Realistic Draft scenario for Celtics

[KG Living Legend]

 I'm really coming around on Bender. If we get the third pick it's turning into a no Brainer.
 Super skilled 7 footer who can shoot, handle, pass, score down low, good athlete and he's a perfect big guy in the New NBA.

 Celtics lick Diamond Stone if he's there. Big strong hulking big man, inside scorer, if we landed both Stone and Bender, and add Kelly and Mickey that's a well balanced very talented frontcourt to add to our deep backcourt Wed be in great shape.

 Dallas pick Levert, Valentine, Hield, Jeanne, Damion Jones

 Future lineup

 Diamond Stone
 Dragan Bender
 Crowder
 Smart
 Thomas

 Kelly
 Mickey
 Levert
 Bradley
 Rozier

 Hunter
 Young

[clover]

Is that like kissing the Blarney Stone? Bender is projected by DraftExpress at #3, so the C's will need the luck o' the Irish to land him.

[rollie mass]

i  watched porzingis at a young age and although skilled as europeans are i thought american forwards would kill him physically-i thought he was going to be a skinny white guy bust-boy was i wrong
so here we are again and people are talking bender
and i watch the vids and think the same as i did for porzingis-
so judging these skinny 7 footers at 18 is better left to the pros
it is so rare to get a high pick i hate rolling the dice on a possible bust-
is the fact that porzingis has been so good adding to this guys stock and they are afraid to get it wrong

[The One]

The Stone - Bender combo?

I LOVE IT!!

[Celtics4ever]

Diamond Stone Scouting Report: January 2016
Posted on January 22, 2016 by Peter Nygaard

Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Few freshman entered the 2015-16 college basketball season under more pressure than Maryland center Diamond Stone. Already saddled with the expectations that inevitably come with being a top recruit, Stone immediately found himself cast as the lone teenaged rotation player on a veteran-laden Terrapins team with national championship designs.

As is to be expected with most 18-year-old big men, the early part of the season has been a bit of a mixed bag for Stone. While the crown jewel of coach Mark Turgeon’s recruiting class has shone radiantly at times — most notably, setting the Maryland single-game freshman scoring record with 39 points in a comeback victory over Penn State — Stone’s flaws have also been on full display, leading Turgeon to limit his minutes by bringing him off the bench. And though it appears that Stone may make his triumphant return to Maryland’s starting lineup sooner rather than later, a number of questions still linger that he will have to answer in order to solidify himself as a presumptive lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Offense

True to his name, Stone’s offensive game revolves primarily around his toughness. He is a bully when he wants to be, and his blend of brute strength and agility can make him difficult to contain once he gains any sort of inside position on his defender. Stone won’t leap out of the gym, but he does have a very quick second jump. He also has great hands for a player his size, which is especially important given that he does the majority of his work below the rim.

Combine those two attributes with his junkyard dog ferocity in the low post, and it’s little wonder why defenders can sometimes appear overmatched. It’s not uncommon to see Stone get two or three put-back attempts in a row because nobody can rip the ball away from him; the possession is either going to end in an easy bucket, free throws or both.


Of course, the flip side is Stone could stand to improve at finishing through contact. Longer defenders tend to give Stone trouble, given his below-the-rim nature, and opponents who are able to push back against his strength are able to keep him out of the areas in which he is most dangerous.

However, Stone is hardly a one-dimensional scorer. The Terps have only more recently begun to exploit the freshman center’s prowess as a pick-and-pop threat, but he has flashed the ability to bury mid-range jumpers with some regularity. Stone already possesses a fairly smooth stroke, and the fact that he is shooting a remarkable 80.2 percent from the free throw line projects well with regards to the likelihood that he will continue to expand his range.

Diamond Stone shot chart
Continuing to add dynamic elements to his game is important for Stone’s development because as it stands now, he has a disconcerting habit of fading in and out of the offense. When he’s not directly involved in the action, Stone has a tendency to drift, letting smaller defenders take him out of the play entirely without much resistance. Even when he is involved, he can sometimes appear lethargic. Often, his attempts at setting screens could more accurately be described as tangentially standing in the same general direction as his teammate is headed.

