Chad Ford's latest mock - 5.0 ...Celtics Take Jeremy Tyler

[Kane3387]

First off I apologize that the teams aren't listed but I couldn't copy and paste all of that and I apologize there is no analysis but I am not an Insider. If you go to Espn.com and create your own mock draft it returns Ford's latest picks for comparison. Celtics pick 25th.


1      Kyrie Irving 6'4" PG, Duke
2   Derrick Williams 6'9" PF, Arizona
3   Brandon Knight 6'4" PG, Kentucky
4   Jonas Valanciunas 6'10" C, Lithuania
5   Jan Vesely 6'11" SF, Czech Republic
6   Enes Kanter 6'11" C, Turkey
7   Kawhi Leonard 6'7" SF, San Diego State
8   Kemba Walker 6'1" PG, Connecticut
9   Marcus Morris 6'9" PF, Kansas
10   Klay Thompson 6'7" SG, Washington State
11   Bismack Biyombo 6'9" PF, Spain
12   Chris Singleton 6'9" SF, Florida State
13   Alec Burks 6'6" SG, Colorado
14   Nikola Vucevic 7'0" C, USC
15   Jimmer Fredette 6'3" PG, BYU
16   Tristan Thompson 6'9" PF, Texas
17   Marshon Brooks 6'5" SG, Providence
18   Jordan Hamilton 6'9" SF, Texas
19   Markieff Morris 6'9" PF, Kansas
20   Donatas Motiejunas 7'0" PF, Lithuania
21   Kenneth Faried 6'8" PF, Morehead State
22   Tobias Harris 6'8" PF, Tennessee
23   Darius Morris 6'5" PG, Michigan
24   Nikola Mirotic 6'10" SF, Serbia
25   Jeremy Tyler 6'11" PF,
26   Josh Selby 6'3" PG, Kansas
27   Reggie Jackson 6'3" PG, Boston College
28   Justin Harper 6'9" PF, Richmond
29   Davis Bertans 6'10" SF, Latvia
30   Tyler Honeycutt 6'8" SF, UCLA

[bballdog384]

From Insider:

Analysis: The Celtics are going to start rebuilding soon and they need to hit a home run again the same way they did with Rajon Rondo. Tyler could be that guy. If he had played in college, he might have had a chance to be a top-10 pick with his talent.

He's long, athletic and raw, but if he succeeds, he could be a major pickup for the Celtics. JaJuan Johnson, Justin Harper and Jon Leuer are also possibilities.

[StartOrien]

Projection: First round

Positives: Big body, great size... Elite athleticism... Skilled player can face the basket and post up

Negative: Lacks emotional maturity... Made a terrible decision to skip high school and college

Ford's analysis: From May 23: "Jeremy Tyler continued to wow NBA teams on Friday with his athleticism, physical profile and defense. He measured out as the second-biggest player at the combine. He was 6-11, 260 pounds with a huge 7-5 wing and a 9-2 standing reach. Tyler told me he believed he'll have a 40-inch vertical, which is a fantastic number for a player his size. His measurements are on par with Cole Aldrich's and just below DeAndre Jordan's. Tyler also scored very high marks from NBA teams on his interviews. His offensive game is still a work in progress and there are still some skeletons in his closet from his botched season in Israel. But on sheer physical upside, Tyler played himself into a possible first-round pick with his week here. A number of teams, including the Knicks, Nuggets, Rockets and Spurs, are giving him a look in the first."

In the news: From ESPN New York's Knicks Blog: "Knicks draft prospect Jeremy Tyler, who made national headlines in 2009 for skipping his senior year of high school to play professionally overseas, impressed GMs at Chicago's NBA draft combine in mid-May with his interviews. Last Monday at the Knicks practice facility, Tyler gave a group of about 10 reporters a taste of how he did that. When a door opened into the media room and the 20-year-old center appeared, he introduced himself to every member of the media with an extended handshake and "Hi, I'm Jeremy." In my years working in sports, I had never seen a player do that before a press conference, large or small. It was a pleasant surprise considering how Tyler had been portrayed in the two previous years. Back in 2009, several months after signing with the pro basketball club Maccabi Haifa in August, reports surfaced out of Israel that he was having a turbulent time."

