but without being physically overpowering.

Anyway, from my limited viewing of these guys, I like JR's potential every bit as well as Walker's.

I also agree that Pruitt is going to really have to fight for a position.  There's no time to be the passive youngin.  This is business.  You want it, take it.  I hope he steps up.

[johnnyrondo]

So what's the scoop on Walker? Who does he project to if healthy? All, I see are dunks from the videos so I'm not sure what he exactly is. Does he have a good jumper? Can he pass? How's his j?  I mean he dunks like Dominique, but Wilkins actually had a lot of game, so I'm just curious as to how he projects. The last draft pick peple were this excited about was Gerald, so I'm a little cautious.

I think it makes sense to rank the young players even though they play different positions, because when push comes to shove, some one gets injured, we need the roster spot, it would be interesting to see who has more security.

[wdleehi]

1) Davis
2) Pruitt




The other two need to step on the NBA floor first.