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

[obnoxiousmime]

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.

[LarBrd33]

Most of them probably will not be very good.  I keep hearing there's a big drop-off after the top 3 players and none of those guys are considered to be prospects on the level of Wiggins, Parker and Embiid. 

I think we'll get a big this summer one way or the other, though.  There's some solid big men free agents this summer like Monroe, Asik, Gasol, etc

[celticmania]

Jahlil Okafor is really the only one that i see being a good nba player.... and he wont be spectacular... very good maybe but not great. Best prospect in the draft is Emmanuel Mudiay.  Hes a blend of John Wall and Kyrie Irving.

[Tr1boy]

Jahlil Okafor is really the only one that i see being a good nba player.... and he wont be spectacular... very good maybe but not great. Best prospect in the draft is Emmanuel Mudiay.  Hes a blend of John Wall and Kyrie Irving.

+1. Okafor defense is just ok

[obnoxiousmime]

Most of them probably will not be very good.  I keep hearing there's a big drop-off after the top 3 players and none of those guys are considered to be prospects on the level of Wiggins, Parker and Embiid. 

I think we'll get a big this summer one way or the other, though.  There's some solid big men free agents this summer like Monroe, Asik, Gasol, etc

Sure, but even having someone on the level of a Chandler or a DeAndre Jordan must be worth considering, right? It's not like big men grow on trees. Just having someone competent back there would be a huge boon to this team.

I don't mean to stress need over talent but we just drafted a PG who is supposed to be pretty good, and the position is very deep around the league right now. I guess if Muddiay was at that Wall level you'd have to draft him. But what if he's closer to the Tyreke Evans level?

I'm not confident that any of the guys you mentioned will be available. Gasol wants to win and by all accounts he's happy in Memphis. Memphis has no alternative but to sign him. Why would Asik come here unless we overpaid? And Monroe will probably stay in Detroit now that Smith is out of the picture.

[saltlover]

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).

[saltlover]

Most of them probably will not be very good.  I keep hearing there's a big drop-off after the top 3 players and none of those guys are considered to be prospects on the level of Wiggins, Parker and Embiid. 

I think we'll get a big this summer one way or the other, though.  There's some solid big men free agents this summer like Monroe, Asik, Gasol, etc

Sure, but even having someone on the level of a Chandler or a DeAndre Jordan must be worth considering, right? It's not like big men grow on trees. Just having someone competent back there would be a huge boon to this team.

I don't mean to stress need over talent but we just drafted a PG who is supposed to be pretty good, and the position is very deep around the league right now. I guess if Muddiay was at that Wall level you'd have to draft him. But what if he's closer to the Tyreke Evans level?

I'm not confident that any of the guys you mentioned will be available. Gasol wants to win and by all accounts he's happy in Memphis. Memphis has no alternative but to sign him. Why would Asik come here unless we overpaid? And Monroe will probably stay in Detroit now that Smith is out of the picture.

This is true of most free agents who are paid above the mid-level and are not max-level players.  They're going to whomever offers them the most, so yes, Asik would be "overpaid" if he wound up in Boston, but so would pretty much any player we sign.  Welcome to the world of cap-room, in which we actually have the chance to be the top-bidder for a free agent.  I know that might not be exactly what you were saying, but it's time for people to recognize that signing a free agent with the cap room we've been pining for means we're going to pay someone more than his prior team is willing to go.  The hope is on the other side this player capably fills the role he was signed for and that we don't have buyer's remorse, but if we're using cap room to get someone, we're not going to get a bargain (barring the player taking a major leap forward with the Celtics.)

[jyyzzoel]

Jahlil Okafor is really the only one that i see being a good nba player.... and he wont be spectacular... very good maybe but not great. Best prospect in the draft is Emmanuel Mudiay.  Hes a blend of John Wall and Kyrie Irving.

absolutely! didn't think anyone else thought that way. okafor will be very good, but personally i think he is obviously a great offensive player, but is just an okay rebounder, not elite.  to me mudiay is def deserving of the number 1 pick. dude's athleticism is freakish his potential is higher than anyone's in the draft.

[GreenWarrior]

we need a superstar regardless of what position he plays. and we need that more than anything. it's like a qb in football.

