2012 Draft - Three options

[ScoobyDoo]

1. We make a "major" move to get into the high lottery and draft a game changer (hopefully the guy is a game changer). But this just seems unlikely to me to get done unless we are blowing it up, which I don't think we are going to do.

2. We just stand pat and take our 21st and 22nd picks. This seems the most likely to me.

3. We make a minor move to get into the 16 range either combining our two picks or one of the picks and another young player (JJJ, or JJJ and Moore). I really don't want to give up Bradley or Johnson in this scenario though.

For me I think it's unlikely we can get high enough to get an impact player out of this draft. Additionally there is no guarantee that your projection of who that impact is will in fact become an impact player so that seems risky to make a major move and give up a lot of assets for what we "hope" is a player who becomes an impact guy.

In the end, my preference for this draft is:

Stand pat - take both of our picks and even try to buy another pick somewhere between 19 and 25 if possible. I'd like to see us add additional, solid, young players to our current core of young guys and then look to add proven impact players to that core either via the trading of assets or  by bringing in an impact free agent who wants to come here because he sees the value of our young crop of players, lead by Rondo.

#21: Royce White
#22: Fab Melo or Festus Ezeli - whichever one I feel has the best chance to become at least a Perkins level, long term starting center for us who can rebound and defend at a high level.
Pick #19 to 25: the best player available - l;et's say it's Jeff Taylor or Doron Lamb for argument's sake. 

* Sign a legit starting center(Hawes, Asik, whoever you think it is)
* Sign most of the old gang back that matters
* Add the young fellas in the wings


2102 - 2103 Celtics:

Hawes or Asik / Steamer / Melo or Ezeli
KG / Royce White / JJJ
Pierce / Jeff Green / Jeff Taylor
Bradley / Ray / Pietrus 
Rondo / Moore / Dooling or whoever

After another year, or two, and once KG, Pierce and Ray retire... we move forward with:

Hawes / Melo or Ezeli / Steamer
Royce White / JJJ
Jeff Green / Taylor
Bradley
Rondo / Moore

Look to add the right impact player to this young core of players.

 

[LooseCannon]

4.  The Celtics trade down.  I like the descriptions of Jeff Taylor, who seems to be projected to go several slots later.  If Ainge doesn't like Royce White but likes Taylor and White is available at 21, the Celtics may be able to trade a pick for a later first round pick and a future pick (maybe even a first round pick).  It's the same deal as trading down for JuJuan Johnson;  you get the player you wanted anyway at a lower salary slot, plus an asset worth more than zero, even if it is just a second-round pick.

[Lucky17]

4.  The Celtics trade down.  I like the descriptions of Jeff Taylor, who seems to be projected to go several slots later.  If Ainge doesn't like Royce White but likes Taylor and White is available at 21, the Celtics may be able to trade a pick for a later first round pick and a future pick (maybe even a first round pick).  It's the same deal as trading down for JuJuan Johnson;  you get the player you wanted anyway at a lower salary slot, plus an asset worth more than zero, even if it is just a second-round pick.

Agreed. I think this is quite possible, given that Ainge has the back-to-back picks to work with.

[mqtcelticsfan]

I don't like trading down in the NBA unless you get an incredible deal. There are only so many quality players in a draft, you shouldn't risk losing out on your guy unless the other team starts offering a lot.

[mctyson]

I would not be surprised if Danny trades one or both of the picks to move down to the early second round, and also picks up future firsts.  I would try to steal a lottery pick from some crappy team over the next 2-3 years.

[bfrombleacher]

Wow by 2102/2103 these guys would be 120 or something.  Anti-aging medicine coming in the next 10, 20 years? Yes please!