Mocks starting to pick Mcollum or Giannis as possible celtic choices

[nickagneta]

McCollem would be great, if he was 6'5" or 6'6". I look forward to see what his measurements really come in at. Does this team really want to collect another asset that is a little guy? There's only so many 6'1"-6'3" guys with talent you can trade to acquire a quality big man.

If both GR3 and McCollem are there, I want the younger, bigger player with the higher possible upside. That's Robinson, who played in a big time program and got national exposure and championship game experience.

I also find Goodwin and McAdoo intriguing.

[LooseCannon]

If both GR3 and McCollem are there, I want the younger, bigger player with the higher possible upside.

What if the smaller player has the higher possible upside?

[lon3lytoaster]

Greek guy.

I vote the Greek guy.






I don't know anything about the Greek guy, but I want the Greek guy.

[Tr1boy]

McCollem would be great, if he was 6'5" or 6'6". I look forward to see what his measurements really come in at. Does this team really want to collect another asset that is a little guy? There's only so many 6'1"-6'3" guys with talent you can trade to acquire a quality big man.

If both GR3 and McCollem are there, I want the younger, bigger player with the higher possible upside. That's Robinson, who played in a big time program and got national exposure and championship game experience.

I also find Goodwin and McAdoo intriguing.

McAdoo has already stated he is going back to school. Goodwin declared. Nobody knows where he will end up. Reminds me of another Jordan Crawford. Jump shot needs work

Mcollum is sikk. I been watching him since he exploded against Duke.

He is 6'3 with a very nice 6'8 wingspan. As of right now he has most of the tools/skills developed unlike GR3 who still doesn't really have a go to move. Has a nice jump shot, excellent stats unlike alot of guards in this years draft and ridiculous dribbling skills. Watch what he does to Hairston at 3:11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omY6v5jJIjw

[Eddie20]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce). There are a lot of bigs that could be available in our range, so not only would it be great value, but also fills a position of need. Can't fault Ainge whatsoever for going with either Olynyk, Plumlee, Austin, Dieng, Adams, Whitney, or McGary. A few of those aren't raw like Melo, so I wouldn't consider them "projects" and think they could have an immediate impact.

[Tr1boy]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce). There are a lot of bigs that could be available in our range, so not only would it be great value, but also fills a position of need. Can't fault Ainge whatsoever for going with either Olynyk, Plumlee, Austin, Dieng, Adams, Whitney, or McGary. A few of those aren't raw like Melo, so I wouldn't consider them "projects" and think they could have an immediate impact.

None of the bigs you listed will make a complete contribution like you think. So if you can find a non big that can make a complete impact on both ends of the court, you prob have to go with them.

- Olynyk is mainly offensive oriented and at times had trouble getting shots over college players in the post. Poor shot blocker and rebounder even in college standards

- Plumlee while an athlete and can play at both ends, does not have one exceptional nba skill. I consider him a taller Brandon Bass

- Adams is raw. More than Melo

- Dieng and Withey will be long term nba players. But prob  off the bench guys. Withey has exceptional skill he brings to the nba (shot blocking) and Dieng can do a little bit of everthing, especially has good lateral quickness. But don't except 20/10 from either. More like 6 pts, 6 reb, 3 blocks, 2 assists.

- Mcgary is actually a pf that played center in College. Imo at best will be an off the bench guy, like Nick Collison. Not quick enough and only has avg length


If i choose any big , it would be either Dieng or Withey. Especially with Withey having one exceptional skill (shot blocking) that can help an nba team right now. Unlike Melo who swats the balls into the stands, exceptional shot blockers like Duncan, Davis, Withey have one thing in common and that is they can block the shots without fouling and keeping the ball in play. It's an underrated skill

[LooseCannon]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce).

This is where long-term thinking comes in.  What if Ainge believes he can package Crawford and some non-guaranteed contracts, including Williams, for a useful big in the off-season?  He might even agree to a deal (that might not be allowed to be made official before the July moratorium) by draft day.  With Rondo coming off an injury, Bradley injury-prone, and Terry old, it might then make more sense to draft a guard if that is the best player available.

[Eddie20]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce). There are a lot of bigs that could be available in our range, so not only would it be great value, but also fills a position of need. Can't fault Ainge whatsoever for going with either Olynyk, Plumlee, Austin, Dieng, Adams, Whitney, or McGary. A few of those aren't raw like Melo, so I wouldn't consider them "projects" and think they could have an immediate impact.

None of the bigs you listed will make a complete contribution like you think. So if you can find a non big that can make a complete impact on both ends of the court, you prob have to go with them.

Plenty of those bigs will provide an immediate impact. Albeit, the impact might not be on both ends of the floor or too dramatic. However, just consider that Plumlee or Olynyk simply has to be better than a Shav Randolph to see minutes on our team, while a drafted guard would have to beat out a lot pretty good players to have the same impact.

[Eddie20]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce).

