Jeff Goodman's mock draft

[JBcat]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/10439156/nba-kansas-jayha


6. Noah Vonleh | PF | Boston Celtics
College: Indiana | Age: 18 | 6-10, 240
Celtics boss Danny Ainge will take the player he feels has the best chance of becoming a star in the league, and that's Vonleh. He's a local kid who still is figuring out where to score, but he's a versatile forward who is coachable and just scratching the surface of his immense talent.


19. P.J. Hairston | SG | Boston Celtics
NBA D-League: Texas Legends | Age: 21 | 6-5, 220
Hairston is lighting up the D-League, which isn't all that much to brag about. Ainge won't be concerned with Hairston's problems at North Carolina. Instead, he'd be ecstatic to add a tough, strong wing who has deep range and can also finish around the basket.

Thoughts?

[Donoghus]

Can Vonleh & Sully play together or is it going to be redundant?

[Tr1boy]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/10439156/nba-kansas-jayha


6. Noah Vonleh | PF | Boston Celtics
College: Indiana | Age: 18 | 6-10, 240
Celtics boss Danny Ainge will take the player he feels has the best chance of becoming a star in the league, and that's Vonleh. He's a local kid who still is figuring out where to score, but he's a versatile forward who is coachable and just scratching the surface of his immense talent.


19. P.J. Hairston | SG | Boston Celtics
NBA D-League: Texas Legends | Age: 21 | 6-5, 220
Hairston is lighting up the D-League, which isn't all that much to brag about. Ainge won't be concerned with Hairston's problems at North Carolina. Instead, he'd be ecstatic to add a tough, strong wing who has deep range and can also finish around the basket.

Thoughts?

Vonleh yes Hairston no. Hairston is a big time hog

[Tr1boy]

Vonleh reminding me of Drummond for the bad and the good.  Not as explosive as Drummond but similar bodies, length, strength.

Vonleh could be better since he also has some perimeter skills, can shoot and pass.

Both players only have mediocre IQs and need to cut down on turning the ball over

[BigAlTheFuture]

I'd be very happy with Vonleh. For our second pick, I would like to see us get Warren or Selden.

[indeedproceed]

Both players only have mediocre IQs and need to cut down on turning the ball over

This made me chuckle. The phrasing, I mean. Like you're looking at the SAT scores and 11th grade diorama for the science fair and going, "Ehh...."

[Quetzalcoatl]

19. P.J. Hairston | SG | Boston Celtics
NBA D-League: Texas Legends | Age: 21 | 6-5, 220
Hairston is lighting up the D-League, which isn't all that much to brag about.

Lighting up the D-League as a 21 year old actually is something to brag about.  It's probably the 4th or 5th most competitive league in the world after the NBA, Liga ACB and maybe Greece and Italy.  Most of the lists look like this one: http://iballunited.blogspot.com/2013/01/iball-uniteds-2013-top-25-mens.html

I think if you have a prospect that is tearing up any of the top 12 there, it's positive.  The French League and the Adriatic League (ABA) both have had fantastic prospects come out of there and even the Lithuanian league is okay.  They're currently like 4th overall in the FIBA standings as a country.

Anyways, if you are an MVP caliber player and are younger than 22 in any of those leagues, that's a really good sign.  The D-League is filled with guys who were the best on their college team and there are some great training staff there.  It's not a guarantee, but it's definitely something.

[PhoSita]

I think Vonley can play next to Sullinger.  Yes he has something of a perimeter game -- as Sullinger does -- but I think it's like asking if Al Horford or Chris Bosh could play next to Sullinger. 

Not saying Vonleh will necessarily be that good, but you don't need to have a prototypical center body to play at center these days.

[Tr1boy]

I think Vonley can play next to Sullinger.  Yes he has something of a perimeter game -- as Sullinger does -- but I think it's like asking if Al Horford or Chris Bosh could play next to Sullinger. 

Not saying Vonleh will necessarily be that good, but you don't need to have a prototypical center body to play at center these days.

Vonleh might be one inch short to having a prototypical NBA center body/tools. But thats about it. He has wide shoulders, strength (incredible transformation from last year in HS to 1st year college), length at 7'4, doesn't shy away from physical contact and can play above the rim.

[PhoSita]

I think Vonley can play next to Sullinger.  Yes he has something of a perimeter game -- as Sullinger does -- but I think it's like asking if Al Horford or Chris Bosh could play next to Sullinger. 

Not saying Vonleh will necessarily be that good, but you don't need to have a prototypical center body to play at center these days.

Vonleh might be one inch short to having a prototypical NBA center body/tools. But thats about it. He has wide shoulders, strength (incredible transformation from last year in HS to 1st year college), length at 7'4, doesn't shy away from physical contact and can play above the rim.

Yeah, looks to me like he can definitely play center in today's league, no problem.  Against the biggest opponents we know Sullinger can body up down low, anyway.

[Birdman]

NBADraft.net has us taking:

#7-Marcus Smart
#18-James Young

wouldn't mind Smart but don't want Young and Im a huge UK fan!

[Evantime34]

I'm fine with this draft, if this is the order. I'd prefer Gordon to Vonleh but I know I'm in the minority. I think with Vonleh's wingspan he can absolutely play the five. I'm a fan of PJ Hairston and I think he gives us the perimeter scoring we need. However, I prefer Jeremi Grant to Hairston because Grant has a much higher upside.

Goodman has Smart going at 14. I would trade our first plus Philly's potential first/ two seconds next year to move up the five spots and grab him.

[Mr October]

I thought it was interesting that goodman has Marcus smart sliding down to 14. I hope the celtics dont select him in the lottery. I like his fire, but not his skills.

As the draft continues to take shape it appears there are drop offs after the 3rd pick, 5th pick, and 7th pick. Then the field is pretty even from the 8-17th pick, dropping again in the mid 20s.

I really hope the celtics can crack that top 5, and i will be disappointed if they win there way out of the top 7 picks.

Vonleh sounds like a nice pick at 6 to me. Gordon looks good too.

[manl_lui]

Can Vonleh & Sully play together or is it going to be redundant?

I was just thinking the same thing. I want Sully as a PF and not a center. He is undersized to play center but thanks to his weight, he can still bully SOME centers down low. I think Sully will thrive as a PF

[jr_3421]

It's weird because coming out of HS I think people were thinking he was more of a SF/PF but watching him at Indiana, he seems more like a PF/C. Similar to how people viewed Jon Henson.

But I think he would be good not great next to Sully. I think his athleticism is a little bit overrated and he's an inch or 2 too short but I think he does the dirty work necessary.