some early draft talk.

reposting this from another thread

Our bench scoring was atrocious this season so now i really have changed my thoughts about our # 1 need.  

I like the shooter out of vandy, Aaron Nesmith but I would not hesitate one minute to use our top pick on Josh Green  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1qnIZ3-jZI.  He's a 6' 5"  SG that can play some point.  He's quick and athletic and can play defense and shoot the rock.  He's an Ausie who played at Arizona.  He very much reminds me of Devin Booker  (averaged 10 ppg as a one and done coming out of Kentucky)

Check out the video on Josh.  Looks like a complete offensive PKG.  Excellent shooting mechanics.

Several names keep popping up

Picks	CBS Sports	Bleacher Report	NBC Sports	Lineups.com
#17	Precious Achiuwa PF	Josh Green SG	Patrick Williams SF/PF	Vernon Carey PF/C
#26	Patrick Williams SF/PF	Zeke Nnaji PF/C	Isaiah Stewert PF/C	Josh Green SG
#30	Malachi Flynn PG	Isaiah Stewert PF/C	Nico Mannon PG	Daniel Oturu PF/C
#17	Isaiah Stewert PF/C
#26	Josh Green SG
#30	Zeke Nnaji PF/C
	DraftNet	Tankathon	Hoopshype	Draft Room
#17	Theo Maledon PG	Aleksej Pokusevski C	Aaron Nesmith - SG/SF	Theo Maledon PG
#26	Jahmius Ramsey  PG/SG	Tyler Bey SF/PF	Jalen Smith PF	Jalen Smith PF
#30	Tylet Bey SF/PF	Vernon Carey PF/C	Zeke Nnaji PF/C	Cassius Stanley G/SF

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/2020-nba-mock-draft-60-looking-ahead-league-reboot-nears?int


MY NOTE:  This is NBC Boston's mock draft 6.0, per Blakely.  If you click on the link above you can see their entire mock draft, so if you want to see who they think will be drafted just before or just after who the project going to us and like those players better...I could still see Danny trading out of some of the 1st round picks to avoid contracts, but draft-and-stash makes sense too.  


17. Boston Celtics (via Memphis)
Theo Maledon, 6-5, Wing, International

One of the top International prospects in this year’s draft, this could very much be a draft-and-stash pick for the Celtics even though Maledon has a skill set that appears to be NBA-ready.

His willingness to get his teammates involved would mesh well with Brad Stevens’ system, providing some added depth and versatility at the wing position.


26. Boston Celtics
Jalen Smith, 6-10, Forward, Maryland

Boston would ideally like to use this for a stash-and-dash player, but passing on Smith at this point in the draft will be just too tempting for the Celtics.

He can score as a face-up big and is one of the draft’s better rim-runners, providing Boston with another potential source of offense coming off the bench.


30. Boston Celtics
Aleksej Pokusevski, 7-0, Forward, International

Pokusevski is a 7-footer who can put the ball on the floor and attack off the dribble, or knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers if you don’t respect his perimeter game. Pokusevski needs to add strength, but he’s a smart player who knows how to utilize his length defensively to compensate for what he lacks in muscle.

He’ll be just 18 years old on draft night so there’s a decent chance that this will be a draft-and-stash pick.


bob


.

Aaron Nesmith...any chance we can get him?

worcester wrote:Aaron Nesmith...any chance we can get him?

Worcester,

Two mock draft boards have him going 12, another 13 and another 14. So he's nor TOO far away from 17.


bob


.

There are at least a half dozen players that I like.

Cassius Stanley SG from Duke.
Grant Riller PG Charleston

bobheckler wrote:

worcester wrote:Aaron Nesmith...any chance we can get him?

Worcester,

Two mock draft boards have him going 12, another 13 and another 14.  So he's nor TOO far away from 17.


bob


.

.  o
If Danny really likes him he could move up.  Or Danny could take a look at Desmond Bane  TCU 6' 6" wing.  Go to youtube and check out his shooting from deep and his ability to take it off the bounce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA3VnNdrt2c

while you are at it check out Cassius Stanley.  Highest vertical ever for a Duke player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIc6eAN1p4

Personally, unless we're talking about some really quality draft-and-stash Euros (or Argentinean or Brazilians. Love Argentinean and Brazilian players. They are usually very tough, hard-nosed hombres) I'd be good with Danny trading #26 & #30 to Detroit in a sign-and-trade for Christian Wood.  6'10", 215#, 7'3"+ wingspan, 9'3 1/2" standing reach.  Shot 38.6% from 3 last year.  He's a catch-and-shoot stretch 4, 71% of his shots are assisted, which Brad loves.

