Updated Big Board and Draft Options

[joepatsfan]

http://joepatsfan.blogspot.com/2014/06/celtics-draft-kevin-love.html

Kevin Love/Rebuilding Thoughts as well as Draft Thoughts found here^^

Big Board:
1.   Jabari Parker ? I love this kid. The knock on him is that he cannot score versus bigger defenders and isn?t a great defender himself. But, he is an extremetly talented scorer and there?s no denying that.
2.   Andrew Wiggins ? While his athleticism and upside is really hard to deny, I haven?t fallen in love with him. He doesn?t have that ?it? factor to me and could turn into a Jeff Green, wildly talented player, but passive and inconsistent.
3.   Joel Embiid ? His ceiling is the next Hakeem. His floor is the most recent big man lottery bust. The injuries scare me (mainly the back) and he is very raw. Very risky pick, but it could pay huge dividends down the road.
4.   Noah Vonleh ? He?s another big man who is very young and raw, but his size and length are undeniable. He has already developed a solid all-around offensive game.
5.   Dante Exum ? Big questions about NBA readiness, but has great size for a PG and a very good skillset to be a successful player.
6.   Marcus Smart ? He?s a solid player. Nothing really special about him, outside of intensity. Good but not great at shooting, handling, IQ and defense.
7.   Zach Lavine ? Reminds me a lot like Westbrook. Explosive. He needs to be a better decision maker shot wise, but has all the tools.
8.   Aaron Gordon ? Freak athlete who needs to polish up his shot and post moves a lot to be a force, but overall has a lot to offer with size and athleticism.
9.   Julius Randle ? He?s a beast inside and has a huge motor, but hasn?t shown reliability with the right hand and can?t stretch a D with his jumper, for now at least.
10.   Gary Harris ? He?s another guy who is solid. Nothing special but everything very well. Is a knockdown shooter when left open and could turn into a very good NBA role player.
11.   Nik Stauskus ? He?s got solid length for a 2-guard and is a pure shooter. Not a special athlete, but a smart offensive player.
12.   Elfrid Payton ? He?s a taller PG that is very explosive off the dribble. He won?t stretch the D with a killer jumper, but can slice it apart with an attack.
13.   James Young ? He is a very good shooter and scorer in general. Very underrated in my opinion. His skills and size can potentially translate into a very good wing scorer and defender.
14.   Doug McDermott ? He?s a money ball shooter, which we all know. But there is serious question about his athleticism and overall quickness to play NBA ball. He will be able to hit open looks, but what else? Remains to be seen.
15.   Kyle Anderson ? Has the skill and size to play PG, SG or SF which helps his value a lot. He?s not an amazing athlete, which will hurt him a little but the versatility is huge.
16.   Glenn Robinson III ? He?s a freak athlete who can get out and run making highlights plays. Has a lot of room for improvement at shooting and defending, but has potential.
17.   Shabazz Napier ? If he was 6?3, I would have him in the Top 7. Amazing IQ, knockdown shooter, solid defender, smart passer and great leader. The only knock is his size. He seriously does everything very well.
18.   Cleanthony Early ? Has good size to play the 3-spot and is a good shooter when left open. He?s a good scorer overall, but ball control could improve.
19.   Tyler Ennis ? Another PG that does everything well. Very mature for his age and is a great passer, but also knows when to take it over himself. Great potential for him.
20.   T.J Warren ? He?s a gifted scorer from 2-point range that can find a weakness in any defense. Doesn?t have a 3-point shot, which is a huge negative, but can be developed. He is a natural scorer that teams will love.

Options at 6 and 17:
#6 Pick:
?   Joel Embiid (if he falls due to injury concern) ? huge potential and fills a huge need as a rim protecting center.
?   Aaron Gordon, Noah Vonleh or Julius Randle ? All of them are talented power forwards in their own ways which should intrigue the Celtics. Gordon and Vonleh?s upside are really hard to pass on.
?   Marcus Smart or Zach Lavine ? This is a scenario in which the Celtics have traded Rondo and view these two as possible PG replacements.

#17 Pick:
?   James Young, Cleanthony Early, Glenn Robinson III or Kyle Anderson ? All of these players can bring a wing scoring threat to the team if they decide to trade Green.
?   Shabazz Napier or Tyler Ennis ? More PG options here if the team does move Rondo.
?   Adrien Payne ? Stretch 4-man.

[Beat LA]

Marcus Smart is nothing special?  Okay, well, anyway, at #17 I'd think that the best players that are going to be available would be TJ Warren and James Young, which would be a tough call for me because I like them both for different reasons.  It'll be interesting to see where Payton goes - he could turn out to be one of the biggest steals of this class.  I don't think anyone has Zach Levine in their top 10, however.

