Re: Celtics Draft Workout Thread

[bobheckler]

Official Celtics Workout roster for 6/2/14:






bob



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[Sam]

Darn! I'll be flossing that day! Oh wait, it's today!

Sam

[bobheckler]

Yesterday, it was point guards.  Today it's wings.  What will be interesting will be how Kyle Anderson plays.  He played a lot of PG at UCLA.


http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4713032/4713032




The Boston Celtics will start their private draft workouts next week and here's a glimpse at the talent dropping by on June 3, courtesy of ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman:

A glance at where those six prospects currently rank on Chad Ford's Big Board:

Rank-----Player--------------------College----------------Ht-----Wt-----Pos
18-------PJ Hairston----------------North Carolina-------6-5----229----SG
21-------KJ McDaniels--------------Clemson-------------6-6----195----SF
22-------Cleanthony Early----------Wichita State-------6-7----210----SF
25-------TJ Warren-----------------NC State-----------6-8----220----SF
28-------Kyle Anderson-------------UCLA---------------6-9----230----PF
46-------DeAndre Daniels-----------UConn--------------6-7----191----SF


The Celtics have often shaped their draft workouts to feature multiple players at the same position in order to better gauge similar talent. It's fair to call this a wing workout for bodies that should be available with the 17th pick, which Boston acquired from Brooklyn as part of last summer's swap.

Some will wonder why Daniels is on the list when the Celtics don't have a second-round pick. Boston typically brings in a lot of local college guys to fill out workouts, but also searches for good value, especially guys who might slip through the cracks on draft night.



bob



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[bobheckler]

http://www.nba.com/celtics/draft-workout-day-1-wrap


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[Sam]

Must be tough to be these guys, with all sorts of pressure on them to put out their best effort when even a rolled ankle at this juncture could have a dramatic impact on their futures.

Sam

[bobheckler]

Memphis graduate PG Michael Dixon (@M1keD1xonJR) is working out for the Boston Celtics tomorrow. Twitter @IAmDPick


6'1", 185#, 6'1" wingspan, 23 years old.

Draftexpress.com:
Dixon's best attributes revolve around his tremendous shot-creating ability, ranking as one of the most efficient pick and roll and isolation threats in all of college basketball according to Synergy Sports Technology. Showing a quick first step, excellent ball-handling skills, and unlimited confidence, Dixon is a handful for any defender to stay in front of at the college level in both transition and in the half-court, drawing fouls at a solid rate, and making 88% of his free throws attempts.

Possessing one of the best pull-up jumpers in the NCAA, opponents are forced to guard him very closely, but he's also highly capable of driving both left or right aggressively and finishing with either hand around the basket, despite his average size, thanks to his hard-nosed mentality and soft touch off the glass. Converting 58% of his 2-point attempts, Dixon was one of the most efficient PGs in college basketball last season inside the arc.

Also a solid 3-point shooter, Dixon is curiously better shooting off the dribble (43%) than he is with his feet (39%). While he sees a decent amount of time playing off the ball alongside Phil Pressey, he shows unconventional mechanics on his catch and shoot jumpers, catching and releasing the ball with a very wide stance, that may be affecting his rhythm. Nevertheless, he makes over one and a half 3-pointers per game, on good percentages (37%), and shows a quick release and deep range on his pull-up jumper.

More than just a scorer, Dixon is also a very effective distributor, as his strong assist to turnover ratio and 2.2 pure point rating indicates. He makes crisp passes in a variety of ways, be it on drive and dish plays, pick and roll bounce passes or lobs, moving the ball ahead in transition, or with skip-passes to an open shooter—Dixon is an unselfish player who shows great timing setting up his teammates for easy baskets like a real point guard should.



bob
MY NOTE:   Is the reason for bringing in all these PGs to workout just Danny turning over every rock, or is Pressey and/or Bayless already earmarked for a trade?

