In Search of the next (De)Andre...

[The One]

So Jordan and Drummond...for my money are two of the best two centers in the Association right now.   This is taking into account both sides of the ball.  (I see you Boogie!).

Now when they came out of the draft, the consensus was that they were both raw skills-wise.  But athletically, they were both very impressive for centers.

The question is, with so many draft picks, why can't the Celtics find the next Jordan or Drummond?

I think finding this piece could catapult them into a top two or three team in the East.

Who could fit the bill as a center who is a diamond in the rough now but could be special in 2,3, or 4 years?

[Granath]

So Jordan and Drummond...for my money are two of the best two centers in the Association right now.   This is taking into account both sides of the ball.  (I see you Boogie!).

Now when they came out of the draft, the consensus was that they were both raw skills-wise.  But athletically, they were both very impressive for centers.

The question is, with so many draft picks, why can't the Celtics find the next Jordan or Drummond?

I think finding this piece could catapult them into a top two or three team in the East.

Who could fit the bill as a center who is a diamond in the rough now but could be special in 2,3, or 4 years?

Let's start with "the question is"...

You named two centers. There's 30 teams. Drummond was selected 9th in the NBA draft. Since 1998 the Celtics have selected that high in the draft only three times - 2006, 2007 and 2014. That guy wasn't in the 2006 draft. The 2007 pick (Jeff Green) netted us Ray Allen and thus KG - I'd say that worked out well for the team. So far I'm happy with the 2014 pick. So there hasn't been much of an opportunity to get a high-quality, early-in-the-draft big man. That's one of the rarest of birds in the NBA anway.

Even rarer is the "late bloomer" pick. DeAndre Jordan was a 2nd round pick - #35. That means pretty much every GM in the league passed on him. I remember there being work ethic questions about him but I don't remember what caused him to fall so far in the draft. But something did. Let's face it...the Clips got lucky. This year many people thought that guy was Robert Upshaw. He got cut by the Lakers. You can't go chasing unicorns. If one falls into your lap, you thank the Gods that it happened. But lamenting the fact that the Cs haven't drafted a unicorn isn't really rational or realistic.

As for the diamond in the rough, Ainge actually has been pretty good at that. He just hasn't found an all-star Center with mid-round picks and that's nothing to be ashamed about. Of course, depending on how the Nets play, we may not need to look for that long-term development project anyway...

[Future Celtics Owner]

So Jordan and Drummond...for my money are two of the best two centers in the Association right now.   This is taking into account both sides of the ball.  (I see you Boogie!).

Now when they came out of the draft, the consensus was that they were both raw skills-wise.  But athletically, they were both very impressive for centers.

The question is, with so many draft picks, why can't the Celtics find the next Jordan or Drummond?

I think finding this piece could catapult them into a top two or three team in the East.

Who could fit the bill as a center who is a diamond in the rough now but could be special in 2,3, or 4 years?

Let's start with "the question is"...

You named two centers. There's 30 teams. Drummond was selected 9th in the NBA draft. Since 1998 the Celtics have selected that high in the draft only three times - 2006, 2007 and 2014. That guy wasn't in the 2006 draft. The 2007 pick (Jeff Green) netted us Ray Allen and thus KG - I'd say that worked out well for the team. So far I'm happy with the 2014 pick. So there hasn't been much of an opportunity to get a high-quality, early-in-the-draft big man. That's one of the rarest of birds in the NBA anway.

Even rarer is the "late bloomer" pick. DeAndre Jordan was a 2nd round pick - #35. That means pretty much every GM in the league passed on him. I remember there being work ethic questions about him but I don't remember what caused him to fall so far in the draft. But something did. Let's face it...the Clips got lucky. This year many people thought that guy was Robert Upshaw. He got cut by the Lakers. You can't go chasing unicorns. If one falls into your lap, you thank the Gods that it happened. But lamenting the fact that the Cs haven't drafted a unicorn isn't really rational or realistic.

As for the diamond in the rough, Ainge actually has been pretty good at that. He just hasn't found an all-star Center with mid-round picks and that's nothing to be ashamed about. Of course, depending on how the Nets play, we may not need to look for that long-term development project anyway...

