Where would Fab Melo be drafted in the 2013 draft?

[BleedGreen1989]

Just for fun and hindsight, where do you think Fab would go in this years draft coming off his season at Syracuse. Obviously we've seen a year of him "in the nba" but try to think about before the season started Fab.

[slamtheking]

without seeing what he might have improved on in college, I suspect that with the volume of decent big men this year, he'd be at the end of the 1st/beginning of the second round.  He was a reach when Danny picked him and he'd be a reach at anything better than the 25th pick this year

[Boris Badenov]

There seem to be more above-average (but not great) big guys this year.

I was hunting for similar players this year (I haven't been tracking the second round prospects closely because we don't have a pick), and found this guy:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/DeWayne-Dedmon-6506/

He seems to have a similar profile - raw and also old, limited offensively etc.

Draftexpress has him going toward the end of the second round.

[CelticConcourse]

Mid-second, maybe early-second.

[Eja117]

late first at best

[Boris Badenov]

I have a somewhat more depressing question. Suppose we re-did the 2012 draft today, where does Fab go?

I can't think of a single player taken ahead of him in the actual draft who would not be taken ahead of him in a re-draft, except for Royce White.

And, I count maybe 10-20 guys taken after him, who might now be taken before.

Here are the numbers if you want to browse:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2012.html

[Galeto]

I can understand why the Celtics liked him.  He's huge, blocked a ton of shots, was willing to take charges (which is all to rare for the Celtics nowadays) and showed a pretty good basketball IQ.  In hindsight for this season anyway, the Syracuse system was not good for his development.  He was already late to basketball as it was; having his first exposure to high level basketball be 100 percent about zone defense was not the way to go.  Hopefully he'll show better his sophomore season. 

[ManUp]

In 2013 he'd probably be late first to early second. With hindsight he would've went mid second in 2012, like he should have. We can't totally blast Fab for being the project he was projected as, give him time.

[hpantazo]

Mid 2nd round. We should have taken PJ3 instead of Fab. I was so upset we passed on PJ3.

[Roy H.]

Mid-second, maybe early-second.

This is probably right.  I'd say mid-second.  Melo was projected to fall into the second round last year, and I can't imagine he'd improve his draft position this year.

[bfrombleacher]

Mid 2nd round. We should have taken PJ3 instead of Fab. I was so upset we passed on PJ3.

Ezeli! People said his ceiling was low but he looks right on track to being a Tyson Chandler lite.

[hpantazo]

Mid 2nd round. We should have taken PJ3 instead of Fab. I was so upset we passed on PJ3.

Ezeli! People said his ceiling was low but he looks right on track to being a Tyson Chandler lite.

Ezeli would have helped us out this year for sure.

[aporel#18]

In hindsight, Kendall Marshall, Austin Rivers, Royce White (who I thought would be one of the best of the Draft) and even Thomas Robinson had a worst Win Shares per 48, so at least Melo didn't get a chance to prove himself.

Melo has played little basketball, so his progress may seem none, but he might be vastly improved next preseason. Hopefully.

If a guy like Plumlee is projected as late lottery pick, you can bet someone would take a chance on Fab Melo in the first round.

[celticsleyte]

Maybe he comes around.  He played more hoop last year than he ever has in the past.  He needs repetitions. Syracuse was not good for him especially with the suspension.  As we need a center perhaps we remain patient and also give him a chance to play some minutes early in the season to see what he can learn.

[SHAQATTACK]

Maybe he comes around.  He played more hoop last year than he ever has in the past.  He needs repetitions. Syracuse was not good for him especially with the suspension.  As we need a center perhaps we remain patient and also give him a chance to play some minutes early in the season to see what he can learn.

+1