If you were Ainge...........(POLL)

[csfansince60s]

I'd use the pick to select the best player available, regardless of position.   

It's always a debate about who is the best player available, of course.  I'd opt for the "proven player" rather than "talented upside".  i think the SA Spurs have been great at this in the past, and DA has had some success as well.

As long as the BPA isn't another tweener.

Exactly In fact I'd re-define "best player available" as "best player for this team that is available."  The Celtics need size to eat up regular season minutes, which can hopefully contribute to the post season too.  The last thing this team needs is another player who is not built for their position in the NBA.

Excellent distinction.

[paulcowens]

Resign and take Doc with me...

[BCelts]

I'd use the pick to select the best player available, regardless of position.   

It's always a debate about who is the best player available, of course.  I'd opt for the "proven player" rather than "talented upside".  i think the SA Spurs have been great at this in the past, and DA has had some success as well.

As long as the BPA isn't another tweener.

Exactly In fact I'd re-define "best player available" as "best player for this team that is available."  The Celtics need size to eat up regular season minutes, which can hopefully contribute to the post season too.  The last thing this team needs is another player who is not built for their position in the NBA.

Excellent distinction.

Just so I understand, in the draft we are looking for the "best player for this team that is available."  I suspect there are few teams who are not looking to draft the "best player for [their] team that is available."

This might be more helpful if your implied point is clarified; perhaps you are saying the Celtics should take the most NBA-ready-right-now player that fits a team need.  This is opposed to the most potential that may take a few years. 

If this is indeed what you are saying, we should trade the pick for a vet, in my opinion, to provide the most help right now.

[slamtheking]

I'd use the pick to select the best player available, regardless of position.   

It's always a debate about who is the best player available, of course.  I'd opt for the "proven player" rather than "talented upside".  i think the SA Spurs have been great at this in the past, and DA has had some success as well.

As long as the BPA isn't another tweener.

Exactly In fact I'd re-define "best player available" as "best player for this team that is available."  The Celtics need size to eat up regular season minutes, which can hopefully contribute to the post season too.  The last thing this team needs is another player who is not built for their position in the NBA.

Excellent distinction.

Just so I understand, in the draft we are looking for the "best player for this team that is available."  I suspect there are few teams who are not looking to draft the "best player for [their] team that is available."

This might be more helpful if your implied point is clarified; perhaps you are saying the Celtics should take the most NBA-ready-right-now player that fits a team need.  This is opposed to the most potential that may take a few years. 

If this is indeed what you are saying, we should trade the pick for a vet, in my opinion, to provide the most help right now.

What I'd like to know is why anyone thinks that if they actually draft a player this year that the player will see any court time at all this year.  Eat minutes?  Not on a Doc Rivers team when he has even crappy vets to use or can just simply run the starters into the ground.

If a rookie sees the court this year, one of two things has happened.
1) Most Likely: the team is so decimated by injuries (yet again) that Doc has no other live bodies to put on the court. See, Harangody, Luke; Bradley, Avery; Erden, Semih.
2) Extremely Unlikely: the team uncovers a THE hidden jewel in this draft.  A player that inexplicably drops to #25 that's just so freakishly gifted and game savvy that they not only grasp and perfectly execute Doc's defensive schemes in a way that long-term NBA vets have been unable to do but that they also do so at a borderline all-star level.

[BCelts]

What I'd like to know is why anyone thinks that if they actually draft a player this year that the player will see any court time at all this year.  Eat minutes?  Not on a Doc Rivers team when he has even crappy vets to use or can just simply run the starters into the ground.

If a rookie sees the court this year, one of two things has happened.
1) Most Likely: the team is so decimated by injuries (yet again) that Doc has no other live bodies to put on the court. See, Harangody, Luke; Bradley, Avery; Erden, Semih.
2) Extremely Unlikely: the team uncovers a THE hidden jewel in this draft.  A player that inexplicably drops to #25 that's just so freakishly gifted and game savvy that they not only grasp and perfectly execute Doc's defensive schemes in a way that long-term NBA vets have been unable to do but that they also do so at a borderline all-star level.

Yes.  For this team, focusing on next year, a trade is in order.  It is very unlikely that a late-round rookie will provide a meaningful contribution next year.