Jeff Goodman's mock draft

[Tr1boy]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

[nickagneta]

I would be ecstatic to end up with a Vonleh/Hairston duo in this draft. Another duo that would make me happy would probably be an Lavine/Grant duo as they both intrigue me with their upside.

My preference would be an Embiid/Anderson duo.

[Donoghus]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

[Fafnir]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

Don't forget Shabazz was lying about his age and also had far worse off court issues than Smart's on court tirades.

[slamtheking]

Vonleh would be ok.  would hope for a higher draft spot honestly.

Hoping someone can explain why Hairston can't just be signed out of D league right now if he's that good. 

[cb8883]

You need to take the best player available when drafting this high. The Celtics have a lot of needs. Wouldn't be surprised if we did end up with the local product to be honest. I like him quite a bit. Walker with the second pick would be an interesting gamble.

[Fafnir]

Vonleh would be ok.  would hope for a higher draft spot honestly.

Hoping someone can explain why Hairston can't just be signed out of D league right now if he's that good.

You have to be eligible for a draft before a NBA team can sign you. He has yet to go through a draft yet. There is a catch all for automatic eligibility for the draft that happens for seniors and under other specific conditions.

[Dog_Lover106]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

Smart is barely a top five player in most Big 12 conference games he plays in, let alone in the country.

[Donoghus]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

Smart is barely a top five player in most Big 12 conference games he plays in, let alone in the country.

If that was truly the case, then why the heck do the vast majority of draft pundits have him pegged as a top 5 pick or, at least, a top 5 talent.

What are you seeing that others aren't?  The attitude thing?

[Fafnir]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

Smart is barely a top five player in most Big 12 conference games he plays in, let alone in the country.

Top college player doesn't equal top draft prospect.

Never has and never will.

[blink]

I am not sold on Smart as a pick in the 1-7 range.  He obviously has the athletic potential to be a great NBA player, but in the 1/2 dozen games I have watched he hasn't shown the greatest decision making skills for someone who controls the ball so much.  He is nearly unstoppable at the college level when he tries to get to the rim, but there is a big leap from college to the pros for that type of player.

I also wonder how Smart would do playing off the ball if we keep Rondo.  If smart fell to say 12-15 and we were in that range, then it would be hard not to take a chance on him.

[blink]

what does everyone think it would take to move up to a top 5 pick? 

Say we end up with the 8th or 9th pick, what would it take to leap frog those 4-6 places to get a immediate impact player?  I assume both our 1st round picks, and maybe another pick as well??

[Mencius]

what does everyone think it would take to move up to a top 5 pick? 

...

Danny trading off two of Bass/Hump/Green now.  Pick two, any two; just do it, and then we'll secure a top 5 pick.

Better that scenario now, rather than after the season trading away assets to move up into the top 5, which would likely be more difficult.

[Mr October]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

Smart is barely a top five player in most Big 12 conference games he plays in, let alone in the country.

If that was truly the case, then why the heck do the vast majority of draft pundits have him pegged as a top 5 pick or, at least, a top 5 talent.

What are you seeing that others aren't?  The attitude thing?

I think smart is a really good player. But he can't shoot. And unlike Rondo, i haven't seen elite court vision passing and scoring creatively around the basket. He tends to try to over power weaker college players. Granted i have only seen him play a few times. Maybe i keep catching his bad nights.

[Dog_Lover106]

Smart if he doesnt have a good tourney will slide like shabazz did last year. Kid shouldnt have pushed the fan. Then shouldnt have pushed away his teammates to try to calm him down

There's no way he'll fall to #14 like Shabazz did. He's also a much better talent that Shabazz was/is.

The allure of potential will be too much to a GM, not to mention he's arguably a top 5 talent in this draft.

Smart is barely a top five player in most Big 12 conference games he plays in, let alone in the country.

If that was truly the case, then why the heck do the vast majority of draft pundits have him pegged as a top 5 pick or, at least, a top 5 talent.

What are you seeing that others aren't?  The attitude thing?

Not really interested in draft pundits, as I watch a lot of basketball for myself both live and televised. Would prefer to go on actual performance and the skill set of the player and leave the hype at the door.

Well let's see, Marcus Smart is shooting 42 % in college basketball. Nothing in the dozen or so games I have seen him play this year says he is suddenly going to turn that around moving up to the NBA next year.

Smart has consistently been out played by other elite Big 12 point guards this season who are simply having better years with the same or superior physical tools. The real pundits see this and it will effect his draft position unless it changes.

For example, huge conference game in Stillwater, which turns out to be the game of the year to date in college basketball. Deandre Kane puts up 29 pts 9 rebounds and 9 assists going head to head with Smart. Juwan Staten out scored Smart 20 to 4 going head to head earlier in the year as well. I am not just going on stats here. Watched both games. Kane is obviously bigger and stronger than Smart and more of a leader. Staten is way quicker, better shooter with tremendous floor vision.

Accordingly, I do not think Marcus Smart is a top 5 player/prospect/talent/potential whatever in the Big 12, let alone in the country. Also, I could easily seeing one of his own teammates turning out to be a better NBA player as well. Really do not care about Smart's other flopper/temper issues. Just my opinion with regard to his basketball skill level as it projects to the NBA game