Chad Ford Mock Draft 8.0 - Celtics Picks

[sofutomygaha]

I don't watch a lot of college basketball but I've heard critics of Sullinger say he may be the next Big Baby..is there any truth to this?

They are statistically similar, but there's weight problems and then there's weight problems. Baby was three bills at his combine.

And Big Baby was a steal of a draft pick in the early second round.  Sullinger is better, he has more skills in the post, can handle the ball a bit, and has deeper range. 

Hopefully he'll be a better rebounder/finisher in the pros too - same heights but Sullinger's arms look longer (Baby's arms always looked short to me) and he's got more spring in his legs (probably because he's about 30lbs lighter than Baby).

As for ball-handling, I'd actually give Baby the edge there - he sort of fancied himself a point forward in his LSU days. 

On the scary side, Baby was probably the better rebounder in college. That did not translate in the pros for him in spite of the fact that he got himself into so much better shape. Looking at his college numbers, I'm at a loss to say why he has been so bad at boxing out in the pros. He's still the strongest guy on the court 9 games out of 10.

Sullinger can score in the post with either hand, though. Baby definitely couldn't do that. Almost nobody comes out of college doing that.

[RJ87]

Don't know much about Harkless, but I personally really like Royce White. If we got him and Andrew Nicholson, I'd be fine with that. What I'd really like to do though, is move up and grab Tyler Zeller

[Fafnir]

Sullinger has longer arms and greater reach, should help him maintain his rebounding numbers better than Davis.

Though I don't think the numbers point to Davis being a better rebounder, they seem to be roughly equivalent.

[bbd24]

If Sullinger is dropping into the mid or late teens, I want Danny to trade up (using the two picks) to get him.

I'd be happy to trade up for Jared Sullinger or Meyers Leonard.

If he drops as far as the late teens, he won't need to use both picks.  Should only take a couple million, and/or a second rounder to move up 4-5 picks at that point in the draft. 

Would you be willing to trade #22 this year, and your first rounder in 2013 to move up to acquire Sullinger wherever he might land ?

I can see Ainge moving 1 pick this year & next years first, just to get up there for a top 10-12 player he covets(It might not necessarily be Sullinger). Basically forgoing next years draft just to get a higher pick in this deep draft, while keeping #21 to boot.

[Fafnir]

If Sullinger is dropping into the mid or late teens, I want Danny to trade up (using the two picks) to get him.

I'd be happy to trade up for Jared Sullinger or Meyers Leonard.

If he drops as far as the late teens, he won't need to use both picks.  Should only take a couple million, and/or a second rounder to move up 4-5 picks at that point in the draft. 

Would you be willing to trade #22 this year, and your first rounder in 2013 to move up to acquire Sullinger wherever he might land ?

I can see Ainge moving 1 pick this year & next years first, just to get up there for a top 10-12 player he covets(It might not necessarily be Sullinger). Basically forgoing next years draft just to get a higher pick in this deep draft, while keeping #21 to boot.

I'd rather give up both picks then one and next year's.

You never know how the season will turn out and it could be much higher.

[The One]

Don't know much about Harkless, but I personally really like Royce White. If we got him and Andrew Nicholson, I'd be fine with that. What I'd really like to do though, is move up and grab Tyler Zeller

Understood...what was really impressive about Harkless was that he accomplished the following while having to play out of position:

MIN      REB   AST   BLK   STL   PF   TO   PTS
36.1   8.6   1.4   1.4   1.6   2.3   2.4   15.3

And he's ONLY 19 years old!

Wow!

[CelticsFan9]

Really like Nicholson.  But I gotta say, DORON LAMB is my guy at 22.  I know people say we already have RR, AB, and EM, that he;s undersized, that all he can do is make threes, but I think he'd be great for us.  A threat from outside, good defender, and has great handle(he was basically the starting 2 and backup 1 at UK).

Now for PJ3 and Sullinger to drop so far amazes me.  I see Sullinger's game translating very well to the pros.  Rebounding is a very underrated skill in this league(As we all know) and I thin his low-post game is great.  Jones III is going to be in this league as long as he gets a defined position(3 or 4) by his third or fourth year.  If not, he will be a huge bust.

Another guy who I like is Evan Fournier.  I know European players are always risky, but  analysts rave about his game because of his legit size as a wing, which I really like.  If we don't select Lamb, I would have no problem with Fournier.

