Would Danny reach for Nurkic at #5?

[vjcsmoke]

H to the No!  LOL.  I doubt we'd even take Exum at #5.  DA and the Celtics are not known for taking internationals early. Nurkic in the teens, yes, at #5 is an utter reach and I don't see it happening.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Highly unlikely.

Even if he likes Nurkic, he'll probably trade down to the 10-12 range and draft him there, getting maybe a second rounder or two as well.

[Tr1boy]

Lets compare him to valenciunas. Val went 6th.  A little longer , but has half the skills offensively.  Better defensively but not by alot

How high would val get picked if he was included in the 2014 draft?

Nurkic will not last until 17. Dont believe the dummies at nbadraft. Draftexpress has him going early teens and he will keep on moving up imo.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Lets compare him to valenciunas. Val went 6th.  A little longer , but has half the skills offensively.  Better defensively but not by alot

How high would val get picked if he was included in the 2014 draft?

Nurkic will not last until 17. Dont believe the dummies at nbadraft. Draftexpress has him going early teens and he will keep on moving up imo.

Agreed, he won't last until the 17.

But there's a high chance he'll still be available by the 10-12 range. If Danny would gamble, he can trade down and pick him there.

Of course, the key word is "gamble".

[crimson_stallion]

I certainly hope not.

Don't get what this guy offers over someone like Vonleh, who would very likely be available at #5.

Nurkic is 1" taller but has a 1"-2" shorter wingspan. 

Nurkic is said to be a good rebounder, but Vonleh was basically the best rebounder (Per40) in this entire draft class.  Plus Vonleh looks to be more athletic and a better shot blocker. locker / rim protector.

Wiggins, Parker and Embiid will likely be the first three guys off the board (not necessarily in that order).  That leaves Exum, Randle, Smart as the guys most likely to go 4th, 5th and 6th...followed by Gordon and Vonleh rounding out the top 8.

I can't think of anybody in their right mind who would take Nurkic over Exum, Randle or Smart.  Even you need a center, doesn't matter.  You generally take the best player available.  Exum, Randle and Smart will all get a lot of interest from opposing teams - even if you don't need one of those guys, you have a pretty good shot at packaging one of them along with a young talent (Sully maybe) and a future pick in return for a legit all-star. 

Nurkic however is not very known...his trade value would likely be limited.

If we fell to #5 then I would personally either:
1) Take Exum and build around him
2) Take Smart and see how he goes
3) Take Randle and trade Sully (Randle is a far more athletic, better defensively and has more upside)

[hwangjini_1]

Highly unlikely.

Even if he likes Nurkic, he'll probably trade down to the 10-12 range and draft him there, getting maybe a second rounder or two as well.

Well, if ainge does trade down it may very well be with philly for their pick at #10 and their second rounder, the #2 pick there.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I'll be glad when we finally know what our pick will be, I'm tired of the guesswork. I want to know who is realistic to look at in our spot.

To the question, who knows, Danny seems to pick people I rarely see mentioned here ahead of time... it will probably be no different this time... yeah he "could" but I can never get a bead on Danny if he doesn't get top 3 then there is no telling who he takes. I think the question should be would "we" do it.

He may not reach at all b/c of trading the pick... I won't be mad if it's a good deal but I might be a little salty after I do a bunch of research when we know which pick we get... all that work (LOL) and we send the pick out would hurt.

I don't really care who he picks because I'm going to cheer like they are the best ever no matter who it is (until they prove me wrong). Besides that I research these players for fun but I don't know who should go where. I just know when it comes to Danny, a lot of Cs fans are going to be mighty bitter after he picks as I have seen over the past few seasons LOL.

[Celtics4ever]

I doubt it , he has not gone Euro that much in the past.   I still think he prefers US ball players given his record in the past of avoiding them.  Favarani  could not have done much to change that ( I realize he is from Brazil but played in Europe, right).  Jiri Welsch anyone?   Kristic may have let a bad taste in his mouth.  Darko did not pan out, here.  Some GMs view Euro players as second rate players for every Dirk there are 4-5 bustos.   I think Euro ball has improved greatly since the 80's.  In a few years we may not be the basketball powerhouse we are in the Olympics and one could argue that has already came to pass.   I just don't Ainge is one of those guys.    He has taken flawed players over Euros in the past like Davis ( tweener) rather than roll the dice on players overseas.   Iverson is another example.

Many boards have Nurkic in the second round.  I think Ainge may trade back into the draft after the first pick or trade down to get many picks.  But Nurkic , who has size and mobility is not a top tier guy worthy of number five.

[CFAN38]

I certainly hope not.

Don't get what this guy offers over someone like Vonleh, who would very likely be available at #5.

