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

[cb8883]

Extremely critical. This of course means Ainge will select the highest rated combo guard or undersized PF on the board.

[celticmania]

Extremely critical. This of course means Ainge will select the highest rated combo guard or undersized PF on the board.

  like always

[CFAN38]

From Chad Ford (Insider Content):

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/story/_/id/12102531/ranking-top-10-prospects-every-position-nba-draft

The clearest trend so far this season? This is a terrific draft for big men, many of whom are potential lottery picks. Small forward is also a strong position this season. The real drop-off is in the backcourt. There are a couple of interesting point guard prospects but that's about it. If you are looking for perimeter help, this draft isn't for you.

and:

We have nine centers ranked as potential first-rounders and five of them as potential lottery picks. That's extremely rare. This may be the best draft for centers we've seen in a decade.

and Ford's top ten centers (overall rank in parenthesis):

Centers

1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke, Fr. (1)
2. Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky, Fr. (3)
3. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, Jr. (
4. Jakob Poeltl, Utah, Fr. (14)
5. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin, Sr. (16)
6. Robert Upshaw, Washington, So. (29)
7. Dakari Johnson, Kentucky, So. (31)
8. Amida Brimah, UConn, So. (38)
9. Damian Jones, Vanderbilt, So. (39)
10. Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina, So. (59)

My question is, how critical is it that we draft a center next year? Obviously, it's a huge need but I'm curious to hear people's opinions. Personally, I think that Ainge must be looking at this upcoming crop and thinking, "If we miss out on one of these guys it will be another harmful delay to the rebuild." I just don't see any free agents or trade targets out there that can fill this role for the Celtics.

I think its is important that the Cs come out of this draft with one of the top 4 Ford lists . I exclude Kaminsky because I view him as more of a 4 then a 5, he is from the same mold as KO. I think Okafor will be a once in a generation big man 20 + 10 guy for the next 12 who a team can be built around. Towns is kind of a mystery because he is capable of more then what he is doing at UK. I think the NBA game unleashes his potential but it will be up to him how good he is. I really like WCS and Poeltl. To me they are similar players in that both project as high end defensive role players. WCS is to T Chandler as Poeltl is to Asik. I like D Johnson but worry he doesn't have elite length. Upshaw is huge and will be a load in the middle. He doesn't have the high ceiling like the rest of this list but should have a long career clogging the middle for teams.

If DA does miss on these guys its not a total loss but it does mean DA need to make a move for a young big currently on a team.

[kozlodoev]

Clearing out the roster of large contracts also meant that this year you're free to pick a player the team considers can be an impact one at pretty much any position. I'd tab SG and C as priority, though.

[manl_lui]

now we are in full tank mode, please give us Okafor

[Smartacus]

Okafor, Towns or BPA imo.

We're too early in the rebuild to take a mediocre center who would "fit" well. Rather have a Stanley Johnson, Justise Winslow, Kevon Looney or possibly even Deangelo Russel. That being said if he declares and is still available with the Clippers pick, I'd take Jakob Poeltl.