DRAFT THREAD 2015

[Sam]

I'm starting this thread now in hopes that we can begin consolidating draft-related insights in one space, with the big finish to occur on Thursday night.  Come one, come all, especially during the draft itself.  This is the place to voice your opinions, predictions, hopes and frustrations (I hope there won't be many of those).




2015 NBA Draft
Thursday, June 25
7 p.m. ET
Live on ESPN


Sam

[wide clyde]

We either have to plan on trading up and drafting a center if there is not a good one to trade for prior to the draft.

Our team has had a glaring need in the middle for several years now. A true center who can play in the top eight rotation is imperative for continued re-build improvement next season. Center is just not a position that you can take a good forward (Brandon Bass) and 'make' him into an NBA center without suffering severe consequences over an 82 game schedule.

[cowens/oldschool]

so your saying Zeller and Olynck aren't the solution at center longterm?

[bobheckler]

so your saying Zeller and Olynck aren't the solution at center longterm?

Cow,

Neither of them were ever intended to be. Danny said flat out, when he drafted Kelly, that he saw him pkaying 4 in the NBA. Jelly Sullynk were dragooned into playing 5 because Zeller is not a 35mpg player.


bob


.

[swish]

I'm hoping that Ainge selects a player that has a lot of upside to project as a potential high scorer. Preferably a high percentage shooter. Position not important. No urgency for immediate success. Rebuilding process allows for ample time to grow.

swish

[kdp59]

nice article from SI on the top 50 non import players in this draft, with input from real NBA scouts.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/06/22/2015-nba-draft-scouting-reports-jahlil-okafor-karl-towns-emmanuel-mudiay



some players that are up based on the way I read that piece up being from my (final combined draft rankings)

F. Kaminsky (#15 on my rankings)
C. Payne (#16)
J. Anderson (#23)
T. Rozier (#29)
R. Vaughn (#31)
R. Christmas (#39)
J. Young (#49)
P. Connoughton (#53)
L. Nance Jr (#56)
D. Wells (#73)


likewise some players I read to be DOWN from my last overall rankings:

M. Turner (#10)
K. Oubre (#14)
K. Looney (#20)
M. Harrell (#21)
D. Wright (#24)
C. Alexander (#35)
R. Upshaw (#38)
M. Frazier (#43)
C. Walker (#74)

[kdp59]

new combined MOCK DRAFTS.
from Draftnet, Draftexpress and USAToday

all were updated just today.
players must be in at least TWO out of the three mocks

Rank-Pos-------Player----------Hgt-----School
1--C/PF---Karl-Anthony Towns--6-11---Kentucky
2---C---------Jahlil Okafor-------6-11----Duke
3---PG------D'Angelo Russell----6-5----Ohio St
4---PF------Kristaps Porzingis---7-0-----Int
5---SF------Justise Winslow-----6-6-----Duke
6---PG-----Emmanuel Mudiay---6-5----Playing in China
7--SF/SG----Mario Hezonja------6-8----Int
8---SF------Stanley Johnson-----6-7----Arizona
9---SG------Devin Booker-------6-6-----Kentucky
10---C-----Willie Cauley-Stein---7-0----Kentucky
11---C-------Myles Turner-------6-11---Texas
12---PF------Trey Lyles---------6-10----Kentucky
13---PG-----Cameron Payne-----6-2----Murray St
14--C/PF----Frank Kaminsky----7-0----Wisconsin
15---PF------Bobby Portis------6-10----Arkansas
16--SF/SG---Kelly Oubre Jr-----6-7-----Kansas
17---SF------Sam Dekker-------6-9----Wisconsin
18---PG------Tyrus Jones-------6-1-----Duke
19---PG------Jerian Grant------6-5-----Notre Dame
20---SG------R J Hunter-------6-5------Georgia St
21---SF--Rondae Hollis- Jefferson--6-7---Arizona
22--PF/SF----Kevon Looney----6-9------UCLA
23---PF------Montrezl Harrell---6-7-----Louisville
24---PG------Delon Wright------6-5-----Utah
25---SG------Rashad Vaughn---6-5-----UNLV
26--SF/SG---Justin Anderson---6-6-----Virginia
27---PG------Terry Rozier------6-2------Louisville
28---PF------Chris McCullough--6-10---Syracuse
29---PF-------Jarell Martin------6-8------LSU
30---C--Guillermo Hernangomez--6-11---Int

