Mock Draft: Early Targets For The Boston Celtics

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Dieng and Withey are both surefire draft choices. Both have low ceiling but will be able to help right away especially defensively. I'd choose Whitey over Dieng just because Whitey looks a bit more beefy.

Steven Adams is a project, but a good one at that. He may not be able to protect the rim like the other two but he's already sound and a very good rebounder at this stage, and his upside is great.

BUT.

I'd really rather move up, trade the 16th, Avery Bradley and another guy and pick Shabazz Muhammad. All the talk about tanking for Andrew Wiggins when we can move up for this kid, who does have a ton of red flags when it comes to commitment and his game, but has a ridiculous upside, a very competitive nature and scoring abilities that is NBA ready. He can develop as an All Star in Boston. And if he for some reason did not work out, his upside could still land the Celtics good returns if we trade him.

Shabazz should be the target. He's dropping right now because of the red flags, his stock may rise again during the workouts as he is super athletic, but he is reachable.

[letsgoblue86]

I want Giannis or Saric.

Doesn't make sense or Danny to draft a guy like Dieng or Withey because they'd be competing with Fab for minutes.

[Yogi]

Shabazz is no where near the athlete that Wiggins is.  He is also 20.  At best you are looking at OJ Mayo.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Shabazz is no where near the athlete that Wiggins is.  He is also 20.  At best you are looking at OJ Mayo.

True but he's reachable compare to Wiggins who's clearly #1 overall barring any setbacks.

It'll be harder to get Wiggins than move up and grab an athletic OJ Mayo. Still has upside that is sky high.

[Yogi]

Shabazz is no where near the athlete that Wiggins is.  He is also 20.  At best you are looking at OJ Mayo.

True but he's reachable compare to Wiggins who's clearly #1 overall barring any setbacks.

It'll be harder to get Wiggins than move up and grab an athletic OJ Mayo. Still has upside that is sky high.

I don't think Shabazz is more athletic than Mayo.  His passing is one of the worst ever for a guard, an area where OJ is very good for a combo guard.  I think OJ Mayo is probably his ceiling.  I don't see him as a guy you move up in a draft for. 

[Yogi]

Myck Kabongo is also a guy to keep an eye on.  He definitely fills a need at back up point, and there is no question in my mind he is an NBA point guard.  I don't know how good he will be though.  He might range anywhere from Carlos Arroyo to a poor man's Rondo. 

[Mencius]

The guys I am excited about the possibility of drafting are

...
2.  Dennis Schroeder  - Very excited for this kid, but he might very well be the first point guard drafted.
...

I think this kid is really intriguing too.  I know it's a position of lesser need than a competent big, but this kid's talent may be too good to pass up (judging solely on a youtube vid, lol), and at this point, since we're no longer contenders, you go for talent over positional need.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Myck Kabongo is also a guy to keep an eye on.  He definitely fills a need at back up point, and there is no question in my mind he is an NBA point guard.  I don't know how good he will be though.  He might range anywhere from Carlos Arroyo to a poor man's Rondo.

I was just listening to ESPN's College Basketball podcast a few days ago and Seth Greenberg (former VT coach) said that him coming out is a "ridiculous decision, he wasnt even a good college player. Forget about playing in the NBA, HE IS NOT A GOOD COLLEGE PLAYER (he was voicing it out), he's mediocre at best, team killer, the guy is a joke". And he went on to say the stuff that Texas did to make sure he's eligible and did not play in there. I don't think we want that.

[Yogi]

The guys I am excited about the possibility of drafting are

...
2.  Dennis Schroeder  - Very excited for this kid, but he might very well be the first point guard drafted.
...

I think this kid is really intriguing too.  I know it's a position of lesser need than a competent big, but this kid's talent may be too good to pass up (judging solely on a youtube vid, lol), and at this point, since we're no longer contenders, you go for talent over positional need.

I think the playoffs made a pretty compelling argument that back up point guard is probably our first or second biggest area of need,

[rasta1]

I'd prefer swapping this year's draft pick for one next year

I would like to have a lot of picks for next years' draft

[Yoki_IsTheName]

The guys I am excited about the possibility of drafting are

...
2.  Dennis Schroeder  - Very excited for this kid, but he might very well be the first point guard drafted.
...

