Mocks starting to pick Mcollum or Giannis as possible celtic choices

[indeedproceed]

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.

I worry though that a lot of that skillset though will be lost when the competition level really steps up. That's why I prefer Saric.

The Hawks took a kid who hasn't faced real competition who was supposed to be a point-forward type with bad a jumper and who was relatively untested. Pure physical specimen though. Papa Sy.

Didn't really work out.

[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.

I worry though that a lot of that skillset though will be lost when the competition level really steps up. That's why I prefer Saric.

The Hawks took a kid who hasn't faced real competition who was supposed to be a point-forward type with bad a jumper and who was relatively untested. Pure physical specimen though. Papa Sy.

Didn't really work out.

I agree, it's risky but just based on what I saw against admittedly weak competition, I wouldn't compare him to Pape Sy. I think I maybe saw Sy play during a Summer League game and don't remember anything specific about him so I'm going to defer to this analysis from draftexpress:

    "Billed by the Hawks as a point guard coming into this event, Sy's ball-handling skills looked exceptionally poor here, to the point that he had a tough time bringing the ball up the court without turning around to protect it. While clearly a good enough athlete to get by his defender with a quick first step, Sy doesn't have the ability to change directions with the ball or execute any advanced moves, limiting his ability to drive all the way to the basket, and rendering him very turnover prone."


Based on what I saw, Giannis should be able to handle the ball against high level competition.  From watching a lot of high school games on the internet, I've come to learn that it doesn't really matter what the level of competition is when it comes to ball handling.  A non-ball handler is a non-ball handler and vice versa.  Furthermore, while the level of competition Giannis plays against is weak, it's not awful.  It's better than the high school level most of the top 18 year old basketball players in this country are playing against most of the time.  I have no doubt that Giannis will be able to handle the ball at a high level, unlike Sy for instance, and that will enable him to utilize his various skills.

What pushed me over to really liking him beyond his frame, ballhandling ability and so on is his basketball IQ.  He sees the floor extremely well and also just seemed to know when to pumpfake and what footwork to use in a given situation.  I expected him to be really raw but when I saw him pumpfake and pivot after sensing a defender, I knew he wasn't raw.  Again, the kid is only 18.  When I see what he can do at only 18 and then compare him to the top high school prospects in the 2013 class, the much ballyhooed 2013 class, he easily would've been a top 10 prospect. He is just as advanced as anyone in this class besides Jabari Parker and maybe the Harrison Twins.  I think drafting him might be like drafting one of the top high school prospects from this upcoming class.  With the 16th pick, I wouldn't mind gambling on that.

[indeedproceed]

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.

I worry though that a lot of that skillset though will be lost when the competition level really steps up. That's why I prefer Saric.

The Hawks took a kid who hasn't faced real competition who was supposed to be a point-forward type with bad a jumper and who was relatively untested. Pure physical specimen though. Papa Sy.

Didn't really work out.

I agree, it's risky but just based on what I saw against admittedly weak competition, I wouldn't compare him to Pape Sy. I think I maybe saw Sy play during a Summer League game and don't remember anything specific about him so I'm going to defer to this analysis from draftexpress:

    "Billed by the Hawks as a point guard coming into this event, Sy's ball-handling skills looked exceptionally poor here, to the point that he had a tough time bringing the ball up the court without turning around to protect it. While clearly a good enough athlete to get by his defender with a quick first step, Sy doesn't have the ability to change directions with the ball or execute any advanced moves, limiting his ability to drive all the way to the basket, and rendering him very turnover prone."


Based on what I saw, Giannis should be able to handle the ball against high level competition.  From watching a lot of high school games on the internet, I've come to learn that it doesn't really matter what the level of competition is when it comes to ball handling.  A non-ball handler is a non-ball handler and vice versa.  Furthermore, while the level of competition Giannis plays against is weak, it's not awful.  It's better than the high school level most of the top 18 year old basketball players in this country are playing against most of the time.  I have no doubt that Giannis will be able to handle the ball at a high level, unlike Sy for instance, and that will enable him to utilize his various skills.

What pushed me over to really liking him beyond his frame, ballhandling ability and so on is his basketball IQ.  He sees the floor extremely well and also just seemed to know when to pumpfake and what footwork to use in a given situation.  I expected him to be really raw but when I saw him pumpfake and pivot after sensing a defender, I knew he wasn't raw.  Again, the kid is only 18.  When I see what he can do at only 18 and then compare him to the top high school prospects in the 2013 class, the much ballyhooed 2013 class, he easily would've been a top 10 prospect. He is just as advanced as anyone in this class besides Jabari Parker and maybe the Harrison Twins.  I think drafting him might be like drafting one of the top high school prospects from this upcoming class.  With the 16th pick, I wouldn't mind gambling on that.

