Would you rather have Rozier or Portis right now?

[Csfan1984]

I was on the Portis train. Most draft sites also were on the Portis train. Even ESPN said watch for Portis to C's. And C's talked up Portis as well. PORTIS

[Chris22]

Portis shot 42% from the field last year.

[Bobshot]

What can you say? Danny was a guard. He likes guards. 

Too bad he didn't like Dunn.

[IDreamCeltics]

What can you say? Danny was a guard. He likes guards. 

Too bad he didn't like Dunn.

That's the matchup I can't wait to see.  Dunn vs Rozier.  I think it will tell us a lot about the value of those two guys.

[BitterJim]

Obviously, it's way too early to say who's a better pick, but Rozier was big for us in the playoffs after Bradley went down, so I'm gonna go with him

[RockinRyA]

Portis was BPA and would of been an easy Sully replacement. Rozier solid but that pick was a reach at 16.

First of all it's would HAVE not would of. Second, Rozier was never a reach at 18. The rockets were reportedly interested in drafting him at 18, just 2 spots later. I get that we could've gotten Portis instead, but to say that Rozier was a reach is wrong.

[jambr380]

I'll go with Rozier. He still has the homerun potential where I feel like you kind-of knew what you were getting with Portis. Portis may end up being a wonderful player, but that wasn't necessarily his projection. Rozier has elite defensive potential, an elite first step/explosiveness, and the ability to do it all on offense. I am not saying this will definitely translate, but the trajectory is possible.

I was a Portis guy, but Rozier has more exciting potential.

[Iggzilla]

I'll go with Rozier. He still has the homerun potential where I feel like you kind-of knew what you were getting with Portis.

This. I feel like Portis' ceiling is low (he's a hardworker and rebounder, sure), while Rozier could grow into a valuable scoring sixth man at the very least. We already saw how he could make an impact, no matter how small, in last year's playoffs, and he's taken huge strides in summer league with his playmaking and scoring.

[chambers]

Rozier still has the higher ceiling, and because of Chicago's injuries last season he simply got a lot more opportunity to gain experience.

Terry is looking like our backup PG this season and I honestly think by the end of the year Terry will be the better overall player.

[DesertDweller]

if you asked this question last night right after Rozier drains a three point buzzer beater that stops San Antonio's heart you get a different answer!!! 

[crimson_stallion]

I'm going to say Rozier - I think he has much higher upside and has the potential to become a dominant scorer and a star.

I don't see that with Portis.

As with the draft, I always select the best player available - I think Rozier is a better player then Portis, and I think he'd see that if he got more opportunity.

Rozier got called up in the playoffs as a ~20 year old rookie who had barely played 48 minutes of NBA basketball, and he made legit contributions on the biggest stage. I can't stress enough how difficult it would be to produce in the playoffs after not playing all season - even for a veteran.  For a rookie to be able to step up and do that is huge - it speaks volumes of Rozier's character, his confidence and his talent. 

He's going to be a special player.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I'm going to say Rozier - I think he has much higher upside and has the potential to become a dominant scorer and a star.

I don't see that with Portis.

As with the draft, I always select the best player available - I think Rozier is a better player then Portis, and I think he'd see that if he got more opportunity.

Rozier got called up in the playoffs as a ~20 year old rookie who had barely played 48 minutes of NBA basketball, and he made legit contributions on the biggest stage. I can't stress enough how difficult it would be to produce in the playoffs after not playing all season - even for a veteran.  For a rookie to be able to step up and do that is huge - it speaks volumes of Rozier's character, his confidence and his talent. 

He's going to be a special player.

I feel like you're making a huge reach here. But assuming you're right, why have we not already traded Smart to upgrade the frontcourt?

[Beat LA]

I'm going to go with Portis, but for another reason, entirely.  Let's say that we had taken him, last year, instead of another combo guard, in Rozier.  If the latter isn't here, would Danny have been more inclined to go with Dunn at 3 in this last draft?  Sigh.  Who knows, but it's interesting to ponder.