I think this kid is really intriguing too.  I know it's a position of lesser need than a competent big, but this kid's talent may be too good to pass up (judging solely on a youtube vid, lol), and at this point, since we're no longer contenders, you go for talent over positional need.

I think the playoffs made a pretty compelling argument that back up point guard is probably our first or second biggest area of need,

If we keep Terrence William we won't be having that problem anymore. His limited but good minutes in the Playoffs showed us that he can handle the ball and make good passes on spots where the players want it. Also a good defender (played Felton nicely) and rebounds. I think T-Will solved our backup PG woes, if only Doc would see it. I think we don't need to draft a PG in this year. A big or another scorer in the wing position is probably what we need.

[slamtheking]

I want Giannis or Saric.

Doesn't make sense or Danny to draft a guy like Dieng or Withey because they'd be competing with Fab for minutes.

Seriously?  you wouldn't draft a decent big man than can probably play next year because you're worried about a d-league stiff?   

Melo needs to spend another full year in d-league to work on his game.  unless he makes completely unexpected advances in his game over the summer and early next year, I don't see him getting on the court for the C's outside a garbage time.

[Yogi]

Myck Kabongo is also a guy to keep an eye on.  He definitely fills a need at back up point, and there is no question in my mind he is an NBA point guard.  I don't know how good he will be though.  He might range anywhere from Carlos Arroyo to a poor man's Rondo.

I was just listening to ESPN's College Basketball podcast a few days ago and Seth Greenberg (former VT coach) said that him coming out is a "ridiculous decision, he wasnt even a good college player. Forget about playing in the NBA, HE IS NOT A GOOD COLLEGE PLAYER (he was voicing it out), he's mediocre at best, team killer, the guy is a joke". And he went on to say the stuff that Texas did to make sure he's eligible and did not play in there. I don't think we want that.

That is interesting.  I didn't see any of his games, but he put up numbers very similar to Rondo in college.  It is my opinion that he is a true point more suited for the NBA.  I have no idea if he is a team killer. 

Terrence Williams is a big question mark.  I am not at all comfortable handing him the back up point guard spot.  I am not saying he is not good.  He might turn out to be a very good player, but he is too much of a question mark for me to trust the back up pg role to him.  I mean every time he had a good game last year, he followed it up with a bad one including game 6.

[Celtics4ever]

Get the bigs, forget Shabazz, what did his school do in the tourney?  Lost to Minny in the second round, not exactly a team that inspires fear.

I question his handle, he only is good with his left hand.   I think he has low basketball IQ.  He is ball dominant and stagnates the ball movement.  Also, doesn't have the best jumper.  He doesn't try on D.  He will score in the NBA but not much more.   He would be an asset you move to get a complete player.   I think his season at UCLA was not as dominant as people hoped.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Get the bigs, forget Shabazz, what did his school do in the tourney?  Lost to Minny in the second round, not exactly a team that inspires fear.

I question his handle, he only is good with his left hand.   I think he has low basketball IQ.  He is ball dominant and stagnates the ball movement.  Also, doesn't have the best jumper.  He doesn't try on D.  He will score in the NBA but not much more.   He would be an asset you move to get a complete player.   I think his season at UCLA was not as dominant as people hoped.

You basically told the red flags that he have that I was saying, can be fixed. His upside is great that it's worth risking these red flags as they can seriously be changed. He has the tools and the work ethic to do so (according to scouts of course). He's a project but a potential star.

Let's not forget his killer instinct. This kid is a competitor. He rebounds like CRAZY especially on the offensive glass, goes after his misses. A natural scorer who can punish opposing smaller players in the post. He has great strength and as scouts say if he's locked in, can be a good defender as he is a good enough athlete.

Let's also not forget that Ben Howland's UCLA is a mess of a team, and that's not Shabazz doing. We are technically rebuilding, if KG and Paul stays or not, so why not take him? Again with all his red flags, the upside is way to high.