31---PF-----Jonathan Holmes----6-8----Texas
32---PF-----Jordan Mickey-------6-7-----LSU
33---PF-----Cliff Alexander------6-9-----Kansas
34---C------Rakeem Christmas--6-9----Syracuse
35---PF-----Christian Wood-----6-11----UNLV
36--SG/PG---Joseph Young-----6-2-----Oregon
37---SF-------Cedi Osman------6-8------Int
38---SG------Norman Powell----6-4-----UCLA
39----C------Nikola Milutinov---6-11----Int
40---PF------Richaun Holmes---6-9-----Bowling Green
41----C------Arturas Gudaitis---6-10----Int
42----C------Robert Upshaw----7-0-----Washington
43----C------Dakari Johnson----7-0-----Kentucky
44---PG------Olivier Hanlan-----6-4-----Boston Col
45----C----Mouhammadou Jaiteh--6-11---Int
46---SG-------J P Tokoto--------6-6-----N. Carolina
47---SF-------Anthony Brown---6-7-----Stanford
48---PG------Andrew Harrison---6-5-----Kentucky
49---SG------Pat Connaughton---6-4----Notre Dame
50---SG------Michael Frazier II---6-4----Florida
51---SG------Tyler Harvey--------6-4----E. Washington
52---SG------Josh Richardson----6-6----Tennessee
53---SF-------Daniel Diez---------6-8-----Int
54---PF-------Aaron White--------6-9-----Iowa
55---SF-------Vince Hunter-------6-8-----UTEP
56---PF-------Brandon Ashley----6-9-----Arizona
57---PF-------Larry Nance Jr-----6-8-----Wyoming
58---SF------Treveon Graham---6-6-----VCU

[bobheckler]

Chris Forsberg @ESPNForsberg
Danny Ainge: “We’re having discussions to move up with both of our picks in the 1st round. We’re trying to move up with at least 1 of them."
7:52 AM - 23 Jun 2015
  29 29 Retweets  17 17 favorites


bob


.

[bobheckler]

Quixem Ramirez: Per @Chad Ford, Tim Duncan is the only No. 1 overall pick in the last 25 years to deliver a title to the team that drafted him.


bob
MY NOTE: Crap. Shoot.

.

[kdp59]

list of current players that have been "rumored" to be available in trade during/before the draft (off the top of my head)

E. Bledsoe-Phoe
B. Jennings- Det
T. Lawson- Den
K. Faried- Den
D. Cousins- Sac
D. Lee- GS
everyone on the Celtics roster

did I miss anyone?

[Sam]

OFFICIAL POST TO BE UPDATED WITH EACH NEW DRAFT PICK AND/OR TRADE:

Entries will be made by Sam. Team names will be changed when appropriate.

 1 Minn:  Karl-Anthony Towns, C/PF, 6' 11" Kentucky (a shocker!)




 2 LAL: D'Angelo Russell, PG,6' 5" Ohio State




 3 Phil: Jahlil Okafor, C, 6' 11" Duke




 4 NYK: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, 7' 0" International




 5 Orl: Mario Hezonja, SF/SG, 6' 8" International 




 6 Sac: Willie Cauley-Stein, C, 7' 0" Kentucky




 7 Den: Emmanuel Mudiay PG, 6' 5", Playing in China




 8 Det: Stanley Johnson, SF, 6' 8" Arizona




 9 Char: Frank Kaminsky, C/PF, 7' 0" Wisconsin




10 Mia: Justise Winslow, SF, 6' 6" Duke




11 Ind: Myles Turner, C, 6' 11" Texas




12 Utah: Trey Lyles, PF, 6' 10" Kentucky




13 Phoe: Devin Booker, SG, 6' 6" Kentucky




14 Okla: Cameron Payne, PG, 6' 2" Murray State




15 Atl: Kelly Oubre, SF/SG, 6' 7" Kansas




16 Bos: Terry Rozier, PG, 6' 2" Lousiville




17 Milw: Rashad Vaughn, SG, 6' 5" UNLV




18 Hous: Sam Dekker, SF, 6' 9" Wisconsin




19 Wash: Jerian Grant, PG, 6' 5" Notre Dame




Trade: Oubre from Atl. to Wash., Hardaway from NYK to Atl., Grant from Wash. to NYK