[joepatsfan]

Marcus Smart is nothing special?  Okay, well, anyway, at #17 I'd think that the best players that are going to be available would be TJ Warren and James Young, which would be a tough call for me because I like them both for different reasons.  It'll be interesting to see where Payton goes - he could turn out to be one of the biggest steals of this class.  I don't think anyone has Zach Levine in their top 10, however.

Name me one thing, outside of intensity, that Marcus smart is realllllllly good at.. He's solid in all phases of the game with little weaknesses but isn't a knock down shooter, not a lock down defender, can be a better passer/smarter player... He's nothing special to hop into the Top 3...

Also I know I'm higher than most on Lavine.. Most places have him anywhere from 14-26, but I don't know, I like what he brings and think he could be picked earlier than expected..

Warren and Young would be a tough call but I would take Young mainly because he can stretch the floor more hitting 3's. He isn't as fluid a scorer as Warren but still a very good one.

[merkins]

No love for the euros Saric and Nurcic?  We could use a center like Nurcic at the #17 over what else is likely to be there.

[azzenfrost]

I wouldn't mind Kristaps at 17.

[RockinRyA]

I wouldn't mind Kristaps at 17.

he withdrew from the draft

[Birdman]

NBADRaft.net has us taking Exum at #6 and Warren at #17...I doubt Exum will be there at 6 and Im not that really high on him or Vonleh..I be satify with Gordon or Smart 

[NorthernLightning]

Actually, Exum and Nurkic would be a pretty amazing draft, if we don't get Embiid.

[RyNye]

I know this is going to send some people here into a fit at the thought, but I think Jabari Parker is going to be a bust. I think his ceiling is Rudy Gay 2.0; a mediocre player occasionally capable of putting up points, but not an All-Star or significant contributor to a contender. I absolutely despise his game in every facet. I don't understand why people are so enthralled by somebody who took so many pull-up midrange jumpers over small college defenders. He is not going to do well in the NBA. I am sure of it.

I think our best case scenario for this draft is Embiid at 6 and Kyle Anderson at 17. Assuming Embiid gets healthy, he will be a special player. Anderson is going to be a phenomenal player as well; honestly not sure why his draft stock is so low. Look at his numbers! 14.6/8.8/6.5 and 1.8 steals per game on 48%/48.3%/73.7% shooting. His game is all-around and solid.

Anyway, Marcus Smart is my next pick after Embiid at 6. At 17 I would also love Shabazz Napier, K.J. McDaniels, Jordan Adams, or Elfrid Payton.

Not to mention all the players that probably won't be picked in the first round of this draft but I think deserve to be drafted: Ryan Watkins, T.J. Bray, Khem Birch, and Jarnell Stokes.

[dreamgreen]

Smart would only make sense if we trade Rondo, you just can't have 2 guards on the court that can't shoot, it doesn't work!

Also I don't see a place for Gordon on the team either, a tweener that can't shoot? I know some people here are in love with him but I have him picked around 10-12. Someone that shoots 42% from the line, simply can't shoot, period.

I keep hearing Lavine which seems like a sleeper, but I like what I read.

This is my list in no order of top 7:
Parker - no chance for us
Wiggins - no chance for us
Embiid - he could drop depending on medical reports, I don't like injury plagued players
Exum - I wish
Vonehl - I think he can be a center in this league, I would be happy getting him
Randle - if we are going to trade Sully
Smart - if you trade Rondo

[KGs Knee]

I know this is going to send some people here into a fit at the thought, but I think Jabari Parker is going to be a bust. 

Certainly won't "send me into a fit".  I've got guys in this draft I don't want anything to do with, and I know others disagree. 

But yeah, I do vehemently disagree.  Parker is going to be the best player from this draft.  He has all the tools on offense, and defense can be learned.

Much harder to become an elite offensive player than it is a good defensive player.

[RyNye]

But yeah, I do vehemently disagree.  Parker is going to be the best player from this draft.  He has all the tools on offense, and defense can be learned.

Well, I guess I'll meet you back here in 10 years when we can properly evaluate his career to see who was right. 

But seriously, my trepidation with Parker is that I don't think he does have the tools on offense. From the games I've seen of him (in person included), it just struck me that his style of play seemed perfectly suited to taking advantage of smaller, less athletic college opponents. I just don't think his game will translate to the NBA very well, and I think he is basically going to have to relearn his offense from scratch. As you say, offense is harder to learn.

