Source: Celtics Not Trying to Draft Rivers , Intrested in Barnes and/or Ross?

[rondohondo]

first the part about Austin Rivers from Jack MacMullan

In fact, a couple of theorists suggested (Austin) Rivers signed a lucrative long-term extension with the Celtics last summer so he could rebuild with Austin as one of his centerpieces.

“Ridiculous,” Celtics boss Danny Ainge declared.

“Nonsense,” Doc (Rivers) concurred.

Boston has the No. 21 and 22 picks and, according to team sources, has no intention of breaking its back to move up and grab the coach’s son.

Austin said he hasn’t talked to anyone in the Celtics organization, nor was he asked to work out for them. He attributes that to two factors: He will likely be gone by the time the Celtics pick and they already know his personality and his game.

“I think it would be interesting and cool to play for my dad,” Austin said. “Obviously it would require us going from a father-son relationship to a coach-player one, but I’d love it. I’m not expecting it to happen though.”

via Jackie MacMullan of ESPN Boston

and the quote from Mark Murphy on Barnes and Terrence Ross

Though most attention has turned to Kevin Garnett, and whether the Celtics center will return for one or two more seasons, the team has other aging concerns it will attempt to address in Thursday night’s NBA draft.

The Celtics’ plan to sign Jeff Green will be the most important step in filling the small forward role once Paul Pierce starts contemplating retirement, but this team does have an ongoing need for shooters.

Regardless of whether Ray Allen returns — a good question both in the minds of the player and the team — the Celtics have to get younger and more athletic on the wing. The Celtics, with the 21st and 22nd picks in the first round, aren’t currently in line for a Cadillac scorer. But they have hinted at a desire to move up.

If they trade up

General manager Danny Ainge and his staff took advantage of their second visit to Miami during the conference finals to get a look at two of the best perimeter players on the board — North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes and Washington’s Terrence Ross.

via Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald

http://www.hoopsworld.com/daily-nba-news

I knew about the Barnes workout, but didn't realize Ross was there too. Now he is someone I could see moving up to around 16 to grab. If we can move up and grab only one guy around 16 this is who I would want in order


Royce White
Terrence Ross
Perry Jones/Terrence Jones
Jared Sullinger


*Barnes won't be on the board after pick 7 or so, so don't see him as a realistic possibility .

[BleedGreen1989]

You're really high on white, arent you? Lol which I'm warming up to the idea of adding white there's no way I'm trading up for him. However, I would love to see Ross in green.

Ahhh I can't wait for this draft!

[WeMadeIt17]

I was pretty high and White and if we draft probably still with be. but I saw someone writing in here saying "how we he play with Rondo?" Which is a good question because he played with the ball in his hands most of the time at ISU so its pretty interesting. I like Ross at 6'6 6'7 with long body and able to add weight to frame. We'll see I just hope Danny does something intersting I'm a pheen for juicey rumors. Unless it involves Pierce that a no-no for me!

[mctyson]

Why would Danny trade up 5 spots when that pick is still out of the lottery??

We are either trading our picks to get an NBA rotation guy for us now, drafting those types of players, or we are trading them to move up 10 spots or down 5-10 spots.

We will get no value moving up to 16.

[pearljammer10]

Go big or go home.

[Chris]

Why would Danny trade up 5 spots when that pick is still out of the lottery??

We are either trading our picks to get an NBA rotation guy for us now, drafting those types of players, or we are trading them to move up 10 spots or down 5-10 spots.

We will get no value moving up to 16.

The lottery is irrelevant.  It is all about the talent tiers, and right now, the C's are in a tier of players below the tier that would be available at 16.  There is always a chance guys will slip, but I think the prospects being projected about 12-18 are a real notch above the guys being projected at 21+22

[Chris]

BTW, I think Ross is going to be a really good NBA player, and I would love to get him in this draft.

I also think Barnes is underrated right now.  I think he should be the clear #2 pick in the draft.

