With the Third Pick in the NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics select...

[footey]

If Bender is really the best prospect playing the stretch 4, you probably have to draft him. I don't know if he is. Danny will have a good idea based on the thorough scouting,etc.  If he is, you have to take him over another guard. Even if he takes 2-4 years to develop, you take him. We are not realistically competing with the likes of CLE, GS, OKC, or even SA for the next 2-3 years anyway, so build this team to become great in 3-4 years.

[Tr1boy]

What does bender solve now or in the next 2 years for the celts?

Send him down to the D league and if he struggles in year 1 then? Year 2 then?

Such a risk to pick this skinny kid. 

If we had a tight front court , and overall strong team, there is a little less risk to grab bender and let him develop very slowly.   Bust or not ppl wouldn't care as much.  But the Celtics are not in this situation .  The potential brilliant trade by ainge could turn into dust with bender.   

[manl_lui]

since DA took over as GM in 2003, is this the highest pick he has ever gotten? I mean the 3rd pick isn't entirely that bad, as there are some HOF players drafted in that position. If we do keep the pick, I hope Danny can really do well in this draft. While I have heard mixed reviews on Bender, personally I really like Hield. I think the upside of Bender is he is very young and very athletic so even if he is not a draft and stash he'd be a long term project. Also heard he has amazing work ethics, so I hope that translate in the NBA. If he can bulk up just 10 lbs I say that is good for him.

[PaulP34]

You build your team with guys who can score first. Then you go big. Danny has done this the right way so far. He's got a 2017 top 5 pick and another top pick in 18. He can draft Heild and trade off Smart and Bradley for another peice and go big in 2017 or 18 and don't forget the Memphis 2019 pick. Even if he does this slowly he can build a championship roster but you gotta get scoring and that starts with Buddy Heild.

[mrceltic]

If he can bulk up just 10 lbs I say that is good for him.

Let's just hire Sully as his conditioning coach, then.

He'll be like Shaq in no time.

[footey]

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2016/05/2016_nba_draft_prospects_dragan_bender_boston_celtics.html

[walker834]

I think Bender could be the Roger Federer of basketball.  That's the Tom Brady in me though.

CelticsBlog's version of Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey

There was nothing deep about that.  That was just a cocky wiseass statement.

[Ilikesports17]

What does bender solve now or in the next 2 years for the celts?

Send him down to the D league and if he struggles in year 1 then? Year 2 then?

Such a risk to pick this skinny kid. 

If we had a tight front court , and overall strong team, there is a little less risk to grab bender and let him develop very slowly.   Bust or not ppl wouldn't care as much.  But the Celtics are not in this situation .  The potential brilliant trade by ainge could turn into dust with bender.

We just won 48 games. Plus you dont make a pick based on what it took to get that pick(sunk costs) or how much people would care if it flops. You make the pick based on what you think is best for your team.

If Ainge believes that bender is BPA he should take him. Also worth noting he looks like he could be the perfect modern big for our system.

I understand wanting to improve the team now. I really do. The problem is, no matter what you do in the draft, you will create more questions than answers. If you pick Hield Murray or Dunn you just created a massive minutes jam that probably necessitates a trade. Brown is  an option, but based on what Ive read, he is dropping closer to 10 than he is to 3 on big boards(could be false).

If you really want to immediately improve the team with #3 than the first guy you'd probably pick would be Poeltl and that is a massive massive reach.

[PaulP34]

You don't pick Buddy Held without the motive of trading Bradley or Smart.

[D Dub]

The Ainge's are building quite the camp fire for this guy Bender.

I can only assume they want to trade the pick, why else would you so deliberately telegraph your move?

[D Dub]

Gold.

I think Bender could be the Roger Federer of basketball.  That's the Tom Brady in me though.

CelticsBlog's version of Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey

There was nothing deep about that.  That was just a cocky wiseass statement.

[kraidstar]

But seriously, Ainge is gonna reach for Jaylen Brown after failing to trade for Jimmy Butler and I'm gonna break my hand in the aftermath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDS2mSLuMxI

What isn't there to like?

TP

the kid has crazy athleticism and just loves to slash and either dunk or get to the line.

imagine a more fiery and physical jeff green, or a SF with john wall's slashing and finishing. if he gets better with his jumper, he'll be a stud.

[hwangjini_1]

What does bender solve now or in the next 2 years for the celts?

Send him down to the D league and if he struggles in year 1 then? Year 2 then?

Such a risk to pick this skinny kid. 

If we had a tight front court , and overall strong team, there is a little less risk to grab bender and let him develop very slowly.   Bust or not ppl wouldn't care as much.  But the Celtics are not in this situation .  The potential brilliant trade by ainge could turn into dust with bender.

missing out on a #3 pick is never good for any team. and all picks are risks to bust. how many #1s have turned out poorer than hoped for let alone many later picks? ainge will assess the risk and if he thinks bender is worth it, ainge will pick him.

ainge passed on antetokounmpo a few years back, so it is possible he sees bender similarly. but i trust ainge's judgement more than this board's.

but to my main point, if bender is a bust it hurts, but it is not going to automatically turn the brilliant trade with the nets into "dust". there are still two more probable lottery picks on the way from them.

a bust is bad, not the apocalypse.

[PaulP34]

I like Jaylen Brown. 6'7" he could become this years steal and I wouldn't consider him a reach at #3 but I can see Danny trading #3 to someone to draft Bender and getting Brown at 4-6 and gain an additional pick for either a trade chip for next years 1st round or a player. But if all else fails I would not be upset if we take Brown at #3

[moiso]

But seriously, Ainge is gonna reach for Jaylen Brown after failing to trade for Jimmy Butler and I'm gonna break my hand in the aftermath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDS2mSLuMxI

What isn't there to like?

TP

the kid has crazy athleticism and just loves to slash and either dunk or get to the line.

imagine a more fiery and physical jeff green, or a SF with john wall's slashing and finishing. if he gets better with his jumper, he'll be a stud.

And on the flip side, imagine Bill Walker.