Danny Ainge Receives Mixed Grades From National Outlets For Celtics’ Draft Night

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/06/23/danny-ainge-receives-mixed-grades-from-national-outlets-for-celtics-draft-night/



Danny Ainge Receives Mixed Grades From National Outlets For Celtics’ Draft Night



June 23, 2017 11:14 AM




BOSTON (CBS) — Just hours removed from the NBA Draft, there’s no way of really knowing how these picks will turn out for every NBA franchise.

But that’s not going to stop people from pretending.

A regular occurrence for any sport’s drat, NBA writers around the country are assigning grades to each team. While they obviously can’t mean too much in the grand scheme of things (if someone could really see the future, he wouldn’t get into the profession of sportswriting), it is nevertheless interesting to see how certain analysts look at the picks.

With that said, here’s a roundup of some of the grades assigned to Danny Ainge and the Celtics.


ESPN’s Chad Ford
Grade: B

Explanation:  “Tatum was the best pure scorer in the draft but is just a so-so athlete and defender. The Celtics need offensive players beyond Isaiah Thomas who can get their own shot. If Tatum learns how to defend and get others involved, he’ll be a great NBA player. But he’s a bit one-dimensional right now. … Ojeleye is a more typical Celtics pick. He’s huge, he’s physical and he plays with a high basketball IQ. … Allen fits another Celtics type as a super-strong, physical guard who excels on the defensive end. Bird is a solid athlete and good shooter who, as a freshman and sophomore, was regarded as a potential first-rounder.”


CBSSports’ Reid Forgrave  and Jack Maloney
Jayson Tatum Grade: A
Semi Ojeleye Grade: A-
Kadeem Allen Grade: B+
Jabari Bird Grade: B

Explanation: “[Tatum is a] perfect fit. Celtics need a scorer to take pressure off IT4 and Tatum is the most advanced scorer in draft. … Surprised [Ojeleye] dropped this far. Versatile offensive player. Could be a steal for Boston.”


Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Sharp
Grade: C+

Explanation: “Maybe they just really like Tatum? I’m not a huge fan of his game, but others are. … Semi Ojeleye is a prospect I really liked, but with Ante Zizic and Guerschon “Dancing Bear” Yabusele coming over, I wonder whether they even have minutes for him.  … The Celtics are probably not as brilliant as the true Ainge believers think, and they’re probably not as dumb and gun shy as some critics make them sound.”


Bleacher Report’s Adam Fromal
Jayson Tatum Grade: B
Semi Ojeleye Grade: B-
Kadeem Allen Grade: C-
Jabari Bird Grade: C-

Explanation: “[The Tatum pick is] an aggressive evaluation of a player who often displayed lackluster effort during his brief time at Duke and doesn’t quite possess the prototypical explosiveness we’ve come to expect from superstar wings. … Semi Ojeleye will likely never develop into a strong defender for the Boston Celtics … But he’s an incredible athlete who knows how to parlay his strength into production on the offensive end, where he constantly creates second-chance opportunities. … It would be downright shocking if Kadeem Allen logged a single minute for the Boston Celtics in 2017-18. … The Boston Celtics simply don’t have space for another guard—particularly one, like Jabari Bird, who isn’t ready to hold his own defensively.”


The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks
Jayson Tatum Grade: B value, B fit

Explanation: “Tatum is one of the best scorers in this draft, and he could become the no. 2 option the Celtics have needed to take pressure off Isaiah Thomas. … The key is developing the rest of his game so he can help his team if he’s not a primary option.”


Fox Sports’ Andrew Lynch
Grade: C+

Explanation: “We expect Tatum to develop into a solid offensive player in Boston. However, we’re docking Danny Ainge a letter grade or two here for the Wolves’ acquisition of Jimmy Butler. According to reports, the Celtics were unwilling to include the No. 3 pick in a trade for Butler.”


Sporting News’ Jordan Greer
Grade: B

Explanation: “Tatum will walk into the league with a polished offensive game, and Brad Stevens will only help him improve. Ojeleye was a top-20 player on our Big Board, so he’s a good steal at 37. Allen and Bird will have to wait in the back of the line of guards. The chase for Gordon Hayward now truly begins.”


USA Today’s Adi Joseph
Jayson Tatum Grade: B+
Semi Ojeleye Grade: A
Kadeem Allen Grade: B-
Jabari Bird Grade: C+

Explanation: “[Tatum] gives the Celtics some of the scoring ability they lacked when Isaiah Thomas was off the court. He’s also incredibly polished, though that could be interpreted as a lack of upside. … The top-ranked player remaining on many boards, Ojeleye is ridiculously strong and can play either forward spot. He might be another Jae Crowder for the Celtics. … Allen is the perfect Celtics pick, a scrappy defender whose offensive game is better than advertised. … Bird can rain 3s but lacks the physical frame and athletic ability for the NBA.”


Yahoo’s Jordan Schultz
Grade: A+

Explanation: “Jayson Tatum is the most polished offensive player in the draft. … Tatum is significantly better than last year’s No. 3 pick – Jaylen Brown – though his defense remains a slight concern. … Semi Ojeleye [is] a powerfully built, highly athletic pick-up truck. … The Celtics also got a lot better.”



bob
MY NOTE:  Minny got Butler for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Laura Markkannen.  All those people who oohed and ahhed last year when Kris Dunn was picked was picked are now thinking getting Butler for him, a high quality athlete like LaVine and the #7 pick in a deep draft is a steal.  Doesn't make their draft day opinions of Dunn look that good now, does it?  That critique was of Danny's trading, not his drafting.  Well, I'll put Trader Danny's trading record up against all comers.  Who would we have to had to give up for Butler besides the #3?  The numbers don't work without bodies being attached to them.

