Wouldn't you want to tank too with this upcoming 2014 draft class?

[erisred]

How did tanking work out for the Celtics in 1997?

Reasonably well, actually. The Celtics got the 3rd pick and Billips is going to go into the Hall of Fame one day. It wasn't the pick that was bad, it was the quick trade the next season.

The second pick the C's had that year could be called a miss, I'll admit. Ron Mercer was a bust for a 6th pick, but below him there was only one player that turned into a real impact player...Tracy McGrady. 

1997's draft pool was really very shallow, Duncan was great, but as it turned out it was only Duncan, Billips and McGrady. It was a bad draft to tank for.

I doubt the C's are going into "full tank" mode next year. It's really not DA's style, nor Wyc's either, I don't think...yeah, they did it in 2007, but even then it was more a matter of force feeding minutes to young players than setting out to intentionally lose games from the beginning, like some teams I won't mention. I do think the Celtics would love to have a top 8 pick next year, though, and probably a top 8 pick the next year, too.

Look we're going to need to acquire franchise level players from somewhere. I doubt it'll be in the FA market, so it's going to have to be by trade or by draft.  The only way to get one by draft is to be very bad and very lucky. The only way to get one by trade is to build up good assets and movable contracts...I'm afraid that requires us to be pretty bad and pretty luck, too.

[Whetzell]

We're talking about players that have yet to play a single minute in the NBA. You can profess that you know how good or bad a player may or may not be, but you don't know. You can't know. ANY player could be a bust. ANY player could be a gem.

Tanking for unproven players is retarded.

This isn't completely true. Scouts and most people know what each draft has to offer for the most part. Barely anyone could say the 2003 draft would have so many potential hall of farmers, but everyone did know it was the strongest since '96 at the least. Everyone knew 2000 was a terrible draft. Everyone knows this upcoming draft will probably not be that great.

2014 draft is worth taking a risk on especially if Rondo isn't ready by the beginning of the season. It's one of those drafts.

You can't know, only guess. I don't care what scouts, reporters, fans, or broadcasters say. You can't know.

Proven players > Unproven players

What are you talking about?  People know if people have NBA talent.  Most busts have been project 7 footers or injured players.  Busts like Beasely were based on maturity and drive.  Neither Wiggins or Parker have these problems.  They will be stars, promise.

[lightspeed5]

^yup. both are immensely talented with very little weaknesses.

[Nerf DPOY]

We're talking about players that have yet to play a single minute in the NBA. You can profess that you know how good or bad a player may or may not be, but you don't know. You can't know. ANY player could be a bust. ANY player could be a gem.

Tanking for unproven players is retarded.

This isn't completely true. Scouts and most people know what each draft has to offer for the most part. Barely anyone could say the 2003 draft would have so many potential hall of farmers, but everyone did know it was the strongest since '96 at the least. Everyone knew 2000 was a terrible draft. Everyone knows this upcoming draft will probably not be that great.

2014 draft is worth taking a risk on especially if Rondo isn't ready by the beginning of the season. It's one of those drafts.

You can't know, only guess. I don't care what scouts, reporters, fans, or broadcasters say. You can't know.

Proven players > Unproven players

What are you talking about?  People know if people have NBA talent.  Most busts have been project 7 footers or injured players.  Busts like Beasely were based on maturity and drive.  Neither Wiggins or Parker have these problems.  They will be stars, promise.

That's the worst promise I've ever encountered. You don't know what you're talking about, literally. I'm not getting personal, but you are debasing the word "promise".

[lightspeed5]

We're talking about players that have yet to play a single minute in the NBA. You can profess that you know how good or bad a player may or may not be, but you don't know. You can't know. ANY player could be a bust. ANY player could be a gem.

Tanking for unproven players is retarded.

This isn't completely true. Scouts and most people know what each draft has to offer for the most part. Barely anyone could say the 2003 draft would have so many potential hall of farmers, but everyone did know it was the strongest since '96 at the least. Everyone knew 2000 was a terrible draft. Everyone knows this upcoming draft will probably not be that great.

2014 draft is worth taking a risk on especially if Rondo isn't ready by the beginning of the season. It's one of those drafts.

You can't know, only guess. I don't care what scouts, reporters, fans, or broadcasters say. You can't know.

Proven players > Unproven players

What are you talking about?  People know if people have NBA talent.  Most busts have been project 7 footers or injured players.  Busts like Beasely were based on maturity and drive.  Neither Wiggins or Parker have these problems.  They will be stars, promise.

That's the worst promise I've ever encountered. You don't know what you're talking about, literally. I'm not getting personal, but you are debasing the word "promise".

lol... ok...

[Nerf DPOY]

Your blind certainty staggers me. You're absolutely sure and it makes you chuckle the notion of Wiggins and Parker not becoming HOF talent? These kids are like,17. Are you that naive? What I wrote isn't even controversial as I see it.

[lightspeed5]

Your blind certainty staggers me. You're absolutely sure and it makes you chuckle the notion of Wiggins and Parker not becoming HOF talent? These kids are like,17. Are you that naive? What I wrote isn't even controversial as I see it.

you're being pessimistic. its not a sure thing but its very close to a sure thing. You're right, there were people like sebastian telfair who were supposed to be the next big star, but scouts are getting better and the overall opinion is that these 2 are good.

[Nerf DPOY]

Your blind certainty staggers me. You're absolutely sure and it makes you chuckle the notion of Wiggins and Parker not becoming HOF talent? These kids are like,17. Are you that naive? What I wrote isn't even controversial as I see it.

you're being pessimistic. its not a sure thing but its very close to a sure thing. You're right, there were people like sebastian telfair who were supposed to be the next big star, but scouts are getting better and the overall opinion is that these 2 are good.