This is where long-term thinking comes in.  What if Ainge believes he can package Crawford and some non-guaranteed contracts, including Williams, for a useful big in the off-season?  He might even agree to a deal (that might not be allowed to be made official before the July moratorium) by draft day.  With Rondo coming off an injury, Bradley injury-prone, and Terry old, it might then make more sense to draft a guard if that is the best player available.

Sorry, but I simply don't see this. Crawford isn't landing us a "useful big" on a cheap contract. If so, the Wizards would've traded Crawford for that player instead of for Collins and an injured Barbosa.

[LooseCannon]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce).

This is where long-term thinking comes in.  What if Ainge believes he can package Crawford and some non-guaranteed contracts, including Williams, for a useful big in the off-season?  He might even agree to a deal (that might not be allowed to be made official before the July moratorium) by draft day.  With Rondo coming off an injury, Bradley injury-prone, and Terry old, it might then make more sense to draft a guard if that is the best player available.

Sorry, but I simply don't see this. Crawford isn't landing us a "useful big" on a cheap contract. If so, the Wizards would've traded Crawford for that player instead of for Collins and an injured Barbosa.

Jason Collins was a useful big on a cheap contract.  I'm suggesting that Crawford can be used to acquire a useful big with a contract that the other team doesn't want to pay.  This idea has more to do with contracts being the right sizes to make deals than with the actual talent involved.

Crawford could rehabilitate his image and make himself more tradeable with a nice playoff performance.  With their unguaranteed contracts, the Celtics can offer cap relief in the off-season that the Wizards couldn't have offered during the season.  Perhaps there is a sign-and-trade opportunity that wasn't possible mid-season.

[Tr1boy]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce). There are a lot of bigs that could be available in our range, so not only would it be great value, but also fills a position of need. Can't fault Ainge whatsoever for going with either Olynyk, Plumlee, Austin, Dieng, Adams, Whitney, or McGary. A few of those aren't raw like Melo, so I wouldn't consider them "projects" and think they could have an immediate impact.

None of the bigs you listed will make a complete contribution like you think. So if you can find a non big that can make a complete impact on both ends of the court, you prob have to go with them.

Plenty of those bigs will provide an immediate impact. Albeit, the impact might not be on both ends of the floor or too dramatic. However, just consider that Plumlee or Olynyk simply has to be better than a Shav Randolph to see minutes on our team, while a drafted guard would have to beat out a lot pretty good players to have the same impact.

Bc of injuries, we had to get guys like Crawford (benched), Twill playing in China. You really think an exceptionally talented guard like Mcollum or Kentavious Caldwell Pope, wouldn't eventually be able to outplay them??

Like the other poster mentioned, you can now package Crawford/Twill plus something else for a vet big.

[Tr1boy]

I think we'll go with a big. We simply have a surplus of players signed that play the 1-3 spots (Rondo, Bradley, Terry, Crawford, Lee, Williams, Green, & Pierce). There are a lot of bigs that could be available in our range, so not only would it be great value, but also fills a position of need. Can't fault Ainge whatsoever for going with either Olynyk, Plumlee, Austin, Dieng, Adams, Whitney, or McGary. A few of those aren't raw like Melo, so I wouldn't consider them "projects" and think they could have an immediate impact.

None of the bigs you listed will make a complete contribution like you think. So if you can find a non big that can make a complete impact on both ends of the court, you prob have to go with them.

Plenty of those bigs will provide an immediate impact. Albeit, the impact might not be on both ends of the floor or too dramatic. However, just consider that Plumlee or Olynyk simply has to be better than a Shav Randolph to see minutes on our team, while a drafted guard would have to beat out a lot pretty good players to have the same impact.

And while you make a good point that any of the big guys available when we pick, should be better than Shav, will we still sukk without the big two (who could be both gone by end of this year)??  Than the development of the team goes nowhere

The only guy i feel that can at least give us a respectable defensive presence is Withey. Outside of him, i rather choose GR3, Mcollum, KCP than choose Olynyk. The celts are built on playing solid D, and i would hate to see a guy(who is suppose to make a contribution) be a loose link

[jambr380]

I'm not in any hurry to dump Crawford. He has averaged over 13 pts / gm in his first three years in the league. He is exactly the spark you need off the bench. Combine that with the fact that you aren't going to get anything more than you would get from a vet min guy who is a fa and I am happy to see if this guy can put it all together.

As for the draft, there seems to be an awful lot of positivity for what is considered a bad draft. I just hope we can pick up somebody who will be a nice surprise.

[hwangjini_1]

this is a weak draft that has lots of guards, and no good bigs. alex len is the best center? what kind of joke is this. drafting a big this year would be a horrible decision when you can get a good kentucky guard for example.

yet, draftexpress projects 10 of the first 21 picks as centers.

as i understand the draft, it lacks franchise/superstars but has a lot of depth in terms of good, not great, players. maybe ainge can pull off another draft steal.

[Galeto]

I wouldn't mind if the Celtics swung for Giannis.  I'm very impressed with his basketball IQ, passing ability, handle and physical potential.  No doubt he would've been a McDonald's All-American this year.  18 year olds with his feel for the game and skillset are rare.