And though Stone leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounding rate, that’s actually a bit of a misnomer. A whopping 48.9 percent of Stone’s offensive boards have come off his own missed shots, often on multiple put-back attempt plays as seen in the video above. Among the other nine players in the Top 10 in the conference in ORB%, only one had a percentage even half as high as Stone’s. Outside of corralling his own misses, Stone wasn’t all that effective on the offensive glass.

Defense

Stone’s rebounding issues are not limited to the offensive end, either. On rate alone, Stone’s defensive rebounding numbers are lower than one would expect for a player his size. In fairness, Maryland is a good rebounding team in general, so it’s full well possible that Stone’s rebounding numbers are being cannibalized to an extent by his teammates. However, in looking at the tape, it’s clear that there are some glaring issues nonetheless.


For a player with such tenacity inside the opponent’s paint, it’s downright weird to see Stone sleepwalk through rebounding opportunities on the defensive glass. Sometimes, he exhibits a complete disinterest in boxing out; other times, he seems to just kind of give up when he’s placed at a disadvantage.

Now, this is not always the case. When he’s dialed in, Stone uses that same bruising strength to claim ownership of the boards. But again, he’s 6-11 and 255 lbs. The fact that he’s posted five or more defensive rebounds in a game only three times this season would seem to be a red flag. On the positive side, his best rebounding performances have come since the new year, so there is some hope moving forward. But the effort needs to be far more consistent.

The same can be said about Stone’s work as a defensive anchor, though he has certainly made strides in recent weeks. He’s at the point where it’s easy to envision him developing into a strong one-on-one post defender. Stone generally does a solid job of standing his ground on the block, though larger, more developed players like North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks have been able to push him around a bit. But as Stone continues to add muscle, he should develop into a rock on the low block. And the stronger he gets, the more he’ll be able to smother opposing post-ups with his 7-3 wingspan. His discipline in man-to-man defense has gotten to where it needs to be; now, it’s up to his body to catch up.

As far as team defense is concerned, it’s probably more likely than not that Stone will never develop into a reliable defensive anchor. He has the requisite length, and from time to time, he’ll flash the anticipation skills needed for the role. However, those moments are few and far between. More frequently, Stone plays a little too far off the ball-handler, conceding the open jumper. He also has a tendency to fail to seal off angles of attack, particularly along the baseline. Even without being a true rim protector, though, he has the tools to be an effective deterrent in pick-and-roll defense. His length and agility already give him a puncher’s chance against most perimeter players, and the more knowledge and experience he is able to soak up, the better he should get.

That, coupled with some strong post defense, should still make Stone an asset in his own end.

Outlook

Stone is an 18-year-old center prospect with great hands, good length and above-average agility for the position. While he tends to rely on his strength to play ‘bully ball’ in the post, he is an excellent free throw shooter for his position and has the potential to be a reliable threat in pick-and-pop actions. Defensively, he projects more as a strong man-to-man defender than a true rim protector, though he has the physical tools necessary to be effective at slowing the pick-and-roll. The biggest question mark at this point is his motor, which has a tendency to run cold for long stretches of time.

Whether or not he is able to put forth consistent effort on a play-to-play basis will be the biggest determinant of Stone’s success at the next level.

http://upsidemotor.com/2016/01/22/diamond-stone-nba-draft-2016-scouting-report-lottery-maryland-terrapins/


Still sure you want Stone, I mean, he has a cool name.  Bender was underwhelming earlier in the year too.  But he has improved some lately.   I think Stone's lack of consistent effort and rebounding prowess raise concerns.

[Evantime34]

Diamond Stone Scouting Report: January 2016
Posted on January 22, 2016 by Peter Nygaard

Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Few freshman entered the 2015-16 college basketball season under more pressure than Maryland center Diamond Stone. Already saddled with the expectations that inevitably come with being a top recruit, Stone immediately found himself cast as the lone teenaged rotation player on a veteran-laden Terrapins team with national championship designs.

