Chad Ford Mock

[CelticGuardian]

Lonzo would be great to have on our team. He and Marcus can alternate PG duties for the second unit, maybe play mostly with the starters cuz second unit doesn't have scorers outside of Olynyk.

I dont see how Ball is better than Smith or even Tatum

I think Ball is clearly in the top 3 of this draft. His passing has been highlighted coming out of HS and so far he's been dynamic, think Rondo with real range. I need to see Tatum actually have these dominant, Carmelo Anthony-esque, games that people keep saying makes him a future superstar. In the games I've tuned in too watch, he's looked shaky. Dennis Smith is ice cold man, but Lonzo is just a bit better than him.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

[saltlover]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

It's not just move pieces around.  As a rookie on a competitive team, it's probably best for Ball to have a more limited role, so the fourth guard in the rotation.  The three guards ahead of him are all free agents the following season -- it's not difficult imagining them collectively earning $70 million in 2018, up from $15 million next season.  Having Ball means you can let one of the three walk away without hurting your competiveness quite as much.  If no trade happens, it's okay.  Not every guy who's an expiring contract needs to be traded, and not relying on a rookie guard when trying to win games is generally good.

The optimal thing is to convert a guard to a big, but there's no urgency to force a deal that isn't there.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

It's not just move pieces around.  As a rookie on a competitive team, it's probably best for Ball to have a more limited role, so the fourth guard in the rotation.  The three guards ahead of him are all free agents the following season -- it's not difficult imagining them collectively earning $70 million in 2018, up from $15 million next season.  Having Ball means you can let one of the three walk away without hurting your competiveness quite as much.  If no trade happens, it's okay.  Not every guy who's an expiring contract needs to be traded, and not relying on a rookie guard when trying to win games is generally good.

The optimal thing is to convert a guard to a big, but there's no urgency to force a deal that isn't there.

Makes sense, and well put. Thanks.

[clevelandceltic]

I hope Philly takes this kid and then picks some other weird piece with the Lakers pick.

[Boris Badenov]

Pet peeve: mock drafts that assign teams to slots before the draft lottery is set.

I mean, no one knows where any team will pick at this point. Just rank the prospects from best to worst. Don't bother discussing needs, or implications for a particular roster. It seems like a waste of time.

That said, I think the overall good news is that Ford confirms that this draft looks very good in terms of talent. I think that's the big thing that gets me excited since the specifics on where we draft and who we pick are so nebulous.

[CelticGuardian]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

Good point. Yeah Danny has been a tad over-meticulous but at such an advantageous position for the organization, I'd expect him to be. I think other GMs understand the concept of a fair trade, and that they are dealing with a former Executive of the year.

I hope you are not expecting much of a return for Smart, Rozier, Green, or Young. I'm hoping Danny moves one of those guys if we decide to draft a guard. Honestly, Rozier should be able to net Ainge that second round pick he couldn't get for Hunter or Young.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

Good point. Yeah Danny has been a tad over-meticulous but at such an advantageous position for the organization, I'd expect him to be. I think other GMs understand the concept of a fair trade, and that they are dealing with a former Executive of the year.

I hope you are not expecting much of a return for Smart, Rozier, Green, or Young. I'm hoping Danny moves one of those guys if we decide to draft a guard. Honestly, Rozier should be able to net Ainge that second round pick he couldn't get for Hunter or Young.

I don't expect much for Rozier, Green, or Young. I expect a bit more for Smart, since his defense is so good.

[libermaniac]

Pet peeve: mock drafts that assign teams to slots before the draft lottery is set.

I mean, no one knows where any team will pick at this point. Just rank the prospects from best to worst. Don't bother discussing needs, or implications for a particular roster. It seems like a waste of time.

Amen.  TP.

[oldtype]

There are enough good prospects in this draft that I sort of don't even care where we land in the top 5.

[CelticGuardian]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

Good point. Yeah Danny has been a tad over-meticulous but at such an advantageous position for the organization, I'd expect him to be. I think other GMs understand the concept of a fair trade, and that they are dealing with a former Executive of the year.

