Back to the 80's? (The Potential of our Picks)

[Shooting418]

I can't help but be incredibly excited about how good our picks look in SL.  I know, I know, it's SL.  But they are pretty much playing to what we thought their strengths were, most of which seeming to be able to translate to the NBA effectively.

Hunter looks like possibly our first real, true Point Guard.  His passing is emerging to be just as good as his shooting (His father claims his passing's even better than his shooting), and he's so intelligent that his IQ allows him to be in proper position to make up for his lack of athleticism.  Although he was a forward, this all reminds me of a guy named Larry Bird.  He also seems to be super into studying the game and soaking up every bit of info he can.  He skipped his first awards show to spend more time with the team.  This kid is going to be special.

Jordan Mickey has consistently been a monster.  This kid is blocking shots and rebounding like nobody's business.  Those just happen to be 2 things we DESPERATELY need on this team.  I mean, how far away is this guy from starting?  If he keeps playing like this, he seem to bring so much to this team that if he isn't starting, he's GOT to get serious minutes.

Rozier and Holmes look great, too, and could carve out roles.

I know I'm being SUPER optimistic here, but if Hunter and Mickey continue to progress and be as impressive as they've been, is it too optimistic to suggest they could evolve into stars?  Is it possible that we'll look back on the Hunter, Mickey draft along with the ( Lee or Johnson ) trade and see it along the same lines as the Bird, McHale draft along with the Parrish trade?

I'm by no means a basketball expert, and probably totally showing that here, but hey, I'm excited.  And I'm allowed to be.  That's half the fun

[KG Living Legend]

right on brother. 60 Win team.

[Greenbean]

Welcome to CB! And TP for your first post!

Im pretty hopeful for these guys too and see some really nice skills, but Im not as high in them as you are.

Just to clarify, you think Hunter and Mickey can be as good as Bird and McHale? Im afraid youre going to catch alot of heat on your first post but stay positive my friend!

[The One]

You tell'em daddy!  Celtics Forever!!!!

[JumpingJudkins]

Nice to be excited, and Hunter's passing is excellent ... but he is not and will not be a point guard.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

right on brother. 60 Win team.

I logged on just to TP your awesome optimism.

To the OP, I don't think Hunter needs to be a point guard on our team. He may struggle with dribbling against strong, quick guards and struggle to get us into our offense.

That's ok. Thomas, Smart, Rozier, and even Turner can do that for us, especially this year. It is a real strength to have a player of his IQ and passing on the wing. I'd rather have him off ball, attacking closeouts, coming off screens, and spotting up. His passing is really dynamic when the defense is scrambling.

[Celtics4ever]

I wonder how old you were in the 80s?  No-way are these guys close to Bird, McHale and crew.

I agree that there are some things to be excited about from this draft.

[PhoSita]

You're allowed to be excited, just take a moment and look through the history of picks 16, 28, and 33.

Most likely, we're looking at our own younger versions of CJ Watson, Jeremy Lamb, and Ed Davis.  Or they might all be out of the league a few years from now.  Ending up with three rotation players would be pretty great considering where they were drafted.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

You're allowed to be excited, just take a moment and look through the history of picks 16, 28, and 33.

Most likely, we're looking at our own younger versions of CJ Watson, Jeremy Lamb, and Ed Davis.  Or they might all be out of the league a few years from now.  Ending up with three rotation players would be pretty great considering where they were drafted.

You're right. Most likely these guys are merely rotation players.

Here's to hoping Rozier is more like Giannis, or Leonard, or Sanders, or Jefferson, or Nash, or Hibbert, or Smith, or Holliday, or Granger, or Jermaine O'neil, or Shawn Kemp.

Here's to hoping Hunter is more like Parker, or David Lee, or Jimmy Butler, or Gobert, or Carroll, or Afflalo, or Batum, or Lowry, or Ibaka, or Spreewell.

Here's to hoping Mickey is more like Gasol, or Ginobli, or Green, or Middleton, or Dragic, or Milsap, or Stephenson, or Parsons, or Green, or Jordan, or Thomas, or Ellis.

[PhoSita]

You're allowed to be excited, just take a moment and look through the history of picks 16, 28, and 33.

Most likely, we're looking at our own younger versions of CJ Watson, Jeremy Lamb, and Ed Davis.  Or they might all be out of the league a few years from now.  Ending up with three rotation players would be pretty great considering where they were drafted.

