Rumor: Agents Fearful For Rookie Clients Drafted By "Loaded" Boston

[Phantom255x]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2709466-celtics-rumors-agents-fearful-for-rookie-clients-drafted-by-loaded-boston

Agents for top prospects in the 2017 NBA draft on June 22 are reportedly worried about what would happen to their clients if the "loaded" Boston Celtics selected them.             

On Saturday, ESPN's Chad Ford passed along comments one player representative made about the situation with the Celtics, who finished with the Eastern Conference's best record and are still alive in the 2017 NBA playoffs but will pick early in the draft thanks to a swap with the Brooklyn Nets.

"I have deep respect for the Celtics," the agent said. "They may have the best GM and head coach in the league. But I'd have to understand what the plan would be for my client before I let them come. They are loaded at every position. There's a real danger that they take a player and either he plays a limited role [off] the bench or he becomes an asset to be traded to a situation that we're uncomfortable with. It's tough."

Boston owns the best chance (25 percent) to land the first overall pick in Tuesday's NBA draft lottery thanks to the Nets' dreadful 20-62 campaign. The Celts will draft no worse than fourth, which means they are guaranteed a shot at one of the class' most coveted players.

A trio of point guards—Washington's Markelle Fultz, UCLA's Lonzo Ball and Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox—along with Kansas small forward Josh Jackson headline the group of available prospects.

Jackson makes the most sense from the group since the Celtics already feature star point guard Isaiah Thomas. Even the Jayhawks standout would be forced to contend with Jae Crowder and Jaylen Brown for playing time at the 3 for a team not expected to lose any key pieces in free agency, though.

That's an unusual situation for a prized rookie, most of whom are drafted to rebuilding teams where they can immediately take on massive roles.

In turn, the Celtics might try to leverage the pick to acquire an established star. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported ahead of February's trade deadline that Boston included the selection in talks with the Indiana Pacers for Paul George, but the sides never reached a deal.

How much the Celtics can demand likely depends on where they land after the lottery. The first pick, giving the other team an option to choose from any of the aforementioned top players, would command far more on the trade market than if Boston slides to No. 4.

If the C's keep the selection, whatever prospect they choose will need to earn playing time, which understandably seems to have agents rattled with six weeks until the draft at the Barclays Center in New York.

I do find it kind of funny when they say Boston is "loaded" at every position. I think this team needs LOTS of upgrades after Horford at the 4 and 5 positions, but yeah, this draft is guard heavy and they are pretty loaded there.

I think the Paul George to Boston narrative is not really serious. No way Ainge will trade for him unless he agrees to a long term commitment, and George most likely won't. Case closed.

But it's still an option to leverage the pick for a legit star, especially if it lands outside #1 or #2.

[Celtics4ever]

Anyone who thinks we are loaded at four, is delusional and needs on psych meds.

[JBcat]

There is nothing wrong with earning playing time than to be just given playing time.

[Tr1boy]

Anyone who thinks we are loaded at four, is delusional and needs on psych meds.

Maybe the Agent thinks - The Celtics will continue with "small ball" on a permanent basis moving forward

But you know what...  it doesn't matter what the agent nor prospect prefers

you become drafted....  you are part of the organization.  Sure there are Steve Francis like situations...

I hope teams don't fall weakness to this and hold off in making such bratty prospect happy (immediate trade)

this is not like Free Agency... prospects may have preferences but they have no choice who to play for in the beginning of their careers

[Tr1boy]

Markelle Fultz has stated he has no problems playing for the celts

Ball and his overbearing dad can take their game to LA

[jambr380]

It will look REALLY bad for a player if he is drafted by the Eastern Conference contending Boston Celtics and he refuses to report or makes a big stink about it. Better to just grin and bear it for the time being, see what materializes in Boston, and make a push for a trade after next season if it is really that bad. Nothing good can come from vocally not wanting to join a winning organization. He will sound extremely selfish.

[Eja117]

Anyone who thinks we are loaded at four, is delusional and needs on psych meds.

Yeah, but if I'm an agent I might still not want my guy competing needlessly with Yab or maybe Zizic or Horford.  Plus KO could come back

[CELTICSofBOSTON]

It will look REALLY bad for a player if they are drafted by the Eastern Conference contending Boston Celtics and he refuses to report or makes a big stink about it. Better to just grin and bear it for the time being, see what materializes in Boston, and make a push for a trade after next season if it is really that bad. Nothing good can come from vocally not wanting to join a winning organization. He will sound extremely selfish.

Pretty much my exact thoughts.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter where the agent or player wants to play. If they get drafted by a team they have to sign with that team.  And they'd better do so willingly or risk damaging their reputation.

[Tr1boy]

It will look REALLY bad for a player if they are drafted by the Eastern Conference contending Boston Celtics and he refuses to report or makes a big stink about it. Better to just grin and bear it for the time being, see what materializes in Boston, and make a push for a trade after next season if it is really that bad. Nothing good can come from vocally not wanting to join a winning organization. He will sound extremely selfish.

Pretty much my exact thoughts.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter where the agent or player wants to play. If they get drafted by a team they have to sign with that team.  And they'd better do so willingly or risk damaging their reputation.

In addition what are the agents scared of?    Its like some of these agents think their clients deserve a free pass from the start

Danny Ainge/CBS don't want players like that on their rosters anyways...   

[tazzmaniac]

This is much to do about nothing.  No rookie is going to refuse to report when they are going to be paid 5-8M.  We're certainly not loaded across the board.  Jaylen played 17min in 78 games and he wouldn't go top 5 in this draft.  The ones that should be concerned are the agents for our role players that will be losing minutes to our top pick.

[ConnerHenry]

Shows you how much the NBA has changed. I'm pretty sure that James Worthy and Kevin McHale were pretty excited to join contending teams and things turned out pretty well for them

[tazzmaniac]

Anyone who thinks we are loaded at four, is delusional and needs on psych meds.

Yeah, but if I'm an agent I might still not want my guy competing needlessly with Yab or maybe Zizic or Horford.  Plus KO could come back

If KO comes back, this will be one of the worst offseasons ever.   No big time free agent signing and 4 more years of KO.  Uggh!!!

[libermaniac]

Shows you how much the NBA has changed. I'm pretty sure that James Worthy and Kevin McHale were pretty excited to join contending teams and things turned out pretty well for them

Ya. Whatever happened to wanting to WIN?

Also, these agents need to realize that their clients will get plenty of national exposure playing deep into May. Even if they are only getting 20 minutes per game. X

[droopdog7]

What the hell is the agent even talking about?  Are they going sit out the year or something. DA will draft whoever he wants to draft and they'll have to deal with it.  If the guy is that good, he'll force his way into the rotation. 

My my, the new age stars are something else.  They're already picking colleges more on playing time more than anything else.  Now they want to do the same thing entering the NBA.

You'd think a guy would be happy to enter a winning situation.  But as it is, many guys aren't happy unless they're winning they're winning their way.  SMH.

[SparzWizard]

But if we draft Josh Jackson, what was the point of drafting Jaylen Brown? Make him come off the bench or vice-versa? Jae Crowder still here and I think he's on his way out.

I do know that we are guard-heavy, that's why someone like Avery Bradley (injury at the worst time) or Marcus Smart (inconsistency) needs to go. Markelle Fultz is the man we need to land because top prospect.

Or trade that pick to ensure someone of a superstar-caliber player can sign a long-term contract with Boston.