Also, in regards to Portis being the clear bpa at 16, well, the bpa is, by its very nature, subjective, and I wasn't on the Portis hype train like so many of you so I'm not going to say that I was now, lol .  It's not that I think he sucks, or anything, it's because his wingspan doesn't allow him to be a shot blocker, despite his size.  Interestingly, in this past draft, Sabonis, to me, looks like he has the skills of Greg Monroe with the fire of Bobby Portis - now that sounds like a hell of a player.

Anyway, back to who was the bpa at 16.  For me, it was Rashad Vaughn (who had a horrible first summer league game despite his strong showing last year in Vegas), followed closely by Delon Wright, but as of right now, I think that Justin Anderson should be in this conversation, as well.

[crimson_stallion]

I'm going to say Rozier - I think he has much higher upside and has the potential to become a dominant scorer and a star.

I don't see that with Portis.

As with the draft, I always select the best player available - I think Rozier is a better player then Portis, and I think he'd see that if he got more opportunity.

Rozier got called up in the playoffs as a ~20 year old rookie who had barely played 48 minutes of NBA basketball, and he made legit contributions on the biggest stage. I can't stress enough how difficult it would be to produce in the playoffs after not playing all season - even for a veteran.  For a rookie to be able to step up and do that is huge - it speaks volumes of Rozier's character, his confidence and his talent. 

He's going to be a special player.

I feel like you're making a huge reach here. But assuming you're right, why have we not already traded Smart to upgrade the frontcourt?

For a couple of reasons.

1) With Turner gone, Rozier and Smart are the quality guards we have on our bench.  Trade out Smart and you leave Rozier as our only guard off the bench.  It's very risky.  If Rozier gets hurt (Knock on wood) we would have to depend on unproven rookies and scrubs (Jackson, Hunter, Young) to play significant minutes, and that's too risky on a team that has playoff aspirations.

2) I would hazard a a guess that right now, Smart's value on the trade market is probably not especially high.  He's essentially a one dimensional player - a defensive minded PG who is a poor shooter, a poor scorer, and an average playmaker.  He also has relatively limited upside.  There's no point in trading Smart and breaking up our back-court unless it could get us the type of big who could make a major impact.  There is no evidence thus far to suggest Smart has enough trade value to be able to pull in a frontcourt player of that caliber.

3) Rozier has shown us some of his capabilities, but he's still a young player with very little experience.  He's a clear cut above everybody else on the summer league team, as he should be, but it still might take another 6 months or even another year before he has enough experience to be able to contribute consistently at the NBA level.  Remember that Sully and Olynyk were both nearly useless until about half way through their rookie years, and they were getting a consistent 10-20 minutes of playing time every night.  Rozier has maybe 10 games of signifiicant NBA experience, and as a PG his position is a trickier one to learn.  I've got no doubts that he will be a better player then Smart in time, but he does need time. 

Smart has his limitations, but he's got almost two complete seasons of experience under his belt and he can lead that second unit. 

If Boston could pull off a trade for a good big man and also get a decent backup guard in that deal to go with it, then I don't think he'd hesitate to trade Smart.  If he could get a star big man (e.g. Cousins) then I don't think he'd hesitate regardless.

Remember, I just said that Rozier is going to be a special player - I didn't say that it's going to happen overnight.

When it comes to the frontcourt, I honestly have a sneaking suspicion that Sully will be back - even if just on a one year deal.  We need a big man who can be depended on as a starter, and as much as i do not like Sully he's the closest we have to a starting caliber big right now.  Horford can cover a lot of his flaws, and Sully is actually a pretty good player so long as he's not being asked to do too much. I don't think Danny wants to do it, and if he can find a better big (Okafor, Noel, Cousins) without sacrificing too much, I have no doubt he'll do it.  But if he can't make one of those deals happen then one more year of Sully is probably the best bet.  In that case  we will have Amir, Olynyk, Jerebko, Brown, Smart and Rozier off the bench.  I'm not even sure if that is enough veteran leadership to be honest...losing Turner has really hurt us.