SI.com Mock Draft 5 - Chriss all the way up to 4

[Moranis]

http://www.si.com/nba/2016/06/03/nba-mock-draft-76ers-lakers-celtics-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram

Simmons, Ingram, Bender and then Chriss in a huge leap up the board.  Have Valentine going to us at 16 and Zizic at 23.  They have Skal dropping all the way back to 15.

[Csfan1984]

I'd trade up for Lab one spot for the 31st pick.

[GreenFaith1819]

I really like Criss, as well as Bender and quite a few others.

I think this draft is simply deeper than number 1 or 2 and BOS is in a GREAT place - especially with Danny and CBS leading the way.

Even with the Lakers at 2 or the Sixers at number 1? No matter who they pick they are STILL some years away from making the playoffs...they are certainly not making it next year no matter who they draft. Both would be better off trading their picks if they are looking to rebuild faster.

BOS? Been there done that. Our "painful" year was 2014-15, where we basically traded the farm for our Plethora of even MORE picks and options. We even made the playoff that year which was INCREDIBLE and gave Coach Stevens the recognition he deserves.

We're going to do well in this draft and the next few ones.

Great time to be a C's fan. We have a TON of options. I'm certain that Danny is doing/has done his homework and we'll be fine.

[ConnerHenry]

I'd trade up for Lab one spot for the 31st pick.

If Thon Maker is there at 31, do you still make this trade?

[Csfan1984]

I'd trade up for Lab one spot for the 31st pick.

If Thon Maker is there at 31, do you still make this trade?

Yes Lab has more upside than Maker and Valentine.  Team needs impact guys not depth.

Side question though do you really think he will be there at 31? Will he get past 76ers 2x, Clippers, Raptors, Suns, Warriors and Spurs? If 76ers move Noel Thon is a potential replacement. And all those other teams mention have FA/retirement questions for a few bigs on their rosters. I don't think Thon slips to 2nd round.

[dreamgreen]

Interesting picks 3-10 I'm sure those will change 100x between now and the draft. I'm still curious about what Philly and LA do. Those picks are the obvious picks but Simmons doesn't want to go to Philly and LA is unpredictable.

[ConnerHenry]

I was basing my question off of this mock. Personally, I don't think Skal will be around at 15. I'd be surprised if he isn't gone by 12.

I also think Maker doesn't make it past Denver's 3rd first round pick.

The other guy I find interesting is Luwawu, who SI has going Top 10 and Chad Ford left out of the first round of his latest mock.

[PhoSita]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

[Boris Badenov]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

Yeah, to me it feels like there's a consensus group at 3-8. Then, a next group roughly 9-15 including Poeltl, Luwawu, Davis, Korkmaz, Ellenson and maybe Baldwin and Damian Jones. Then, another dropoff.

I fear that 16 and 23 will be from a pool weaker than those guys, and it seems like having your pick of them at #10 or so might really increase the chances of getting a star.

The thing is, the situation was similar last year and the asking price for moving from #16 to #9 was astronomical for exactly that reason.

Suppose the deal was #16, #23, #35 and the 2019 MEM pick for #11. Would you do that?

[BDeCosta26]

I really like Valentine at or around 16 for us. Really good player, could play right away and do a lot of the stuff ET did for us last year. Much better shooter though.

[saltlover]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

Yeah, to me it feels like there's a consensus group at 3-8. Then, a next group roughly 9-15 including Poeltl, Luwawu, Davis, Korkmaz, Ellenson and maybe Baldwin and Damian Jones. Then, another dropoff.

I fear that 16 and 23 will be from a pool weaker than those guys, and it seems like having your pick of them at #10 or so might really increase the chances of getting a star.

The thing is, the situation was similar last year and the asking price for moving from #16 to #9 was astronomical for exactly that reason.

Suppose the deal was #16, #23, #35 and the 2019 MEM pick for #11. Would you do that?

I think you've got the 9-15 range a little off.  It's wider than that -- Denzel Valentine, for one, is a player frequently mocked in that range.  I don't like him, but I wouldn't be shocked for Sabonis to go in that range either.  There isn't the same drop off as last year, which really started after Booker, in my opinion (although everyone knew Cameron Payne was going to OKC, he didn't have the same excitement as the players above him).  So getting from #16 to 9 was tough, because there was no way the player you'd want at 9 would make it past 13, so 16 was hopeless.  This year, that isn't the case, at all.  The only reason Ainge should trade a boatload to go from 16 to 11 is if Chriss or Brown fell that far somehow.

As a Korkmuz fan myself, I'm pretty confident the C's could move up to #14 with Chicago for the price of #35, #31 at most, and maybe get him.  That said, the C's haven't been kicking the tires on Korkmuz all that much, so I don't expect it to happen.  He's probably a Turkish James Young anyway.

[Boris Badenov]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

Yeah, to me it feels like there's a consensus group at 3-8. Then, a next group roughly 9-15 including Poeltl, Luwawu, Davis, Korkmaz, Ellenson and maybe Baldwin and Damian Jones. Then, another dropoff.

I fear that 16 and 23 will be from a pool weaker than those guys, and it seems like having your pick of them at #10 or so might really increase the chances of getting a star.

The thing is, the situation was similar last year and the asking price for moving from #16 to #9 was astronomical for exactly that reason.

Suppose the deal was #16, #23, #35 and the 2019 MEM pick for #11. Would you do that?

I think you've got the 9-15 range a little off.  It's wider than that -- Denzel Valentine, for one, is a player frequently mocked in that range.  I don't like him, but I wouldn't be shocked for Sabonis to go in that range either.  There isn't the same drop off as last year, which really started after Booker, in my opinion (although everyone knew Cameron Payne was going to OKC, he didn't have the same excitement as the players above him).

I haven't see those mocks. Which ones are you talking about?

[ThaPreacher]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

It seems that scouts are split on Luwawu! I think he has a great deal of talent, but his spot in the draft may be a reflection of when they think he will be NBA ready.  Still he is a player that I would keep my eye on.  And try to say "Luwawu three times fast!" 

[celticmania]

Can Chriss become a small forward?

[PhoSita]

Three names I'm liking more and more --

Baldwin, Luwawu, Onuaku


Not in the top 3, but I'd be happy to get any of them at 16 or 23.

Would also be happy to see Ainge consolidate some of the later picks to move up and select Poeltl or Davis along with whoever is taken at #3.

Yeah, to me it feels like there's a consensus group at 3-8. Then, a next group roughly 9-15 including Poeltl, Luwawu, Davis, Korkmaz, Ellenson and maybe Baldwin and Damian Jones. Then, another dropoff.

I fear that 16 and 23 will be from a pool weaker than those guys, and it seems like having your pick of them at #10 or so might really increase the chances of getting a star.

The thing is, the situation was similar last year and the asking price for moving from #16 to #9 was astronomical for exactly that reason.

Suppose the deal was #16, #23, #35 and the 2019 MEM pick for #11. Would you do that?

I'd do it for the three picks this year.  I wouldn't add in the Memphis pick.

I'd throw in Rozier or Hunter or Young if that could help things at all.  Heh.

I'm happy to see Ainge trade a bunch of picks this year to move up. That said, I think keeping one of those early seconds would be good to select a nice draft and stash guy, or somebody who falls out of the first round and can be snatched up long term for a good value, like Mickey was last year.