Chasing Unicorns is one thing but there is nothing wrong with reflecting on history and looking for patterns or a better understanding of NBA level talent.

[PhoSita]

If you want to talk about centers in the Deandre / Drummond mold, Hassan Whiteside is in that category as well.  The Heat got him out of the D-League.

So let's ask -- what are the characteristics that all three of those guys share?

[Future Celtics Owner]

Also look at Thomas Bryant. He has the length and raw ability I think you are referring to. He is not ranked in this draft but he could easily have a good game at Indy and be. I think he is more offensively polished than the 2 you mentioned, but we will get to see him play this year.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChte3yrUwE

[GetLucky]

I remember when the Pierce/Garnett/Rivers to LA deal was nixed. People were so angry that KG "only netted DeAndre Jordan" and said that, "KG's rotting corpse will be a better basketball player in (the then-win-now) Rondo Era."

[Future Celtics Owner]

Also look at Thomas Bryant. He has the length and raw ability I think you are referring to. He is not ranked in this draft but he could easily have a good game at Indy and be. I think he is more offensively polished than the 2 you mentioned, but we will get to see him play this year.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChte3yrUwE

why does the video not show, I always just pasted the youtube link.

[PhoSita]

Combine measurements plus NCAA stats for the three guys mentioned above:

Whiteside

6'10.5'' without shoes
7'7'' wingspan
227 pounds
9'5'' standing reach
27.0 no step vert; 31 max vert

NCAA - 12.9 pts 9.1 reb 5.3 blks, .5 stls, on 50.5 FG% in 26.7 minutes


Drummond

6'9.75'' w/out shoes
279 lbs
7'6.25'' wingspan
9'1.5'' standing reach
31.5 no step vert; 33.5 max vert

NCAA - 28.4 minutes, 10.0 pts, 7.6 minutes, 2.7 blks, .8 stls, on 53.8 FG%


Deandre Jordan

6'9.75'' w/o shoes
250 lbs
7'6'' wingspan
9'5.5'' standing reach
26.0 no step vert
30.5 max vert

NCAA - 20.1 mpg, 7.9 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.3 blks, .2 stls, on 61.7 FG%

All were one and done.

Quick look at DX mock draft, who looks anything like that?

[The One]

So Jordan and Drummond...for my money are two of the best two centers in the Association right now.   This is taking into account both sides of the ball.  (I see you Boogie!).

Now when they came out of the draft, the consensus was that they were both raw skills-wise.  But athletically, they were both very impressive for centers.

The question is, with so many draft picks, why can't the Celtics find the next Jordan or Drummond?

I think finding this piece could catapult them into a top two or three team in the East.

Who could fit the bill as a center who is a diamond in the rough now but could be special in 2,3, or 4 years?

Let's start with "the question is"...

You named two centers. There's 30 teams. Drummond was selected 9th in the NBA draft. Since 1998 the Celtics have selected that high in the draft only three times - 2006, 2007 and 2014. That guy wasn't in the 2006 draft. The 2007 pick (Jeff Green) netted us Ray Allen and thus KG - I'd say that worked out well for the team. So far I'm happy with the 2014 pick. So there hasn't been much of an opportunity to get a high-quality, early-in-the-draft big man. That's one of the rarest of birds in the NBA anway.

Even rarer is the "late bloomer" pick. DeAndre Jordan was a 2nd round pick - #35. That means pretty much every GM in the league passed on him. I remember there being work ethic questions about him but I don't remember what caused him to fall so far in the draft. But something did. Let's face it...the Clips got lucky. This year many people thought that guy was Robert Upshaw. He got cut by the Lakers. You can't go chasing unicorns. If one falls into your lap, you thank the Gods that it happened. But lamenting the fact that the Cs haven't drafted a unicorn isn't really rational or realistic.

As for the diamond in the rough, Ainge actually has been pretty good at that. He just hasn't found an all-star Center with mid-round picks and that's nothing to be ashamed about. Of course, depending on how the Nets play, we may not need to look for that long-term development project anyway...

