Chad Ford says we will pick Kelly Olynyk

[aporel#18]

Well, we could do worse than Olynyk. I'd rather get Saric and stash him for a couple of years in a good Euroleague team, but looks like he'll be out of this year's draft. Adetokunbo is another option to go this route. If so, buy a second rounder and get Kenny Kadji, a 25-year old who could help off the bench.

If Danny is picking a big man, Olynyk seems the most skilled out there. Austin has the biggest potential, Dieng could help right away, and Gobert/Adams have a long way to develop, just like Fab Melo.

If a guard/forward is BPA, I guess Danny will pick him. Celtics need size but they also need a reliable shooter, so either way Danny will have options.

[cltc5]

Rather dieng

[Moranis]

Just finished listening to the Bill Simmons/Chad Ford podcast. Chad as already labelled Fab Melo a massive bust. He also said Sullinger was worth the risk and agreed with Bill that if he comes back ok (They also agreed that most guys come back healthy these days) that he will be special. Chad also said ironically that Olynyk could be the player that people get excited about and ends up being a stiff. Melo is a stunning bust for sure and Olynyk is at best a poor mans Vlade Divac. At best.

This draft is deep at the 3 and 2 positions. Which we actually really need. A legit 2 to be sure. I love Bradley but he is a one who can guard twos and with Bradley and Rondo in the back court you simply are not going to get enough scoring. That is still a major problem with this team, particularly in the playoffs against good teams. We have a really hard time scoring enough. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Jamaal Franklin are the two guys I would love to get. If a miracle occurred C.J. McCollum would be great if he is there at 16 or 17 if we end up picking there.

Too early to label Melo a bust.  We knew from the start that he would be a multi-year project.  Anybody who expected a contribution from him this year wasn't paying attention. 

I like Franklin, although admittedly I haven't seen much of him. 

I have seen a bit of Caldwell-Pope, though, and I have very mixed feelings about him.  He can really fill it up when he's going, but he's a chucker who takes a ton of difficult jumpers and doesn't have much ability to score in the paint or get to the line.  He'll need to really work on his handle and his strength to change that.

It's hard to say whether some of his shot selection issues are because his teammates suck.  On many possessions, a bad shot by KCP is better than a decent shot by somebody else.

there is a difference between expecting contribution and expecting growth.  Melo just hasn't progressed.  He is still as bad as he was the day he was drafted.  He just isn't progressing and that is why he is a bust.

[CoachBo]

We could do worse than Kelly - and Ainge has certainly done worse, recently.

But I have some major concerns about him - primarily the level of competition he faced in college. Gonzaga was thoroughly exposed in the tournament.

I'd view him as a good bargain post-20, especially given Melo's notable lack of progress, but I get nervous about spending a pick on him in the teens.

[CFAN38]

Guys, it's a terribly weak draft and we're picking in the middle of the first round.

I'll take any player who has a shot of being a rotation player in the NBA.  Kelly fits the bill.  Even better, he's a skilled seven footer.  Not easy to get those.

Newsflash -- picking Olynyk doesn't mean Fab Melo is a bust.  Chances are neither Olynyk or Fab will end up being the kind of center you want to play 30+ minutes a night, so they could easily both be part of the 5 rotation a few years from now.

I disagree that this is a terribly weak draft. This is not a super star filled draft (next year should be) but this is a strong mid talent draft. There isn't a franchise player in this draft and there might only be a couple of players who will ever be considered better then 3rd options on a good team. This draft does have a lot of talent and depth in the range of 4th starter to rotational bench player.

I agree with you that draft Olynyk is in no way a shot at Melo. In a dream world Melo develops into a Tyson Chandler like center, Sully is our 15pt 11rb PF, and Olynyk is the first big off the bench giving a scoring punch to the 2nd unit.

To the concerns about his competition level he did average 17pt 8rb against ranking opponents, though he didn't play against many NBA caliber bigs in those games. 

