Poll: Who do you want at #6?

[hpantazo]

I think it's Gordon if they stay at six.

I see Gordon as a safe pick but with low upside. Saric on the other hand has the highest upside but the biggest risk.

I don't understand this line of thinking. Gordon is the youngest player in the draft and potentially the most athletic with raw offensive skills. To me that means he has the highest upside.

Saric is a 6'10 forward with ok athleticism. Why is he a high upside pick when his biggest talent is skill. It is much harder to improve your athleticism than your skill.

well, the line of thinking that an athlete with poor skills is going to come in and develop great skills just because he's a year younger than a few other guys makes no sense. How many players with great athleticism have been taken in drafts for that reason and have worked out? How many have been busts? The list is huge for busts, I can't think of any that have developed into stars. Gordon's NBAdraft.net profile also clearly states that he will be a great role player, but anyone who drafts him and is expecting a star player will be disappointed.

Saric on the other hand has the skills to become a superstar, he has the much higher upside imo. You can't teach talent, you either have it or you don't/ Ask Bradley, Gerald Green, Javale McGhee, Harold Minor, etc etc how far athleticism gets you and if you can develop talent and skill once you are already 18 and over and in the NBA. It's not like these guys just started playing basketball a few years ago like Embiid, and even Embiid is miles ahead of them on skill.

This idea that Gordon doesn't have skills is ridiculous.   Being an elite defender at multiple positions is a skill, ball handling is a skill, rebounding is a skill, basketball I.Q is a skill, and athleticism is a skill.  His shot isn't effective right now but that certainly doesn't mean that he isn't an effective player.

Saric has DUI's over seas, appears to be a borderline head case (arguing with his coaches), may not come over, and plays in a league that many believe is worse than our D league.  Their is a good chance he won't be able to guard the 3 (too slow) or the 4 (too weak) in the NBA.  Could he be a great player..sure, but I think we have plenty of examples of foreign players being busts.

You know who Gordon sounds like from your description? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He has been a major disappointment for a lottery pick. If you don't like Saric, then go for Smart, another talented, skillful player. Gordon can't shoot, and can't dribble. He's not going to learn to do those things at this point. Gordon will be good as a role player, but that's not what you want from a top 6 pick.

[DraftSmart33]

I think it's Gordon if they stay at six.

I see Gordon as a safe pick but with low upside. Saric on the other hand has the highest upside but the biggest risk.

I don't understand this line of thinking. Gordon is the youngest player in the draft and potentially the most athletic with raw offensive skills. To me that means he has the highest upside.

Saric is a 6'10 forward with ok athleticism. Why is he a high upside pick when his biggest talent is skill. It is much harder to improve your athleticism than your skill.

well, the line of thinking that an athlete with poor skills is going to come in and develop great skills just because he's a year younger than a few other guys makes no sense. How many players with great athleticism have been taken in drafts for that reason and have worked out? How many have been busts? The list is huge for busts, I can't think of any that have developed into stars. Gordon's NBAdraft.net profile also clearly states that he will be a great role player, but anyone who drafts him and is expecting a star player will be disappointed.

Saric on the other hand has the skills to become a superstar, he has the much higher upside imo. You can't teach talent, you either have it or you don't/ Ask Bradley, Gerald Green, Javale McGhee, Harold Minor, etc etc how far athleticism gets you and if you can develop talent and skill once you are already 18 and over and in the NBA. It's not like these guys just started playing basketball a few years ago like Embiid, and even Embiid is miles ahead of them on skill.

This idea that Gordon doesn't have skills is ridiculous.   Being an elite defender at multiple positions is a skill, ball handling is a skill, rebounding is a skill, basketball I.Q is a skill, and athleticism is a skill.  His shot isn't effective right now but that certainly doesn't mean that he isn't an effective player.

Saric has DUI's over seas, appears to be a borderline head case (arguing with his coaches), may not come over, and plays in a league that many believe is worse than our D league.  Their is a good chance he won't be able to guard the 3 (too slow) or the 4 (too weak) in the NBA.  Could he be a great player..sure, but I think we have plenty of examples of foreign players being busts.

You know who Gordon sounds like from your description? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He has been a major disappointment for a lottery pick. If you don't like Saric, then go for Smart, another talented, skillful player. Gordon can't shoot, and can't dribble. He's not going to learn to do those things at this point. Gordon will be good as a role player, but that's not what you want from a top 6 pick.

I clearly disagree with you but only time will tell. 

[tyrone biggums]

I'll take the guy who could end up as a 2 guard and has a ton of heart and desire. Give me Marcus Smart.

[rondohondo]

my list for who I want at #6

1) smart
2)Vonlah
3) Randle
4) Gordon

[arctic 3.0]

1. A top 4 slipping
2 Saric
3. Trade
4. Gordon

[CM0]

Assuming no slip of Exum (uncertainty), Parker (out of shape?) or Embiid (back):

1. Smart/Saric tied (trading down for Saric if possible would maximize value IMO)
2. Gordon
3. trade down to the McDermott/Nurkic/Harris/Stauskas tier

I would be very unhappy with any other scenario (unless the pick is traded for a player).

