How Good is the Middle of This Draft, and How Bad Can the Nets Be?

[CFAN38]

figuring the 25th pick (could be worse if KG and PP sit enough)

Projections (hard to predict much this early)

notable players after 25

NBADRAFT.net

Chris Walker PF ultra athletic big man
Andeian Payne PF athletic big
Isaiah Austin C long athletic shooting center
Alex Poythress SF alot of potential
Kyle Anderson SF great size and unique skill set
Patric Young PF physically ideal nba PF
Russ Smith PG elite athletic and defender but small

Draftexpress the same as above minus walker they have him in 2015 draft

Bleacher Report.. for what its worth

Gary Harris SG going 25

James McAdoo SF if he really can play SF he could be
interesting

[D.o.s.]

Got a chance to check out ESPN the magazine's mock draft. It had us taking some 7'1 Center (with "Hakeem like potential") at the 4th pick--after Wiggens, Exum, and Randle. Parker went 5th to the Jazz, I think.

And with 25--the lowest of the projected Atlanta Brooklyn pair we took Poythress.

So, that's what Chad Ford thinks. I guess.

[saltlover]

Mitch McGary has some back issues and could see a Sully-like slip.  It seems doubtful he's going to play much before the New Year.  Not sure how far he'll fall, but in a deep draft full of impact players, low-to-mid 20s wouldn't surprise me.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Have the Celtics ever won the draft lottery ever once?  I would be perfectly happy with Wiggins, Parker, Exum or Randle and it looks like we're going to get one of them.

One guy I really can't make heads or tales of for the ATL/Nets pick is Mitch McGary.  He has legit size, seems pretty athletic and his game should mesh great with Rondo.  It's so hard judging white guys though and Chad Ford really hates him.  I would like to get a PF or C over 6'10" with 7'0" wingspan with that second pick who isn't a total stiff and he seems like the only one on the draft board that fits the bill.  I'm so sick of 6'9" PFs.  No more

[VitorSullyandKOFan]

I would love to trade up and Get Mario Hezonja with the Nets pick.

[Celtics4ever]

McAdoo will be the pick here if he is around I hope.

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/james-mcadoo

[Quetzalcoatl]

You know the more I look at the 19-25 range, the less impressed I am with it.  I would much rather package our second pick and Jeff Green to move up to the 12-14th pick or so.  We could get Willie Caulie-Stein or Hezonja with that for sure.  Jeff Green is better than the other SFs by that point and the teams most likely drafting there (Cleveland, Portland, LA, Memphis, etc) could use JG more than they could use say Doug McDermott.

[fitzhickey]

I think it will go
1.Wiggins
2.Randle
3.Parker
Then we pick Exum.
I can see Parker putting in a really impressive year in the college system.

[saltlover]

Have the Celtics ever won the draft lottery ever once?  I would be perfectly happy with Wiggins, Parker, Exum or Randle and it looks like we're going to get one of them.

One guy I really can't make heads or tales of for the ATL/Nets pick is Mitch McGary.  He has legit size, seems pretty athletic and his game should mesh great with Rondo.  It's so hard judging white guys though and Chad Ford really hates him.  I would like to get a PF or C over 6'10" with 7'0" wingspan with that second pick who isn't a total stiff and he seems like the only one on the draft board that fits the bill.  I'm so sick of 6'9" PFs.  No more

If McGary is healthy, he's legit.  He's a great rebounder, and an excellent passer from the high post.  He's also the best outlet passer I've seen in college since Kevin Love.  He's also very active in the passing lanes.  His flaws are foul shooting, bringing down the offensive rebound too low instead of putting it back up quickly, and being over aggressive on defense, which leads to too many fouls and some bad defensive positioning.  I think most of his flaws are correctable (his foul shot has great form, for instance), and his downside is a more athletic Tyler Hansborough with poorer free throws.  But I think he's more likely to be a high-energy big who's good offensively, great at rebounding, and not a defensive liability.  Possibly a quicker version of Sully.  Probably not a super star, and I think his top 10 projection on some sites is too much Ina deep draft like this, but he'll make a team better as long as his back injury is manageable.  Even if he can only give you 20 minutes a game most nights is okay, however, because only knows one speed of play.