He's an UFA next season, making $1.6M this year.  Give Detroit 2 cheapy cheap late 1st rounders they can lock in for low bucks for 4-5 years and take this 24 year old in return.


bob


.

I like it Bob. Then at key moments in games Brad can bring the Wood.

worcester wrote:I like it Bob. Then at key moments in games  Brad can bring the Wood.

Worcester,

Really lay the lumber on them, eh?


bob


.

When playing in the Garden Brad could be laying the parquet hardWood on them.

I like Christian Wood but he will be an UFA in October so it does not seem to be feasible to trade picks for a guy in his situation. I could see a draft and stash provided it is not for trash.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/2020-nba-mock-draft-roundup-203329793.html



2020 NBA Mock Draft roundup: Predictions for Celtics' first-round picks



Nick Goss
NBC Sports Boston

July 7, 2020, 3:33 PM



The Boston Celtics will soon travel to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to take part in the NBA's 22-team restart later this month. While most of the basketball world's attention will be focused on the seeding games and the playoffs, front offices around the league will continue to be hard at work preparing for the 2020 NBA Draft.

It's an important draft for the Celtics for a few reasons.


One is that the team is getting expensive. Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown both signed large contracts over the last year, and Jayson Tatum could agree to a max deal of his own later this year. Gordon Hayward also has the ability to opt-in to the final year of his contract, which is worth more than $30 million. The Celtics aren't likely to have much room under the salary cap, which makes finding young players on cheap contracts who are capable of playing meaningful minutes very important.

Boston selected forward/center Grant Williams in the middle of the first round last year, and he's been an effective rebounder/defender as a rookie. Finding useful role players such as Williams with late first-round picks will be crucial to the Celtics being able to fill their roster with the depth required to be a title contender.

The Celtics are expected to have three first-round picks in the upcoming draft -- their own, plus selections from the Memphis Grizzlies (top-six protected) and Milwaukee Bucks. Two of those picks, Boston's own selection and Milwaukee's, will be toward the end of Round 1.

Which players should we expect the Celtics to target in the first round? Here's our latest roundup of 2020 NBA mock drafts.


A. Sherrod Blakely, NBC Sports Boston
No. 17: Theo Maledon, PG, France
No. 26: Jalen Smith, SF/PF, Maryland
No. 30: Aleksej Pokuševski, C, Olympiacos


Gary Parrish, CBS Sports
No. 17: Theo Maledon, PG, France
No. 26: Xavier Tillman, PF, Michigan State
No. 30: Zeke Nnaji, C, Arizona


NBADraft.net
No. 17: R.J. Hampton, PG/SG, New Zealand
No. 26: Reggie Perry, PF, Mississippi State
No. 30: Tyler Bey, SF/PF, Colorado


Tankathon
No. 17: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
No. 26: Leandro Bolmaro, SG, FC Barcelona
No. 30: Zeke Nnaji, C, Arizona


Rob Schaefer, NBC Sports Chicago
No. 17: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
No. 26: Xavier Tillman, PF, Michigan State
No. 30: Aleksej Pokuševski, C, Olympiacos


James Ham, NBC Sports Bay Area
No. 17: Theo Maledon, PG, France
No. 26: Devon Dotson, PG, Kansas
No. 30: Aleksej Pokuševski, C, Olympiacos



bob


.

Malden and Achiuwa are this week's flavors of the week.

The menu will probably change again soon.

Funny, too, how it changes with no real reason. I suppose if you're a writer, you do need to keep it interesting.

I mean, in similar fashion, they don't print the same Marmaduke cartoon every day.

NYCelt wrote:Malden and Achiuwa are this week's flavors of the week.

The menu will probably change again soon.

Funny, too, how it changes with no real reason. I suppose if you're a writer, you do need to keep it interesting.

I mean, in similar fashion, they don't print the same Marmaduke cartoon every day.