Nurkic is 1" taller but has a 1"-2" shorter wingspan. 

Nurkic is said to be a good rebounder, but Vonleh was basically the best rebounder (Per40) in this entire draft class.  Plus Vonleh looks to be more athletic and a better shot blocker. locker / rim protector.

Wiggins, Parker and Embiid will likely be the first three guys off the board (not necessarily in that order).  That leaves Exum, Randle, Smart as the guys most likely to go 4th, 5th and 6th...followed by Gordon and Vonleh rounding out the top 8.

I can't think of anybody in their right mind who would take Nurkic over Exum, Randle or Smart.  Even you need a center, doesn't matter.  You generally take the best player available.  Exum, Randle and Smart will all get a lot of interest from opposing teams - even if you don't need one of those guys, you have a pretty good shot at packaging one of them along with a young talent (Sully maybe) and a future pick in return for a legit all-star. 

Nurkic however is not very known...his trade value would likely be limited.

If we fell to #5 then I would personally either:
1) Take Exum and build around him
2) Take Smart and see how he goes
3) Take Randle and trade Sully (Randle is a far more athletic, better defensively and has more upside)

What Nurkic has over Vonleh is the fact that he is a true center. Vonleh is a PF would will be able to play some spot minutes at center. Nurkics standing reach was measured at 9'1.5", Vonlehs is only 8'10 most elite rim protectors are at least 9'2 and centers are 9'. Nurkic averaged just shy of 12pts and 6rbs per game in only 17min playing in a league that most would consider at least on pare with big time D-1 basketball. Vonleh averaged 11pts 9rb in 26min at indiana. Put Nurkic in that same situation and I would expect him to be around an 18pt 9rb per game center.

Dont get me wrong I like Vonleh and think he will develop into a very nice starting 4 in the league but I can see why teams may be high on Nurkic.

I however do not see Danny taking him at #5. I started a post about my take on the Cs trading down. To be short there are a solid group of teams that I could see really wanting Smart. With Smart available at #5 if the Cs are high on Nurkic they should be able to find teams willing to give up something to jump a few picks (kings at 7, pistons at up for Smart leaving the Cs with an additional asset and possible Saric, Nurkic, Vonleh or Gordon.

[Tr1boy]

Also Nurkic is a massive 270-280 pounds. Thats a load to deal with underneath. There are only what 2 or 3 players that big in the nba. The best part is, he moves more like someone who weighs 230. Very light on his feet.

I worry about his defense the most. But from the majority of the scouting reports, in this past ABA tourney, he held his own and also saved his teammates. Blocking about 1.5 shots a game. Not great but at least avg. Would instantaneously become the celts best rim protecter if drafted

His offensive skills are also advanced for a center.   Advanced from the post. The open space,  would do wonders for guys like Rondo, Green

 

[celticsfan8591]

5 is too high.  I think he's intriguing and would be fine with him at 9, but at 5 you're passing up some really promising guys.  If we pick him at 17 or give up a second rounder or two to move up from 17 and take him I'd be thrilled though.

[Moranis]

Lets compare him to valenciunas. Val went 6th.  A little longer , but has half the skills offensively.  Better defensively but not by alot

How high would val get picked if he was included in the 2014 draft?

Nurkic will not last until 17. Dont believe the dummies at nbadraft. Draftexpress has him going early teens and he will keep on moving up imo.

how about Chad Ford and Chris Mannix  are they dummies as well since they don't have him in the top 20?  CBS has 3 expert mock drafts and the highest Nurkic goes is 23.  They dummies as well?

[Tr1boy]

Lets compare him to valenciunas. Val went 6th.  A little longer , but has half the skills offensively.  Better defensively but not by alot

How high would val get picked if he was included in the 2014 draft?

Nurkic will not last until 17. Dont believe the dummies at nbadraft. Draftexpress has him going early teens and he will keep on moving up imo.

how about Chad Ford and Chris Mannix  are they dummies as well since they don't have him in the top 20?  CBS has 3 expert mock drafts and the highest Nurkic goes is 23.  They dummies as well?

Not dummies but not as good as the guys from dexpress.

Chad ford. Serious?

[Tr1boy]

Highly unlikely.

Even if he likes Nurkic, he'll probably trade down to the 10-12 range and draft him there, getting maybe a second rounder or two as well.

Well, if ainge does trade down it may very well be with philly for their pick at #10 and their second rounder, the #2 pick there.

This scenerio could be a possibility. Especially if the 76ers draft embiid. If they dont , I can see them drafting nurkic and pairing him with noel

[clover]

DraftExpress currently has Nurkic at 11, and I wouldn't be surprised if he goes a little before that.