As is to be expected with most 18-year-old big men, the early part of the season has been a bit of a mixed bag for Stone. While the crown jewel of coach Mark Turgeon’s recruiting class has shone radiantly at times — most notably, setting the Maryland single-game freshman scoring record with 39 points in a comeback victory over Penn State — Stone’s flaws have also been on full display, leading Turgeon to limit his minutes by bringing him off the bench. And though it appears that Stone may make his triumphant return to Maryland’s starting lineup sooner rather than later, a number of questions still linger that he will have to answer in order to solidify himself as a presumptive lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Offense

True to his name, Stone’s offensive game revolves primarily around his toughness. He is a bully when he wants to be, and his blend of brute strength and agility can make him difficult to contain once he gains any sort of inside position on his defender. Stone won’t leap out of the gym, but he does have a very quick second jump. He also has great hands for a player his size, which is especially important given that he does the majority of his work below the rim.

Combine those two attributes with his junkyard dog ferocity in the low post, and it’s little wonder why defenders can sometimes appear overmatched. It’s not uncommon to see Stone get two or three put-back attempts in a row because nobody can rip the ball away from him; the possession is either going to end in an easy bucket, free throws or both.


Of course, the flip side is Stone could stand to improve at finishing through contact. Longer defenders tend to give Stone trouble, given his below-the-rim nature, and opponents who are able to push back against his strength are able to keep him out of the areas in which he is most dangerous.

However, Stone is hardly a one-dimensional scorer. The Terps have only more recently begun to exploit the freshman center’s prowess as a pick-and-pop threat, but he has flashed the ability to bury mid-range jumpers with some regularity. Stone already possesses a fairly smooth stroke, and the fact that he is shooting a remarkable 80.2 percent from the free throw line projects well with regards to the likelihood that he will continue to expand his range.

Diamond Stone shot chart
Continuing to add dynamic elements to his game is important for Stone’s development because as it stands now, he has a disconcerting habit of fading in and out of the offense. When he’s not directly involved in the action, Stone has a tendency to drift, letting smaller defenders take him out of the play entirely without much resistance. Even when he is involved, he can sometimes appear lethargic. Often, his attempts at setting screens could more accurately be described as tangentially standing in the same general direction as his teammate is headed.

And though Stone leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounding rate, that’s actually a bit of a misnomer. A whopping 48.9 percent of Stone’s offensive boards have come off his own missed shots, often on multiple put-back attempt plays as seen in the video above. Among the other nine players in the Top 10 in the conference in ORB%, only one had a percentage even half as high as Stone’s. Outside of corralling his own misses, Stone wasn’t all that effective on the offensive glass.

Defense

Stone’s rebounding issues are not limited to the offensive end, either. On rate alone, Stone’s defensive rebounding numbers are lower than one would expect for a player his size. In fairness, Maryland is a good rebounding team in general, so it’s full well possible that Stone’s rebounding numbers are being cannibalized to an extent by his teammates. However, in looking at the tape, it’s clear that there are some glaring issues nonetheless.


For a player with such tenacity inside the opponent’s paint, it’s downright weird to see Stone sleepwalk through rebounding opportunities on the defensive glass. Sometimes, he exhibits a complete disinterest in boxing out; other times, he seems to just kind of give up when he’s placed at a disadvantage.

Now, this is not always the case. When he’s dialed in, Stone uses that same bruising strength to claim ownership of the boards. But again, he’s 6-11 and 255 lbs. The fact that he’s posted five or more defensive rebounds in a game only three times this season would seem to be a red flag. On the positive side, his best rebounding performances have come since the new year, so there is some hope moving forward. But the effort needs to be far more consistent.

The same can be said about Stone’s work as a defensive anchor, though he has certainly made strides in recent weeks. He’s at the point where it’s easy to envision him developing into a strong one-on-one post defender. Stone generally does a solid job of standing his ground on the block, though larger, more developed players like North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks have been able to push him around a bit. But as Stone continues to add muscle, he should develop into a rock on the low block. And the stronger he gets, the more he’ll be able to smother opposing post-ups with his 7-3 wingspan. His discipline in man-to-man defense has gotten to where it needs to be; now, it’s up to his body to catch up.

