Thon Maker declares for the 2016 NBA Draft; must be ruled eligible.

[nickagneta]

Danny should take who he wants at #3 and trade up if he has to with the rest of the picks to get this kid.  How many rookies are gonna be on this team next year?

Don't think trading up is going to be a problem. Scouts aren't nearly as enthusiastic about this kid as the draftnik internet lovers are that watched a few heavily edited videos from a couple years ago are, I think he will be there for the Celtics pick in the 20's and maybe even for one of the early second rounders the C's own from Philly or Minny.

[knuckleballer]

Danny should take who he wants at #3 and trade up if he has to with the rest of the picks to get this kid.  How many rookies are gonna be on this team next year?

Don't think trading up is going to be a problem. Scouts aren't nearly as enthusiastic about this kid as the draftnik internet lovers are that watched a few heavily edited videos from a couple years ago are, I think he will be there for the Celtics pick in the 20's and maybe even for one of the early second rounders the C's own from Philly or Minny.

Well, we have 5 second round picks, so we should have some flexibility.  I'd love to see us draft him because I'm a sucker for his YouTube videos.  He looks so much like KG.  A 7 footer who can move like that seems extremely rare, but what do I know.  I'll trust Danny and Brad and if they draft him, I'll be darn excited.

[PhoSita]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Thon-Maker-70462/

Not sure if anybody posted this yet, but it's pretty interesting.

He comes across as very determined, intelligent, and business like.  Certainly very confident in his game, but it seems genuine when he says he is focused first and foremost on practicing every day like its his job, because he expects it to be his job.

It's more important for me to be picked where I fit. When I'm on an NBA team I'm going to get my apartment five to ten mins walking distance to the practice facility. I'm going to live in the gym. I'm just ready to go to work every day. I want to be picked early, but I also want to go where it is a good fit.

The sky is the limit on what I can become and what I can do. In the league you have access 24/7 to the best teachers in the world. All you have to do is listen and work and live in the gym. My routine will be the same everyday no matter the day. Look at Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler. That's just work. Even look at Kobe from when he first got to the league to now. You have to work and love it.

Shooting the ball well is not as important as how you shoot the ball. If I make 1000 game shots a day for the next five years, I'll be a great shooter. My mechanics have to be sound. My footwork and balance has to be sound.

I look at Kristaps Porzingis and I think about how he is used in the NBA. I can do that. He is a mobile big.

If you put me in a wide pin down, Iverson cut, stagger double, horns action, or any pinch post action I can score or help my team score. I can hit the trailing three or pick and pop off the ball reversal. I shot a little over 90% from the line over the past two seasons. That's with going to the line about 8 times per game. Making shots consistently in the future won't be a problem. If you consistently work at something with a purpose, you can perfect it.

[knuckleballer]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Thon-Maker-70462/

Not sure if anybody posted this yet, but it's pretty interesting.

He comes across as very determined, intelligent, and business like.  Certainly very confident in his game, but it seems genuine when he says he is focused first and foremost on practicing every day like its his job, because he expects it to be his job.

It's more important for me to be picked where I fit. When I'm on an NBA team I'm going to get my apartment five to ten mins walking distance to the practice facility. I'm going to live in the gym. I'm just ready to go to work every day. I want to be picked early, but I also want to go where it is a good fit.

The sky is the limit on what I can become and what I can do. In the league you have access 24/7 to the best teachers in the world. All you have to do is listen and work and live in the gym. My routine will be the same everyday no matter the day. Look at Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler. That's just work. Even look at Kobe from when he first got to the league to now. You have to work and love it.

Shooting the ball well is not as important as how you shoot the ball. If I make 1000 game shots a day for the next five years, I'll be a great shooter. My mechanics have to be sound. My footwork and balance has to be sound.

I look at Kristaps Porzingis and I think about how he is used in the NBA. I can do that. He is a mobile big.

If you put me in a wide pin down, Iverson cut, stagger double, horns action, or any pinch post action I can score or help my team score. I can hit the trailing three or pick and pop off the ball reversal. I shot a little over 90% from the line over the past two seasons. That's with going to the line about 8 times per game. Making shots consistently in the future won't be a problem. If you consistently work at something with a purpose, you can perfect it.

Those qualities on an athletic 7 footer who show some skills and has a strong motor?  I don't get the late first or second round grades.