[Snakehead]

How is a 7ft guy considered undersized?  He doesn't remind me of Scola at all.  He reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki.  He has some serious issues on defense but they don't have to do with limited physical traits.  He's pretty good in pick and roll defense but he gives up position too easily on the block.  He also seems to miss cutters and rotations.  I'm more concerned about him maintaining his focus on defensive rotations and boxing out.  If he can improve those he can be a fantastic player in the NBA.  I am also not sure about how good of a passer he can become.  In college he was the star, but how he'll do in the NBA is determined only by how he can focus and play when he is the last option on the floor.

He doesn't have quite the SF in a 7 footer's body game that Nowtizki does.  His game is actually pretty similar to Scola, though he's 7 feet... as I said before, I think Vlade is the best comparison to be made.

As far as his passing, the NBA allows bigs to do more passing.  The spacing and movement is better so if he can pass in college that's a good sign going into the NBA game.

[Fred Roberts]

I'm just gonna keep posting this .. . without much reasoning or research behind it . .. draft James Michael Ray McAdoo if he stays as low as projected. 

[danglertx]

It is hard to tell much about bigs in College.  College ball is a lot like summer league, guard dominated.  If the guy can hit a mid range jumper consistently and put his hands straight up in the air on defense, he will at least be serviceable.

[mmmmm]

Way, way too early to project.

Danny will almost certainly pick the Best Player Available, regardless of positional need.

I would have no problem with picking Olnyk - at a minimum, I think he projects as a serviceable rotational big.   With good coaching and development (especially on defense) he could be a starter.

I don't think he looks like a good fit along-side Sullinger, though.

[Tr1boy]

I'd rather trade the 17-18 pick for okc's late 1st and early 2nd. Or even Clevelands 2 early 2nd round picks + future 2nd round pick

Unlike last year, this year has quite a bit of 1st round talent hovering around until early part of the 2nd round.

So with the picks i'd choose one big Dieng, Withey, Muscala
and second pick use to pick, Andre Roberson, Nate Wolters, Mcdermott, Isiah Austin, Jamaal Franklin etc.


Nbadraft has us choosing Giannis Adetokoubo. If Danny thinks he is going to be the next pippen , then you get him. But no to Olynyk. Just too slow , mechanical, and our defense will suffer

[Snakehead]

I don't think he looks like a good fit along-side Sullinger, though.

Why?

I mean having a defensive minded, long big would make a more rounded duo, but a quality passer, guy who can run the floor, put it on the floor, hit an open jumper would make for a great offensive combo.

And we already have Melo in line to fit the defensive minded big prospect slot.

[KGs Knee]

Yuck...Adam Morrison 2.0

No thanks

[Snakehead]

Yuck...Adam Morrison 2.0

No thanks

Oh man.

Yeah they are both are white and have long hair and played for Gonzaga.  Same player.  Nailed it.

[Tr1boy]

I don't think he looks like a good fit along-side Sullinger, though.

Why?

I mean having a defensive minded, long big would make a more rounded duo, but a quality passer, guy who can run the floor, put it on the floor, hit an open jumper would make for a great offensive combo.

And we already have Melo in line to fit the defensive minded big prospect slot.

But what about our defense?? What about pick and rolls or weakside help?? Yeah we would be hurting bad

If we go against two very mobile pf/c, might as well throw in the towel

[Celtics18]

Well, we could do worse than Olynyk. I'd rather get Saric and stash him for a couple of years in a good Euroleague team, but looks like he'll be out of this year's draft. Adetokunbo is another option to go this route. If so, buy a second rounder and get Kenny Kadji, a 25-year old who could help off the bench.

If Danny is picking a big man, Olynyk seems the most skilled out there. Austin has the biggest potential, Dieng could help right away, and Gobert/Adams have a long way to develop, just like Fab Melo.

If a guard/forward is BPA, I guess Danny will pick him. Celtics need size but they also need a reliable shooter, so either way Danny will have options.

I'm definitely intrigued by Saric and Ade . . . to . . . bo . . . kun . . . oko ... the Greek kid.  I think I read somewhere, though, that Saric is going to withdraw from the draft. 

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/4/6/4190304/dario-saric-nba-draft-2013-croatia