Brad will get Tatum to defend.  Jaylen and Marcus will beat on him like a drum in practice if he doesn't.

Tatum is a polished, even the "most polished", offensive player in the draft.  A couple of them said that.  So much for Fultz and Ball who got picked ahead of him.  Are they running down Philly and LA for taking less polished offensive players, players who also aren't defensively-oriented?  So, we're supposed to draft a 19 year old who doesn't do anything better than everybody else with the #3 pick because "that could be interpreted as a lack of upside" and it's important to show how they have improved?  Wow.  What a stupid interpretation and effort to find something to carp about.  "He's Albert Einstein, he won't get any smarter!".  Morons.  Are they docking Philly's pick of Fultz because he has a polished offensive game but isn't a great defender too, not to mention they gave up a draft pick that will be no worse than the 2019 first round pick of the perennial dumpster fire that is the Sacramento Kings? If Tatum delivers, and let's assume Fultz does too, then doesn't that make Danny a trading genius because he got the draft pick to move down to #3? Oh, wait a second, we're only allowed to obsess over Butler.

Learn from Jaylen, Jayson, learn from Jaylen.  He, and Danny, got dissed when he was picked #3 last year too.  He ended the year strong and will be better next year.  Proving them wrong.  Now it's your turn.

.

I wanted Porter over Rozier.....he was right.
I wanted Brown over Dunn....I was in the minority, I know. Trusted him on that one, and he was right again.


He will be right on Tatum as well. I know it!

I suppose before we pass judgement on any players recently drafted we should at the very least, wait a while to see how things turn out.

I think it remains to be seen just how polished Tatum is.  there are a lot of gifted players in this draft.  

dboss

I'm good with where we are right now. I'd be disappointed for Yabs or Zizic if the Cs convince either to wait another year.

The pundits like to say that you can't judge a draft for at least 3 years. And then they all start handing out letter grades. lol

Like many I was expecting to see some bigs drafted, even if for stash purposes. So I'm a little disappointed. But this is only the draft. We will know more in a couple of weeks if we don't get too distracted by our awesome SL team. From the sound of things, it will be like last year when Danny made trade to move some of those extra second round selections.

Trusting Danny to do what he thinks is best while being willing to call him out if he doesn't meet my expectations lol

Next year's team will be better, win more games, and advance further in the playoffs. We could win it all next year if things work. No amount of meaningless stats, naysayer gloom and doom, or repeated doses of "no way do they beat the Cavs or Dubs" will dampen my optimism. I go into every season feeling the Celtics will go undefeated and win the championship. In the 60 years I've been following this team they have hoisted more banners than any other franchise and I fully expect that trend to continue in the future.

Some people are just bigger fans of their theories than the team they say they are rooting for. What ever floats your boat, duckie.

Imagine if the Brooklyn pick next year turns out to be the #1 pick and the 2018 Lakers pick will be #2.

What will be Ainge's grade if that happens?

fierce wrote:Imagine if the Brooklyn pick next year turns out to be the #1 pick and the 2018 Lakers pick will be #2.

What will be Ainge's grade if that happens?

right with that trade Nets are going to be worse than last year, Lakers still don't have enough winning pieces, Ingram not ready, Ball will be learning, maybe hes better than we think and can make others better, but WC will be better too....we very well could luck out and get Lakers pick....???

cowens/oldschool wrote:

fierce wrote:Imagine if the Brooklyn pick next year turns out to be the #1 pick and the 2018 Lakers pick will be #2.

What will be Ainge's grade if that happens?

right with that trade Nets are going to be worse than last year, Lakers still don't have enough winning pieces, Ingram not ready, Ball will be learning, maybe hes better than we think and can make others better, but WC will be better too....we very well could luck out and get Lakers pick....???

Right now the top 4 of next year's draft class is Porter Jr., Bamba, Ayton, and Doncic.

Celts don't really need the #1 pick, #2, #3, and #4 will be good enough.
Even #5 will still be very good.

fierce wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:

fierce wrote:Imagine if the Brooklyn pick next year turns out to be the #1 pick and the 2018 Lakers pick will be #2.

What will be Ainge's grade if that happens?

right with that trade Nets are going to be worse than last year, Lakers still don't have enough winning pieces, Ingram not ready, Ball will be learning, maybe hes better than we think and can make others better, but WC will be better too....we very well could luck out and get Lakers pick....???

Right now the top 4 of next year's draft class is Porter Jr., Bamba, Ayton, and Doncic.

Celts don't really need the #1 pick, #2, #3, and #4 will be good enough.
Even #5 will still be very good.

Fierce,

Assuming Danny doesn't trade them, or trade down.

Draft picks don't win games or championships, players do.


bob


.

bobheckler wrote:

fierce wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:

fierce wrote:Imagine if the Brooklyn pick next year turns out to be the #1 pick and the 2018 Lakers pick will be #2.

What will be Ainge's grade if that happens?

right with that trade Nets are going to be worse than last year, Lakers still don't have enough winning pieces, Ingram not ready, Ball will be learning, maybe hes better than we think and can make others better, but WC will be better too....we very well could luck out and get Lakers pick....???

Right now the top 4 of next year's draft class is Porter Jr., Bamba, Ayton, and Doncic.

Celts don't really need the #1 pick, #2, #3, and #4 will be good enough.
Even #5 will still be very good.

Fierce,

Assuming Danny doesn't trade them, or trade down.

Draft picks don't win games or championships, players do.  


bob


.

True.

But the players were draft picks first before they became NBA players.