Player you want DA to avoid in this draft??

[CFAN38]

A little switch from the normal " I want the celtics to draft this guy" post.

As the draft process is getting under way what projected first round picks do you home DA avoids?

The two off the top of my head are...

Cody Zeller - I think his lack of length, strength and perimeter skills will really hurt his transition to the NBA. Who on last seasons celtics team could he defend? Jeff Green to quick, KG to long, Sully to strong maybe Bass but he is also longer and stronger than Cody. (If he fell to #16 he would be a value pick but in my opinion he is destine to be a bench role player at best.)

 
Mike Carter-Williams - I worry about his ability to defend and he really isn't that big of a PG 6'5 in shoes with 6'5 wingspan. His lack of strength will keep him from being able to exploit miss-matches against sup 6'2 PGs. I also worry about ability to hit open jumpers and if he has the athleticism to get to the hoop. ( I would pass on him at #16) 


Jeff Withey - It may not be the best way to judge a player but Cole Aldrich's lack of success in the NBA makes me worry about Jeff. I think he will be a Steimsma like bench big man. He has all the intangibles you could ask for in a defensive big man except he possesses less then ideal strength. Being already 23 and coming from a good program I worry that he isn't going to get much stronger hurting his ability to defend man to man in the post. ( I would would rather a high potential pick at #16)

[slamtheking]

have to agree that none of these excite me.  would rather shoot for a guy with more upside if these are my options on the board

[BleedGreen1989]

While I am admittingly higher on Zeller than some and would be extremely happy if he fell to us, I think the real play I'd like to avoid is MCW. If going the point guard route, I'd much rather take Schrauder or even Myck Kabango

[Yogi]

Agree with OP.  I would add

Mason Plumlee = Chris Wilcox

Kentavious Caldwell Pope - Solid role player and great value in the second round.  A build that doesn't allow for a lot of muscle and a short wingspan are a lot to overcome in the NBA.

[Evantime34]

If Shabazz Muhammad miraculously slips to us I would be fine taking him. However, if Danny traded up to get him I would not be happy. His me first attitude is exactly the type that you don't need on a team about to rebuild.

[Galeto]

I would avoid all these guys too but I don't think we have to worry about Zeller being available at no.16. 

I'd avoid MCW not because of his defense, athleticism or lack of strength but because his handle needs work to become point guard quality.  He can get rushed by pressure and his handle limits his ability to play with composure. 

I also really hope Ainge doesn't like Olynyk. 

[CFAN38]

Agree with OP.  I would add

Mason Plumlee = Chris Wilcox

Kentavious Caldwell Pope - Solid role player and great value in the second round.  A build that doesn't allow for a lot of muscle and a short wingspan are a lot to overcome in the NBA.

The Plumlee comparison is a good one, (great physical profile but lacking refined big man skills) he does have alot in common with Wilcox. I still don't think I would avoid him. Wilcox was a 13pt 7rb a game guy as a starter a few years back.

I'm higher on caldwell-pope but admittedly didn't watch him play much this past season. I also find it hard to believe that he will be better than Allen Crabbe who he is consistently ranked higher than. (Crabbe only 8 months older, same height, 2" longer wingspan, similar college numbers (but crabbe had better team), and about 20lbs heavier

[saltlover]

I'm not as afraid of MCW as you.  He led all of college in steals, and averaged 5 rebounds a game, which to me means he has the quickness to disrupt opposing point guards, and enough athleticism/strength/toughness to go in for rebounds.  His turnovers are a little high for me, but his role in that offense was a ball-dominant point guard.  I see him with a Rondo ceiling, and would happily take him at 16.  He could flame out, but so could a lot of players in this draft.  He's one of the few I think has all-star ceiling if he puts it together.

Zeller I share your concerns about, but as you say, he'd be a value pick at #16.  I think someone may be disappointed if he goes top 5, but he has a very diverse offensive game.  I'm putting together a post on the big 10 draft-eligible players, and will talk about him more.

Of the players I see likely in our range, I'd most like to stay away from Olynyk.  His abilities scream flame-out to me.  And his hair is turrible.

[CFAN38]

I'm not as afraid of MCW as you.  He led all of college in steals, and averaged 5 rebounds a game, which to me means he has the quickness to disrupt opposing point guards, and enough athleticism/strength/toughness to go in for rebounds.  His turnovers are a little high for me, but his role in that offense was a ball-dominant point guard.  I see him with a Rondo ceiling, and would happily take him at 16.  He could flame out, but so could a lot of players in this draft.  He's one of the few I think has all-star ceiling if he puts it together.

Zeller I share your concerns about, but as you say, he'd be a value pick at #16.  I think someone may be disappointed if he goes top 5, but he has a very diverse offensive game.  I'm putting together a post on the big 10 draft-eligible players, and will talk about him more.

