Trade down idea

[arambone]

First let me stress that I'd be thrilled with a first round of Moe Harkless and Fab Melo.

I don't think Melo would be a reach at 21-22, and I think he'll be a very decent all around center - big enough to body up and block shots, quick enough to rotate and tip rebounds to teammates, fast enough to run the floor, skilled enough to post up sometimes, and a decent enough stroke to stretch the floor.

I also think Harkless and Melo both have PF versatility in certain situations, Harkless defending undersized or thin stretch 4's, and Melo drafting big bodied 4s like Kevin Love.

That would be an excellent, excellent draft.

However, if the draft plays out in the worst case scenario, in which Harkless, Quincy Miller, Moultrie, and every other high ranking 3-5 go in the top 20, we may or may not be well served to trade down with Cleveland.

In this scenario, Fab Melo could be drafted 21st, and Cleveland could be looking to take a wing, if Cleveland drafts big in the top 10.

Cleveland could trade picks 24 and 33 or 34 (they own both) for pick 22 and 51.

This scenario would require Cleveland to be very high on a particular player, and worried that he would be taken at 22 or 23, just before they pick. Since they own 2 high second rounders, trading back to 51 might not seem like too high a price to move up to 22 and get their guy.

For the Celtics, Royce White (I don't trust him), Andrew Nicholson, and/or Festus Ezeli, along with several quality smaller guys would still be available at 24, and moving up high in the second would greatly improve the likelihood drafting an impact third pick.

Like I said, hopefully we end up with Harkless or (less fortunately) Q Miller at 21.

Just throwing out this trade down scenario because I have way too much time on my hands:

21 C/PF Melo
24 PF/C Nicholson or PF/SM White
34 SG John Jenkins or SF Darius Miller

[hardlyyardley]

No downside to that

[pearljammer10]

Ya. I guess that works. Unfortunately i am not huge on the draft and I dont see too many rookies being able to help us in the next few seasons.

[Celtics4ever]

Fab Melo is Thabeet the II.  No thanks!

[CelticHooligan3]

Fab Melo is Thabeet the II.  No thanks!

I dont know college ball players at all but anyone compared to that name just makes me shudder..   

[CoachBo]

Fab Melo is Thabeet the II.  No thanks!

I was thinking Paddy O'Blount II, but your point is well taken.

NO interest whatsoever in Fab Melo.

[arambone]

Well, I think Melo is much sturdier as a defensive anchor, and significantly more coordinated in general.

Melo made big strides this past year. The academic disqualification might have worked to the C's advantage, should he be deemed worthy by Danny and Doc.

Melo played with a lot of shooters, which partially explains his low scoring totals. He's got adequate coordination and touch, certainly way more than Perk, and he's got an inch or two height-wise on Perk as well.

If Melo had played in the tourney, he would have avoided the negative backlash, and gotten great exposure from a Final Four run.

Don't be surprised if Melo has a lot of motivation to make up for his colossal academic stupidity.

He's also good at defensive rotations, playing the zone at 'Cuse.

Here's a video of him shooting in high school. He's no epic clutz like Thabeed. As for the O'Blount comparison, I can't defend him as confidently, lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2W93Zj5FA4

[mctyson]

Cleveland could trade picks 24 and 33 or 34 (they own both) for pick 22 and 51.

I don't see why a team with as many needs as Cleveland gives up a 2nd round pick in the early 30's to target a specific late-first round draft pick.  Doesn't make any sense for them.

[Celtics4ever]

I think I can jump higher than Melo at 43.  He doesn't even remotely play above the rim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBk-t40Db6Y

Bad hands, doesn't jump or box out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VsDQpBfkrI&feature=relmfu

No elevation on dunks, gets pushed around by guys half his size.

[arambone]

This new mock has Melo going 19. Big men always rise right before the draft, because of their scarcity.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1169844-2012-nba-mock-draft-rawest-prospects-of-this-years-class


It probably won't work out like this, but Henson and Harkless would be epic.

Mctyson, I'm not sure if you read my post clearly enough. It would all depend on what prospects are available at 21 or 22, and who Cleveland drafted high in the first. They wouldn't be giving up anything, they'd be trading up in the first to trade back in the second.

[arambone]

Another possible trade partner would be Toronto, who needs a point guard.

They probably don't want to reach for one at pick 8, so they might be very interested in taking one at 21 or 22, like Wroten or Teague.

Some Raptors fans were suggesting trading Ed Davis or Amir Johnson plus another player or their high-ish second rounder for a first round pick in the 20s.

I'd probably rather the pick, but that's just another Team to keep an eye on. Any other point guard needy teams out there?

[slamtheking]

This new mock has Melo going 19. Big men always rise right before the draft, because of their scarcity.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1169844-2012-nba-mock-draft-rawest-prospects-of-this-years-class


It probably won't work out like this, but Henson and Harkless would be epic.

Mctyson, I'm not sure if you read my post clearly enough. It would all depend on what prospects are available at 21 or 22, and who Cleveland drafted high in the first. They wouldn't be giving up anything, they'd be trading up in the first to trade back in the second.

Henson and Lamb wouldn't be a bad haul based on who's already been taken in this mock.  I could live with that.