20 Tor: Delon Wright, PG, 6' 5" Utah




21 Dal: Justin Anderson, SF/SG, 6'6" Virginia




22 Chi: Bobby Portis, PF, 6' 10" Arkansas




23 Port: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, 6' 7" Arizona




24 Cle: Tyus Jones, PG, 6' 1" Duke




25 Mem: Jarell Martin, PF, 6' 8" LSU




26 SAS: Nikola Milutinov, C, 6' 11" International




27 LAL: Larry Nance Jr., PF, 6' 8" Wyoming




28 Bos: R.J. Hunter, SG, 6' 5" Georgia State




29 Brkl: Chris McCullough, PF, 6' 10" Syracuse




30 GSW: Kevon Looney, PF/SF, 6' 9" UCLA




31 Min: Cedi Osman, SF, 6' 8" International



Trade:  Tyus Jones to Minnesots, Cedi Osman and Rakeem Christmas to Cleveland



32 Hou: Montrezl Harrell, PF, 6' 7" Louisville




33 Bos: Jordan Mickey, PF, 6' 7" LSU 




34 LAL Anthony Brown, SF, 6' 7" Stanford




35 Phl: Guillermo Hernangomez, C, 6' 11" International




36 Min: Rakeem Christmas, C, 6' 9" Syracuse




37 Phl: Richaun Holmes, PF, 6' 9" Bowling Green




38 Det: Darrun Hilliard, SG, 6' 6" Villanova




39 Char: Juan Vaulet, SF, 6' 6" International




40 Mia: Josh Richardson, SG, 6' 6" Tennessee




41 Brkl: Pat Connaughton, SG, 6' 4" Notre Dame




42 Utah: Olivier Hanlan PG, 6' 4" Boston College




43 Ind: Joseph Young, SG/PG, 6' 2" Oregon




44 Phoe: Andrew Harrison, PG, 6' 5" Kentucky




45 Bos: Marcus Thornton, pg, 6' 4" William & Mary




46 Milw: Norman Powell, SG, 6' 4" UCLA




47 Phl: Aturas Guadaitis, C, 6' 10" International




48 Okla: Dakari Johnson, C, 7' 0" Kentucky




49 Wash: Aaron White, PF, 6' 8" Iowa




50 Atl: Maarcus Ericksson, SG, 6' 7" International




51 Orl: Tyler Harvey, SG 6' 4" Eastern Washington




52 Dal: Satnam Singh, C, 7' 2" IMG Academy




53 Cle: Sir Dominic Pointer, SF, 6' 5" St. John's




54 Port: Danny Diez, PF, 6' 8" International




55 SAS: Cady Lalanne, PF, 6' 10" Massachusetts




56 NOrl: Brandon Dawson, PF, 6' 6" Michigan State




57 Den: Nicola Radicevic, PG International




58 Phil: J.P. Tokoto, SF, North Carolina




59 Atl: Demetrios Agravanis, PF, 6 10" International




60 Phil: Luka Mitrovic, PF International

[bobheckler]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/238354/Celtics-Prepared-To-Trade-Up-With-76ers-If-Jahlil-Okafor-Slips



Celtics Prepared To Trade Up With 76ers If Jahlil Okafor Slips
JUN 25, 2015 11:11 AM


The Boston Celtics are prepared to send a significant trade package to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 if Jahlil Okafor slips.

Okafor is in play for both the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 1 and particularly the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 3.

The Celtics have a considerable numbers of assets to make trading up viable.

BRIAN WINDHORST/ESPN



bob
MY NOTE:  Minor thing, the Lakers are #2, not #3.  Doesn't change the meaning of the post, if Okafur drops past the Lakers, then this is saying Danny has a deal structured to get him from Philly.

It never occurred to me Okafur or Towns or Mudiay or Russell would be possible for us, so I don't know much about him.  What was the point?  Anybody know about him?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jahlil-Okafor-6469/

6'11", 272# (Whoa!), 7'5" wingspan (Whoa again!), 9'2" standing reach.  These numbers are from 2014, he did not attend the Draft Combine and so there are no measurements from this year.