I hope you are not expecting much of a return for Smart, Rozier, Green, or Young. I'm hoping Danny moves one of those guys if we decide to draft a guard. Honestly, Rozier should be able to net Ainge that second round pick he couldn't get for Hunter or Young.

I don't expect much for Rozier, Green, or Young. I expect a bit more for Smart, since his defense is so good.

Danny would be crazy to get rid of Smart though, I'm just not so sure about his perceived value around the league. Smart can compliment Fultz, Ball.. literally any of those guys, can't say the same about Rozier.

[CelticGuardian]

There are enough good prospects in this draft that I sort of don't even care where we land in the top 5.

This is honestly how I've been feeling the last few days. Watching all of them, it seems like they are not really going 100% at their comp, except that one game UCLA vs Kentucky was pretty intense. And maybe Monk is really putting it on offensively. But just the other day, I saw Dennis Smith Jr have like the easiest 20 points I've ever seen someone get. It's just all too much of a mystery on who is the best player.

I want Ainge to work these guys out hard though and have them play one on one versus Smart. I'm sure he's done this before.

[Big333223]

In Ford's second mock, he has the Celtics selecting Lonzo Ball at #2 (Fultz went #1).

2. Boston Celtics (via Nets)*
Lonzo Ball
UCLA
Freshman
Guard

I'm not sure there's a Celtics fan left on the planet who doesn't know that Boston owns the rights to the Nets' draft picks for the next two years. Last year, picking in the Nets' position produced Jaylen Brown. This year, the reward might be much higher. Point guard isn't an immediate need for Boston, but Ball is such a terrific prospect that I don't think it will matter much to GM Danny Ainge. His combination of size, playmaking, shooting and sizzle doesn't come along very often.

The Celtics can always move other pieces around. Ball would immediately be the highest-ceiling player on the roster.

Odds of winning lottery (via Nets): 19.9 percent (Boston owns the rights to swap picks with Brooklyn.)

Projected record: 22-60

I'd love to hear thoughts on this.

This is the part that concerns me, because it hasn't happened yet. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but I feel like the longer Ainge goes without making moves to free up various positional logjams, and the rest of the world knows that Ainge is going to have to make such moves, the more the value of our logjam pieces declines.

Good point. Yeah Danny has been a tad over-meticulous but at such an advantageous position for the organization, I'd expect him to be. I think other GMs understand the concept of a fair trade, and that they are dealing with a former Executive of the year.

I hope you are not expecting much of a return for Smart, Rozier, Green, or Young. I'm hoping Danny moves one of those guys if we decide to draft a guard. Honestly, Rozier should be able to net Ainge that second round pick he couldn't get for Hunter or Young.

I don't expect much for Rozier, Green, or Young. I expect a bit more for Smart, since his defense is so good.

Danny would be crazy to get rid of Smart though, I'm just not so sure about his perceived value around the league. Smart can compliment Fultz, Ball.. literally any of those guys, can't say the same about Rozier.

I don't think the C's could ever get good return on a Marcus trade. His shooting is just so bad and no team that hasn't seen him bust his ass night in and night out is going to fully understand his value the way the Celtics do.

As much as I love IT and I want him around for a long time, if there is interest in him, he seems like the potential odd man out.

An eventual 3 guard rotation of Ball or Fultz/Bradley/Smart could be really incredible.

[CFAN38]

From the little I have seen at this point of the college season I would likely place Fultz, Ball and Tatum all in the first tier of this draft.

If the Cs end up with Ball I will be thrilled. His positional size, shooting and court awareness would really be on display in the Cs offense. Barring any major roster changes I could see a situation where Rozier is traded and Crowder and Brown take Jonas's minutes next season to open up a role for Ball. His size will allow him to share a back-court with IT and his skill set will fit nicely with AB and Smart.   

[bopna]

Im sort of 80% sure this pick (which is top 5) will be packaged for a vet in line with what the Cavs did with Wiggins to get Lebron some help. In our case specially if we reach and lose to lebum in the ECF, expect danny to get immediate help by packaging tape this pick for an all star vet. There is no way the Cs keep this pick if Fultz or Ball or whoever will take 3 yrs to fully develop..these are not in line with the ages of IT Al JC and AB.