Anyway, I'd be more than happy if I do turn out wrong. I want every lottery player in this draft (except whoever the Lakers get) to be a franchise altering superstar, because that would just be more fun.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I know this is going to send some people here into a fit at the thought, but I think Jabari Parker is going to be a bust. I think his ceiling is Rudy Gay 2.0; a mediocre player occasionally capable of putting up points, but not an All-Star or significant contributor to a contender. I absolutely despise his game in every facet. I don't understand why people are so enthralled by somebody who took so many pull-up midrange jumpers over small college defenders. He is not going to do well in the NBA. I am sure of it.

I think our best case scenario for this draft is Embiid at 6 and Kyle Anderson at 17. Assuming Embiid gets healthy, he will be a special player. Anderson is going to be a phenomenal player as well; honestly not sure why his draft stock is so low. Look at his numbers! 14.6/8.8/6.5 and 1.8 steals per game on 48%/48.3%/73.7% shooting. His game is all-around and solid.

Anyway, Marcus Smart is my next pick after Embiid at 6. At 17 I would also love Shabazz Napier, K.J. McDaniels, Jordan Adams, or Elfrid Payton.

Not to mention all the players that probably won't be picked in the first round of this draft but I think deserve to be drafted: Ryan Watkins, T.J. Bray, Khem Birch, and Jarnell Stokes.

Just watched a half of UCLA vs. Arizona...Anderson is unstoppable when he's hot and hilariously fun to watch.

His slowness is a bit overstated as he kind of has the Paul Pierce sneaky agility in him. Along with his ball handling he's eerily unstoppable when he drives.

He also makes full use of his length all the time. He uses his length to do unfair things like passing over guys, at-rim finishing and even rebounding (like an anti-Jeff Green). He's long even for the NBA (I believe his wingspan is incredible too).

I'd be stoked if we get him at 17...or even if we trade up for him.

----

Also, this draft is crazy.

"Tier 2" guys like Smart, Vonleh, Randle and Gordon are moving up due to uncertainties with Exum and Embiid...but those "tier 2" guys are really legit solid picks with incredible upside, too.

Then you have the stupendous depth. Zero consensus.

Thanks to the calamity, trade options our 6th pick become very interesting. Derrick Favors or Enes Kanter+good fillers for the 6th maybe?

[RyNye]

His slowness is a bit overstated as he kind of has the Paul Pierce sneaky agility in him. Along with his ball handling he's eerily unstoppable when he drives.

He also makes full use of his length all the time. He uses his length to do unfair things like passing over guys, at-rim finishing and even rebounding (like an anti-Jeff Green). He's long even for the NBA (I believe his wingspan is incredible too).

I'd be stoked if we get him at 17...or even if we trade up for him.

Yeah, he is a real gem. People focus too much on athleticism, these days. I think this guy has a great game. I see him being a Paul Pierce type player. That said, he turns the ball over a little too much, and hasn't shown any off-ball game yet. But those are things that he should learn easily if put in a good system with a good coach ... like, say, Brad Stevens. 

Also, this draft is crazy.

Yeah. I have never been so excited for a draft, to be honest. There is so much potential for weird stuff to go down. Honestly, these next 2-3 seasons in the NBA are going to be NUTS. Teams like the Heat and the Thunder trying to reload, teams like the Suns trying to put it together, teams like the Celtics trying to find the next star ... I am pumped. As long as the Lakers keep sucking and the Celtics get better, everything will be fine.

[joepatsfan]

But yeah, I do vehemently disagree.  Parker is going to be the best player from this draft.  He has all the tools on offense, and defense can be learned.

Well, I guess I'll meet you back here in 10 years when we can properly evaluate his career to see who was right. 

But seriously, my trepidation with Parker is that I don't think he does have the tools on offense. From the games I've seen of him (in person included), it just struck me that his style of play seemed perfectly suited to taking advantage of smaller, less athletic college opponents. I just don't think his game will translate to the NBA very well, and I think he is basically going to have to relearn his offense from scratch. As you say, offense is harder to learn.

Anyway, I'd be more than happy if I do turn out wrong. I want every lottery player in this draft (except whoever the Lakers get) to be a franchise altering superstar, because that would just be more fun.

It's bold to think that Parker will be a bust, but everyone is entitled to an opinion.

To me, Parker's floor is a role player who can give you 12/5/3 a night, obviously for a first pick that's a bust stat line but his floor isn't as low as an Embiid type.

Parker's ceiling is Paul Pierce 2.0 or even a Melo type career just less selfish..

I would put money on Wiggins being a bust over Parker any day. Wiggins has that Jeff Green look to me, not bad but not worth a #2 pick