[obnoxiousmime]

Most of them probably will not be very good.  I keep hearing there's a big drop-off after the top 3 players and none of those guys are considered to be prospects on the level of Wiggins, Parker and Embiid. 

I think we'll get a big this summer one way or the other, though.  There's some solid big men free agents this summer like Monroe, Asik, Gasol, etc

Sure, but even having someone on the level of a Chandler or a DeAndre Jordan must be worth considering, right? It's not like big men grow on trees. Just having someone competent back there would be a huge boon to this team.

I don't mean to stress need over talent but we just drafted a PG who is supposed to be pretty good, and the position is very deep around the league right now. I guess if Muddiay was at that Wall level you'd have to draft him. But what if he's closer to the Tyreke Evans level?

I'm not confident that any of the guys you mentioned will be available. Gasol wants to win and by all accounts he's happy in Memphis. Memphis has no alternative but to sign him. Why would Asik come here unless we overpaid? And Monroe will probably stay in Detroit now that Smith is out of the picture.

This is true of most free agents who are paid above the mid-level and are not max-level players.  They're going to whomever offers them the most, so yes, Asik would be "overpaid" if he wound up in Boston, but so would pretty much any player we sign.  Welcome to the world of cap-room, in which we actually have the chance to be the top-bidder for a free agent.  I know that might not be exactly what you were saying, but it's time for people to recognize that signing a free agent with the cap room we've been pining for means we're going to pay someone more than his prior team is willing to go.  The hope is on the other side this player capably fills the role he was signed for and that we don't have buyer's remorse, but if we're using cap room to get someone, we're not going to get a bargain (barring the player taking a major leap forward with the Celtics.)

Right, I agree. I was trying to say that Asik would be overpaid if we did sign him, to the point that it might not be worth it. Also, I didn't realize that he's going to be 29. That's not old for a big man who doesn't rely on athleticism, but it's not a great fit with all the keys guys on our roster being 20-24 years old. At his age I would think going somewhere with a chance to win would be important, which means a potential offer would have to be even higher.

I think that there are always bargains out there, they're just hard to find. Ainge doesn't have a great track record for that though. His moves to supplement the Big 3 with low/mid-priced talent were very disappointing after that first Posey and Brown year.

[boscel33]

I don't know, have you seen the list of centers that are free agents? 

http://hoopshype.com/free_agency/centers_2015.htm

It might allow DA to go BPA.

[GzUP617]

I don't know, have you seen the list of centers that are free agents? 

http://hoopshype.com/free_agency/centers_2015.htm

It might allow DA to go BPA.

  It's always BPA, with slight consideration to positional need if you have a logjam at a certain position and the talent disparity is minimal.

[obnoxiousmime]

I don't know, have you seen the list of centers that are free agents? 

http://hoopshype.com/free_agency/centers_2015.htm

It might allow DA to go BPA.

Yes, I'm aware of who will be a FA this summer. The list appears deep but it's misleading because a lot of those players will definitely be re-signing with their current teams or are not good fits with the Celtics.

Marc Gasol - Staying in Memphis or going to a contender.
Brook Lopez - Exercising his player option because his injury has lowered his value. Better to regroup for the FA market next year.
Roy Hibbert - Indiana will do what it takes to re-sign him.
DeAndre Jordan - Clippers will re-sign him.
Al Jefferson - Charlotte will try to re-sign him but probably won't go overboard considering his age and how bad they're playing this year. Can't say I'd be excited to be reunited with him at this stage of his career.
Nikola Vucevic - Definitely re-signing with Orlando.
Omer Asik - Hornets will re-sign, possible to steal but will have to overpay.
Robin Lopez - Definitely re-signing with Portland.
Enes Kanter - Possible to sign if we offer the most money, but doesn't help us on defense.
Brandan Wright - We already got him! Not really a Center.
Tyson Chandler - Too old to fit with our team.

[SHAQATTACK]

Sooner Celtics can get a franchise Big man , the quicker they return to the top .

Zeller is pretty good , but we need another better dominate Big ........ Like Bulls have Noah and Gasol

Even another young center like Plumlee would be awesome .   Sowe can always have a good big center in the game .

Celtics need TRUE centers ...not power forwards

[GzUP617]

 The Celtics will take a hard look at Greg Monroe this off season even if we end up drafting 1 of Okafor,Towns or WCS.

  IMO it'll be in a sign and trade.