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[bobheckler]

#Celtics are expected to bring in players for workouts under consideration for the No. 6 pick on the 12th and 13th. #Celticstalk Twitter @SherrodbCSN



bob


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[bobheckler]

Word from Celtics workout is that Kyle Anderson stood out, but all fared well - TJ Warren, PJ Hairston, C Early, D Daniels, KJ McDaniels. Twitter @GoodmanESPN


Ex-UConn SF DeAndre Daniels said the #Celtics were the 5th team he has worked out for thus far. He said C's workout was hardest thus far. Twitter @SherrodbCSN



bob


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[Sam]

It all sounds good. Stiff workout (as long as it's not a workout for stiffs). The description of Dixon sounds very promising except, of course, that there's no mention of defense. I'm convinced that none of these summaries will ever cite defense during my lifetime.

Sam

[bobheckler]

HEY SAM! A player whose defensive talents are mentioned!!!



http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/06/boston_celtics_2014_nba_draft_4.html


Boston Celtics 2014 NBA Draft workouts: Kyle Anderson reportedly stood out in workout with TJ Warren, KJ McDaniels, others


Brad Stevens has been leading the Boston Celtics' pre-draft workouts. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Print Jay King | mjking@masslive.com By Jay King | mjking@masslive.com  
on June 03, 2014 at 3:30 PM



WALTHAM – After Monday’s pre-draft workout, one member of the Boston Celtics brass waited for his order at a snack bar and received a question about how the session had gone. He said it went well, but the Celtics understood they would bring in more talented prospects later on.

“Tomorrow should be fun,” he said, referencing a workout of talented wings that could shape who the Celtics pick in the middle of the first round.

Many of the six players who visited Waltham Tuesday – Cleanthony Early, T.J. Warren, K.J. McDaniels, DeAndre Daniels, Kyle Anderson and P.J. Hairston – are projected in the middle- to late-first, and could potentially be considered if Boston keeps its No. 17 overall pick.

Daniels isn’t regarded as highly as the others by most draft experts, but still intrigues with his length and shot-making, especially after a strong NCAA tournament run during which he helped UConn win the national championship.

“It’s something we all weigh,” Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge said of Daniels’ late-season surge. “I think you just try to take it all into context. Sometimes guys are just hitting their stride. Sometimes a great tournament run means they’re just figuring it out, and will continue to go up. And sometimes it’s just a good tournament run. So we’re all just guessing and doing as best as we can.”

Anderson reportedly stood out among the crop of impressive wings, but Ainge was understandably mum when asked for individual specifics.

“There are some guys that we liked more than we did coming in. And we learned some things,” he said, only chuckling when one reporter asked if he cared to share.

“I guess (the Celtics look for) all the things that separate a player,” Ainge added. “There’s no magic for a workout. We try to put them in situations where they make reads, and we can test their basketball IQ. And then different tests of skill and athleticism. But really it’s having our coaches on the floor, putting them in situations where we can see how well they learn and adapt. Because those are things that we don’t get to see all the time during regular games, how many reps in practice they needed to be able to learn how to do that.”

Brad Stevens has been leading the drills so far, but will delegate some of that responsibility to assistant coaches later in the pre-draft process.

The players offered an intriguing mix. Warren captured the ACC Player of the Year and finished third nationally in scoring. Ainge said of the small forward: “T.J., certainly, I think you just put him on the court and he’s going to find a way to score. I don’t even think you need to run plays for him and he’ll find a way to score. He’s talented that way.”

McDaniels averaged 17.1 points as a junior at Clemson, but his defensive potential does more to excite NBA scouts.

Anderson’s a point-forward with elite passing ability, a proclivity for defensive rebounding, and a nickname, Slo-Mo, earned with every meandering step he takes. The UCLA product compared himself to Boris Diaw at the combine last month and could need the right system, the right coach, to highlight his very unique skill set. Ainge noted the rare combination Anderson provides, pointing out that he plays lead guard on offense and power forward at the other end.

Hairston spent time in the D-League this past season, scored 21.8 points per game, boasts a thickly-muscled build, and is considered one of the draft’s better shooters.

The Celtics definitely need scoring, but Ainge knows they have plenty of flaws to address.

