Woj: Randle will need foot surgery after Draft.

[LooseCannon]

Randle is disputing that he will have surgery.  Woj is reporting that teams are concerned that he will have problems later on if he doesn't have minor surgery to remove the metal screw in his foot.

I'm still not sure why having the screw removed as a precautionary measure would make him drop in the draft.

[Future Celtics Owner]

He was injured in high school. Anyone know if it was his feet?

[Future Celtics Owner]

FWIW, Sullinger was ranked as high as #8 in a Chad Ford mock draft just before the back issues surfaced:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2012/story/_/id/7793955/nba-mock-draft-version-3

He then slipped all the way to #21. So while Randle may fare better, it's not crazy at all to suggest he could slip to #17. That's a full 4 spots higher than Sullinger landed. It's gonna depend on just how scary the foot issue is. Feet are as serious as anything for big men.

I could not agree more. Basketball was my life and had so much to do with how I identified myself. Because of foot problems I was plagued with stress fractures and other injuries. Until it came to the point where I had to quite. That was one of the worst days of my life.

BTW The podiatrist that did my surgeries and all my care for years, was the celtics podiatrist out of Healthpoint...Dr Hester. He was great.

[byennie]

Could he fall to 17? Will Danny move up from 17 like he did last year?

I strongly doubt he would fall that far. Middling teams would take him without thinking twice, as would the Celtics if he were somehow available at #17. I don't see a team like the Nuggets passing on him for a guy like Gary Harris or Saric, who may not be willing to play for them anytime soon.

Keep in mind that Denver passed on Sullinger to draft Evan Fournier at #20 two years ago.

Not sure your point.  Fournier was a fine pick.  I was ecstatic to get Sully, but I was very disappointed Fournier went off the board.  Denver also a) had selected Faried the prior year, and b) plays an up-tempo system in an environment that taxes conditioning.  I think Sullinger would have been a terrible fit there.

Prior to injuries being revealed, Sullinger was going around 8-10 in mock drafts and Fournier was 20-25 range. On draft night, Denver went with Fournier.

Prior to injuries being revealed, Randle has been going around 7-9 in mock drafts and Harris and Saric around 10-12.

You specifically named Denver as a team that wouldn't pass on Randle at #11 for Harris or Saric. If anything, they are the one team that has shown they would do exactly that, in the most comparable situation (and with even more of a stretch).

[Future Celtics Owner]

I'm not sure why this would make him drop:

As a high school senior in Texas two years ago, Randle missed three months with a fractured right foot. There was a screw placed into his foot that needs to be removed as a precautionary procedure, sources said. Randle hasn't experienced pain in the foot, nor did he miss any games because of it in an All-America freshman season at Kentucky.

Thanks I was looking for that

[LooseCannon]

I'm not sure why this would make him drop:

As a high school senior in Texas two years ago, Randle missed three months with a fractured right foot. There was a screw placed into his foot that needs to be removed as a precautionary procedure, sources said. Randle hasn't experienced pain in the foot, nor did he miss any games because of it in an All-America freshman season at Kentucky.

Thanks I was looking for that

It's in the article linked to in the very first post in this thread.  I get the feeling that a lot of people posted without reading it.

[saltlover]

Could he fall to 17? Will Danny move up from 17 like he did last year?

I strongly doubt he would fall that far. Middling teams would take him without thinking twice, as would the Celtics if he were somehow available at #17. I don't see a team like the Nuggets passing on him for a guy like Gary Harris or Saric, who may not be willing to play for them anytime soon.

Keep in mind that Denver passed on Sullinger to draft Evan Fournier at #20 two years ago.

Not sure your point.  Fournier was a fine pick.  I was ecstatic to get Sully, but I was very disappointed Fournier went off the board.  Denver also a) had selected Faried the prior year, and b) plays an up-tempo system in an environment that taxes conditioning.  I think Sullinger would have been a terrible fit there.

Prior to injuries being revealed, Sullinger was going around 8-10 in mock drafts and Fournier was 20-25 range. On draft night, Denver went with Fournier.

Prior to injuries being revealed, Randle has been going around 7-9 in mock drafts and Harris and Saric around 10-12.

You specifically named Denver as a team that wouldn't pass on Randle at #11 for Harris or Saric. If anything, they are the one team that has shown they would do exactly that, in the most comparable situation (and with even more of a stretch).

1) I didn't specifically name Denver at all.  I chimed in mid-conversation.

