Official Pre-Lottery Draft Predictions for two first round picks

[MikeJelly]

#5 Smart (Someone please explain to me everyones love of Gordon???)

#17 Stauskas, Warren or Lavine (Big Fan of Stauskas, even if we have to trade up)

Makes it essential we get a rim protector in free agency or wait til the loaded 2015 center draft. Our Guards will be on point though

[Celtics18]

#5--Smart (even if Exum is still on the board)

#17--Warren

Wow. You like Smart that much. How come?

I think he's tough as nails, and he's got a good a strong NBA body.  He just looks like a guy who will come in and help an NBA team right away.  His downside is his outside shooting stroke, but apparently that's one of Exum's weaknesses as well. 

I think Marcus Smart will be a tenacious defender in the NBA, pretty much from the jump.  Exum's ceiling could be higher, but I also think his basement could be much lower. 

If we land at 5 where the odds are greatest that we'll land, I've convinced myself that Smart is the smart choice. 

[No Nickname]

The Delaware game was impressive. But 4-14 against uconn, including 3-10 from 3 point land? He should have been using that giant senior body around the basket against a less than nba calibur front line.

He could be a good pick at 17. A young Brandon Bass could be a good pick at 17. The Celtics just don't need a player like that right now, when there are a stack of 2s and 3s projected ahead of him.

As you said, time will tell. All our conjecturing is just good fun.

By the way, Scal averaged 15 and 6 during his 3 year run at USC. He was a pretty good college player. Long live Scal! 

He was even all pac10 first team in his second season there. 

It's all good.  It should be noted that Payne's numbers were comparable to Olynyk's senior season at Gonzaga.  But his three-point shooting trounced KO's, even in the much more challenging B1G.

[Mr October]

#5--Smart (even if Exum is still on the board)

#17--Warren

Wow. You like Smart that much. How come?

I think he's tough as nails, and he's got a good a strong NBA body.  He just looks like a guy who will come in and help an NBA team right away.  His downside is his outside shooting stroke, but apparently that's one of Exum's weaknesses as well. 

I think Marcus Smart will be a tenacious defender in the NBA, pretty much from the jump.  Exum's ceiling could be higher, but I also think his basement could be much lower. 

If we land at 5 where the odds are greatest that we'll land, I've convinced myself that Smart is the smart choice.

I think a case can absolutely be made for Smart over Exum. Both players are streaky outside shooters at best. Both have very good size for a point, and have the bodies to play the 2 if needed. Both pass pretty well, but are still a work in progress.

Exum has better speed, athletic leaping ability. The athleticism gives him more upside.

Smart is stronger, better right now as a defender, and a very competitive leader.

I would pick Exum personally for the upside, and i believe he would be a more natural fit at the 2 if we paired one of these players with Rondo.

[Celtics18]

#5--Smart (even if Exum is still on the board)

#17--Warren

Wow. You like Smart that much. How come?

I think he's tough as nails, and he's got a good a strong NBA body.  He just looks like a guy who will come in and help an NBA team right away.  His downside is his outside shooting stroke, but apparently that's one of Exum's weaknesses as well. 

I think Marcus Smart will be a tenacious defender in the NBA, pretty much from the jump.  Exum's ceiling could be higher, but I also think his basement could be much lower. 

If we land at 5 where the odds are greatest that we'll land, I've convinced myself that Smart is the smart choice.

I think a case can absolutely be made for Smart over Exum. Both players are streaky outside shooters at best. Both have very good size for a point, and have the bodies to play the 2 if needed. Both pass pretty well, but are still a work in progress.

Exum has better speed, athletic leaping ability. The athleticism gives him more upside.

Smart is stronger, better right now as a defender, and a very competitive leader.

I would pick Exum personally for the upside, and i believe he would be a more natural fit at the 2 if we paired one of these players with Rondo.

I agree that it's not a slam dunk for one over the other.  However, I'm not convinced that Exum is actually more athletic than Smart.  I'd like to see them both take part in that pre-draft combine (not that the results of that are ever definitive proof of anything, but it will be interesting to see who scores better on those tests--and, whether or not that affects where they go, respectively in the draft).

