Celtics Rank 4th in Top Young Cores

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Doolittle did a nice write-up about the top young cores in the NBA according to the WARP.

http://espn.go.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/13284788/nba-ranking-young-cores-nba

He defines young players as anyone on the roster who won't be 26 by the end of next season, or 25 and younger.

The Bucks were first, but I think they probably moved into the lead with the signing of Monroe.
The Pelicans were second, completely carried by Davis.
The Jazz were third. They have drafted and developed a lot of young talent all over the first round over the past few years.
We were fourth, largely because of the sheer amount of young depth that we have at each position.

We were also ahead of Philly (5th), even though we have been in a rebuild as long as they have.

We were also ahead of the Blazers, even though they have a "superstar" and a lot of young prospects like us.

We were also ahead of the Magic and Pistons, even though most NBA fans generally believe they have a better young core than we do.

[Evantime34]

It's great that our young guys are getting positive attention. The comment most associated with our young guys in the media seems to be, well they aren't good enough to trade for a star. It's great to have something out there that is positive.

It is crazy that 9 of the 16 players currently on our roster are 24 or younger. With such a young team and positive results last year most statistical models have us winning more games than last year, which is great.

I could see Bradley and Crowder making a leap this year even though a lot of people don't expect much improvement.

[Celtics4ever]

Would be nice if we could see what the article said about us, I don't have nor would I ever consider paying for insider.

[littleteapot]

What about Minnesota? Wiggins and Towns alone should put them in the top 3.

[BitterJim]

Would be nice if we could see what the article said about us, I don't have nor would I ever consider paying for insider.

Via reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/3dygkg/celtics_4_in_doolittles_ranking_of_top_young_cores/ct9s3xr

[Boris Badenov]

This ranking seems to equate having a lot of young players with having a valuable core.

Unfortunately for us, five quarters are actually worth much less than a dollar in the NBA world.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

What about Minnesota? Wiggins and Towns alone should put them in the top 3.

They were outside of the top ten, but this is a WARP over the next three years. They may not be winning players until after that time.

[Evantime34]

This ranking seems to equate having a lot of young players with having a valuable core.

Unfortunately for us, five quarters are actually worth much less than a dollar in the NBA world.

This is what I was talking about. It seems like we can't say anything positive about our young players without it being followed by, well they aren't stars so it doesn't matter if they are any good.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This ranking seems to equate having a lot of young players with having a valuable core.

Unfortunately for us, five quarters are actually worth much less than a dollar in the NBA world.

No it really doesn't, but it does value having a lot of promising young players. The Pelicans are second with only Davis and Holliday.

It adds the projected WARP over the next three years for those players who will be 25 and younger this season. The "w" in WARP is wins. Our guys are projected to help us win games.

[PhoSita]

Can you post the ranking for those of us without insider?  You don't need to post the whole article (nor should you).


As for the rankings, let's take a look at the top young cores that are out there:

Philadelphia - Okafor, Noel, Embiid, Wroten, Saric, etc.

Milwaukee - MCW, Middleton, Jabari, Giannis, Monroe

Orlando - Peyton, Oladipo, Harris, Gordon, Vucevic, Hezonja

Sacramento - Cousins, McLemore, WCS

Minnesota - Rubio, Lavine, Shabazz, Wiggins, Towns, Dieng, Bennett

Boston - Smart, Sullinger, Olynyk, Young, Crowder, Hunter, Rozier, Mickey

Detroit - Drummond, Johnson, KCP

New Orleans - Davis, Holiday

Phoenix - Knight, Booker, Len, Warren

Utah - Favors, Gobert, Burke, Exum, Lyles, Burks

Denver - Mudiay, Harris, Nurkic




Given the chance to swap cores with one of the above teams, if I were running the Celtics, which ones would I turn down?

Denver.  Maybe Phoenix, but I'd probably go for it. 

I might change my mind on Denver if Mudiay goes out and has a great rookie season, unencumbered by Ty Lawson's presence.

[PhoSita]

This ranking seems to equate having a lot of young players with having a valuable core.

Unfortunately for us, five quarters are actually worth much less than a dollar in the NBA world.

No it really doesn't, but it does value having a lot of promising young players. The Pelicans are second with only Davis and Holliday.

It adds the projected WARP over the next three years for those players who will be 25 and younger this season. The "w" in WARP is wins. Our guys are projected to help us win games.

Thing is, how many of the young guys mentioned will see regular, consistent court time?  They can't all help us win games, especially with IT, Turner, Lee, and Amir ahead of them.  Not to mention Bradley, who technically qualifies for the "young core," but who is heading into his 6th year and has topped out at "just OK."

