Rozier "biggest reach" in draft

[jpotter33]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2521553-insider-buzz-the-1st-round-pick-being-called-the-biggest-reach-of-the-draft

I can agree with this to a point, but I've been fairly impressed with him in summer league so far. To me, this was a legitimate response on draft night, but he has seemed to quell at least some of those concerns in summer league, especially given his handle and shooting ability. I think they're much better than he was given credit for, and I could see him being a longer-term backcourt mate with Smart.

Also, I think he has a higher ceiling than Bradley, because he's already twice the ball-handler and playmaker than Bradley.

Agree or disagree?

[PhoSita]

There have been reports indicating that Rozier might have gone in the late teens, so from that perspective it's not that much of a reach.

It does certainly feel like a reach given that the consensus seemed to be that Rozier was at the least one of a half dozen or more similarly promising players, and he makes very little sense for the Celtics from a roster fit / development opportunity standpoint.

At the time, I felt that once Ainge failed to move up to a spot in the draft where he could take somebody he really wanted, he decided to take a guy at #16 with a skillset he felt comfortable projecting to the NBA.  Basically, Rozier felt like yet another "safe" pick from Ainge, even though it was also a reach.

Still feel that way now.  Rozier looks decent in Summer League, but he's old for a rookie and I'm not sure how much upside he really has.  Chances are Ainge used the #16 pick on CJ Watson 2.0.

[knuckleballer]

I agree.  I was disappointed the night of the draft as we had other positions to fill and he was projected much later.  But the most important thing is to find a guy who can play more so than a position of need.  I've been mostly impressed with his ability to get to where he wants on the floor with the ball.  He has elite level quickness.  I have no doubt he will be in the league for a long time.

[celticsclay]

How long was his standing reach?

[incoherent]

This should be renamed to "most underrated by Mock Drafters".  Houston was taking him a couple picks after us if we didn't. And clearly the NBA GMs, not the Mock Drafters, saw what this kid had and picked him accordingly.

[saltlover]

There have been reports indicating that Rozier might have gone in the late teens, so from that perspective it's not that much of a reach.

It does certainly feel like a reach given that the consensus seemed to be that Rozier was at the least one of a half dozen or more similarly promising players, and he makes very little sense for the Celtics from a roster fit / development opportunity standpoint.

At the time, I felt that once Ainge failed to move up to a spot in the draft where he could take somebody he really wanted, he decided to take a guy at #16 with a skillset he felt comfortable projecting to the NBA.  Basically, Rozier felt like yet another "safe" pick from Ainge, even though it was also a reach.

Still feel that way now.  Rozier looks decent in Summer League, but he's old for a rookie and I'm not sure how much upside he really has.  Chances are Ainge used the #16 pick on CJ Watson 2.0.

He just turned 21 in March.  He's not that old for a rookie.  I'd bet he's near the median of most draft classes.  And when you consider that many summer league players are not rookies (or at least have been in summer league before if not the NBA), he's still younger than most of the players he's going up against.

[slamtheking]

based on the subsequent reports after Rozier was picked, he would have been taken within the next few picks.  hard to say a player's a reach at that point.

the kid looks like a player.  Other than Portis, there really wasn't anyone else on the board I think was an obvious pick at 16.  we'll see how Portis pans out but for right now, I'm less upset about Rozier as a pick than I was draft night.  He and Smart could very well be our starting backcourt within a couple of years if he develops into the player we've seen a sample of in summer league. 

I'm not expecting anything this year but depending on how the team does and how Rozier and Hunter (and Young though I'm losing optimism there) develop this year, AB and Turner could be moved at the deadline to fill one of the team's needs.

[dark_lord]

im just waiting to see what they do with all the guards we have.  this pick, unfortunately can't be assessed until we see what rozier can do consistently in the nba (not summer league or preseason), and what moves if/when they are made

[PhoSita]

There have been reports indicating that Rozier might have gone in the late teens, so from that perspective it's not that much of a reach.

It does certainly feel like a reach given that the consensus seemed to be that Rozier was at the least one of a half dozen or more similarly promising players, and he makes very little sense for the Celtics from a roster fit / development opportunity standpoint.

At the time, I felt that once Ainge failed to move up to a spot in the draft where he could take somebody he really wanted, he decided to take a guy at #16 with a skillset he felt comfortable projecting to the NBA.  Basically, Rozier felt like yet another "safe" pick from Ainge, even though it was also a reach.

Still feel that way now.  Rozier looks decent in Summer League, but he's old for a rookie and I'm not sure how much upside he really has.  Chances are Ainge used the #16 pick on CJ Watson 2.0.