I have to say, this defensive video does NOT impress me.  A lot of talk about "verticality" and not much about athleticism.  "Verticality" is french for "standing there with your arms up".  It's what Kelly does, but with shorter arms.



Sorry, but I'd still rather have Porzingis.  Still might be worth trading for, I'd have to see what Danny is giving up for him.



.

[kdp59]

Bob,


Okafor has been compared to Duncan on the high end and Jefferson on the low end.

his defense is way behind his offense , but he's considered the best low post player to come out in a long time.

how Danny could get up to #3 is making my head spin though.

[worcester]

kdp - Reading your draft list, I've just got to say it - Down Goes Frazier!

[kdp59]

anyone fancy using the chatroom later this evening?

[worcester]

D'Angelo Russell really impressed the Lakers during his workout, Okafor not so much. Rumor has it that LA is looking to pick Russell, thus Okafor would drop to #3, and he's someone Philly just does not need. Ergo, the Celts may have a shot at him. He got into foul trouble in the Final Four against Wisconsin,so I didn't get a chance to see much of him there, but against Michigan State he scored 18 points on 7-11 shooting with 6 boards. He was impressive offensively and needs to be double-teamed, no doubt. Defensively, he needs to work on his game. Only downside I've heard about him - and it's not insignificant - is that he's not so good against NBA sized big men - 16 points and 16 rebounds combined in two such college games this year. I'd still prefer Danny swindle Boogie from Sacto, but that'd be a Herculean effort. Okafor from Philly would be coup enough, even if he has to give up Gerald Wallace to get him.

[worcester]

kdp, I'm going to a play this evening - a must to keep the little lady happy - otherwise I'd be chatting away. She took me to the Final Four so I can't complain.

[Matty]

Okafor from Philly would be coup enough, even if he has to give up Gerald Wallace to get him.

the sad thing is, with last yrs #1 pick possibly out an entire season again I could see philly trying another tankpalooza and actually demanding him in any deal we'd do.

[Sam]

OKAY, HERE WE GO!!!!  Whatever one thinks of the draft, it is one of the NBA centerpieces that has spanned all the eras—plus being the closest thing to an official kickoff of Midsummer Madness.

Go Danny, and go Celts.  And look for a couple of yellow jerseys in the crowd—TJ and his son.  Two Lakers fans in Brooklyn.  I wonder if they're armed.

Have fun everyone.

Sam

[bobheckler]

OKAY, HERE WE GO!!!!  Whatever one thinks of the draft, it is one of the NBA centerpieces that has spanned all the eras—plus being the closest thing to an official kickoff of Midsummer Madness.

Go Danny, and go Celts.  And look for a couple of yellow jerseys in the crowd—TJ and his son.  Two Lakers fans in Brooklyn.  I wonder if they're armed.

Have fun everyone.

Sam

sam,

Isn't everybody in Brooklyn?


bob


.

[112288]

OK GANG ! IT'S SHOW TIME!

THIS SHOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING NIGHT. I CANNOT SEE THE CELTICS TAKING 2 FIRST ROUNDERS....SOMETHINGS GOT TO GIVE.


112288

[bobheckler]

Peripheral to the draft, there is a report out that says that Aldridge told the Blazers he would NOT be back.

That's why Portland traded for Vonleh. Insurance. Will a team that thinks they have a shot at Aldridge (LA?) draft a big like Okafur or go for a point guard like Russell or a freak athlete like Mudiay or...?

[bobheckler]

OK GANG !  IT'S SHOW TIME!

THIS SHOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING NIGHT.  I CANNOT SEE THE CELTICS TAKING 2 FIRST ROUNDERS....SOMETHINGS GOT TO GIVE.


112288

112288,

Loved that movie.


bob

.

[Shamrock1000]

Quixem Ramirez: Per @Chad Ford, Tim Duncan is the only No. 1 overall pick in the last 25 years to deliver a title to the team that drafted him.


bob
MY NOTE:  Crap.  Shoot.

.

Great point.

[tjmakz]

There are lots of Lakers fans here.
We are 15 rows up next to the stage on the side where the players walk up.

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