Draft Workouts

The draft is scheduled for June 28th, and teams are starting to work players out. I thought I'd create a separate thread where we can talk about the various names that will be coming up over the next 5 weeks.

This week, 5/21-5/28, Boston and OKC will both be working out Andrew Nicholson of St. Bonny. Draft Express has him going @ #30. NBA.net has him at #26. Mynbadraft.com has him going #28 (to OKC).

Considering the Celtics are picking at #21 & #22, why are we working out somebody who will easily be available to us? Is he that much better than these pundits think he is, that he's a legitimate #21 or 22 pick? Are they working him out for OKC, and there'll be a draft day swap of our #22 pick of Andrew Nicholson to OKC in exchange for Their #28 pick +??? Stay tuned.

Here are some scouting reports on him. Anybody know about this kid?

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/andrew-nicholson

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Andrew-Nicholson-5518/

http://www.mynbadraft.com/NBA-Draft-Profiles-2012/Andrew-Nicholson

bob


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Bob,

I don't know what the draft links have to say about him, but I'll go back and look when I get the chance.

Nicholson is one of the guys I listed on another thread that I thought could make sense for us if several other PF's and C's are gone, but there are two or three centers that might be available that could be wiser picks. He's a power forward with some length, can be tough to defend in the low post. Smart player. Would fit in the Celtic mold of an intelligent, tough, team-oriented player. Playing at St. Bonaventure with their schedule light on powerhouse competition will probably hurt his draft position. Might become a stronger defender than Bass, but perhaps less of a versatile scorer.

Combined with Bass and Johnson would create competition and give us choices or maybe trading pieces at power forward.

Regards

Fab Melo just worked out for the Celtics. He works out for the Bulls next.

I don't know much about this kid, in fact I know nothing about him, but he has a shot at the HOF for best name.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Fab-Melo-5715/


Here's an exclusive workout by Melo for NBA teams. His inside moves aren't that impressive. Big deal, so he can stuff the ball, he's 7'. He can throw in a baby hook with nobody in his face, BFD. He was hitting mid-range jumpshots in the workout though, and that's nice. According to the draftexpress scouting report, he has no outside game. Hmmm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8K-EKA_vwOU


Another scouting report:

http://nbadraft.net/players/fab-melo


Yet another county heard from:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1185519-2012-nba-mock-draft-fab-melo-and-biggest-potential-first-round-steals

21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse


Considering the kind of hype surrounding Fab Melo earlier this season, the Celtics might be the luckiest team in the NBA if they are able to grab him this far back in the order.

Melo is far from a safe player, but his upside is so tremendous, it makes him a risk worth taking. He had a variety of academic concerns during his short time at Syracuse, and one suspension kept him out of the NCAA tournament. But when he does play, his impact is huge. He registered 2.9 blocks per game last year, and given his limited experience, that can be expected to improve.

Ever since they traded Kendrick Perkins away to Oklahoma City, the Celtics have had bust after bust in the frontcourt. Even if Kevin Garnett does stick around for another year, he's not a long-term option at center. Melo gives the Celtics a pure center who will seriously shore up their presence in the paint once again.

This is bleacher report's projection for our 2nd 1st round pick. I haven't heard about him working out yet.

22. Boston Celtics: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

Taylor is one of the most athletic prospects still available, which is something the aging, ailing Celtics need. He also shot almost 50 percent from the field last season.

bob

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Bob

Kid quit on the SU team this past season, grade issues plus rumors of more but nothing confirmed.

Was absolutely terrible 2 years ago at SU but showed vast improvement last season then the suspension for a couple games reinstated then suspended and left the team.

I am far from sure this is a kid I'd want.

beat

might as well give Sean Williams a good shot at making the team if you think drafting a kid with problems, suspensions, etc are not a big factor

Royce white, 6'8' power forward out of Iowa State, is projected as a late 1st round pick. NBA Draft .net has him going to the Celts late in the 1st round. According to the below link he could be a bust or a steal. Interesting article.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/06/06/white-draft.ap/index.html

Swish

swish wrote:Royce white, 6'8' power forward out of Iowa State, is projected as a late 1st round pick. NBA Draft .net has him going to the Celts late in the 1st round. According to the below link he could be a bust or a steal. Interesting article.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/06/06/white-draft.ap/index.html

Swish

swish,

6'8", 270#? With only 10.6% body fat and a 7'0" wingspan? Holy Guacamole!