He just turned 21 in March.  He's not that old for a rookie.  I'd bet he's near the median of most draft classes.  And when you consider that many summer league players are not rookies (or at least have been in summer league before if not the NBA), he's still younger than most of the players he's going up against.

Sure, but physically he's mostly matured at this point.

The point is to draw a contrast between Rozier and prospects like James Young and Avery Bradley.  It was reasonable when we drafted those players to expect that they might have room to grow and therefore drastically outperform their draft position.

When you draft a guy who is already 21 years old, you're getting a much more known quantity.  Again, I think Rozier will be a solid NBA player.  Ainge is good at spotting guys like that.

I just think if you're going to draft a likely role player, take somebody who actually fits a need.  Otherwise, make a riskier pick that has a greater chance of turning out well.  Given the Celts' unfortunate draft position, making a high upside pick wasn't really possible. 

So, I would have preferred that Ainge take a wing with 3-and-D potential, since the team desperately needs players with that skillset.

[libermaniac]

There have been reports indicating that Rozier might have gone in the late teens, so from that perspective it's not that much of a reach.

It does certainly feel like a reach given that the consensus seemed to be that Rozier was at the least one of a half dozen or more similarly promising players, and he makes very little sense for the Celtics from a roster fit / development opportunity standpoint.

At the time, I felt that once Ainge failed to move up to a spot in the draft where he could take somebody he really wanted, he decided to take a guy at #16 with a skillset he felt comfortable projecting to the NBA.  Basically, Rozier felt like yet another "safe" pick from Ainge, even though it was also a reach.

Still feel that way now.  Rozier looks decent in Summer League, but he's old for a rookie and I'm not sure how much upside he really has.  Chances are Ainge used the #16 pick on CJ Watson 2.0.

He just turned 21 in March.  He's not that old for a rookie.  I'd bet he's near the median of most draft classes.  And when you consider that many summer league players are not rookies (or at least have been in summer league before if not the NBA), he's still younger than most of the players he's going up against.

Sure, but physically he's mostly matured at this point.

The point is to draw a contrast between Rozier and prospects like James Young and Avery Bradley.  It was reasonable when we drafted those players to expect that they might have room to grow and therefore drastically outperform their draft position.

When you draft a guy who is already 21 years old, you're getting a much more known quantity.  Again, I think Rozier will be a solid NBA player.  Ainge is good at spotting guys like that.

I just think if you're going to draft a likely role player, take somebody who actually fits a need.  Otherwise, make a riskier pick that has a greater chance of turning out well.  Given the Celts' unfortunate draft position, making a high upside pick wasn't really possible. 

So, I would have preferred that Ainge take a wing with 3-and-D potential, since the team desperately needs players with that skillset.

Rick Pitino was quoted as saying Rozier keeps improving and still has a ways to go in that regards, as compared to other recent Louisville PGs like Peyton Siva.  Take that for what it's worth because we all know just how great Rick Pitino was as a talent evaluator (Chauncey, Tyus Edney).

[Celtics4ever]

I am pretty happy with our picks after seeing some summer league.  Rozier is fast, Hunter can shoot and Mickey can play.   I think Thornton will be overseas, we should have traded up a few slots and took Connaughton instead of him.

[hodgy03038]

I am pretty happy with our picks after seeing some summer league.  Rozier is fast, Hunter can shoot and Mickey can play.   I think Thornton will be overseas, we should have traded up a few slots and took Connaughton instead of him.

I have seen absolutely nothing in Thornton. He's a terrible shooter and plays smaller than he is.

[LooseCannon]

Larry Nance Jr., who a lot of mock drafts had going in the 50s or even being undrafted, seems like the biggest reach in the draft.

[PhoSita]

Larry Nance Jr., who a lot of mock drafts had going in the 50s or even being undrafted, seems like the biggest reach in the draft.

WCS at #6 honestly seems like the biggest one to me, especially considering the roster fit.

Kings would be much better off with Mudiay, could have used the money saved on Rondo to sign Robin Lopez.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Larry Nance Jr., who a lot of mock drafts had going in the 50s or even being undrafted, seems like the biggest reach in the draft.

TP. I'm also a big fan of the NFL and especially the draft and this happens every year. "Big reach" is hyperbole used by media to really say "There was a discrepancy between the media and Real Life Basketball Evaluators on this pick."

A lot of media people are lazy. For every one person in the media who actually goes to games and watches tape there are 10-500 that just hang onto that person's word from months ago. It takes a good 2-4 years to really evaluate a draft, anyway, but if we're going to jump to early conclusions:

- Rozier currently looks like he belongs right where he was drafted. Mudiay and Russell shown more NBA point guard characteristics (much better vision, better passing) but they were taken in the top of the lottery
- RJ Hunter looks like the steal of the 1st round at his given position for this draft
- Jordan Mickey looks like another steal