I'm incredibly torn between Harkless and Miller.  Part of me says Harkless is too young and his athleticism is his only quality, and that Miller will become great after he recovers from his knee injury.  The other part of me says that Harkless' youth will give him a long time to develop, and that Miller is overrated.  I'd be fine with either.

Really quickly, I'm not a fan of Royce White.  At all.

As for the second round, Tu Holloway, Kris Joseph, and Furkan Aldemir are my favorites.  If we select two forwards in the first round, then Holloway would fit here.  I we get a 4 and a guard, Joseph fits there.  Aldemir should be stashed as he an Asik-like talent.

Rant finished.  Boy, is this draft deep!

[jgod213]

This just in from Sheridanhoops.com...

I know how much you all (ok and myself!) love mocks..i figured i'd just post this here instead of creating a whole new thread.

1. New Orleans Hornets – Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
2. Charlotte Bobcats – Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
3. Washington Wizards – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
5. Sacramento Kings – Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
6. Portland Trail Blazers – Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
7. Golden State Warriors – Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
8. Toronto Raptors – Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
9. Detroit Pistons – John Henson, PF, North Carolina
10. New Orleans Hornets – Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
11. Portland Trail Blazers – Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
12. Milwaukee Bucks – Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
13. Phoenix Suns – Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
14. Houston Rockets – Perry Jones, PF, Baylor
15. Philadelphia 76ers – Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
16. Houston Rockets – Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
17. Dallas Mavericks – Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
18. Minnesota Timberwolves – Moe Harkless, SF, St. John’s
19. Orlando Magic – Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
20. Denver Nuggets – Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
21. Boston Celtics – Royce White, PF, Iowa State
 
White is a very interesting player with his unique game for his size and position. He has lottery talent, but off-court concerns could drop him down the 1st round. The Celtics would benefit from him falling as they need to add young talent on their aging roster. White really impressed execs at the combine with his performances in the gym and interviews. With back-to-back picks, Boston can afford to take a gamble –especially with this kind of upside.
 
22. Boston Celtics – Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
Miller’s torn ACL held him back during his freshman season, but make no mistake he has lottery abilities and is a very skilled player for his size. Miller is versatile enough to play some PF as well. Learning behind Paul Pierce could only help Miller with his development. The Celtics would be getting a very good value pick here.
 
23. Atlanta Hawks – Tony Wroten Jr., SG, Washington
24. Cleveland Cavaliers – Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
25. Memphis Grizzlies – Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
26. Indiana Pacers – Evan Fournier, SG, Poiters
27. Miami Heat – Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
28. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
29. Chicago Bulls – Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
30. Golden State Warriors – Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State

[clover]

I think that Melo to Minnesota call is completely ridiculous. Ford says it's to replace Darko... ok but hardly the time to reach when what they really need is a wing and Quincy Miller is sitting there.

Sullinger is a terrible fit for the Nuggets! What on earth??? It's a moot point, because unless he really is an unsalvageable physical disaster there's no way the Rockets would let him get past them at 16.

In this scenario, I'd much rather draft White or Miller than Harkless. At this point I think I'm all in on Nicholson (it also seems like everyone is forecasting that he's our guy). After reading Hollinger's writeup on Miller, I'm leaning towards him. His thesis was that wings with good college numbers are the safest bet to achieve in the pros. On that basis, he ranks Miller in the top 10 based on a statistical projection from his 2011-2012 college season, where he was still recovering from ACL surgery.  The team that drafts him will get a fully healthy guy who was a top 10 NCAA producer on one leg...

I agree--and I think Miller is Danny' sort of pick.

[jr_3421]

Charlie Westbrook (South Dakota, G) is a player who has been working out for everyone including Boston  that has really caught my eye as a potential 2nd round pick. At 6'4 he has ELITE athleticism and a smooth jumper. I encourage you all to watch some of his tape on youtube.

[snively]

Charlie Westbrook (South Dakota, G) is a player who has been working out for everyone including Boston  that has really caught my eye as a potential 2nd round pick. At 6'4 he has ELITE athleticism and a smooth jumper. I encourage you all to watch some of his tape on youtube.

Maybe a Shannon Brown type.