You're right. Most likely these guys are merely rotation players.

Here's to hoping Rozier is more like Giannis, or Leonard, or Sanders, or Jefferson, or Nash, or Hibbert, or Smith, or Holliday, or Granger, or Jermaine O'neil, or Shawn Kemp.

Here's to hoping Hunter is more like Parker, or David Lee, or Jimmy Butler, or Gobert, or Carroll, or Afflalo, or Batum, or Lowry, or Ibaka, or Spreewell.

Here's to hoping Mickey is more like Gasol, or Ginobli, or Green, or Middleton, or Dragic, or Milsap, or Stephenson, or Parsons, or Green, or Jordan, or Thomas, or Ellis.

Wholeheartedly agreed.

[pablohoney]

Awesome post even if it reminds me of my younger self once wondering if Dino Radja, Kevin Gamble and Dee Brown would be the next big 3.

I think a more realistic comparison would be to the Joe Johnson, Kedrick Brown, Joe Forte draft.  All 3 looked good in SL.  Forte flamed out early once he faced real NBA players in training camp.  Kedrick actually looked like Tony Allen with a 3 point shot or JButler type which is why we traded future star Joe Johnson away.

I think Mickey or Hunter could be special but we need to see them do it for real against NBA defenders, rim protectors and finishers before we get too excited. Rozier may have been a "reach" but he is a legit NBA talent.   It is possible that we drafted the equivalent of what was possible in 2001 of Joe Johnson, Richard Jefferson and Tony Parker before our coach Obie pushed for Brown over RJeff and Red Auerbach for Forte over Parker.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

You're allowed to be excited, just take a moment and look through the history of picks 16, 28, and 33.

Most likely, we're looking at our own younger versions of CJ Watson, Jeremy Lamb, and Ed Davis.  Or they might all be out of the league a few years from now.  Ending up with three rotation players would be pretty great considering where they were drafted.

You're right. Most likely these guys are merely rotation players.

Here's to hoping Rozier is more like Giannis, or Leonard, or Sanders, or Jefferson, or Nash, or Hibbert, or Smith, or Holliday, or Granger, or Jermaine O'neil, or Shawn Kemp.

Here's to hoping Hunter is more like Parker, or David Lee, or Jimmy Butler, or Gobert, or Carroll, or Afflalo, or Batum, or Lowry, or Ibaka, or Spreewell.

Here's to hoping Mickey is more like Gasol, or Ginobli, or Green, or Middleton, or Dragic, or Milsap, or Stephenson, or Parsons, or Green, or Jordan, or Thomas, or Ellis.

Wholeheartedly agreed.

Hey! We finally agreed on something, PhoSita! I can feel the love!

[PhoSita]

Hey! We finally agreed on something, PhoSita! I can feel the love!

 

I'm sure we agree on plenty, I just have a habit of making it very difficult to tell the extent to which I agree with other people unless I make a point of saying it crystal clear such as "Wholeheartedly agreed."

I'm working on it. 

[CoachBo]

Meh.

We're still running a dumpster-diving operation, and 60 wins aren't happening with this group - ever.

I'll get excited when Ainge makes a major move adding a significant player to the roster. Summer league is meaningless.

[Ilikesports17]

Meh.

We're still running a dumpster-diving operation, and 60 wins aren't happening with this group - ever.

I'll get excited when Ainge makes a major move adding a significant player to the roster. Summer league is meaningless.

I think everyone agrees that this core isnt winning 60 games.

However, if Hunter, Rozier and Mickey can get their value to a point where it is substantially greater than picks 16, 28, and 33 then AInge is way closer to getting those significant pieces.

Also adding three more quality guys allows Ainge to throw a bunch of good players in a trade offer for a star without worrying about gutting the team.

I mean lets say SacTown falls apart and we get Cousins for Smart, Bradley, Thomas, KO, Dal and Brk 1sts and Sullinger (purely hypothetical I was just thinking of a deal for a star that guts our assets) Now if these 3 guys we drafted are garbage, we are not a very good ball club.

However if Rozier and Hunter can be 4-5th starters and Mickey looks like he can be a 4th or 5th big then all of a sudden we have a playoff squad, a superstar and a ton of cap room. bingo.