How critical is it for the Celtics to get a center in the 2015 draft?

[MSceltic]

The dream is Gasol or Vucevic, I'd also love to get one of the 76ers centers before drafting a Center. That being said unless we are in the top 3, give me WCS and I'll be ecstatic, you know what you're getting. His floor is the lowest of all the centers besides Okafor in my opinion.

[BleedGreen1989]

If Philly wins the lottery, they will likely draft Okafor.  This makes Embiid or Noel expendable to them, more likely Embiid.  The price might also be high, but there will at least be a price tag, and we do have the excess picks to potentially pay said price.

That's said, I've been on the Willie Cauley-Stein wagon since last year, so a) I hope he finally enters the draft and b) that we pick him (given a pick somewhere near our current draft position).

Agreed with all of this.

I think we grab a center this year either through the draft or if PHI gets the #1 and we make a move for Joel.

I'm also on the Big Willie bandwagon and would love if Ainge could trade up with the Clippers pick to draft him.

[ekosins3]

Would love to somehow get Stanley Johnson and WCS in this draft since we probably won't be picking in the top 3.

Would need to trade up the clippers pick and possibly a future first rounder to have another pick in the 5-12 range.

I think a combination of a solid future sf and center from this draft would position our team well.

[MSceltic]

Clips pick and 76ers 2nd could be enough to move  up maybe.

[Granath]

It'd be nice to get a center, but the Cs should draft the BPA in 2015. There's no one on the roster who couldn't be upgraded. That doesn't mean there's no talent on the roster - there are quite a few guys who will make very solid pros - but there's no apparent 1st team All-Star (and there wasn't when we had Rondo and Green either) on the squad. So if there's someone that Danny really thinks can develop into a steady All-Star, he drafts them regardless of position.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Okafor is molasses slow, lacks athleticism, doesn't rebound well, probably won't be a great P&R defender. Reminds me of a larger Al Jefferson with his refined post game.
From the limited time I've watched KY games, Towns doesn't seem to get much burn with all their talent - haven't seen enough to make any judgment. Think they'll take both some significant time to develop. WCS may actually be the earliest contributor in the league, but by far has the lowest upside.

[SHAQATTACK]

Not at all,apparently

It's been so long , I forget

[Tr1boy]

1. Towns
2. Okafor
3. Kaminsky
4. Upshaw
5. WCS


Towns over Okafor for me

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Not at all.

If we cant draft a Center in this draft, then lets use that cap room and sign Hassan Whiteside for a big chunk of money, say $8 million per year? 

On a serious note, I'd still think we should draft who's the best player available. It's not like we're just a Center away from winning a championship anyway. Get the player who's best projected to be a star in the future, whether it's a Center or not. If Mudiay is on the table and he's the best out of who's left, take him. If a Center is the BPA, take him.

[aporel#18]

BPA is the right way to go.

Out of the list, if you can't get a top 3 pick to secure Okafor or Towns, I'd rather take Dakari/Upshaw late in the first round or early in the second round than waste a lottery pick on any of the other guys.

But, that said, take BPA.

[chambers]

It's not crucial, we will just take the BPA with our top 5-6 pick.

The centers in this draft look nice. The thing that looks good to me are how well they can shoot from the elbow.

I find it funny how quickly people can write off guys eithout watching them play at least 5 games vs good competition!- and for most of these 18 and 19 year olds, they havent groen into their bodies yet.

This is a deep draft for centers so we make get one, but ainge will stick to his usual plan of drafting the best guy available.
Where it gets interesting is seeing if he drafts on best potential available or best NBA ready player available. 

[celticmania]

I don't think it's critical. Especially considering the best prospect is a point : Eman Mudiay. There is an unusual amount of decent center prospects this year but none of them are spectacular. I think the only future all star center in this draft is Jahlil Okafor who is going to be a 20 point 8 rebounds 0.8 block guy for a few years and be a 4-5 time all star.

[guava_wrench]

No more critical than it was for Portland when they drafted Bowie and Oden.

Just take the best guy if you are at the top of the lottery.

[indeedproceed]

No more critical than it was for Portland when they drafted Bowie and Oden.

Just take the best guy if you are at the top of the lottery.

Right. It is not at all critical that the Celtics take a center.

It is ABSOLUTELY critical that they take a future star. So like...no pressure Danny Ainge.

[freshinthehouse]

Just take the best guy if you are at the top of the lottery.

This.  The C's are in no position to worry about what position a player plays.  Just get the best player period.