“We struggled to score this year, and that matters. That matters,” he said. “We’re going to have to address it. That might be through the draft, it might be through free agency, it might be a trade. We need to get better on both ends of the court though.”




bob



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[Sam]

Never were truer words spoken than "We struggled to score last year." Yet the reason I continue to focus so much on defense is because I believe good offense often stems from great defense. I don't know any of McDaniels' attributes other than defense or, for that matter, what his special defensive assets are. I'm wondering whether, at #17, Anderson could become a poor man's Exum, representing insurance at three positions and potentially a dynamic sixth man.

Sam

[bobheckler]

Never were truer words spoken than "We struggled to score last year."  Yet the reason I continue to focus so much on defense is because I believe good offense often stems from great defense.  I don't know any of McDaniels' attributes other than defense or, for that matter, what his special defensive assets are.  I'm wondering whether, at #17, Anderson could become a poor man's Exum, representing insurance at three positions and potentially a dynamic sixth man.

Sam

sam,


An offensive point guard and a defensive power forward.  That's interesting.  So, Stevens could put Anderson out there with 1 1/2 combo guard Bayless and another shooter in the backcourt and the offense could work because it's going through Anderson.

I've watched his draftexpress scouting video and some highlight youtubes.  His nickname "The Big Slo-Mo" is well deserved.  He is very deliberate, NOT explosive, in his play but he was able to make it work against college players.  Put a guard on him and he overpowers him, put a forward on him and his ballhandling and court vision come into play.  An excellent passer with high IQ and court vision, the ability to either run past forwards on the dribble or, at almost 6'9" w/shoes, see over guards for the pass.  The Big 4 (Embiid, Parker, Wiggins, Exum) might be future franchise players but Kyle Anderson is almost certainly the most unique player in this draft.  A coach who likes to experiment and create mismatches, like the way Nellie used to, would absolutely adore Kyle Anderson.



bob



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[Sam]

Bob,

Not a disturbing syllable in any of your post. I'm trying to stage a workout involving Anderson and myself. If he just stands there and laughs himself sick, I'll consider him a good defensive player.

Sam

[bobheckler]

Warren may be C's answer to scoring need
June 3, 2014, 5:15 pm






WALTHAM, Mass. — It doesn't always look pretty and it's not always aesthetically pleasing, but T.J. Warren has a way of getting buckets.

All the time.

That's why the 6-foot-8 small forward from N.C. State, is among the players under consideration by the Boston Celtics to be chosen with the No. 17 pick.

Warren was among the six-pack of players brought in for workouts on Tuesday.

The reigning ACC player of the Year wants to show that there's more to his game than just racking up points.

He said he wants to show, "my overall hard work. A guy that can knock down shots, defend at a high level; just all-around play hard every time."

While that's well and good, Warren is considered one of the better prospects in this draft because of his ability to score in a multitude of ways.

This past season, he averaged an ACC-best 24.9 points per game along with 7.1 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. He became just the third player in ACC history to lead the conference in scoring and field goal percentage.

And his 24.9 points per game scoring average ranked third in the nation.

As much as Warren wants to showcase his all-around game, any discussion about him will include a heavy dose of discussion about his scoring ability.

And for the Celtics, you can chalk that up to one of the many needs they have to address soon.

During last season's 25-57 campaign, the Celtics averaged 96.2 points per game which was the fifth-lowest scoring average in the NBA. The Celtics also shot 43.5 percent from the field which ranked 28th out of 30 teams.

And while most players score primarily from the perimeter, driving to the basket or from mid-range, Warren has shown the ability to hurt teams from all points on the floor.

When asked if that kind of versatility without a go-to mode for scoring is a good thing, Ainge responded, "It can be.

He added, "It certainly requires some creativity in coaching a player like that. And T.J., I think ... you just put him on the court and he's going to find a way to score. I don't even think you need to run plays for him and he'll find ways to score. He's talented that way."



bob



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[bobheckler]

Draft Day Workout Wrap Up - Day 2


http://www.nba.com/celtics/draft-workout-day-2-wrap



bob



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[Sam]

Not much news there. Whatever happened to the plaudits for Anderson?

