Jackie Mac : C's like Exum a lot

[saltlover]

I wonder how much of the Embiid fear is due to guys like Greg Oden?

Oden is part of it for me.  Injuries are scary, and probably more likely when you're 7 feet tall and jump a lot.  But also guys like Hasheem Thabeet and Patrick O'Bryant, and even going back to Michael Olawakandi -- bigs who were relatively new to basketball, could dominate in college but for whatever reason couldn't make it as pros.  While Embiid's ceiling may be The Dream 2.0, his floor is very low, and he's probably more likely to hit his floor than his ceiling, given that there have been fewer Hakeem's than Hasheem's.

[SHAQATTACK]

Just about every year, there is a top 4 player that ends up performing tremendously worse than people expected or simply is a bust. Even in the Lebron draft there was a top 4 bust, Darko. It happens just about every year regardless of the overall quality of the draft.

So for those that think the top 4 this year is Embiid, Parker, Wiggins, Exxum, who is this year's top 4 bust? There is almost a guarantee it happens. So who is it?

Wiggins.....I predict won't be a total bust......but if in the top four he'll suck compared to what the other three will be doing ...he is n't mean enough ....big enough, .to sweet and passive......he is loved by the small ball crowd ........maybe years before he grows into his hype.....Green?

Athleticism doesn't always translate to a super star .....see Jeff and Jerald Green , Shazbuzz,  and all the rest of Chris Joseph type players.   Lebron is a freak ....dream on he is 265 lbs,  Wiggins is a fly compared to him.

People put him down.....maybe his ceiling is lower......but the guy than can produce soon as his sneakers hit the court is Randle ....... Another Sully or Al Jeff

[hpantazo]

Emblid has the most bust potential IMO. Gms may pass on him with the top two or three picks because of past history. Sam Bowie was drafted before Jordan, Oden before Durant. This could easily be a repeat where the next great scorer is drafted after a big man bust because centers get valued more. Still, we may be due for the draft where the big man with great potential works out and the wing player becomes the next Ricky Davis

[Donoghus]

Does Embiid have an injury history, though? (I don't know much of his history, honest question)

Oden and, especially, Bowie had injury question marks coming out of college.  Well documented too.

[mmmmm]

Last year the big rumor on a foreign player was Ainge loved Adetekumbo and that the C's were the team most scouting him.

Ainge traded up and took Olynyk.

So I guess we have to take these reports with a grain of salt.

Maybe all we can take from this is that the celtics do a lot of scouting of foreign players, even though it hasn't resulted in a first round pick.

LOL - Olynyk is Canadian ....
 

[saltlover]

Does Embiid have an injury history, though? (I don't know much of his history, honest question)

Oden and, especially, Bowie had injury question marks coming out of college.  Well documented too.

He missed a little time earlier this month with knee and back issues.  Is it a big deal?  Probably not.  Guys get sore.  But is he el hombre indestructible?  No.

[Chris]

Does Embiid have an injury history, though? (I don't know much of his history, honest question)

Oden and, especially, Bowie had injury question marks coming out of college.  Well documented too.

None that I know of.  He also just looks more fluid than Oden anyways.  That is not scientific proof of durability, but it always seems like guys who are fluid athletes always seem to stay healthier.

[mmmmm]

From what ive been told everything Ainge does or says is a smokescreen and is the opposite of what he really thinks

Except ... when he wants you to think he is thinking the opposite of what he says ...

"These are not the 'droids you are looking for."

[saltlover]

Last year the big rumor on a foreign player was Ainge loved Adetekumbo and that the C's were the team most scouting him.

Ainge traded up and took Olynyk.

So I guess we have to take these reports with a grain of salt.

Maybe all we can take from this is that the celtics do a lot of scouting of foreign players, even though it hasn't resulted in a first round pick.

LOL - Olynyk is Canadian ....
 

But he played college ball in the US, which is clearly what people mean when they say that.  Technically Brandon Jennings was a foreign player.

[Eddie20]

Emblid has the most bust potential IMO. Gms may pass on him with the top two or three picks because of past history. Sam Bowie was drafted before Jordan, Oden before Durant. This could easily be a repeat where the next great scorer is drafted after a big man bust because centers get valued more. Still, we may be due for the draft where the big man with great potential works out and the wing player becomes the next Ricky Davis

Yes, but there are also those drafts where a big man is chosen #1(Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson, Shaq, etc.) and produces. Usually when a can't miss big man prospect fails it's because of injuries Daugherty, Yao, Oden, etc. And those first two really didn't fail, but had their careers cut short.

[celty86]

Right now we are 4th worst. If that holds the 4th worst has about as good a shot at the top 2 as the 3rd or 5th worst teams. Heck, the worst team as a 25% chance of winning the lottery and the 2nd worst has a 15% chance. 10% difference. Not really that big a difference. It's why the worst teams hardly ever win the lottery. I like our chances of getting a top 2 pick if we can hang on to the 4th spot.

[mmmmm]

Just about every year, there is a top 4 player that ends up performing tremendously worse than people expected or simply is a bust. Even in the Lebron draft there was a top 4 bust, Darko. It happens just about every year regardless of the overall quality of the draft.

So for those that think the top 4 this year is Embiid, Parker, Wiggins, Exxum, who is this year's top 4 bust? There is almost a guarantee it happens. So who is it?

The fact that Exxum has so little film on him and has an agent that doesn't want his client working out too much, I gotta think GMs that will have a top 4 pick might be scared off by that fact given they also know that a top 4 player is bound to bust.

I would say Parker, because he is the least athletic of the 4, and may struggle in the NBA as a result. Most will probably say Wiggins.

If by 'athletic' you mean 'wicked fast' and 'can leap through sky', then sure, Parker is the least athletic of those guys.

But last I heard, athleticism also covered things like strength and body coordination.  And Parker is (a) extremely strong and (b) extremely coordinated.

'Not saying he is or isn't more likely to be a bust than those others.

I just think the term 'athletic' is getting morphed a bit.

[RJ87]

I like Exum's game, I think he can be an impact player for a long time in this league as long as he continues to work on his shot.

Still, I think Jabari Parker is #1 on the C's draft board - even over Embiid. That innate ability to score, he's like a hybrid Paul Pierce/Carmelo Anthony but without all of the early questions about his character. I think the C's, contrary to what poster on this board think, are looking for a quick turnaround & not the 4+ year rebuilding tear down. Getting a player that can step in and make an impact right away will be too tantalizing to pass up if given the opportunity.

As far as the Rondo blurb, I agree I don't think he knows whether or not he's staying yet. I'm sure he'd love to stay here and try to win again, but he shouldn't be willing to waste the rest of career if things can't get turned around quickly enough.

[mmmmm]

Last year the big rumor on a foreign player was Ainge loved Adetekumbo and that the C's were the team most scouting him.

Ainge traded up and took Olynyk.

So I guess we have to take these reports with a grain of salt.

Maybe all we can take from this is that the celtics do a lot of scouting of foreign players, even though it hasn't resulted in a first round pick.

LOL - Olynyk is Canadian ....
 

But he played college ball in the US, which is clearly what people mean when they say that.  Technically Brandon Jennings was a foreign player.

Yes.  I know that.  Hence the smiley.

[kozlodoev]

Big guard. Pogo stick body. Can't shoot. Will be a tough fit with Rondo.

Agreed. Rondo needs a lights out shooter at the 2, to make up for his deficiency.  Would like to see us snatch up a really good shooting guard, like Gary Harris.

I feel a shooter is easier to acquire than a skilled big. I'd rather take Vonleh.