2) My point is that it's not really comparable.  Denver presumably passed on Sullinger because he wasn't a good fit for that team, based on their style of play and the players already on their roster.  Denver today has a different coach and GM, so the decisions of past management should have little bearing.  The player who was at Sullinger's position at the 2012 draft (Faried), and thus also Randle's position, is rumored to be on the trading block.  A lot of teams passed on Sullinger between 10 and 20.  Some of them probably have the same management and similar rosters -- they would be better comparisons than Denver.

EDIT:  Keep in mind also that Sullinger had a pretty high body fat percentage at over 10%, and was the second-heaviest player weighed at the combine.  Those measurements created concern that conditioning and injury would be a problem with Sullinger, and the back injury seemed to give credence to those concerns.  Conditioning has been less of a concern with Randle.  He's a big dude, but he's not generally seen as pudgy.  Accordingly, the injury should affect him less.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I'm not sure why this would make him drop:

As a high school senior in Texas two years ago, Randle missed three months with a fractured right foot. There was a screw placed into his foot that needs to be removed as a precautionary procedure, sources said. Randle hasn't experienced pain in the foot, nor did he miss any games because of it in an All-America freshman season at Kentucky.

Thanks I was looking for that

It's in the article linked to in the very first post in this thread.  I get the feeling that a lot of people posted without reading it.

I thought it was a link back to his twitter handle or something. Thanks for clarifying.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think I'll skip him at 6....... For sure now.

But how about a trade package to push #17 to say #11.

Take Staukas or Randle if they fall 11 -14

[Future Celtics Owner]

If the surgery is to remove a screw i think he will be alright. But maybe we can make a move and get him if he drops. I am a big fan of Randle. He is a much better shooter than people think.

[byennie]

1) I didn't specifically name Denver at all.  I chimed in mid-conversation.

2) My point is that it's not really comparable.  Denver presumably passed on Sullinger because he wasn't a good fit for that team, based on their style of play and the players already on their roster.  Denver today has a different coach and GM, so the decisions of past management should have little bearing.  The player who was at Sullinger's position at the 2012 draft (Faried), and thus also Randle's position, is rumored to be on the trading block.  A lot of teams passed on Sullinger between 10 and 20.  Some of them probably have the same management and similar rosters -- they would be better comparisons than Denver.

EDIT:  Keep in mind also that Sullinger had a pretty high body fat percentage at over 10%, and was the second-heaviest player weighed at the combine.  Those measurements created concern that conditioning and injury would be a problem with Sullinger, and the back injury seemed to give credence to those concerns.  Conditioning has been less of a concern with Randle.  He's a big dude, but he's not generally seen as pudgy.  Accordingly, the injury should affect him less.

Sorry, I thought you were the original commenter re: Denver. But change the "You" reference in my post and the point stands.

I just don't see how the Randle situation is much different. Two guys projected in the same part of the draft, playing the same position, with similar injury concerns, and we're talking about a smaller drop in a stronger draft. All I'm saying is a drop to #17 isn't far-fetched, not that it's definitely going to happen.

[footey]

FWIW, Sullinger was ranked as high as #8 in a Chad Ford mock draft just before the back issues surfaced:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2012/story/_/id/7793955/nba-mock-draft-version-3

He then slipped all the way to #21. So while Randle may fare better, it's not crazy at all to suggest he could slip to #17. That's a full 4 spots higher than Sullinger landed. It's gonna depend on just how scary the foot issue is. Feet are as serious as anything for big men.

If he drops to 17, here's hoping he drops to 18.

[colincb]

Ugh. Wrong player to drop. He is not dropping to 17, he was projected to be in the top 5. I don't want him at 6, and now there is no chance he bumps down other players like Exum, Smart, and Vonleh.

I think Randle had been trending lower prior to this.  Most people didn't see him selected before 7th, unless Minnesota wanted him at 6th.  It likely won't change the draft for us, one way or the other.

Agree with this. Hearing he's slipping too from at least 2 draft pundits before the news about his foot which seems minor.

He's also got a lesser known agent, which could be part of the problem.  Hasn't worked out either to my knowledge and didn't work out at the Combine.  Not sure what his workouts would look like either.  Bully the ball to the basket and defend a stationary object?  He hasn't proved himself to have a major weakness like Gordon has, but he doesn't have the set of skills Gordon has either.

Has to get a shot, learn to defend, learn to use his right hand, and learn how not get his shot blocked as much.  High motor and strong rebounder, but has a lot of things to find or fix.  His stock went up in the tourney, but the more I saw him, the more the perception of his weaknesses set in. I don't think Coach Cal helped him too much either.

[Eddie20]

Randle had a 38 inch vert (with steps) today for the Lakers

http://instagram.com/p/pWrGQ_rO18/

[Celtics4ever]

He is a way better athlete than Sully, not even close.