Chad Ford Mock Draft 8.0 - Celtics Picks

[Lucky17]

If the Celtics keep both their picks, and pass on Fournier, I will lose my (stuff).

Will he be gone before the 2nd round?

Charlotte has the #31 pick. Driver's seat for the run on Euro players.

[mctyson]

This mock is giving me hope for a PJ3 and Sullinger Draft. If that happens it would set us up positively for the future.

Could you imagine two previous top 10 picks falling to us? There'd be no need for Danny to trade up

Don't forget there is a reason these guys are falling out of the Top 10.  Gerald Green was supposed to be at worst a late lottery pick, he fell to us, how did that work out.

Having said that...you gotta take a flyer on those guys sometimes and hope they pan out.  PJ3 has fallen so much (he was a Top 5 projection before this past season) that I would have no problem moving up a couple slots to get him.

[Who]

If the Celtics keep both their picks, and pass on Fournier, I will lose my (stuff).

Why? How good a player do you think Fournier can be in the NBA?

Low-end, Rudy Fernandez, high end...I don't really know. He's a proficient scorer against high competition, he's a willing defender, and he seems to really love to play, and know how to be a professional.

He's the type of guy the Blazers or Thunder snatch up at the tail end of the first and make other GM's look stupid. I'm tired of looking stupid.

I didn't think the French league was that strong a league in Europe. I am not sure whether I am right about that or not but I didn't think it was.

I don't think his team was any good either. I heard they were one of the worst teams in the league.

No continental play either in the Euroleague or Eurocup.

Not sure how high a level Fournier has actually been playing at.

[mctyson]

All I want is Festus Ezelli and Jae Crowder. I trust Danny on the other pick.

Crowder is a 2nd rounder.  He measured at 6'4" at the combine...that aint getting him into the first round in my book.

[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.

[Celts Fan 92]

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...

the wolves have a ridiculous amount of wings rite now (Beasley,Derrick Williams, Ellington, Martell Webster) they dont need another one

[indeedproceed]

If the Celtics keep both their picks, and pass on Fournier, I will lose my (stuff).

Why? How good a player do you think Fournier can be in the NBA?

Low-end, Rudy Fernandez, high end...I don't really know. He's a proficient scorer against high competition, he's a willing defender, and he seems to really love to play, and know how to be a professional.

He's the type of guy the Blazers or Thunder snatch up at the tail end of the first and make other GM's look stupid. I'm tired of looking stupid.

I didn't think the French league was that strong a league in Europe. I am not sure whether I am right about that or not but I didn't think it was.

I don't think his team was any good either. I heard they were one of the worst teams in the league.

No continental play either in the Euroleague or Eurocup.

Not sure how high a level Fournier has actually been playing at.

Going from what I've read, the level of competition is always a point of favor for him, not one against. I'd lean to that.

[TA9]

If Sullinger and PJ3 falls this far, Celtics should consider moving up.

[mctyson]

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.  

[snively]

Sullinger would be quite the haul if he slips into trading range. 

I like big men with great hands and Sullinger's got some of the best in the biz. 

I guess the lottery teams are terrified of him turning into Sean May/Mike Sweetney.   

[Who]

Fournier's team were tied third worst in the 16 team league. Finished with 9 wins and 21 losses.

Fournier was their go-to guy and scored 14ppg which wasn't good enough to crack the league's top ten in scoring (of which I don't recognize any of NBA names, all above 15+ppg so he was close).

As I look through the top tens in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks ... the only NBA name I notice is Ajinca who led the league in blocks. I see an undrafted former college player at St Johns (Leonard Hamilton) who is in the top ten in scoring, rebounding and blocks. That is about the only other name I recognize. It doesn't look like an impressive list.

I am not sure what that all means but it doesn't scream out to me as all that successful a resumé.

[Who]

If the Celtics keep both their picks, and pass on Fournier, I will lose my (stuff).

Why? How good a player do you think Fournier can be in the NBA?

Low-end, Rudy Fernandez, high end...I don't really know. He's a proficient scorer against high competition, he's a willing defender, and he seems to really love to play, and know how to be a professional.

He's the type of guy the Blazers or Thunder snatch up at the tail end of the first and make other GM's look stupid. I'm tired of looking stupid.

I didn't think the French league was that strong a league in Europe. I am not sure whether I am right about that or not but I didn't think it was.

I don't think his team was any good either. I heard they were one of the worst teams in the league.

No continental play either in the Euroleague or Eurocup.

Not sure how high a level Fournier has actually been playing at.

Going from what I've read, the level of competition is always a point of favor for him, not one against. I'd lean to that.

Okay, good to know. I wasn't sure.

When evaluating International players stats, I like to use their Euroleague numbers. I think the quality of the various domestic leagues tend to vary far too much. It makes it difficult to put a value on a player's production.

That Fournier hasn't played at that level and seems to be playing at a much lower level, makes me question the value of his stats. But if France is a strong league and the level of play is high, then maybe I should rate him higher.

I'd like to know more. More about Fournier and the French league he plays in.

[snively]

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. 

[sofutomygaha]

the wolves have a ridiculous amount of wings rite now (Beasley,Derrick Williams, Ellington, Martell Webster) they dont need another one

My impression was that none of those players are in the Minnie's long term plans except for Williams, who splits time at the 3 and the 4.

[snively]

If the Celtics keep both their picks, and pass on Fournier, I will lose my (stuff).

Why? How good a player do you think Fournier can be in the NBA?

Low-end, Rudy Fernandez, high end...I don't really know. He's a proficient scorer against high competition, he's a willing defender, and he seems to really love to play, and know how to be a professional.

He's the type of guy the Blazers or Thunder snatch up at the tail end of the first and make other GM's look stupid. I'm tired of looking stupid.

I didn't think the French league was that strong a league in Europe. I am not sure whether I am right about that or not but I didn't think it was.

I don't think his team was any good either. I heard they were one of the worst teams in the league.

No continental play either in the Euroleague or Eurocup.

Not sure how high a level Fournier has actually been playing at.

Going from what I've read, the level of competition is always a point of favor for him, not one against. I'd lean to that.

Okay, good to know. I wasn't sure.

DX posted a link to 47 minutes of Fournier gameplay, if you want a closer look: http://t.co/rbTgOXqR