Sam

[bobheckler]

The Celtics are hosting six players for their latest pre-draft workout on Wednesday at the team's training facility in Waltham:

Clint Capela, Chalon (France)
Michael Dixon, Memphis
Eric Moreland, Oregon State
Adreian Payne, Michigan State
Victor Rudd, South Florida
Akeem Williams, UMass-Lowell

Payne and Capela are the two big names in the bunch, both projected as mid-to-late first-round picks that could be available when Boston is picking at No. 17.



Clint Capela


6'11", 7'4 1/2" wingspan, 20 years old.





Michael Dixon

6'1", 185#, 6'1" wingspan, 23 years old.  VERY quick, VERY quick jumper off of PnRs, hard to stay in front of.  A Phil Pressey who can shoot?





Eric Moreland

6'10", 223#, 7'3 1/2" wingspan, 22 years old.





Adreian Payne

6'10", 239#, 7'4" wingspan, 23 years old.  Was measured with a 7'0" wingspan in 2009.




Victor Rudd

6'7", 200#



Akeem Williams

5'10", 190#



bob


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[bobheckler]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4713138/cs-prospects-get-own-boston-marathon



C's prospects get own Boston marathon
June, 3, 2014
JUN 3 3:54 PM ET
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com



WALTHAM, Mass. -- It’s been playfully dubbed the Boston Marathon. At the end of every pre-draft workout, the Boston Celtics line up the invited prospects along the baseline and have them sprint the length of the 94-foot court as many times as possible in a three-minute span.

It’s been a staple of Danny Ainge’s workouts since his time as head coach with the Phoenix Suns and it’s become well known among draft prospects, who are often tipped off in advance by their agents or fellow draft hopefuls.

“It’s known around the league, they all talk about it, that Boston comes in and [some] call it a Boston Marathon,” said Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge, who spends much of his time organizing these pre-draft workouts. “It’s only three minutes of running. It’s grown to be a bigger thing than it actually is, but we kinda like it.”

Northeastern’s Jonathan Lee set the current Boston record last June when he ran 29 ½ court lengths, edging former Husky Matt Janning (29). Chicago’s Joakim Noah holds the record for big men at 27 ½ lengths, while second-round pick Colton Iverson put up 27 last year (which tells you a little something about why the Celtics bought a second-round pick from Indiana to select him).

Delonte West, who was selected 24th by the Celtics in the 2004 draft, actually became obsessed with topping the record during his time in Boston. He would go through the drill often and, after arriving to the practice facility one day, successfully ran 30 lengths. Those in the Celtics front office put an asterisk on the accomplishment, however, because West accomplished the feat at the start of a workout and not at the end of a session when he would have been more fatigued.

Over the past two days, the Celtics have brought in 18 players, and if you ask them about how Boston’s workout differs from others they’ve experienced so far, the answer is almost universal: This is the toughest one of all -- because of the sprint.

“This is the first time that I did the three-minute drill at the end [of a workout],” said Providence’s Bryce Cotton. “I guess that was a nice little wrap-up after a pretty good conditioning workout.”

Cotton put up 28 lengths, an eyebrow-raising number for a draft hopeful. The Celtics don’t put a tremendous amount of stock in the number posted. In fact, the drill often reflects more on the player mentally than physically.

“First of all, it shows conditioning level, obviously,” said Austin Ainge. “But also your heart, your grit, your toughness. At the end of a workout, how hard are you going to push yourself?”

Setting the team record didn’t help Lee, who went undrafted and spent last season playing professionally in Austria. But this year’s draft hopefuls marvel when told of his feat.

One NBA agent said he tells all his clients about the run in advance of the draft, but most are already aware. “Almost all players hear about the ‘Celtic run’ from other players who have done it in the past,” the agent noted.

Some other teams, including Miami and Phoenix, are known to mix in some similarly challenging runs, but, like its namesake, the Boston Marathon remains maybe the most noteworthy distance event.

Alas, knowing in advance about the run doesn’t make it any easier for draft hopefuls, especially when that call comes to line up on the baseline at the end of a 60- or 90-minute workout.

“I was told it would happen, the three-minute drill, it’s not a problem to me,” said Clemson’s K.J. McDaniels, who put up a respectable 26 lengths during Tuesday’s small forward workout. “I feel like conditioning is a big part of playing in the league. Coming out here and doing the three-minute wouldn’t hurt at all.”