[BleedGreen1989]

I'm also a big fan of Fournier and with all the reports saying Boston doesn't want to bring aboard two rookies I could see Danny drafting him (or buying oklahomas first rounder which is rimless to be for sale) and stashing Fournier in France for another season

[Kane3387]

Hollinger did a bunch of analysis and projected players PER for next season. He then takes that PER and combines it with what we know about the players' red flags, defensive pluses and minuses and one or two subjective calls. As a result he builds a big board. According to Hollinger some guys we are expected to get should go much higher.

1. Anthony Davis
2. Thomas Robinson
3. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
4. Dion Waiters
5. Andre Drummond
6. Quincy Miller
7. Jared Sullinger
8. Terrence Jones
9. John Henson
10. Royce White
11. Bradley Beal
12. Harrison Barnes
13. Tony Wroten
14. Kendall Marshall
15. Marquis Teague
16. Draymond Green
17. Jeremy Lamb
18. Damian Lillard
19. Austin Rivers
20. Doron Lamb
21. Furkan Aldemir
22. Will Barton
23. Tyler Zeller
24. Evan Fournier
25. Tyshawn Taylor
26. Meyers Leonard
27. Terrence Ross
28. Perry Jones
29. Festus Ezeli
30. Fab Melo
31. Kostas Sloukas
32. Henry Sims
33. Terrell Stoglin
34. Kostas Papanikolaou
35. Moe Harkless
36. Leon Radosevic
37. JaMychal Green
38. Andrew Nicholson
39. Drew Gordon
40. Garrett Stutz
41. Robert Sacre
42. Arnett Moultrie
43. William Buford
44. Jae Crowder
45. Jared Cunningham
46. Jordan Taylor
47. John Jenkins
48. Orlando Johnson
49. Jeffrey Taylor
50. Tomas Satoransky
51. Quincy Acy
52. Maalik Wayns
53. Tornike Shengelia
54. Scott Machado
55. Mike Scott
56. J'Covan Brown
57. Reggie Hamilton
58. Khris Middleton
59. Tony Mitchell
60. Miles Plumlee

[sofutomygaha]

Hollinger did a bunch of analysis and projected players PER for next season. He then takes that PER and combines it with what we know about the players' red flags, defensive pluses and minuses and one or two subjective calls. As a result he builds a big board. According to Hollinger some guys we are expected to get should go much higher.

This is why I'm so excited about Quincy Miller.

[BleedGreen1989]

Hollinger did a bunch of analysis and projected players PER for next season. He then takes that PER and combines it with what we know about the players' red flags, defensive pluses and minuses and one or two subjective calls. As a result he builds a big board. According to Hollinger some guys we are expected to get should go much higher.

1. Anthony Davis
2. Thomas Robinson
3. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
4. Dion Waiters
5. Andre Drummond
6. Quincy Miller
7. Jared Sullinger
8. Terrence Jones
9. John Henson
10. Royce White
11. Br adley Beal
12. Harrison Barnes
13. Tony Wroten
14. Kendall Marshall
15. Marquis Teague
16. Draymond Green
17. Jeremy Lamb
18. Damian Lillard
19. Austin Rivers
20. Doron Lamb
21. Furkan Aldemir
22. Will Barton
23. Tyler Zeller
24. Evan Fournier
25. Tyshawn Taylor
26. Meyers Leonard
27. Terrence Ross
28. Perry Jones
29. Festus Ezeli
30. Fab Melo
31. Kostas Sloukas
32. Henry Sims
33. Terrell Stoglin
34. Kostas Papanikolaou
35. Moe Harkless
36. Leon Radosevic
37. JaMychal Green
38. Andrew Nicholson
39. Drew Gordon
40. Garrett Stutz
41. Robert Sacre
42. Arnett Moultrie
43. William Buford
44. Jae Crowder
45. Jared Cunningham
46. Jordan Taylor
47. John Jenkins
48. Orlando Johnson
49. Jeffrey Taylor
50. Tomas Satoransky
51. Quincy Acy
52. Maalik Wayns
53. Tornike Shengelia
54. Scott Machado
55. Mike Scott
56. J'Covan Brown
57. Reggie Hamilton
58. Khris Middleton
59. Tony Mitchell
60. Miles Plumlee

It's a little suprising to see Moultrie so low..also Taylor who a lot of celtics fans are high on is far down