How can you Justify Poeltl over Ellenson

[KG Living Legend]

 Jakob Poeltl would fit in perfectly here. His only glaring weakness is lack of range offensively. Two years ago he was the Center of your dreams. Blocks shot's scores inside, guards the pick and roll, good passer.

 However what does everyone always talk about around here. No stars. Bunch of mediocre players.
 Well Ellenson could easily be a star, a go to guy, a 6'11" ISO scorer, with range, handles, big strong body, plus he rebounds, blocks shots, passes well.
 Jakob kills him in shooting% and efficiency, but he also never shots outside of ten feet.

 Plus Ellenson kills him in production freshman year and Henry is younger with a lot more Upside.

 Jakob Poeltl freshman

 9ppg 7 RPG 2 bpg

 Henry Ellenson freshman

 17 ppg 10 RPG 1.5 bpg

 Hard to justify taking Jakob over Henry.

[byennie]

Ellenson definitely has a high upside, but the answer is simple: defense & development.

Poeltl is one of the best defensive prospects in the draft and Ellenson is a poor defender. Ellenson is sold as a stretch 4 but has consistently shot under 30% from 3PT before and during his college career. Poeltl is shooting 65% from 2PT and Ellenson is under 50%.

In short, Poeltl is a better player now, but Ellenson has a chance at being more special if he can develop into a Kevin Love - like offensive player. Poeltl is still only 20, so it's not like his development is over either.

[Smartacus]

Poetl's definitely got beyond-the-stats defensive impact as well. His mobility at his size is borderline elite and he could probably set a mean screen. It's not hard to imagine him as the 4th option defensive minded center on a contender similar to Bogut.

Is that worth our top pick in the draft? Maybe. Over Ellenson? That'd be tough, Henry's arguably exceed the high expectations that were set for him this year as the focal point of Marquette's attack in his freshman year.

I don't really believe in using the tournament as the soul reason for picking a player but in Ellenson and Poetl's cases being that they're both so vital to their team's success I think this could be a great opportunity to see how they perform when the lights are brightest. Tough call.

[Celtics4ever]

Both these guys are not solid athletes and that limits their long term potential.   I think they both can play at the next level but things won't be as easy for them.

[chambers]

The reason many like Poeltl over Ellenson is because of his size.
Ellenson is doing pretty well against college athletes and beating up on a lot of smaller guys but he's not necessarily a skilled post banger like Poeltl.

To put it simply, people aren't sure that Ellenson's game will translate to the NBA while Poeltl's soft touch and footwork are extremely hard to find for someone his side.

I think 10 years ago Poeltl would be the easy pick over Ellenson but the game has evolved so much that Ellenson could also be a star at the next level.

Ultimately I think Ellenson is the bigger gamble, but they both have very high upside.

Ellenson's upside is Kevin Love with better D and Poeltl's upside is marc Gasol.

[positivitize]

It comes down to mentality and style of play, for me.

I don't want my center with any fu-fu frills. I don't want my center shooting threes. I want my center to be a freeking panzer tank. Someone who moves around the court at a decent speed with little to no attention paid to life/limb. I want my center to be a workhouse who will rebound at an elite rate, catch the ball and keep it high, and dunk on any sucker who happens to be in his way. I want someone who will anchor our defense and cause offenses to settle for jumpshots because he's gotten in their heads after blocking 5 shots in a quarter.

Screw finesse. Screw shots past 12 feet. Give me the hooks, the dunks, the power moves, crisp passing, and deft hands. I want my center to be a blunt instrument but clever as hell when it comes to putting the ball in the hoop if he catches the ball within 10 feet from the hoop.

Basically, I see Ellenson as a finesse player and possible KO replacement. I'm more attracted to the Diamond Stones, Domantas Sabonises, Jakob Poeltls of this draft. I wanted Willie Caulley-Stein last draft. I grew up with Perkins on the Celtics, and Jake Voskuhl/Hilton Armstrong on the Huskies.

I want my center to be, above all, big, mean, strong, and active. I think the Celtics would really benefit from having a center like that, rather than, you know, Tyler freeking Zeller.

[positivitize]

[PhoSita]

I'm not too optimistic about an athletic big man who shoots 42 percent in college turning into a big star at the next level.

[CelticGuardian]

Guys, guys... its like Ainge said "I don't see too many Olajuwons walking around", I'm personally high on Poeltl, his killing in the advanced stats... PER is almost Ben Simmons-esque!

Everyone here wants the next Paul Pierce, but I'm going to be quite honest this draft doesn't have that... even Ben Simmons has shied away from the big shots this season, Ingram struggles against good teams, Skal has struggled, Murray is cool but why don't we leave our fantasies at our pillows and get a guy that has potential to magnify our greatest strength as a team, which is defense? I think Poeltl is a much better WCS because he can score...

[nickagneta]

Poeltl is the only guy in this draft that I hope the Celtics end up with other than Simmons. I don't see Poeltl being a multi-time All-Star at the next level but he will be a very good defensive center and a rebounder that will average over 9 rebounds a game. He will be an above average to borderline All-Star talent in this league for a decade barring injuries.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Defense, size, motor and being a safer pick.

Jakob Poeltl doesn't have the upside as Henry Ellenson has, but he can contribute right away for an NBA team because of his defensive instincts. His motor is great. Dude keeps on running and doesn't take plays off.

He can be a legitimate rim protector and at worst, a great back up Center. That's why he's looking like a better pick than Ellenson, who has high upside, but could also end up being a guy who can't translate in the NBA.

Also. Is it Jakob (jae-KOB), or Jakob (yah-KOB)?

[Forza Juventus]

I don't think Jakob Poeltl is athletic enough. I think he will be solid but he will be targeted by smaller and more athletic players. People only like him and Dunn because they aren't freshman.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I don't think Jakob Poeltl is athletic enough. I think he will be solid but he will be targeted by smaller and more athletic players. People only like him and Dunn because they aren't freshman.

Funny, I think he's athletic enough.

He's not going to be a DeAndre Jordan or a Willy Cauley-Stein type of an athlete, but he's got great motor and good mobility for a 7 footer. He's a good pick and roll defender, which is due to his athletic ability and good feet.

(please sell Paulo Dybala to Arsenal)

[Csfan1984]

Depends on need. Poeltl more D and post play. Also a center 100%. Elle more PF and shot creator. I'd pass on both myself use Dallas pick on Zimmerman, Stone, Sabonis or Zubac.

[trickybilly]

Would anyone bite if the pick lands 6 and phoenix are open to an Alex Len trade?