[CelticSooner]

No way this dude makes it out of the lottery. Someone will take a chance on him. My top two guesses are Denver and Phoenix.

[PhoSita]

Those qualities on an athletic 7 footer who show some skills and has a strong motor?  I don't get the late first or second round grades.

Lots of guys have good measurements and look good in high school, is the problem.

He might not be able to rebound at all against decent NBA competition.  He might not have a position that he can reliably defend.  He might need 3 or 4 years to bulk up and develop his shot to the point it's serviceable in an actual game.  He might not be anything more than a taller Anthony Tolliver or something.

He does seem to be very smart and hardworking, though, so a team that drafts him can look at him as a project they get to mold from day 1.

[knuckleballer]

Those qualities on an athletic 7 footer who show some skills and has a strong motor?  I don't get the late first or second round grades.

Lots of guys have good measurements and look good in high school, is the problem.

He might not be able to rebound at all against decent NBA competition.  He might not have a position that he can reliably defend.  He might need 3 or 4 years to bulk up and develop his shot to the point it's serviceable in an actual game.  He might not be anything more than a taller Anthony Tolliver or something.

He does seem to be very smart and hardworking, though, so a team that drafts him can look at him as a project they get to mold from day 1.

I agree.  As fans, we don't get the opportunity to meet him, work him out, or even see much more than highlight and lowlight videos.  I will be very excited if Danny decides to draft him though.

[PhoSita]

It'll be fun if the Celts draft Dragan Bender AND Thon Maker. 

[The One]

It'll be fun if the Celts draft Dragan Bender AND Thon Maker.

That would be nice...I would also support Skal and Thon with the Brooklyn and Dallas pick respectively.

[Big333223]

It'll be fun if the Celts draft Dragan Bender AND Thon Maker.

That would be nice...I would also support Skal and Thon with the Brooklyn and Dallas pick respectively.

This. Let's get Bender, Skal, and Thon in the same draft and just put out the longest team in the history of the league. Shut down the rim. It'll be beautiful.

[Celtics4ever]

This. Let's get Bender, Skal, and Thon in the same draft and just put out the longest team in the history of the league. Shut down the rim. It'll be beautiful.

Bender's blocks have went down over the years

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dragan-Bender/Summary/41582

All those guys are so weak, that it will take a bit for them to get up to NBA speed if league players don't break them in two.

[nickagneta]

It'll be fun if the Celts draft Dragan Bender AND Thon Maker.

That would be nice...I would also support Skal and Thon with the Brooklyn and Dallas pick respectively.

This. Let's get Bender, Skal, and Thon in the same draft and just put out the longest team in the history of the league. Shut down the rim. It'll be beautiful.

This is the equivalent of Minnesota drafting three point guards in the first round some years ago. It wasn't a very bright idea then and it's not now.

[SHAQATTACK]

I know I was on the Fab Melo band wagon draft night..... .......I ve paid my dues ..

I still 110 % taking Thon ...if he lasts till our second pick.


I could settle for Simmons and Maker.

[Future Celtics Owner]

This. Let's get Bender, Skal, and Thon in the same draft and just put out the longest team in the history of the league. Shut down the rim. It'll be beautiful.

Bender's blocks have went down over the years

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dragan-Bender/Summary/41582

All those guys are so weak, that it will take a bit for them to get up to NBA speed if league players don't break them in two.

None of them are insanely long. I like Thon and would love to get him with the Celtic's pick.
I can't tell with bender, he's younger than Ingram but does not posses the incredible length that Ingram has per his position.

but next years draft is much deeper and if we draft Skal with the Mavs pick and Thon later on and another team is willing to trade a 2017 pick(that will be in the lottery) then I would think about it. especially if they offer it for just Skal or just Thon.....GM's go prospect crazy on draft night.

[Big333223]

It'll be fun if the Celts draft Dragan Bender AND Thon Maker.

That would be nice...I would also support Skal and Thon with the Brooklyn and Dallas pick respectively.

This. Let's get Bender, Skal, and Thon in the same draft and just put out the longest team in the history of the league. Shut down the rim. It'll be beautiful.

This is the equivalent of Minnesota drafting three point guards in the first round some years ago. It wasn't a very bright idea then and it's not now.

The truth is, I'm mostly joking about this. On the other hand, I kind of love the idea of drafting all 3 and then waiting it out to see which of them (if any) become a true star. Not that I expect it to happen.