Chad Ford: Ainge would take Parker if landed #1 pick

[Eddie20]

Ford is an idiot. Ainge needs to draft Embiid if he had the #1 pick.  Embiids defense is better than Parkers and his offensive skills isn't that far off

It's actually very far off. Offensively speaking Parker is as polished as it gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuY6nbQ61M8

And what is Embiids offensive game is small potatoes?

Embiid is raw offensively. I think he's a good offensive player, but not on the level of Parker. Again, I have seen very few freshmen be as polished as Parker is. He has so much going for him (range, floaters, finishing at the basket, getting to the line, footwork, high release point, first step, etc.) that it's hard to imagine him not being a dynamite scorer on the next level.  Defensively Embiid is better, but they're aren't equals offensively.

[BballTim]

I'm hoping we don't draft Wiggins. The kid lacks many things. He is mostly flash right now. Thats all i can say

  I heard he's practically guaranteed to be a LeBron level player. All those scouts can't be wrong...

From who? no offense dude, but you have a tendency to be a bit if a romantic....

I thought that was sarcasm directed at the people who seem to think there are a guaranteed five future Hall of Famers in this draft.

  Ding ding ding, we have a winner...

  Don't forget, we don't necessarily need to get one of those 5, there are 7-8 franchise cornerstones in the draft.

[Tr1boy]

Ford is an idiot. Ainge needs to draft Embiid if he had the #1 pick.  Embiids defense is better than Parkers and his offensive skills isn't that far off

It's actually very far off. Offensively speaking Parker is as polished as it gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuY6nbQ61M8

And what is Embiids offensive game is small potatoes?

Embiid is raw offensively. I think he's a good offensive player, but not on the level of Parker. Again, I have seen very few freshmen be as polished as Parker is. He has so much going for him (range, floaters, finishing at the basket, getting to the line, footwork, high release point, first step, etc.) that it's hard to imagine him not being a dynamite scorer on the next level.  Defensively Embiid is better, but they're aren't equals offensively.

Parker no doubt is fluid offensively for a sf

But embiid is also fluid offensively in what a Center can do from what i've seen. His post moves/drive to the basket already are 80 percent better vs nba centers today. His passing better than 90 percent. Shooting is pretty darn good. And he is only a freshman , so likely he will become that much better.

And i wouldn't call parkers offensive skills 2 to 1 compared to embiid. But embiid does have a sizeable adv defensively, especially since he is a center.
 

[indeedproceed]

Parker can pass, dribble, and see the court at elite levels for a college forward. He can post up back to basket, face up, move without the ball. He can handle the ball from defensive rebound or turnover to score all the way up the court without concern. He can shoot lights out and can finish games. He's also an effective leader and communicator.

Embiid is a fantastic prospect, but in terms of polish and skill he's nowhere near Parker's level offensively.

[Onslaught]

would be funny if we landed the #1 pick, Took Parker... and he went on a Mormon Mission for 2 years.

If he slipped a little in the draft because of this and we got him then I'd be 100% fine with it. The Heat or Pacers will own the east for a few more years. We can stink a little longer and get more picks and then have Parker come in two years later.

It worked out OK with the Spurs and David Robinson. And we did ok with Bird not playing for a year.

[D.o.s.]

Oh man it's so hard to say no to the dream shake though.

We should just draft all of them.

[moiso]

would be funny if we landed the #1 pick, Took Parker... and he went on a Mormon Mission for 2 years.

If he slipped a little in the draft because of this and we got him then I'd be 100% fine with it. The Heat or Pacers will own the east for a few more years. We can stink a little longer and get more picks and then have Parker come in two years later.

It worked out OK with the Spurs and David Robinson. And we did ok with Bird not playing for a year.

And it worked great for Shawn Bradley

[Tr1boy]

Parker can pass, dribble, and see the court at elite levels for a college forward. He can post up back to basket, face up, move without the ball. He can handle the ball from defensive rebound or turnover to score all the way up the court without concern. He can shoot lights out and can finish games. He's also an effective leader and communicator.

Embiid is a fantastic prospect, but in terms of polish and skill he's nowhere near Parker's level offensively.

Let me ask u. If u say all those things about parker , can any center in the world do as much?

A sf can do alot more little things than a center. Doesnt mean they are better. A sf can score in three diff ways but a center can have an unstoppable right hand hook shot. So who is actually better offensively?

And again as much as parker is better offensively as many say, embiid is that much better defensively. We need embiid

[Moranis]

You always take the center if the skill is similar.  In this case, I think Embiid still isn't on Parker's level yet.  Now maybe by the draft he gets there, but as of now I take Parker at 1, Embiid 2, Wiggin 3, and Randle 4.  After that there seems to be any number of players that could get to that 5th spot.

At least Boston no longer appears that it will back door into the playoffs 10 games below .500, which would be a disaster.

[tyrone biggums]

You always take the center if the skill is similar.  In this case, I think Embiid still isn't on Parker's level yet.  Now maybe by the draft he gets there, but as of now I take Parker at 1, Embiid 2, Wiggin 3, and Randle 4.  After that there seems to be any number of players that could get to that 5th spot.

At least Boston no longer appears that it will back door into the playoffs 10 games below .500, which would be a disaster.

This used to be the case. But honestly I feel you take the best skilled player at the time of the draft if you're picking that high. If you're in the top 3 then you have a choice of Smart Wiggins Parker Randle and Embdid with Exum possibly getting some love. Parker I feel is a sure thing. Wiggins seems like he could be pretty close to one. I also love Smart and Gordon but Smart is redundant if you have Rondo. You take Parker but it's close between him and Wiggins. Either way whoever the Celtics take in the top 5 they have a great chance of becoming stars, whether they actually do is is a completely different story.