Maybe not someone like McDaniels, but some players go to great lengths to avoid the trek.

“Some of the guys, we can see, they come in and they ask you about it three or four times. ‘When is it?’ ” explained Austin Ainge. “Then they start faking hamstring injuries and things. It’s just another piece of information that we like to see.”




bob




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[bobheckler]

From a Forsberg article:


• SEPARATION ANXIETY: How can a workout help separate a pack of similar players? "There’s no magic for a workout," said Austin Ainge. "We try to put them in situations where they make reads and we can test their basketball IQ and then different tests of skill and athleticism. But really, it’s having our coaches on the floor, putting them in situations where they can see how well they learn and adapt, because of those are things that we don’t get to see all the time during regular games [like] how many reps in practice they needed to be able to learn how to do that." Did anyone stand out over the past two days? "There are some guys that we like more than we did coming in," Ainge said with a smile, while careful not to reveal any names.



bob
MY NOTE: I really like this. I like that it's not just "how fast can you run, how many 3s can you knock down?", which are important too, it's "how fast can you learn?" and it's the coaches being hands-on. I don't remember ever hearing anything like this happening when Doc was here.


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[bobheckler]

Day 3 Wrap Up:





I like the way Emily Austen says "France".  Just a wee bit o'twang to it.


bob


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[bobheckler]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4713181/green-is-in-his-blood



Green is in his blood
June, 5, 2014
JUN 5 5:45 PM ET
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com



WALTHAM, Mass. -- The freckles beneath his eyes hint at his connection to the Boston Celtics and when Arizona’s Nick Johnson was asked what it meant to be working out for the team, his eyes shot skyward and scanned Boston’s championship banners and retired numbers before landing on his uncle Dennis’ No. 3.


Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Arizona's Nick Johnson is the nephew of former Celtics great Dennis Johnson.



“I came in here last night, it was a great feeling,” Johnson said earlier this week after working out for the Celtics at their training facility. “I had never been here; actually, I've never been to the Garden or anything. It was great, just coming in here, looking at the numbers, the retired jerseys, the championships banners. It was a great feeling.”

Johnson, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, is projected as a potential second-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He’s insanely athletic, accentuated by a vertical that’s been measured as high as 47 inches (a hand-me-down from his father "Jumping" Joey Johnson, who played professionally overseas). But Johnson's got a little bit of his uncle's tenacity in him, particularly on the defensive end, and he's ready to play with the same chip on his shoulder as his Hall-of-Fame bloodlines (Dennis was a second-round pick for Seattle in the 1976 draft before going on to win three NBA titles, including two with Boston).

Johnson said he grew up a Celtics fan given that his uncle played his final seven seasons here. But Johnson was only 14 when Dennis passed away in February 2007 and hadn't gotten serious about hoops at that point. In fact, it wasn't until more than a year after Dennis' untimely passing that Johnson really immersed himself in learning about his uncle's career.

"The first time I really really watched [Dennis on film] was when the Celtics-Lakers played again [in the 2008 NBA Finals]," explained Johnson. "They started showing all the old games between Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird] and everything. It was great to watch that, and that’s really the first time I got to watch extensively and see what he brought."

Maybe it's what he saw in his uncle's play that helped steer Johnson towards being a defense-first guard (DJ was a nine-time member of the league's All-Defensive team, including six first-team honors). As his father Joey told the New York Times earlier this year: "I see a lot of Dennis in Nick. He’s his type of player. I think he would be proud of him."

For Johnson, Boston isn't just another box on a tireless pre-draft travel checklist. Distant family members reached out to him before Monday's visit, which was already his fifth team workout (and he expects to conduct at least seven more ramping up to the draft later this month). Johnson is coming off a strong junior season at Arizona where he averaged 16.3 points over 33 minutes per game. He has range beyond the 3-point arc, but he's still working to harness his leaping ability on the offensive end. His defense isn't in question, but he'll be labeled as undersized compared to some of the NBA guards he'd be tasked with defending.