I hear you...I think I'm looking forward...not really complaining about the past.  I agree that it's very hard to accomplish and there is luck involved.

But since there will be so many picks, barring a huge trade, why not target a raw, athletic center that could vault the Celtics up a couple of levels.

[The One]

Combine measurements plus NCAA stats for the three guys mentioned above:

Whiteside

6'10.5'' without shoes
7'7'' wingspan
227 pounds
9'5'' standing reach
27.0 no step vert; 31 max vert

NCAA - 12.9 pts 9.1 reb 5.3 blks, .5 stls, on 50.5 FG% in 26.7 minutes


Drummond

6'9.75'' w/out shoes
279 lbs
7'6.25'' wingspan
9'1.5'' standing reach
31.5 no step vert; 33.5 max vert

NCAA - 28.4 minutes, 10.0 pts, 7.6 minutes, 2.7 blks, .8 stls, on 53.8 FG%


Deandre Jordan

6'9.75'' w/o shoes
250 lbs
7'6'' wingspan
9'5.5'' standing reach
26.0 no step vert
30.5 max vert

NCAA - 20.1 mpg, 7.9 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.3 blks, .2 stls, on 61.7 FG%

All were one and done.

Quick look at DX mock draft, who looks anything like that?

Hat tip to trickybilly for this...maybe Damian Jones. - Vanderbilt - 7'0" height - 7'2" wingspan.

And from the videos he is very athletic.

[sofutomygaha]

We do chase these guys when we have the chance to, and I'm sure we'd have drafted Cauley-Stein given the chance. Fab Melo was the last one.

I'd have really liked to sign Robert Upshaw for the Red Claws. If you want to find a recent draftee with a Whiteside-esque trajectory, he's the best candidate I can see.

[Tr1boy]

His name is Hassan Whiteside

[Evantime34]

Combine measurements plus NCAA stats for the three guys mentioned above:

Whiteside

6'10.5'' without shoes
7'7'' wingspan
227 pounds
9'5'' standing reach
27.0 no step vert; 31 max vert

NCAA - 12.9 pts 9.1 reb 5.3 blks, .5 stls, on 50.5 FG% in 26.7 minutes


Drummond

6'9.75'' w/out shoes
279 lbs
7'6.25'' wingspan
9'1.5'' standing reach
31.5 no step vert; 33.5 max vert

NCAA - 28.4 minutes, 10.0 pts, 7.6 minutes, 2.7 blks, .8 stls, on 53.8 FG%


Deandre Jordan

6'9.75'' w/o shoes
250 lbs
7'6'' wingspan
9'5.5'' standing reach
26.0 no step vert
30.5 max vert

NCAA - 20.1 mpg, 7.9 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.3 blks, .2 stls, on 61.7 FG%

All were one and done.

Quick look at DX mock draft, who looks anything like that?

My guess would be Cheick Diallo
6'9 220
7'4 wingspan. His video makes him look like has some serious hops.

[konkmv]

From this draft we will get a good sf... Ingram brown or Simmons..

[Yoki_IsTheName]

His name is Hassan Whiteside

I wonder, I remember Tommy saying that he's going to trade 2 first round picks for him. I think that was last year, when he's just starting to garner attention. And a lot of people thought that's too much.

Looking at it now, Tommy is looking on point here. A lot of teams slept on Whiteside, and Miami is reaping all the benefits. I thought last year, he was the perfect project to acquire when he was tearing it up in the D-League, and we didn't even gave him a look when we needed a rim protector.

My concern with Whiteside, and Roy drilled this into me last year, is he can put the numbers, but he's on the low end among Centers in Real Plus/Minus last year.

The concern is if he's just a numbers guy that doesn't translate to wins. Roy and I had good debate about this, as while he's on the top of the league in rebounds and blocks, he's on the bottom in Real +/-. This year, he seems to be on track on the positive side, so there's some improvement, albeit it's still just 7 games in.

I'd throw a max offer at him this summer, no hesitation.