[PickNRoll]

#5 Smart (Someone please explain to me everyones love of Gordon???)

#17 Stauskas, Warren or Lavine (Big Fan of Stauskas, even if we have to trade up)

Makes it essential we get a rim protector in free agency or wait til the loaded 2015 center draft. Our Guards will be on point though

Defense, Athleticism, and IQ is why I like Gordon. Some Dennis Rodman qualities.

[Mr October]

#5 Smart (Someone please explain to me everyones love of Gordon???)

#17 Stauskas, Warren or Lavine (Big Fan of Stauskas, even if we have to trade up)

Makes it essential we get a rim protector in free agency or wait til the loaded 2015 center draft. Our Guards will be on point though

The OP asked for a prediction with the 2 picks. I think Ainge might lean towards a defender with upside with Gordon at 5th, and then a risky scorer in Hairston at 17. I personally wouldn't pick Hairston at 17. But i think i might pick Gordon at 5. I think the 5-8 picks are super close, and very hard to rank.

I go with Gordon because he has less flaws compared to the others. Gordon hasn't shot well, but has still been at least streaky. He is an elite athlete, has very high Bball IQ for a freshman, plays a team first game, and is a terrific defender at the 3 and can probably defend the 2 and 4 for stretches.

Randle would be next on my list as best player available, followed by a tie between Smart and Vonleh.

[LarBrd33]

most likely picking 6th

[Celtics18]

most likely picking 6th

Hopefully Randle goes top five, then, meaning that at least one of Smart or Exum will still be on board.

[Mr October]

most likely picking 6th

Thank goodness the drop from 5 to 8 isn't big at all. 

....and yes, i too am mentally prepping myself for the 6th or 7th pick. The lottery has not been kind to the Celtics... Ever.

[csfansince60s]

most likely picking 6th

Thank goodness the drop from 5 to 8 isn't big at all. 

....and yes, i too am mentally prepping myself for the 6th or 7th pick. The lottery has not been kind to the Celtics... Ever.

We're due.....thrice the charm!!!

Vonleh and Anderson for me, though.

[Tr1boy]

#5 Smart (Someone please explain to me everyones love of Gordon???)

#17 Stauskas, Warren or Lavine (Big Fan of Stauskas, even if we have to trade up)

Makes it essential we get a rim protector in free agency or wait til the loaded 2015 center draft. Our Guards will be on point though

Defense, Athleticism, and IQ is why I like Gordon. Some Dennis Rodman qualities.

+1. Gordon is going to be like a rodman without the craziness.

Rodman is a champion

[Lucky17]

#5 Smart (Someone please explain to me everyones love of Gordon???)

#17 Stauskas, Warren or Lavine (Big Fan of Stauskas, even if we have to trade up)

Makes it essential we get a rim protector in free agency or wait til the loaded 2015 center draft. Our Guards will be on point though

Defense, Athleticism, and IQ is why I like Gordon. Some Dennis Rodman qualities.

+1. Gordon is going to be like a rodman without the craziness.

Rodman is a champion

I think that's putting a lot of expectations on an 18-year old. Rodman's gift for rebounding was borderline supernatural.

[Tr1boy]

#5 Smart (Someone please explain to me everyones love of Gordon???)

#17 Stauskas, Warren or Lavine (Big Fan of Stauskas, even if we have to trade up)

Makes it essential we get a rim protector in free agency or wait til the loaded 2015 center draft. Our Guards will be on point though

Defense, Athleticism, and IQ is why I like Gordon. Some Dennis Rodman qualities.

+1. Gordon is going to be like a rodman without the craziness.

Rodman is a champion

I think that's putting a lot of expectations on an 18-year old. Rodman's gift for rebounding was borderline supernatural.

He wont ever be the rebounder rodman was. Rodman had a 7'7 wingspan. But they share lots of other qualities

[Mazingerz]

I say we pick #1 - We Get Joel Embiid; # 17 - We pick Stauskas