"[Teams] pretty much know what they are getting in me," said Johnson. "Everybody knows I'm a pretty high-character guy, with a defensive base. One of the things I’ve been telling teams and they recognize is that I can come in from Day 1 and defend. That’s a big thing in the NBA. I think that’s one of the biggest things I can do. And just continuing to grow my offensive game."

The Celtics don't currently own a second-round pick in the 2014 draft, but bought one last season (to nab Colton Iverson) and always operate with an open-mindedness about securing picks if players they like remain available. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told NBA.com of Johnson: "Had someone not told me, I would never have known that it was DJ's nephew. But I've followed Nick's career. He's a good kid and a good player. He's an athlete like his father and his uncle."

Ainge and the Celtics' front office certainly saw a lot of Johnson this season, in part due to their scouting of lottery prospect Aaron Gordon. The Celtics, who own the sixth overall pick, are expected to bring Gordon to town as part of the team's workouts for some of the draft's bigger names next week and Johnson did his part in selling his college teammate.

"I think he’ll be a great player," Johnson said of Gordon. "Definitely a possibility to come here. I’m not sure, I know they pick around [the time Gordon is expected to be selected]. It was great playing with him. He’s the youngest kid in the draft, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to him, and listening to him talk and watching him work out. He’s got so much room for improvement, I know he’s going to make those leaps. He’s a great kid, but he works his heart out."

Gordon and Johnson together in Boston? That's the stuff of storybooks. And while Johnson recognizes that playing in Boston would make for a great storyline, he's just hoping to find a home in the league.

"It would be a great honor to be here, I’ve been a lifelong fan -- since I’ve been born really because of my uncle," said Johnson. "It’d be a great honor. But I'm a basketball player and my ultimate goal is to play in the NBA."



bob

6'3" w/shoes, 198#, 6'7 1/4" wingspan (nice), 21 years old.  33.5" no step vertical, 41.5" max vertical.  To put this in perspective, athletic freak Andrew Wiggins is reported to have a 44" max vertical leap (but it was not officially confirmed because he did not attend the draft combine) and Markel Brown of OK State and Jahii Carson of AZ State, both guards, tied for the highest max vertical leap at the Combine at 43.5". Aaron Gordon, considered by many to be the second most athletic draftee after Wiggins, had a max vertical leap of 39".

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0605/ncb_g_johnson01jr_200x300.jpg


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[kdp59]

I did not know Nick Johnson had those bloodlines!

Maybe Ainge can get an early second rounder from Philly (don;t they ahve like 4 of em?) and snag him in the draft.

if nothing else it'll help make Gordon feel at home here

[bobheckler]

I did not know Nick Johnson had those bloodlines!

Maybe Ainge can get an early second rounder from Philly (don;t they ahve like 4 of em?) and snag him in the draft.

if nothing else it'll help make Gordon feel at home here

kdp,

We have no 2nd round picks this year, but we bought one last year to snap Colton Iverson so it's not a foregone conclusion. Draftexpress projects him going #52. That's only 8 away from undrafted, like Pressey.


bob



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[k_j_88]

Zach LaVine had a 46 inch verticle when he worked out with LAL...

That's crazy.



KJ

[bobheckler]

Zach LaVine had a 46 inch verticle when he worked out with LAL...

That's crazy.



KJ

KJ,

He had a 41.5" vertical leap at the Combine.


Here's a quote by Zach LaVine, when he was being asked an IQ question by an NBA team at the Combine.

They asked him ""A bat and a ball cost $1.10, and the bat is $1 more than the ball. How much did the ball cost?"

"So, you know, me being one year in college, I'm like, let me get a pen and paper, let me write that down real quick," LaVine said. "I got to the point where I thought the ball was 10 cents, but I thought it was a trick question. Hey, if you want to play ball, you've got to pay, however much the ball costs. If it's $10, $20, $40, you know, pay for it. I made them laugh with, 'Pay for the ball if you want to play ball.' But I guess the ball was five cents, or something like that. I have no clue."


LaVine was right, it was a trick question (whether the NBA team knew it or not). It is unanswerable. Still, you gotta love his answer "if you want to ball, you pay what it takes".


bob


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