Tankers and Non-Tankers Rejoice: Celtics are Power Drafters.

[Mr October]

TP. For the work and for inciting some positivity on the forums.

I feel like more teams are better and better at finding gems nowadays (especially young ones). I'm guessing better scouting and analytics, as well as the fact that players are getting exposed to organized basketball at an increasingly early age also improves the depth of talent.

A less scientific, more subjective list of teams that are good at scouting young talent might include additionally teams like the Suns, the Thunder and definitely the Spurs. Teams being far more savvy makes things a lot more interesting.

That said, Ainge making your list shows he's one of the best considering all his picks have been mid/mid-late first round.

I was wondering if i hadn't been giving the spurs enough love with this list. But they haven't generated any gold in the last 5 years. Leonard for Hill was a great trade for both teams, and i am not sure who to credit for the Leonard pick, i think it should be Indiana. According to Larry Bird it was tough to trade Leonard. He knew what they were selecting and then trading. Dejuan Blair at the 37 pick in 2009 was probably the last really solid Spurs pick. They did well with solid role players over the past 10 years, but no big time studs during that time.

The suns haven't done anything significant in the draft over the past 10 years.  They actually sold the rights to Marcin Gortat picked 57 in 2005 to Orlando for cash.

The Thunder drafted amazingly until 5 years ago, ending with Harden with a number 3 pick in 2009. Since then their picks have been average. And they did mistakenly trade away eric Bledsoe to the clippers on draft night in 2010.

Maybe the magic of these franchises are wearing off a little.

Meanwhile Danny ainge is still batting well above average.  We have one of the best in the business running our team. 

[Mr October]

I think Danny will make the right choice.
I dunno about giving him credit for Sully because he fell into our laps at 21. He also stank it up with Fab Melo.

I'm guessing that Fab Melo pick was always gonna be a gamble and Ainge never did expect much out of it.

Gotta take credit when you are willing to pull the trigger when multiple teams passed on Sullinger. Why didnt Houston take him with their stack of picks? Someone has to take those risky sliders.

A team has a 50/50 chance of grabbing a worthwhile rotation player in the mid to late first round. Sullinger was great. fab melo... not so much.

[sunnyd656]

Great thread, very interesting. I just can't help but feeling quite a bit of this is "luck", not to mention it's so easy to criticize/compliment in hindsight.

I'm sure tons of scouting and what not was put into it, but did the Pacers really think Lance Stephenson would be as good as he is at the 40th pick? Did the Celtics really think Rondo would become Rondo at the 21'st pick, of what you said was a terrible draft class?

On the other side, people like to bust on Portland for picking Oden before Durant, when probably 95% of the teams would have done same thing. People like to bust on the Rockets for picking hakeem over MJ, but again most of the teams would have done the same thing. Same for NO picking Rivers. He seemed like a solid choice, and I don't think on draft night anyone was "ARE YOU SERIOUS!!@($@#!()$**!@*($&@!"

But still, pretty interesting post and to be fair, it is fun to kinda chuckle when a team blows a pick on a complete bust haha. Even better, it is VERY interesting when studs come out of nowhere.

[BadNewsBarnes]

Great post, Mr.O

I love looking back at previous drafts.  We have the benefit of hindsight so we can all nitpick the mistakes - and that can be fun.

The Giddens pick was a glaring screw-up.  The other one that gets me is passing on Chandler Parsons.  He went early in the 2nd round in the 2011 draft - we drafted Marshon Brooks at #25.  I remember hearing about a year or so ago that Parsons was shocked he wasn't picked by the Celtics.  He really expected us to take him.  He said that he knew Doc very well and that he had played with Austin in AAU I think. Now that would've been a nice pick!

[Mr October]

Just bumping this thread after tonight's win. The celtics are in good hands. The top 3 picks are a crap shoot to land in the lottery. Danny Ainge is a good drafter.

Aaron Gordon might be the next Shawn Marion. Noah vonleh, the next Al Horford.