Love the optimism, and who knows, maybe in a year or three comparing Saric and Giannis will be as silly as comparing Jerryd Bayless and Russell Westbrook. It's pretty hard to tell. You've got clear projects either way, so for me it's a crap shoot.

[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.

I worry though that a lot of that skillset though will be lost when the competition level really steps up. That's why I prefer Saric.

The Hawks took a kid who hasn't faced real competition who was supposed to be a point-forward type with bad a jumper and who was relatively untested. Pure physical specimen though. Papa Sy.

Didn't really work out.

I agree, it's risky but just based on what I saw against admittedly weak competition, I wouldn't compare him to Pape Sy. I think I maybe saw Sy play during a Summer League game and don't remember anything specific about him so I'm going to defer to this analysis from draftexpress:

    "Billed by the Hawks as a point guard coming into this event, Sy's ball-handling skills looked exceptionally poor here, to the point that he had a tough time bringing the ball up the court without turning around to protect it. While clearly a good enough athlete to get by his defender with a quick first step, Sy doesn't have the ability to change directions with the ball or execute any advanced moves, limiting his ability to drive all the way to the basket, and rendering him very turnover prone."


Based on what I saw, Giannis should be able to handle the ball against high level competition.  From watching a lot of high school games on the internet, I've come to learn that it doesn't really matter what the level of competition is when it comes to ball handling.  A non-ball handler is a non-ball handler and vice versa.  Furthermore, while the level of competition Giannis plays against is weak, it's not awful.  It's better than the high school level most of the top 18 year old basketball players in this country are playing against most of the time.  I have no doubt that Giannis will be able to handle the ball at a high level, unlike Sy for instance, and that will enable him to utilize his various skills.

What pushed me over to really liking him beyond his frame, ballhandling ability and so on is his basketball IQ.  He sees the floor extremely well and also just seemed to know when to pumpfake and what footwork to use in a given situation.  I expected him to be really raw but when I saw him pumpfake and pivot after sensing a defender, I knew he wasn't raw.  Again, the kid is only 18.  When I see what he can do at only 18 and then compare him to the top high school prospects in the 2013 class, the much ballyhooed 2013 class, he easily would've been a top 10 prospect. He is just as advanced as anyone in this class besides Jabari Parker and maybe the Harrison Twins.  I think drafting him might be like drafting one of the top high school prospects from this upcoming class.  With the 16th pick, I wouldn't mind gambling on that.

Love the optimism, and who knows, maybe in a year or three comparing Saric and Giannis will be as silly as comparing Jerryd Bayless and Russell Westbrook. It's pretty hard to tell. You've got clear projects either way, so for me it's a crap shoot.

Do you like Saric because he's been tested at a higher level of competition?  On paper, he's a lot like Giannis: a very tall basketball smart small forward with point forward skills and a shot that needs improving.  I'm not a huge fan of Saric because he's a limited athlete with limited defensive potential.  At best you're getting a one-way player.  Giannis's defensive potential is much higher because he's much longer and in my opinion quicker laterally.  If you saw the draftexpress video of Giannis, there was a segment that showed Giannis to be somewhat athletically limited.  From watching full games, he's not explosive vertically but he's not bad and he's a better athlete than the video made him out to be. 

[indeedproceed]

I prefer Saric because he's faced tougher competition than any college athlete coming out this year and has been doing it since he's 16, he's 19 now, and he's got a rough jumper, but the fact that he's still roundly considered a lottery prospect, I like him more as a high risk pick.

And I don't really buy the 'one way' player, especially in this context. Like you said, for a 6'10 guy playing competition that belongs at the Y, Giannis should be playing so far above the rim he can't see the loops. But, he doesn't. In the NBA, his ability to get around guys, where the competition will be faster, longer, and more skilled, makes me doubt its a certainty.

Saric at least has shown he can use his ball handling and length to get around guys at a high level.

And maybe like I said, I'm completely wrong. The dirty little secret about the Oden/Durant draft is that people had the same doubts about Durants athleticism that I do about Giannis's.

