At 5-8 it has to be Vonleh

[scotto1205]

I think if we land anywhere from 5-8 Noah Vonleh has to be the pick this kid has the tools to be the defensive presence and shot blocker we need at center. He is 18 years old I believe and 6'10" 240 with a 7'4" wingspan. He still has plenty of time to not only add muscle but to get taller as well. I don't think he had a chance to show his full offensive potential or his shot blocking at Indiana. Everyone seems to believe he has the 3 point shot and to me this guy could be a mix of ibaka and bosh but he can add enough size to be a true center. With his ability to possibly stretch the floor he would pair perfect with Sullinger and also open all times of options for the offense. I really like this kid and believe he can be the steal of the draft 2 years from now. What do you guys think?

[scotto1205]

I think he is 19 actually but he still has plenty of time to grow. I think the Vonlehs stock will move the most at the combine. I think a lot of teams are going to be looking at his height and weight but also how his lateral agility looks in the drills to me that's his only question. I think even if we are at 4 with exum on the board Vonleh well be considered good value.

[SHAQATTACK]

I'm at about the same place right now .

He probably makes the most sense for a team that is desperate for a center.  Unless Danny is going another route,  and takes Exum or Gordon to rebuild .

I got a gut feeling he will take Exum , if he is available for the Celtics .....given Embiid, Parker and Wiggins are gone.

Sorta depends on who,the fourth pick takes.

[Celtics4ever]

I am scared of big ten bigs after Johnson we took a few years ago.   

[dreamgreen]

I"ve been thinking the same thing for 2 weeks. I believe he can be an atheletic center, which is where the league has been going for a few years now.

[scotto1205]

Our lack of a rim protecting center was our biggest need this year. If value and need line up why not pounce on it? From what I understand we have made a few promises that we were going to get a true center this offseason, whether it be through the draft or fa I don't know. If lakers decide they need to contend and want rondo for say pick 7 I honestly think id take it. The idea of building around a core of say exum or smart, Sullinger, Olynk, and Vonleh would he offly enticing. When 2015 comes around hopefully we will have found away to move Wallace's contract and green declines his player option or we trade him. We will have the money to bring in 2 near max free agent.

Imagine a lineup of
Kyrie Irving-exum-jimmy butler-Sullinger-Vonleh with Olynk off the bench we would be one of the best young most balanced teams in the nba. As crazy as it sounds I think this might be one of the most realistic routes for DA to take.

Being trade rondo for top lottery pick maybe another future pick. Go with a young core this year and find a way to move Wallace and green by 2015 add in another top lottery pick plus the clippers pick plus all the Brooklyn's picks we could easily make the trade for an all star, while also signing an all star and another low level all star to add to the core of exum, Vonleh, Sullinger, and Olynk

[saltlover]

I think he is 19 actually but he still has plenty of time to grow. I think the Vonlehs stock will move the most at the combine. I think a lot of teams are going to be looking at his height and weight but also how his lateral agility looks in the drills to me that's his only question. I think even if we are at 4 with exum on the board Vonleh well be considered good value.

He's 18.  Turns 19 in August.

Also, we cannot pick 4th without a trade.  1-3 and 5-8 are the possible spots for out top pick.

[scotto1205]

I am scared of big ten bigs after Johnson we took a few years ago.   

Johnson and Vonleh are 2 completely different players. I think Vonleh bust potential is way lower.

[scotto1205]

I think he is 19 actually but he still has plenty of time to grow. I think the Vonlehs stock will move the most at the combine. I think a lot of teams are going to be looking at his height and weight but also how his lateral agility looks in the drills to me that's his only question. I think even if we are at 4 with exum on the board Vonleh well be considered good value.

He's 18.  Turns 19 in August.

Also, we cannot pick 4th without a trade.  1-3 and 5-8 are the possible spots for out top pick.

Thanks for the info. While a lot of people talk about his lack of post game at 18 years old How many bigs really have a truly polished post game? Indianas offense defintly didn't help him in that area. I'm really sold on this kid.

[playdream]

I don;t think he can be our next KG
too low IQ and a black hole
next perkins, mabey

[esel1000]

I wouldn't cry if we took Vonleh but I think I prefer Gordon at this point. Already has elite d, coachable, athletic but high iq, and even younger than Vonleh. Both have enormous upside but I'm currently on the Gordon bandwagon should we fall out of the top 3.

If we still had KG I'd feel better about a Vonleh pick because he needs a mentor. Nobody on this Cs team can mentor him to be the player Vonleh could be.

[scotto1205]

I wouldn't cry if we took Vonleh but I think I prefer Gordon at this point. Already has elite d, coachable, athletic but high iq, and even younger than Vonleh. Both have enormous upside but I'm currently on the Gordon bandwagon should we fall out of the top 3.

If we still had KG I'd feel better about a Vonleh pick because he needs a mentor. Nobody on this Cs team can mentor him to be the player Vonleh could be.

I'm can't quite remember the name but I saw some post about bringing back an assistant coach who was supposed to have worked really with some bigs in the past? Anyone have an idea on his name?

[playdream]

I wouldn't cry if we took Vonleh but I think I prefer Gordon at this point. Already has elite d, coachable, athletic but high iq, and even younger than Vonleh. Both have enormous upside but I'm currently on the Gordon bandwagon should we fall out of the top 3.

If we still had KG I'd feel better about a Vonleh pick because he needs a mentor. Nobody on this Cs team can mentor him to be the player Vonleh could be.

same here, i just like to watch D and smart players more, oh and athletism

[notthebowler]

I have a sincere question for all of the New Englanders on CB:  how much do you think the CB love for Noah Vonleh (and Napier to an extent) is related to their connection to the area? 

I am a life-long Celtics fan who lives in Cincinnati and I see something similar w.r.t. the Bengals every year as the NFL draft approaches.  You get mock drafts loaded with Ohio State players year after year after year.

I saw maybe half a dozen Indiana games this year and I wasn't impressed with Noah at all.  Maybe I just happened to see his off nights, I don't know. 

I do know this from my personal experience: if they take him, I'll quickly convince myself that he will be a fantastic addition to the team, haha.  I've done that a few times over the years with players I don't like.

[pearljammer10]

I'll admit I don't know much about Vonleh but since the beginning of mock draft season he has been the one guy that's for some reason intrigued me after the top 3. If we're are doing a straight up rebuild I think he would be a nice pick for us.

Although I'm still hoping we trade out of the draft.