NYCelt,

Yeah, I mean, what new information or criteria are they basing their changed selections upon?  No NBA Combine, no team workouts...?

Theo Maledon seems to keep recurring as a name at #17.  RJ Hampton also seems to be sticking around.  Another one that doesn't seem to change is the 7'0" Serbian Pokeman (IF Danny drafts him and IF he signs with the team rather than being stashed overseas for more seasoning, that's my new nickname for him, or maybe even just 'Poke'.  No f'ing way I'm typing Pokuševski, even if I can find the font with the accent over the first 's').

Poke is 7'0", 205#, 18 years old (he'll be 19 in December).  Unlike Jayson Tatum who is 6'8" and was 208# when drafted (and a toothpick), it doesn't look like Poke's shoulders are big enough to add another 20-30#, but maybe I'm being harsh.  What do you think?  Either way, he'd be an end-of-1st-rounder, if that, so who really cares?  They are longshots anyway.




Theo Maledon and RJ Hampton seem to be consensus mid-first round picks.

Stat..........................Maledon.......................Hampton
Height.......................6'3" - 6'4"....................6'5"
Weight.......................175#..........................185#
Wingspan....................6'8"............................6'7"


Theo Maledon Scouting Reports
https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2020/6/1/21269870/2020-nba-draft-theo-maledon-scouting-report

NBA Comparisons  (excerpted from the above Orlando blog):
Probably won’t happen comparison: Tony Parker (low-hanging fruit, I realize that. Although, Parker does own the team Maledon played for in France)
Possibly could happen comparison: Reggie Jackson (but 20 pounds lighter), Jordan Clarkson (with more point guard instincts), Kirk Hinrich (borrowed this one from Kevin O’Connor -mentioned in his ‘Ringer NBA Draft Guide’, really like it)


RJ Hampton Scouting Reports
https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2020/4/19/21217834/2020-nba-draft-rj-hampton-scouting-report

NBA Comparisons

Probably won’t happen comparison: Zach LaVine (similar body-types, Hampton has less vertical ability, will his shooting develop to LaVine’s level?)
Possibly could happen comparisons: Spencer Dinwiddie, Dante Exum, Will Barton


I have intentionally provided links to the same Orlando blog, for consistency purposes.  I'm not saying he's right or wrong, but he'll be looking at point guards through the same prism, applying the same standards to all of them.

Maledon is playing for Tony Parker's team in France.  Hampton is playing in New Zealand.  I don't know much about the NZ league but I haven't heard of anybody worth a shit coming to the NBA from it.  Maledon is playing in the Pro A league in France.  He's playing against talent and I cannot say that for sure about Hampton.  Also, Maledon has won a gold medal for France at the FIBA Under 16 Youth Championship in 2016 and a silver medal in 2018 at the FIBA Under 17 World Cup.  So, he has had some serious tournament experience.


I'm still of the mind Danny is going to draft-and-stash or trade out at least 1 if not 2 of his 1st rounders, so Maledon or Hampton (or a Danny surprise) might be all we get this year.  I'm leaning towards Maledon just based upon the level of competition he has played against and his accomplishments so far against them.

NBAdraft.net has Maledon going one spot before us, at #16, to Minny. They have us taking Hampton (a consolation prize?). Mynbadraft.com has Maledon going #15, to Orlando. So, apparently, he's being thought of highly and we should consider ourselves lucky if he drops to #17?

And then, if Memphis does poorly in the upcoming bubble season we might even have a better pick, right?







bob


.

Bob,

I agree on Poke. 7', 205# and 18...? The team is ready to compete for a title now and could use a big who's ready now. I don't see the thinking in a draft analyst (draft guesser?) suggesting this pick.

I can at least see some reasoning behind forecasting Hampton or Maledon.

Regards

NY Celt previously mentioned the need to draft a PG for the future. I could not agree more.

Here is an interesting highlight clip on Grant Riller, the 6' 3" PG out of Charleston. He's quick, has a solid handle, can get to the rim off the bounce and has the ability to shoot the deep ball. The negative would be the strength of schedule. However his speed and quickness comes right at cha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4qg6zbje78

CBS Sports has him going to Boston in the first round. he looks like a guy worth a flyer in round 2