Fear of flying, 50% ft shooting. Ok. got it.


http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Royce-White-41371/


bob


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Reggie Willhite, of Yale, worked out for Danny Ainge over the weekend of 6/2.

6'4", not an impressive scorer but a quality defender.

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Reggie_Willhite/Summary/12714

Personally, I don't see this happening. He might get invited to summer league, maybe even training camp, but that's it, unless he is a significantly better defender than Moore. I mean, like Avery Bradley lockdown quality.

bob

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Dan Duggan (who?) tweeted a partial list of free agents, NOT DRAFTEES, who have worked out for the Celtics in recent weeks. Approximately 15 total...

Memphis PF Joey Dorsey, Temple SG Dionte Christmas, Northeastern G Matt Janning (he played for us in the Orlando summer league last year and impressed both Sam and me. He left early to play for the Phoenix team in the much bigger, more prestigious and competitive Vegas League. We told him to stick around, it might be good for him. He left anyway, got cut by Phoenix in training camp), La Salle SG Rodney Green, UMass F Stephane Lasme (played for us in Orlando last year too), Siena G Kenny Hasbrouck, UAB SF Elijah Millsap, Gonzaga SG Micah Downs.

Sorry Sam, no DeShawn Sims...

bob

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I am hoping that they give Sean Williams a shot. Just from the few minutes he played in a few games I thought that he went after the ball well and gave them some umph up front. I know he is not as big as they would like, but, I wonder if given the time that Hollins had gotten, learning the system, etc, if he wouldn't give them some rebounding and shot blocking that they need. I have never gotten over the fact that Hollins, as big as he was, just didn't rebound well at all, soft hands? Bad positioning? Whatever, he drove me nuts at times.

Rosalie

RosalieTCeltics wrote:I am hoping that they give Sean Williams a shot. Just from the few minutes he played in a few games I thought that he went after the ball well and gave them some umph up front. I know he is not as big as they would like, but, I wonder if given the time that Hollins had gotten, learning the system, etc, if he wouldn't give them some rebounding and shot blocking that they need. I have never gotten over the fact that Hollins, as big as he was, just didn't rebound well at all, soft hands? Bad positioning? Whatever, he drove me nuts at times.

Rosalie

Rosalie,

They don't need to work out Sean Williams. They already know pretty much all they need to know about him. They either invite him to camp (maybe summer league too) to spend more time learning Doc's system, or they don't.

bob


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Bob,

I've been googling Sims in an effort to find out what's happened to him since he was injured and got released by the Red Claws. I don't know whether they'd have to work him out unless they're concerned about his health. They should pretty much know whether he offers enough to be invited to summer ball.

Just another little mystery in a Holmesian summer.

Sam

Rosie I'm with you on your comments about Sean Williams. From what little I saw...his intensity was evident. He definitely has rebounding and shot blocking potential.

Dboss

I noticed that he has a non guaranteed contract for $900,000 plus dollars for the up coming year. So, I would imagine he will be invited to camp and if they like what they see, he won't get cut. I'm rooting for the kid, this could be a real story here if he finally starts to make something of himself after struggling for all these years.

Unfortunately, Sean Williams can't participate in the Summer leagues, at least the Las Vegas games:

The NBA Summer League is in Las Vegas, Nevada every July. The Summer League is a pro basketball league run by the NBA just following the NBA Draft. Teams consist of players who have been in the NBA for 3 years or fewer as well as newly drafted talent. It gives Rookies a chance to practice against other players that are new to the NBA. Games are held throughout the ten days at Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the UNLV Campus.

http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2012/06/07/2012-nba-summer-league-basketball-career-conference/

BTW, Sean was drafted in 2007 - 1st round (17th pick) by the New Jersey Nets. He played for the Nets for three years, sat out a year and played for the Mavericks and Celtics last year.