would you be satisfied with a 2014 top 5 pick

[Tr1boy]

yes, I'm happy with top 5, provided Danny NAILS the pick and we make out better than the Lakers.

Gordon or one of these later lotto guys could wind up being top 5 talents in the long run, so as long as the C's management is convinced about who they like, I'm good with top 5. There will be plenty of options to draft or trade down and get who they like.

Your right about Gordon. Might not ever have the "stats" vs these other players but the team that drafts him ends up with more wins

[LooseCannon]

Its 6'11. Thats ok for a pf. He is built like a tank and is in great shape also.

One guy looked at starting power forwards.  Of the 22 he could find data for, only three had wingspans under 7'0": Kevin Love, Thaddeus Young, and Blake Griffin.  Brandon Bass has a 7'2.5" wingspa, for comparison.

Measurements aren't everything.  A bottom-of-the-barrel wingspan doesn't mean Randle will be a bust just as less-than-ideal size doesn't make Avery Bradley incapable of being a defense-oriented starting shooting guard.

[tankwatch1]

It's really about the top 4 not 5. After Embiid, Wiggins,Parker, and Exum there is a huge drop off. I'm sorry, but Randle is out of his league compared to the top 4. I know  in college he looks great, but trust me he has a ceiling in the NBA. The top 4 are potential franchise, game changing, all stars. I'm confident when the draft nears and all the players have been worked out, analyzed, broken down to nauseam, they will be the consensus top 4 picks.

The problem for the Celtics is if they finish above the bottom 4 teams in the league (Bucks,Sixers,Magic,Lakers). At that point, they actually need to hit one of the ping pong balls (spots 1,2,3). If you have at least the 4th worst record, and the lottery goes in form by the percentages (Bucks, Sixers,Magic,Lakers)you get one of those top 4 players.

Most people are having a hard time grasping this idea. No team that has a top 4 pick will trade it(TAKE THAT TO THE BANK). Now at pick 5 that changes. Randle,Gordon,Smart,Vonleh, and whoever else is a huge drop off, point blank. Every position you drop in the draft (5,6,7,8,etc...) stings even more. Not only by the players available, but making possible trades for the Celtics. Look at the trade deadline. No one could get a 1st round pick for any player. 1st round picks are like gold in this years draft.

Here's the bottom line. If the Celtics are not picking in the top 4 it's a major disappointment. At pick 5 starts the GREY AREA. Players that have flaws,ceilings,(Randle)great athletes with no offense game,(Gordon)and my personal favorite, a player who has no position (MARCUS SMART) If your not pro tanking, or the Celtics don't hit the lottery, please don't complain in 2 years when your wishing we did what the 76ers are doing!

[Fafnir]

Randle has the wingspan of a typical NBA small forward. Beyond just wingspan you also need to look at standing reach, his is also in the SF range.

[D.o.s.]

I believe it is possible to build a contender without a top five pick.

Without drafting one, without using the pick in a trade, or without having one on your roster?

[Quetzalcoatl]

Measurements aren't everything.  A bottom-of-the-barrel wingspan doesn't mean Randle will be a bust just as less-than-ideal size doesn't make Avery Bradley incapable of being a defense-oriented starting shooting guard.

So the worst rim defender in the league (Love), the starting PF for the worst team in the league and a below average defender.  That isn't encouraging.  I want a team based on defense and we won't ever have that with Randle.  If he didn't have WCS to cover for him he'd be like the 12th pick or so.

[LooseCannon]

Measurements aren't everything.  A bottom-of-the-barrel wingspan doesn't mean Randle will be a bust just as less-than-ideal size doesn't make Avery Bradley incapable of being a defense-oriented starting shooting guard.

So the worst rim defender in the league (Love), the starting PF for the worst team in the league and a below average defender.  That isn't encouraging.  I want a team based on defense and we won't ever have that with Randle.  If he didn't have WCS to cover for him he'd be like the 12th pick or so.

It wasn't meant to sound encouraging.

[manl_lui]

Really need to get into that top 3, I believe there is a difference between Parker, Wiggins, Embiid and the rest.

I disagree with that statement...I believe Exum, Randle, and Smart all have potential to be franchise players as well. Randle is NBA ready and a TANK...just watching him bulldoze his way to the hole is great to see. Though I think he is undersized for a PF, I still think he is worth a shot. Smart is a competitor and would draft him if we unfortunately do not get the top 3 pick.

[LooseCannon]

I believe it is possible to build a contender without a top five pick.

Without drafting one, without using the pick in a trade, or without having one on your roster?

Are the Pacers a contender this year? 

And I don't think you should count acquiring a former top five pick via trade or free agency, either.  It is possible- reasonable even- for the Celtics to be able to build a contender in the next few years without ever picking in the top five, whether they keep the player or trade the pick.