Maybe I'm just getting carried away with the word "promise" and that, but I mean look at your avatar. That kid woulda probably been a top 5 pick had he been eligible for the draft out of HS. Now, people are already talking about him like he's a mistake. Time will tell, and you might wind up being right but I don't share your confidence. I'm like the C-3P0 of this thread.

[LarBrd33]

Your blind certainty staggers me. You're absolutely sure and it makes you chuckle the notion of Wiggins and Parker not becoming HOF talent? These kids are like,17. Are you that naive? What I wrote isn't even controversial as I see it.

you're being pessimistic. its not a sure thing but its very close to a sure thing. You're right, there were people like sebastian telfair who were supposed to be the next big star, but scouts are getting better and the overall opinion is that these 2 are good.

Fwiw, the last few players I've seen getting hyped as the "next big thing" have all pretty much lived up to the hype.  The first I remember since really deeply following this league was probably Yao Ming in 2001.  Yao had his issues, but in his peak he was averaging 25, 11 and 2.  He was supposed to be "can't miss".  He was a fine player.   LeBron was pegged as a phenom in High school.  He surpassed expectations.   Durant was considered a phenom.  Oden was hyped for his potential and size, but Kevin Durant was considered as "can't miss" as a player can get.  His College Freshman stats were better than pretty much any player ever.    And now Wiggins.  He's the first guy i've seen get this level of praise since Durant, LeBron and Yao.   He would be going #1 straight out of High scool.  This isn't someone they are saying is "raw" and a "prospect with potential"... this is someone they are saying is another "can't miss" superstar prospect.  It seems in the rare instances when the experts find a guy like this... they seem to pan out accordingly.  I will say that since 1997, the players to be labelled as "future superstar can't miss prospects" were Duncan, Yao, LeBron, Durant and now Wiggins.  To be fair, I'll add Oden in there as well.  Oden was probably the only one who didn't live up to expectations. 

There are #1 picks every year (Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, D Rose, Irving, etc) who receive high levels of praise... but none on the level of Duncan, Yao, LeBron, Durant and Wiggins.  Have a little respect for the people scouting these guys. They seem to know what they are doing.

[Celtics Insider]

Just because there's a high chance that he'll be a star doesn't mean he WILL be (Wiggins).

For all you know, he'll come in, shoot .350% from the field and average 4 PPG in 35 minutes. You just never know.

[LarBrd33]

Just because there's a high chance that he'll be a star doesn't mean he WILL be (Wiggins).

For all you know, he'll come in, shoot .350% from the field and average 4 PPG in 35 minutes. You just never know.

That's not at all likely.  That's not giving enough credit to the basketball experts watching these guys.  This isn't a common thing when they say someone is a phenom.  They aren't just making this stuff up.   Barring major injury or drug problems, there's no way Wiggins comes in and averages 4 ppg in 35 minutes on 35% shooting. 

[Nerf DPOY]

I was mostly balking at "promise", and you kinda glossed over the whole Oden debacle. I understand Wiggins will likely be great, but the '14 draft classes' contribution to the NBA seems nebulous to put it generously.

Edit: My last sentence was leaving out half of my thought.

[LarBrd33]

I was mostly balking at "promise", and you kinda glossed over the whole Oden debacle. I understand Wiggins will likely be great, but the '14 draft classes' contribution to the NBA seems nebulous to put it generously.

Edit: My last sentence was leaving out half of my thought.

FWIW, Oden's per-minute numbers were sensational in the 82 NBA games he managed to play (so far).  His last season, his per-36 minute averages were: 17 points, 13 rebounds, 3.4 blocks on 60% shooting.  I guess people should have paid more attention to history of injuries.  I'm not even ready to count that guy out yet.  If he ever gets healthy, he's still very gifted.

[Celtics Insider]

Just because there's a high chance that he'll be a star doesn't mean he WILL be (Wiggins).

For all you know, he'll come in, shoot .350% from the field and average 4 PPG in 35 minutes. You just never know.

That's not at all likely.  That's not giving enough credit to the basketball experts watching these guys.  This isn't a common thing when they say someone is a phenom.  They aren't just making this stuff up.   Barring major injury or drug problems, there's no way Wiggins comes in and averages 4 ppg in 35 minutes on 35% shooting.

Okay, you can maintain that irrational belief. I'll save my judgement on him until he actually produces in the NBA.

You cannot seriously believe that ANYONE knows what the future holds for ANY player. Just educated guesses.

[hpantazo]

Just because there's a high chance that he'll be a star doesn't mean he WILL be (Wiggins).

For all you know, he'll come in, shoot .350% from the field and average 4 PPG in 35 minutes. You just never know.

That's not at all likely.  That's not giving enough credit to the basketball experts watching these guys.  This isn't a common thing when they say someone is a phenom.  They aren't just making this stuff up.   Barring major injury or drug problems, there's no way Wiggins comes in and averages 4 ppg in 35 minutes on 35% shooting.

Okay, you can maintain that irrational belief. I'll save my judgement on him until he actually produces in the NBA.

You cannot seriously believe that ANYONE knows what the future holds for ANY player. Just educated guesses.

everyone knew Lebron would be great, Tim Duncan would be great, Shaq would be great, KG would be great, etc. Sure, there are always unkowns in the draft, but once in a while there are sure things, and the 2014 draft has 2 of them.