[Timdawgg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXictCDDqA

Like him a lot now

Man, the more I see of him the more I think someone will be kicking themselves down the line. Seems like a D Wade clone.....

[notthebowler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXictCDDqA

Like him a lot now

Man, the more I see of him the more I think someone will be kicking themselves down the line. Seems like a D Wade clone.....

Watching the Pacers absolutely roll over last night made me think of Smart as a very attractive option. A guy with his combination of talent and killer instinct is rare. I'm generally not a huge fan of the rough around the edges guys (I hate Gordon and Vonleh as options for us) but something keeps bringing me back to Smart.  Not as a rookie, but I think a few years down the line he could develop into the "closer" we need, to borrow a term from Ainge.

[Surferdad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXictCDDqA

Like him a lot now

Man, the more I see of him the more I think someone will be kicking themselves down the line. Seems like a D Wade clone.....

This is a great thread.  You folks make me want to change my vote from Gordon to Smart.

[CM0]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXictCDDqA

Like him a lot now

Man, the more I see of him the more I think someone will be kicking themselves down the line. Seems like a D Wade clone.....

Watching the Pacers absolutely roll over last night made me think of Smart as a very attractive option. A guy with his combination of talent and killer instinct is rare. I'm generally not a huge fan of the rough around the edges guys (I hate Gordon and Vonleh as options for us) but something keeps bringing me back to Smart.  Not as a rookie, but I think a few years down the line he could develop into the "closer" we need, to borrow a term from Ainge.

He's really only "rough around the edges" as a shooter. He does pretty much everything else well and has shown the ability to take over a close game with his defensive and intensity physical. The DWade comparisons are valid IMO. The more I imagine a Rondo/Smart backcourt, the more I love it. It would be the most mentally intense backcourt in the league, and one of the best rebounding. They would just need the frontcourt to stretch the floor, which just happens to be one the current Celtics greatest strengths.

Ideally, the team would also pick up a rotational SF that can knock down threes and a rotational rim-protector (which would be optimal for a more conventional offense with a SG like Bradley on the floor).

[indeedproceed]

Has anyone considered that Smart and Rondo might not gel mentally? Not saying it's a probable outcome, but imagine Smart, mister intensity, with Rondo this season. I can't imagine there wouldn't be at least one kerfuffle. Not that it's a bad thing for teammates to scuffle or bicker, it seemed to work okay when the Celtics did it, but with a kind of bank-spot when it comes to leadership, relying on Rondo, and Humphries who will likely be gone, Smart might rub some veterans the wrong way , much like Noah did.

[Vox_Populi]

Has anyone considered that Smart and Rondo might not gel mentally? Not saying it's a probable outcome, but imagine Smart, mister intensity, with Rondo this season. I can't imagine there wouldn't be at least one kerfuffle. Not that it's a bad thing for teammates to scuffle or bicker, it seemed to work okay when the Celtics did it, but with a kind of bank-spot when it comes to leadership, relying on Rondo, and Humphries who will likely be gone, Smart might rub some veterans the wrong way , much like Noah did.

That's possible. But then again, Rondo was very good friends with KG, who's pretty intense. I think they'll be fine.

[Roy H.]

Has anyone considered that Smart and Rondo might not gel mentally? Not saying it's a probable outcome, but imagine Smart, mister intensity, with Rondo this season. I can't imagine there wouldn't be at least one kerfuffle. Not that it's a bad thing for teammates to scuffle or bicker, it seemed to work okay when the Celtics did it, but with a kind of bank-spot when it comes to leadership, relying on Rondo, and Humphries who will likely be gone, Smart might rub some veterans the wrong way , much like Noah did.

Rondo is going to clash at times with just about any guy who has any competitive spirit at all.  I'd rather have too intense than too passive.

[hpantazo]

Has anyone considered that Smart and Rondo might not gel mentally? Not saying it's a probable outcome, but imagine Smart, mister intensity, with Rondo this season. I can't imagine there wouldn't be at least one kerfuffle. Not that it's a bad thing for teammates to scuffle or bicker, it seemed to work okay when the Celtics did it, but with a kind of bank-spot when it comes to leadership, relying on Rondo, and Humphries who will likely be gone, Smart might rub some veterans the wrong way , much like Noah did.

Rondo is going to clash at times with just about any guy who has any competitive spirit at all.  I'd rather have too intense than too passive.

Agreed. Much better to have Rondo butt heads with a KG or Smart than to get along with a Jeff Green.

[indeedproceed]

I agree with what Roy's saying, but I disagree about equating Smart's competitiveness with KG's in a Rondo-Smart paradigm. Rondo was the little brother, KG the big brother, and authority figure. Here, the roles are reversed. I wonder how Rondo would mentor Smart. Some big brothers are great mentors , some are great examples to copy. Some smother younger brothers with a pillow and claimed there were just playing.

Again though, a devils advocate argument more than anything. I would pay a few hundred dollars to be a fly on the wall during their first row though.