[LooseCannon]

It's really about the top 4 not 5. After Embiid, Wiggins,Parker, and Exum there is a huge drop off. I'm sorry, but Randle is out of his league compared to the top 4. I know  in college he looks great, but trust me he has a ceiling in the NBA. The top 4 are potential franchise, game changing, all stars. I'm confident when the draft nears and all the players have been worked out, analyzed, broken down to nauseam, they will be the consensus top 4 picks.

I'd be willing to bet that five years from now the consensus top four players taken in the 2014 NBA draft will not all come from the top four (or even five) picks.

[D.o.s.]

I believe it is possible to build a contender without a top five pick.

Without drafting one, without using the pick in a trade, or without having one on your roster?

Are the Pacers a contender this year? 

And I don't think you should count acquiring a former top five pick via trade or free agency, either.  It is possible- reasonable even- for the Celtics to be able to build a contender in the next few years without ever picking in the top five, whether they keep the player or trade the pick.

I figured you'd cite the Pacers, but really I just wanted to know if you'd count having a top 5 pick and trading it away counted as "building a contender without a top five pick."

[tankwatch1]

It's really about the top 4 not 5. After Embiid, Wiggins,Parker, and Exum there is a huge drop off. I'm sorry, but Randle is out of his league compared to the top 4. I know  in college he looks great, but trust me he has a ceiling in the NBA. The top 4 are potential franchise, game changing, all stars. I'm confident when the draft nears and all the players have been worked out, analyzed, broken down to nauseam, they will be the consensus top 4 picks.

I'd be willing to bet that five years from now the consensus top four players taken in the 2014 NBA draft will not all come from the top four (or even five) picks.

I'll take you up on that bet sir. Just one change. Out of Embiid,Parker,Wiggins, and Exum give me 3 of those to be in the consensus top 4 players in 5 years. The law of averages tell me that with injuries,an act of god, or whatever 1 probably will have problems. By the way, Exum is the most sure fire bet out of all the players in this years draft to be a superstar (Take THAT TO THE BANK)

[manl_lui]

It's really about the top 4 not 5. After Embiid, Wiggins,Parker, and Exum there is a huge drop off. I'm sorry, but Randle is out of his league compared to the top 4. I know  in college he looks great, but trust me he has a ceiling in the NBA. The top 4 are potential franchise, game changing, all stars. I'm confident when the draft nears and all the players have been worked out, analyzed, broken down to nauseam, they will be the consensus top 4 picks.

I'd be willing to bet that five years from now the consensus top four players taken in the 2014 NBA draft will not all come from the top four (or even five) picks.

I'll take you up on that bet sir. Just one change. Out of Embiid,Parker,Wiggins, and Exum give me 3 of those to be in the consensus top 4 players in 5 years. The law of averages tell me that with injuries,an act of god, or whatever 1 probably will have problems. By the way, Exum is the most sure fire bet out of all the players in this years draft to be a superstar (Take THAT TO THE BANK)

I'm actually seeing Marcus Smart to be a superstar. I also see Parker as a perennial all-star. Embiid - superstar

[Donoghus]

It's really about the top 4 not 5. After Embiid, Wiggins,Parker, and Exum there is a huge drop off. I'm sorry, but Randle is out of his league compared to the top 4. I know  in college he looks great, but trust me he has a ceiling in the NBA. The top 4 are potential franchise, game changing, all stars. I'm confident when the draft nears and all the players have been worked out, analyzed, broken down to nauseam, they will be the consensus top 4 picks.

I'd be willing to bet that five years from now the consensus top four players taken in the 2014 NBA draft will not all come from the top four (or even five) picks.

I'd agree with this. 

Still want a top 3 pick, though. 

[SHAQATTACK]

Really need to get into that top 3, I believe there is a difference between Parker, Wiggins, Embiid and the rest.

I disagree with that statement...I believe Exum, Randle, and Smart all have potential to be franchise players as well. Randle is NBA ready and a TANK...just watching him bulldoze his way to the hole is great to see. Though I think he is undersized for a PF, I still think he is worth a shot. Smart is a competitor and would draft him if we unfortunately do not get the top 3 pick.

I pretty much agree here with you.   It looks less and less like we get a top four pick to me

I think has to make up his mind what to do with a  5 th..if Wiggins and Exum are gone , if he decides to use it , not trade down or something other.

I believe Randle is the safe pick .  He  is built like a tank, good motor,  and has moves at the post., fearless competitor .  I see a little ZBO in him.   Players like this are always needed and useful .He would be kinda redundant to Sully.....but you got him on the cheap and can trade one of them latter.

After Randle , I guess I go with trading down for Hood .

Guards scare me they are a dime a dozen.