Forsberg's take: Despite his missteps in leaving high school early and lackluster results overseas, there's a lot to like about Tyler's potential. Physically, he's a very intriguing prospect and, mentally, he seems to have learned from his trials. Celtics fans will be intrigued by his claim to be focused on the defensive side of the ball, telling ESPN New York after a workout last week: "I definitely can bring a lot of intensity, especially on defense. That was basically my role in Tokyo. I have a motor that never stops. I want to play hard and I go after it every single play." If he lasts to No. 25, it might be hard for Boston to pass Tyler up. He might have one of the most NBA-ready bodies and two years of professional ball would allow him to step right in and compete for a role.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4684913/draft-profile-jeremy-tyler

[Donoghus]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

[Lucky17]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

Co-sign.

But I'd also want another big like Leuer or Johnson with a bought late 1st/early 2nd.

[KCattheStripe]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

Agreed.

[Chris]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

Agreed.

Thirded.  I will trust Danny if he goes a different way, but nothing would make me happier at that point in this draft than if he takes a flyer on Tyler.

Ford just put it perfectly.  The C's need to try to hit this out of the park if they want to expediate the rebuilding process, and Tyler is one of the few guys down there who can potentially do that. 

[Evantime34]

This is exactly who I want the Celtics to pick, which means it probably won't happen.

For those insiders out there does he do a second round?

[StartOrien]

I haven't done my homework, but I'd have a hard time seeing Danny wiff on DeAndre Jordan in favor of Giddens and then pass up on this guy.

[slamtheking]

he seems like he'd be a good pick if available.   I'd really like to see Danny grab another pick from the mid-first through early-second round to get another shot at a big man prospect.  Johnson looks like he can be productive in the NBA.  A C/PF combo of Tyler and Johnson to go with Rondo, Bradley and Green wouldn't be a bad starting point for the post-big 3 era.

[Sizzlack]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

Agreed.

Thirded.  I will trust Danny if he goes a different way, but nothing would make me happier at that point in this draft than if he takes a flyer on Tyler.

Ford just put it perfectly.  The C's need to try to hit this out of the park if they want to expediate the rebuilding process, and Tyler is one of the few guys down there who can potentially do that. 

Anything at 25 is a gamble obviously. But ya, I'd agree with that, the kid seems to have the tools to get the job done.

He's got top 10 talent, but there are some questions with him due to him forgoing college to play in overseas a year.

It's a risk worth taking.

[Chris]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

Agreed.

Thirded.  I will trust Danny if he goes a different way, but nothing would make me happier at that point in this draft than if he takes a flyer on Tyler.

Ford just put it perfectly.  The C's need to try to hit this out of the park if they want to expediate the rebuilding process, and Tyler is one of the few guys down there who can potentially do that. 

Anything at 25 is a gamble obviously. But ya, I'd agree with that, the kid seems to have the tools to get the job done.

He's got top 10 talent, but there are some questions with him due to him forgoing college to play in overseas a year.

It's a risk worth taking.

Well my point is, you can take guys at 25 who are significantly more likely to be NBA players in 5 years...but they have little to no chance to be a star.  Guys like Singler, Harper, or Honeycut are much more likely to be in the league.  But those guys don't have the potential to help a team reload like a guy like Tyler does.

[ManUp]

Jeremy Tyler sounds about right for me. I'm always down for a homerun swing when it comes to drafting in the first round. It also helps that Tyler plays a position of need right now.  Worst case scenario he's a big body we can use as a trade chip because of his perceived potential. Big men with athleticism like he has always carry some type of trade value initially.

[Sizzlack]

I'd rather gamble on a big like this than throw another pick away on a combo guard.

Agreed.

Thirded.  I will trust Danny if he goes a different way, but nothing would make me happier at that point in this draft than if he takes a flyer on Tyler.

Ford just put it perfectly.  The C's need to try to hit this out of the park if they want to expediate the rebuilding process, and Tyler is one of the few guys down there who can potentially do that. 

Anything at 25 is a gamble obviously. But ya, I'd agree with that, the kid seems to have the tools to get the job done.

He's got top 10 talent, but there are some questions with him due to him forgoing college to play in overseas a year.

It's a risk worth taking.

Well my point is, you can take guys at 25 who are significantly more likely to be NBA players in 5 years...but they have little to no chance to be a star.  Guys like Singler, Harper, or Honeycut are much more likely to be in the league.  But those guys don't have the potential to help a team reload like a guy like Tyler does.

Right, and also has the potential to flame out completely and barely be NBA relevant his entire career. Then again, look at Kwame Brown, I guess that can happen anywhere.

[Evantime34]

The average success rate of an NBA prospect picked at 25 or later is not high. Might as well gamble on someone with a high ceiling.