Of the players I see likely in our range, I'd most like to stay away from Olynyk.  His abilities scream flame-out to me.  And his hair is turrible.

One issue is that mcw's steal are tough to compare with other players because he produced those numbers while playing on the top of a 2-3 zone so I still question his quickness.

[ManUp]

I'm not as afraid of MCW as you.  He led all of college in steals, and averaged 5 rebounds a game, which to me means he has the quickness to disrupt opposing point guards, and enough athleticism/strength/toughness to go in for rebounds.  His turnovers are a little high for me, but his role in that offense was a ball-dominant point guard.  I see him with a Rondo ceiling, and would happily take him at 16.  He could flame out, but so could a lot of players in this draft.  He's one of the few I think has all-star ceiling if he puts it together.

Zeller I share your concerns about, but as you say, he'd be a value pick at #16.  I think someone may be disappointed if he goes top 5, but he has a very diverse offensive game.  I'm putting together a post on the big 10 draft-eligible players, and will talk about him more.

Of the players I see likely in our range, I'd most like to stay away from Olynyk.  His abilities scream flame-out to me.  And his hair is turrible.

One issue is that mcw's steal are tough to compare with other players because he produced those numbers while playing on the top of a 2-3 zone so I still question his quickness.

From what little i saw of MCW he has amazing lateral quickness. I was really impressed with how he was able to stay in front of Burke in the tournament.

I would personally avoid any Big men not named Noel, Len, Bennett, Zeller or Dieng.

[Galeto]

I'm not as afraid of MCW as you.  He led all of college in steals, and averaged 5 rebounds a game, which to me means he has the quickness to disrupt opposing point guards, and enough athleticism/strength/toughness to go in for rebounds.  His turnovers are a little high for me, but his role in that offense was a ball-dominant point guard.  I see him with a Rondo ceiling, and would happily take him at 16.  He could flame out, but so could a lot of players in this draft.  He's one of the few I think has all-star ceiling if he puts it together.

Zeller I share your concerns about, but as you say, he'd be a value pick at #16.  I think someone may be disappointed if he goes top 5, but he has a very diverse offensive game.  I'm putting together a post on the big 10 draft-eligible players, and will talk about him more.

Of the players I see likely in our range, I'd most like to stay away from Olynyk.  His abilities scream flame-out to me.  And his hair is turrible.

One issue is that mcw's steal are tough to compare with other players because he produced those numbers while playing on the top of a 2-3 zone so I still question his quickness.

Why do you question his quickness?  It's not like he's some wide-body who doesn't look the part.  I can understand why for instance people have questioned Pierce's quickness because he's wider than most NBA perimeter players.  He doesn't look the part and that leads to people not giving him credit for his excellent lateral quickness and first step for much of his career.  I can understand that.  MCW does however look the part and is a very good athlete in reality too.

[syfy9]

Shabazz. It's not worth having a selfish ego like his on the team.

Few times, if ever at all, has an average athlete dominated the NBA without having some of that competitive fire and that "first in the gym, last to leave" mentality. 


We'll get scoring, all right, but the intangibles is more important. We are a smart franchise and we know what it takes to win - ubuntu. The championship team isn't the best combination of individual talents - it's the best system of talents working as one. You can have the best tires in the world, but if they don't fit the car, you can't ride to victory.

[Galeto]

Shabazz. It's not worth having a selfish ego like his on the team.

Few times, if ever at all, has an average athlete dominated the NBA without having some of that competitive fire and that "first in the gym, last to leave" mentality. 


We'll get scoring, all right, but the intangibles is more important. We are a smart franchise and we know what it takes to win - ubuntu. The championship team isn't the best combination of individual talents - it's the best system of talents working as one. You can have the best tires in the world, but if they don't fit the car, you can't ride to victory.

I'm not following.  So Shabazz is egotistic and selfish (which I can buy from what I can tell but no way would I treat this as fact) and that makes him have no "competitive fire" or have the right mentality?  Again, I don't know the guy but I don't think there's any reason to doubt his competitiveness or work ethic.  I suppose you're referencing his tantrum for not getting the ball late in a game against Washington and then not celebrating when a teammate hit a game-winning shot.  I don't think that means he has no desire to win.  He let his emotions get the better of him but he plays hard.  I wouldn't question that.

I have doubts about Shabazz because his athleticism and skill level raise question marks but not because of his intangibles.  Come on.  Such cliches.

[CFAN38]

Cody Zeller may have tested himself off of this list his measurements came back better than expected 6'10 wingspan 8'10 standing reach both OK for PF but his 35.5" standing vertical is amazing for a player his size best ever tested at combine for player of his size. Really is showing that he physically can be a good PF now just needs to show the range / perimeter skills to go with it.

[SHAQATTACK]

Another guard .


I'm starting to lean toward Dieng  as a possible draft pick.   Nothing but a hunch he might be a decent big.