ESPN NBA Mock Draft Predicts Celtics Will Select These Players

https://nesn.com/2019/04/espn-nba-mock-draft-predicts-celtics-to-select-these-players-in-2019/




ESPN NBA Mock Draft Predicts Celtics Will Select These Players In 2019




by Marcus Kwesi O'Mard
on Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 2:09PM



The Boston Celtics will be busy as beavers this summer in their effort to construct the brightest possible future.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Thursday published a mock 2019 NBA Draft, in which he predicts the Celtics will draft four players. The Celtics will have as many as five picks, depending on the outcome of the NBA Draft Lottery, but Givony projects they ultimately will pick four — three in the first round and one in the second — with the Memphis Grizzlies’ pick rolling over into next year.

Boston will own the Sacramento Kings’ first-round pick if it falls below No. 1 and will use it to select Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke between 12th and 14th overall, Givony projects. Here’s why.

With Boston’s bigs potentially hitting free agency, frontcourt could be a real position of need for the Celtics at the draft.

Clarke’s versatility as a rim-protecting and pick-and-roll-switching lob-catcher is intriguing on this roster. He will turn 23 prior to his first NBA game and should be ready to step in and help right away.

The Celtics also own the Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round draft pick, which will fall between 18th and 20th overall. Boston will select Virginia Tech shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in Givony’s mock.

The Celtics are loaded at the guard spots, but with both Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier entering free agency, finding a strong backup in the draft would be wise.


Alexander-Walker is coming off an outstanding sophomore season, making significant strides on both ends of the floor. He has the perimeter-shooting ability, length, feel and versatility that Boston typically covets.

A tiebreaker will determine whether the Celtics’ own first-round pick falls at Nos. 21 or 22. Givony projects the Celtics to select Kentucky forward Keldon Johnson. Here’s why.

Danny Ainge has long valued toughness, versatility and 3-point shooting — all strengths for Johnson.

Although his struggles creating offense off the dribble caused his stock to fall somewhat, Johnson won’t need to be much of a ball handler on a team with this much star power.

Givony has the Celtics completing their draft by selecting Wake Forest power forward Jaylen Hoard.

Keep in mind mock drafts are inexact sciences. Nevertheless, Givony’s takes offer valuable insight into what kinds of players the Celtics might prioritize in the months and years ahead.



bob



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IMO, at least two out of the four first round picks should be "best big available".  Structure it so that these picks don't become too much of a reach for the actual position of the pick.  Concentrating at this position will allow a better chance that one of the two will be able to contribute in a couple years, if not sooner.

The other two of four first round picks should be for "best player available".  They could be prioritized as follows:

1A: Power Forward
1B: Shooting Guard

Which ever comes up first for the BPA, take the best between 1A and 1B, but remember that skilled bigs are rare.  So are the risks in drafting them too highly, so high risk - high reward.

The second rounder should be a draft and stash.  It will be hard enough to get playing time for the new four first round players.

gyso

one guy Danny may take a hard look at with either the Clippers pick or our own pick is a guy who could become another Baynes.

http://www.nbadraftroom.com/p/goga-bitadze.html

Goga Bitadze NBA Draft Scouting Report

Position
 Height
Weight
From
PF C 6-11 250 Georgia
 Born
 Wingspan
 Standing Reach
 Vertical
7/20/99 7-2 NA NA
Goga is a fierce competitor who's a force to be reckoned with in the paint. He's aggressive on the boards and not afraid to throw his body around. He's got a strong base, good overall strength and seems to really know the game at a high level.

He's in the mold of a Steven Adams in the way he impacts the game without needing the ball in his hands, but unlike Adams, Goga shows some crafty handles and a nice looking outside shot.

Comparison
Steven Adams with handles
Willy Hernangomez

Projection: late lottery to mid first round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft

kdp59 wrote:one guy Danny may take a hard look at with either the Clippers pick or our own pick is a guy who could become another Baynes.

http://www.nbadraftroom.com/p/goga-bitadze.html

Goga Bitadze NBA Draft Scouting Report

Position
 Height
Weight
From
PF C 6-11 250 Georgia
 Born
 Wingspan
 Standing Reach
 Vertical
7/20/99 7-2 NA NA
Goga is a fierce competitor who's a force to be reckoned with in the paint. He's aggressive on the boards and not afraid to throw his body around. He's got a strong base, good overall strength and seems to really know the game at a high level.

He's in the mold of a Steven Adams in the way he impacts the game without needing the ball in his hands, but unlike Adams, Goga shows some crafty handles and a nice looking outside shot.

Comparison
Steven Adams with handles
Willy Hernangomez

Projection: late lottery to mid first round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft

More on Goga.  I like that nbadraft.net  says that he "rarely forgets to box out".  That alone moves him up in my eyes.  Put a 250# body on someone and that someone is probably not getting the rebound and that's just fine. We have other players who can go to the ball, we just need players like Baynes to stop their hogs from pounding us into paste on our defensive boards. Not all rosy of course, that's why he's mid-first round (about 15-19) and not an easy lottery pick, but still... 7'2" wingspan, so respectable for a 6'11+" player.

https://www.nbadraft.net/players/goga-bitadze






bob


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