[Tr1boy]

You always take the center if the skill is similar.  In this case, I think Embiid still isn't on Parker's level yet.  Now maybe by the draft he gets there, but as of now I take Parker at 1, Embiid 2, Wiggin 3, and Randle 4.  After that there seems to be any number of players that could get to that 5th spot.

At least Boston no longer appears that it will back door into the playoffs 10 games below .500, which would be a disaster.

This used to be the case. But honestly I feel you take the best skilled player at the time of the draft if you're picking that high. If you're in the top 3 then you have a choice of Smart Wiggins Parker Randle and Embdid with Exum possibly getting some love. Parker I feel is a sure thing. Wiggins seems like he could be pretty close to one. I also love Smart and Gordon but Smart is redundant if you have Rondo. You take Parker but it's close between him and Wiggins. Either way whoever the Celtics take in the top 5 they have a great chance of becoming stars, whether they actually do is is a completely different story.

How is parker a sure thing when his defense is mediocre. You got to be a good two way player to succeed in the nba. Just look at melo and how far his mediocre defense has taken him in his career

Parker can improve but no matter how hard he tries he may never have the lateral quickness to excel as a nba defender. Imagine what durant , george and james could do to him

[moiso]

You always take the center if the skill is similar.  In this case, I think Embiid still isn't on Parker's level yet.  Now maybe by the draft he gets there, but as of now I take Parker at 1, Embiid 2, Wiggin 3, and Randle 4.  After that there seems to be any number of players that could get to that 5th spot.

At least Boston no longer appears that it will back door into the playoffs 10 games below .500, which would be a disaster.

This used to be the case. But honestly I feel you take the best skilled player at the time of the draft if you're picking that high. If you're in the top 3 then you have a choice of Smart Wiggins Parker Randle and Embdid with Exum possibly getting some love. Parker I feel is a sure thing. Wiggins seems like he could be pretty close to one. I also love Smart and Gordon but Smart is redundant if you have Rondo. You take Parker but it's close between him and Wiggins. Either way whoever the Celtics take in the top 5 they have a great chance of becoming stars, whether they actually do is is a completely different story.

How is parker a sure thing when his defense is mediocre. You got to be a good two way player to succeed in the nba. Just look at melo and how far his mediocre defense has taken him in his career

Parker can improve but no matter how hard he tries he may never have the lateral quickness to excel as a nba defender. Imagine what durant , george and james could do to him

There is no consensus on what to do.  Does anyone think Michael Olowakandi had a similar skill set to Paul Pierce at the time of the draft?  Obviously upside and potential are thought of as highly as skills.  If you draft the most skilled college player, someone like Ryan Gomes could have been picked #1 overall.  It just doesn't work that way.

[thirstyboots18]

You are scaring me.  Just as I thought...depend on the draft, spend years in mediocrity.  Never put all your eggs in one basket!

[obnoxiousmime]

You always take the center if the skill is similar.  In this case, I think Embiid still isn't on Parker's level yet.  Now maybe by the draft he gets there, but as of now I take Parker at 1, Embiid 2, Wiggin 3, and Randle 4.  After that there seems to be any number of players that could get to that 5th spot.

At least Boston no longer appears that it will back door into the playoffs 10 games below .500, which would be a disaster.

This used to be the case. But honestly I feel you take the best skilled player at the time of the draft if you're picking that high. If you're in the top 3 then you have a choice of Smart Wiggins Parker Randle and Embdid with Exum possibly getting some love. Parker I feel is a sure thing. Wiggins seems like he could be pretty close to one. I also love Smart and Gordon but Smart is redundant if you have Rondo. You take Parker but it's close between him and Wiggins. Either way whoever the Celtics take in the top 5 they have a great chance of becoming stars, whether they actually do is is a completely different story.

How is parker a sure thing when his defense is mediocre. You got to be a good two way player to succeed in the nba. Just look at melo and how far his mediocre defense has taken him in his career

Parker can improve but no matter how hard he tries he may never have the lateral quickness to excel as a nba defender. Imagine what durant , george and james could do to him

Wow, Melo has gone from overrated to underrated so quickly! Sure, he has faults but you're making it sound like his NBA career has been a failure and that he's not even worth drafting. Of course a lot of players stink when compared to Durant, George, and James.

He only meant "sure thing" as in very little chance of being a bust. He wasn't trying to say Parker is the next LeBron or Durant, because few are.

[aporel#18]

If Wiggins can shut down Parker (and he did) then

a) Parker isn't all that
b) Wiggins is Elite NBA defender right now

It was just one game, but it puts things in perspective. Then you can see Parker is the best player of the three TODAY and in the NCAA game. Whose game will translate better to NBA? I'd bet Wiggins and Embiid will progress faster at the pro level. The three kids will be great, any team that picks them will be right.

But if you have the chance, you have to pick Embiid. Of course, Parker and Wiggins (even Exum, too) might end with better careers than him, but Embiid is a generational talent at center. You don't pick him because you need one, you pick him because he could be an MVP center, and that's the best you can have in basketball. And yes, we have Rondo who will make him look even better. Remember Shaq in the 2010-2011? Imagine Embiid getting the ball from Rondo. Wow.

Again, sorry, but we won't be picking those top 4 or 5 players. Embrace a #8 + #19 pick combination. NbaDraft.net has the Celtics picking Aaron Gordon at #20. I think he'll be out of the table, but Saric/James Young/Cauley-Stein/Aaron Gordon might be available for our picks.