Chad Ford Mock Draft 8.2 - Celtics Picks

[Kane3387]

This is the mock draft post Hornets Wizards trade. Also some "guarantees" have changed the order.

With the 21st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics Select:

Royce White

Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 261 pounds
Age: 21
School: Iowa State
Analysis: According to sources, White pulled out of all his remaining workouts Thursday and has gone silent. He's not injured, and sources claim he's received a coveted first-round promise from a team. Promises are notoriously hard to pin down, but two sources are pointing in the direction of the Celtics. As long as coach Doc Rivers can buy into what White is (a ballhandling power forward) and figure out how to play him, he could be a steal at this point in the draft.

With the 22nd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics Select:

Andrew Nicholson

Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 234 pounds
Age: 22
School: St. Bonaventure
Analysis: Nicholson is another draft sleeper who might really rise with workouts. He's a big stretch 4 who has drawn some comparisons to David West. He would be another welcome addition to the Celtics' summer makeover.

1 )  New Orleans - Anthony Davis
2 )  Charlotte - Thomas Robinson
3 )  Washington -  Bradley Beal
4 )  Cleveland - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
5 )  Sacramento - Harrison Barnes
6 )  Portland - Andre Drummond
7 )  Golden State - Dion Waiters
8 )  Toronto - Damian Lillard
9 )  Detroit - John Henson
10) New Orleans -  Austin Rivers
11) Portland - Jeremy Lamb
12) Milwaukee - Meyers Leonard
13) Phoenix - Terrence Ross
14) Houston - Tyler Zeller
15) Philly - Terrence Jones
16) Houston - Arnett Moultrie
17) Dallas - Kendall Marshall
18) Minny - Fab Melo
19) Orlando - Perry Jones III
20) Denver - Jared Sullinger
21) Boston - Royce White
22) Boston - Andrew Nicholson
23) Atlanta - Moe Harkless
24) Cleveland - Will Barton
25) Memphis - Tony Wroten Jr
26) Indiana - Marquis Teague
27) Miami - Draymond Green
28) OKC - Evan Fournier
29) Chicago - John Jenkins
30) Golden State - Quincy Miller

Jeff Taylor falls out of the first round. Also I can't see Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers playing off one another that well.

[Evantime34]

I will not be happy if we have the opportunity to pick Harkless and don't do it.

[slamtheking]

not thrilled with taking White.  Wonder if Danny can do something to get an early second rounder based on this and snag Taylor.

[Celts Fan 92]

wat da hell? why White nd Nicholson? lol they both power forwards tho if we do draft both of them IMO one of em gettin traded

[RJ87]

I really do hope we draft Royce - I love his versatility and his ability to contribute across the board. There's also a chance he can play SF due to his athleticism and quickness, but his 7ft wingspan, strength and power will make him a good PF prospect. Again, I'm not saying he'll be an All-Star but I can definitely see him as an important part of the rotation.

As far as Nicholson - I haven't seen enough of him to make a conclusion about him, but he's 6'10". We need some height badly.

[sofutomygaha]

wat da hell? why White nd Nicholson? lol they both power forwards tho if we do draft both of them IMO one of em gettin traded

I think that the philosophy here is you hope one of them develops into a good NBA player, so the redundancy isn't as big a deal. Chances are that neither one plays much next year- the chances that they want to play both are pretty low indeed.

[mctyson]

If we walk away with Sullinger and Royce White from this draft I think most of us will do a happy dance.

[Chris]

wat da hell? why White nd Nicholson? lol they both power forwards tho if we do draft both of them IMO one of em gettin traded

I think Ford was going by the information leaked to him on White, and he didn't want to bother changing the Nicholson pick yet.  I would be shocked if he picked both of those guys. 

[Eddie20]

wat da hell? why White nd Nicholson? lol they both power forwards tho if we do draft both of them IMO one of em gettin traded

I think that the philosophy here is you hope one of them develops into a good NBA player, so the redundancy isn't as big a deal. Chances are that neither one plays much next year- the chances that they want to play both are pretty low indeed.

However, the problem is that you already have JaJuan Johnson and KG, who wants to go back to PF. If the draft goes according to Ford, I'd rather take Harkess or Wroten, instead of Nicholson, and hope for the upside at 2 spots.

[celticinorlando]

rather have harkness and nicolson....that gives the celtics a LEGIT SF and a nice PF with outside game

[indeedproceed]

Fournier and Sullinger, pls.

[Snakehead]

Why would it be crazy to take two PFs?  It wouldn't.  Ainge has always been a best available type of guy and that's the right attitude picking late in the 1st, even with two picks.

Don't just take some wing just to take him.

I think our three best options are all PFs: Sullinger, White, Nicholson.

[mctyson]

wat da hell? why White nd Nicholson? lol they both power forwards tho if we do draft both of them IMO one of em gettin traded

I think that the philosophy here is you hope one of them develops into a good NBA player, so the redundancy isn't as big a deal. Chances are that neither one plays much next year- the chances that they want to play both are pretty low indeed.

However, the problem is that you already have JaJuan Johnson and KG, who wants to go back to PF. If the draft goes according to Ford, I'd rather take Harkess or Wroten, instead of Nicholson, and hope for the upside at 2 spots.

I think we can draft 2 PFs and have it fit just fine.  There is no guarantee that Bass will be back.  Jeff Green is our SF of the future if we sign him long term.

If we pick up a C to move KG back to PF that only means that JJJ will have to battle the 2 rookies for backup playing time.  But even then, I expect KG's minutes to be really low next year so there could be ample time for 2 backups at the PF.

[Kane3387]

It's not like most teams don't play PFs at C anyway. That's the way the league is going with more athleticism at all five position. Just get some guys that can run the floor with Rajon.

[CelticsFan9]

Irving running the point with Barton and Kidd-Gilchrist waiting in the wings, my goodness!  That won't be fair in two or three years.