[tyrone biggums]

BTW, I think Ross is going to be a really good NBA player, and I would love to get him in this draft.

I also think Barnes is underrated right now.  I think he should be the clear #2 pick in the draft.

What makes him the clear #2 in the draft? I mean you can make a case for him, sure and I actually think he'll wind up with Charlotte due to the Jordan UNC connection but Thomas Robinson is the right pick. You can't teach size and I think he'd add something to the Cats front court.

Beal is a good shooter, MKG has one of the highest potentials out of anyone in the draft...Drummond shouldn't even be in the convo but stranger stuff has happened.

[Chris]

BTW, I think Ross is going to be a really good NBA player, and I would love to get him in this draft.

I also think Barnes is underrated right now.  I think he should be the clear #2 pick in the draft.

What makes him the clear #2 in the draft? I mean you can make a case for him, sure and I actually think he'll wind up with Charlotte due to the Jordan UNC connection but Thomas Robinson is the right pick. You can't teach size and I think he'd add something to the Cats front court.

Beal is a good shooter, MKG has one of the highest potentials out of anyone in the draft...Drummond shouldn't even be in the convo but stranger stuff has happened.

In my opinion, he is the only guy, other than Davis, who has a very low bust potential, while still having the potential to be a superstar.

BTW, I completely disagree about MKG having high potential.  He is missing the skills to be great.  The upside with him is that you can be confident that he will always defend, run the floor, and play hard...but he doesn't have the talent of guys like Barnes and Beal, who could be superstars.

Beal, on the other hand, I just don't see it.  He is undersized, was not great in college (although I know Barnes wasn't either), and I just don't see being "special".

[Evantime34]

I think the Celtics have interest in both those guys but I don't see how they could get high enough up to draft one of them, without including Bradley or Rondo. If we trade either of those I'll be very upset so I hope we stay put.

[CFAN38]

You're really high on white, arent you? Lol which I'm warming up to the idea of adding white there's no way I'm trading up for him. However, I would love to see Ross in green.

Ahhh I can't wait for this draft!

x2


I have said this before, Ross has the potential to be a dynamic scoring 2/3. If he reaches his potential he is the perfect player to compliment Rondo and AB. The 96 total minutes at the 1 and the 2 could ideally be played by Rondo, AB, and Ross with Ross always playing the 2 and AB jumping between 1 and 2. If jeff green is brought back to be the SF after pierce then ross would also be a nice fit behind green.

post Paul Pierce potential rotation

PG Rondo 38minutes, AB 10minutes
SG AB 24 minutes, Ross 24 minutes
SF J Green 30 minutes, Ross 12 minutes , ? 6min
PF ? 38 minutes, J Green 8 minutes,? 2 min
C  ?

[tyrone biggums]

I think the Celtics have interest in both those guys but I don't see how they could get high enough up to draft one of them, without including Bradley or Rondo. If we trade either of those I'll be very upset so I hope we stay put.

They should not trade Rondo at all...period. He is a franchise player, period.

[Evantime34]

I think the Celtics have interest in both those guys but I don't see how they could get high enough up to draft one of them, without including Bradley or Rondo. If we trade either of those I'll be very upset so I hope we stay put.

They should not trade Rondo at all...period. He is a franchise player, period.

I agree... unless they can get a better franchise player.

[Yogi]

There are at best 3-4 players who are better to build around than Rondo.  I have only LeBron and Durant and as a fan I would take Rondo over either because I like watching him more.  Those Players earn 7-10 Million a year more than Rondo which makes it more difficult to build around. So I really don't see who would be considered a clear upgrade over Rondo.  Lebron and Durant produce way more than they are paid.  But outside of those two there aren't any players I would give up Rondo for.  The only other players that are even in the conversation are Dwight and Chris Paul, but I only want Dwight if he's playing with Rondo, and I don't see Chris Paul as much of an upgrade over Rondo, especially with his pay check and injury history. 

[celticinorlando]

ross fills a need...they need offense off the bench