[Galeto]

Durant's athleticism has certainly improved.  It's elite now whereas it was something like a B to a B+ maybe when he was drafted.  As much as I like Giannis, I still wouldn't bet on that happening.

Is Saric considered a lottery pick right now?  I think he's thought of more in the 20-30 range.  While Giannis has played against weak competition, although not as weak as you'd find in the Y, I'm not sure Saric's level of competition should be used as a point of his favor necessarily.  Just playing in it doesn't give him an automatic check mark.  His numbers are pretty awful this year. 

Saric's ability to get around guys in the Adriatic League doesn't mean he's going to be able to do that in the NBA.  The same and more so applies to Giannis.  Because both can handle the ball and know how to handle off picks, both should be able to but I like Giannis' athleticism more.

What about this one-way stuff don't you buy?  Based on Saric's physical skills, he doesn't look like a two-way player.  The level of competition has nothing to do with that for Saric.  I'm not guaranteeing that Giannis will be a two-way player but based on his physical tools, he has a better shot of being one than Saric.

[indeedproceed]

Well you look back to Durant, or even Turkoglu (3pt shot notwithstanding), guys who are 6'10 and have the speed and quickness to play on the wing, even if they're at a disadvantage, can manage at least passable defense.

And I'm talking pre-pizza Turk. Post pizza Turk can't be bothered with anything besides disco, chicks, and pizza.

[mmmmm]

It sounds boring, but Danny will (and should) pick the Best Player Available.   

Draft for talent.  Trade for need.

Looks like we'll be picking around the 16th.  'Should get a good player at that point, but not necessarily a game changer.   I don't think we are going to get an immediate impact player like Sullinger in this draft. 

Don't be surprised if Danny makes a trade involving this year's pick, either.

[bfrombleacher]

I thought this draft was trash

How would GR3 drop to us?

[mkogav]

I would love if either Giannis Adetokoubo or CJ McCollum were drafted by the Cs. However, by the time the actual draft rolls around, I expect both will long gone. Pre-draft workouts and buzz should propel both into the top 10.

I am not sure what to make of GR3 yet. I didn't follow him to closely. However, I believe the Cs may be inline to snag another Sully (top 5 talent who falls dramatically in the draft), Shabazz perhaps?

Mk

[Evantime34]

I want a big and I think that is who we will draft. People love talking about BPA, but if it's a player who will end up stuck behind Rondo, Bradley and Green he probably won't bring a ton of value to the C's.

Last year we did pick two bigs back to back BPA be [dang]ed.

[indeedproceed]

I want a big and I think that is who we will draft. People love talking about BPA, but if it's a player who will end up stuck behind Rondo, Bradley and Green he probably won't bring a ton of value to the C's.

Last year we did pick two bigs back to back BPA be [dang]ed.

Sullinger was the BPA though.

[Evantime34]

I want a big and I think that is who we will draft. People love talking about BPA, but if it's a player who will end up stuck behind Rondo, Bradley and Green he probably won't bring a ton of value to the C's.

Last year we did pick two bigs back to back BPA be [dang]ed.

Sullinger was the BPA though.

I agree with that, but was Melo?

[indeedproceed]

I want a big and I think that is who we will draft. People love talking about BPA, but if it's a player who will end up stuck behind Rondo, Bradley and Green he probably won't bring a ton of value to the C's.

Last year we did pick two bigs back to back BPA be [dang]ed.

Sullinger was the BPA though.

I agree with that, but was Melo?

No, but he also wasn't considered the safest big prospect either; Festus Ezeli was still on the board (but considered to have a lower ceiling), Bernard James (same), Robert Sacre (same), Mason Plumlee (same). Fab Melo was coming off a Big East DPOY, and was considered a project with the highest ceiling long-term.

While I don't think Fab Melo was BPA, he probably wasn't far off in terms of potential at the time (PJ3 or Tony Wroten were probably the highest ceiling guys). 

[slamtheking]

I want a big and I think that is who we will draft. People love talking about BPA, but if it's a player who will end up stuck behind Rondo, Bradley and Green he probably won't bring a ton of value to the C's.

Last year we did pick two bigs back to back BPA be [dang]ed.

Sullinger was the BPA though.

I agree with that, but was Melo?

hardly

Melo's a long-term project at best.  hated that pick but hoping by his 3rd year he can be a decent backup center.

as for this year, same as always, go for BPA regardless of position.  even if it's a guard.  we've got a number of them that can hopefully be moved for someone bigger or future picks.