As far as team defense is concerned, it’s probably more likely than not that Stone will never develop into a reliable defensive anchor. He has the requisite length, and from time to time, he’ll flash the anticipation skills needed for the role. However, those moments are few and far between. More frequently, Stone plays a little too far off the ball-handler, conceding the open jumper. He also has a tendency to fail to seal off angles of attack, particularly along the baseline. Even without being a true rim protector, though, he has the tools to be an effective deterrent in pick-and-roll defense. His length and agility already give him a puncher’s chance against most perimeter players, and the more knowledge and experience he is able to soak up, the better he should get.

That, coupled with some strong post defense, should still make Stone an asset in his own end.

Outlook

Stone is an 18-year-old center prospect with great hands, good length and above-average agility for the position. While he tends to rely on his strength to play ‘bully ball’ in the post, he is an excellent free throw shooter for his position and has the potential to be a reliable threat in pick-and-pop actions. Defensively, he projects more as a strong man-to-man defender than a true rim protector, though he has the physical tools necessary to be effective at slowing the pick-and-roll. The biggest question mark at this point is his motor, which has a tendency to run cold for long stretches of time.

Whether or not he is able to put forth consistent effort on a play-to-play basis will be the biggest determinant of Stone’s success at the next level.

http://upsidemotor.com/2016/01/22/diamond-stone-nba-draft-2016-scouting-report-lottery-maryland-terrapins/


Still sure you want Stone, I mean, he has a cool name.  Bender was underwhelming earlier in the year too.  But he has improved some lately.   I think Stone's lack of consistent effort and rebounding prowess roure concerns.

When the first mocks came out I thought Stone would be great if we could get him with our pick or Dallas. Now i think he won't be available when we pick and after reading this im not sure he fits our style.

With our two non nets first id be happy if any centers are available that means Stone, Zimmerman, Diallo, Rabb or Jones ( some of which are more 4s but could play some 5, while rebounding and protecting the rim)

Also I agree about Bender but it makes me worry when I hear that he might not come over for a few years. With some exceptions the player we likely draft probably won't be slotted into the rotation immediately. Smart has been the only player drafted under Stevens that got consistent time as a rookie.

[KG Living Legend]

 I'll still take Stone IF he's still there. He's been getting better and better all year long.

 The rebounding concerns me the most, but he's a better center prospect than anyone on the roster, 19 years old, 250 pounds, he will be a beast inside.

[Celtics4ever]

NBA body from the get go.

[konkmv]

If not Simmons and Ingram, I would take brown stone and and jeanne... And we will have 31 and 35-36 do not forget that

[Celtics4ever]

I think Ainge may take Brimdah later in draft he has seen UCONN several times.

[Bostoncelticsforlife7]

I really love Jaylen Brown and his ELITE explosiveness, but is he not a good fit in boston with no jumper?

[knuckleballer]

I really love Jaylen Brown and his ELITE explosiveness, but is he not a good fit in boston with no jumper?

I agree his weak jumper won't be the best fit for the Celtics now, but I don't think that would be a reason not to draft him if he's the best player available when we pick.  The Celtics aren't close to contending and the roster will likely change a lot over the next several years.  That said, I haven't watched him enough to have much of an opinion of him yet. 

[Bostoncelticsforlife7]

I really love Jaylen Brown and his ELITE explosiveness, but is he not a good fit in boston with no jumper?

I agree his weak jumper won't be the best fit for the Celtics now, but I don't think that would be a reason not to draft him if he's the best player available when we pick.  The Celtics aren't close to contending and the roster will likely change a lot over the next several years.  That said, I haven't watched him enough to have much of an opinion of him yet.

Thanks! TP

[KG Living Legend]

 The positive with Browns shot is, Ive seen him use amateur Paul Pierce like jab steps, in the triple threat position from inside the three point line, and then bury the fifteen foot jumpshot.

[HomerSapien]

I think I've watched parts of 3 of Jaylen Brown's Cal games times this year, and tonight vs. Arizona I finally started seeing some of things that got me excited when I watched him as an HS player.  He was much more aggressive than I've seen him in previous games and is really explosive attacking the rim.  He also showed some defensive capabilities with a key steal, and a couple of chase down blocks.  His jumper still needs work, and his handle is pretty loose, but he has size and athletic tools that not many others do. 

He's in my top 4.