[Evantime34]

Can you post the ranking for those of us without insider?  You don't need to post the whole article (nor should you).


As for the rankings, let's take a look at the top young cores that are out there:

Philadelphia - Okafor, Noel, Embiid, Wroten, Saric, etc.

Milwaukee - MCW, Middleton, Jabari, Giannis, Monroe

Orlando - Peyton, Oladipo, Harris, Gordon, Vucevic, Hezonja

Sacramento - Cousins, McLemore, WCS

Minnesota - Rubio, Lavine, Shabazz, Wiggins, Towns, Dieng, Bennett

Boston - Smart, Sullinger, Olynyk, Young, Crowder, Hunter, Rozier, Mickey

Detroit - Drummond, Johnson, KCP

New Orleans - Davis, Holiday

Phoenix - Knight, Booker, Len, Warren

Utah - Favors, Gobert, Burke, Exum, Lyles, Burks

Denver - Mudiay, Harris, Nurkic




Given the chance to swap cores with one of the above teams, if I were running the Celtics, which ones would I turn down?

Denver.  Maybe Phoenix, but I'd probably go for it. 

I might change my mind on Denver if Mudiay goes out and has a great rookie season, unencumbered by Ty Lawson's presence.

I'm pretty sure he did it by projecting WARP for the core, so it's probably objective. Although I'd love to see the article to find out for sure.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Can you post the ranking for those of us without insider?  You don't need to post the whole article (nor should you).


As for the rankings, let's take a look at the top young cores that are out there:

Philadelphia - Okafor, Noel, Embiid, Wroten, Saric, etc.

Milwaukee - MCW, Middleton, Jabari, Giannis, Monroe

Orlando - Peyton, Oladipo, Harris, Gordon, Vucevic, Hezonja

Sacramento - Cousins, McLemore, WCS

Minnesota - Rubio, Lavine, Shabazz, Wiggins, Towns, Dieng, Bennett

Boston - Smart, Sullinger, Olynyk, Young, Crowder, Hunter, Rozier, Mickey

Detroit - Drummond, Johnson, KCP

New Orleans - Davis, Holiday

Phoenix - Knight, Booker, Len, Warren

Utah - Favors, Gobert, Burke, Exum, Lyles, Burks

Denver - Mudiay, Harris, Nurkic

Given the chance to swap cores with one of the above teams, if I were running the Celtics, which ones would I turn down?

Denver.  Maybe Phoenix, but I'd probably go for it. 

I might change my mind on Denver if Mudiay goes out and has a great rookie season, unencumbered by Ty Lawson's presence.

1. Bucks
2. Pelicans
3. Jazz
4. Celtics
5. Sixers
6. Blazers
7. Hornets
8. Raptors
9. Magic
10. Pistons
11. Kings
12. Pacers
13. Wizards
14. Spurs !!!!
15. Wolves

That's a tough question to ask. Would I prefer to have certain players from those cores? Maybe. But I think the point is that we have a lot of young guys on our roster who project to help teams win games, not just prospects, but effective players.

If you were gonna force me to decide, I might take the Pelicans, Bucks, and Wolves young core over ours. I'd consider the Jazz and Pacers too.

However, I like our team. I like our players. I think they can win games. I think we can win playoff series. I think, with luck, with grit, with consistency, and with elite chemistry, we could be contenders. A star might make it easier and the margin for error bigger, but I like our team. 

[Rondo9]

This ranking seems to equate having a lot of young players with having a valuable core.

Unfortunately for us, five quarters are actually worth much less than a dollar in the NBA world.

This is what I was talking about. It seems like we can't say anything positive about our young players without it being followed by, well they aren't stars so it doesn't matter if they are any good.

Agreed.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This ranking seems to equate having a lot of young players with having a valuable core.

Unfortunately for us, five quarters are actually worth much less than a dollar in the NBA world.

No it really doesn't, but it does value having a lot of promising young players. The Pelicans are second with only Davis and Holliday.

It adds the projected WARP over the next three years for those players who will be 25 and younger this season. The "w" in WARP is wins. Our guys are projected to help us win games.

Thing is, how many of the young guys mentioned will see regular, consistent court time?  They can't all help us win games, especially with IT, Turner, Lee, and Amir ahead of them.  Not to mention Bradley, who technically qualifies for the "young core," but who is heading into his 6th year and has topped out at "just OK."

I think WARP takes into account potential playing time.