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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2017 21:14:47 GMT -5
Boston Celtics 2018 Draft Big Board 3.0: DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, more in the top five We are about a month into the college basketball season, which has given us a reasonable sample size to work with on several of the top prospects in the lottery, as well as some clarity as to whether the Celtics will have a chance to draft one of them thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s time to dive back into the future with an updated Celtics big board. First, the Lakers: Los Angeles has been slipping — even after beating the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Lonzo Ball and company have lost seven of their last 10. The Lakers might be hard pressed to finish with the worst record in the NBA, but after some promising early results, they seem to have settled into mediocrity. Los Angeles’ offense is 28th in points per possession and 25th in effective field-goal percentage. The Lakers’ defense hasn’t been much better, allowing the eighth-most points per possession and fifth-highest effective field-goal percentage (all stats via Cleaning the Glass). So how far could the eight-worst Lakers fall? It’s tough to tell. The teams below them at the moment are (in order) the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers. Of those teams, the Clippers and Grizzlies seem most likely to take a step up (although the Celtics wouldn’t be particularly upset if Memphis continued to struggle). Phoenix has been slightly better than anticipated behind Devin Booker’s absurdly good start. Dallas and Sacramento have been randomly competitive against better teams while still struggling to finish — a tanking team’s ideal situation. But while the Lakers are five games back from the worst record in the league (Chicago’s 3-20 start looks like it might be hard to beat), they are within striking range of the third-worst Mavericks. Celtics fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high — a lot can happen between now and the lottery in May — but it’s not unreasonable to keep an interested eye on some of the best players in college basketball, especially with such a strong big-man class entering the draft. So without further ado, here's our Celtics-adjusted top five.  AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez
TIER ONE: The Bigs
We start with both Boston's biggest need and the strength of the class: Top-flight big men.
1. DeAndre Ayton, Arizona (C)
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 7-foot-0
Weight 260 pounds
Wingspan: 7-foot-5
Prior to the season, I wrote on multiple occasions that if Ayton cleaned up some of his problems, he could be the No. 1 pick. That still applies, even though Ayton clearly isn’t a complete package yet.
Offensively, there’s a ton to like. Ayton is quickly establishing himself as one of the most dominant interior presences in the country with his size, length and athleticism. Ayton could be one of the absolute top pick-and-roll threats at the next level, especially with the spacing provided by the NBA 3-point line and NBA shooters.
The defensive end remains Ayton’s biggest question mark — at Arizona, he is pretty clearly out of position on occasion, and despite his absurd physical tools, he hasn’t been especially productive as a rim protector. The potential remains (and a good system with good coaching will likely be able to work wonders with him), but we are yet to see his tools pay dividends.
It’s also worth wondering whether Ayton’s shot will be a problem at the next level. It’s pretty flat, and while he has knocked down long twos and 3-pointers in college, it doesn’t have a natural look and feel to it (although his 72.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line is reasonably promising).
Fit with the Celtics
Ayton takes the top spot here because of his offensive skills and his defensive potential, and because he could reasonably play center alongside Al Horford at the four. If he shows any promise at the NBA level as a big man who can protect the rim from the weak side and blow up pick-and-rolls (his physical tools suggest he could do both), he would be a great fit in Boston.
Getting him would probably require a top two or three pick. Luka Doncic seemingly remains the consensus top overall selection and many outlets remain high on Marvin Bagley (more on both in a minute), but Ayton could be interchangeable with either in terms of draft order.
2. Mohamed Bamba, Texas (C)
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 7-foot-0
Weight: 225
Wingspan: 7-foot-9
No Bagley? Not yet on this list. Bamba is still growing into his body, but what we’ve seen so far has been nothing but promising. His length and athleticism are both off the charts even for his position, and he’s showing intriguing signs as an offensive player, including a better-than-advertised jumper from both mid-range and the college 3-point line. He has work to do, certainly, but he could be a good offensive option especially as a pick-and-roll big
But if you take Mo Bamba, you aren’t selecting him for his offense. You are taking one of the most promising defensive prospects in recent memory — a rim protector with a wingspan comparable to Rudy Gobert who already intimidates college players to an absurdly high degree. Bamba is averaging a staggering four blocks per game, and those numbers don’t take into account the number of times he forces a player into a hurried floater (or even better: Discourages him entirely from going near the rim). Bamba is still a little stiff, but he’s improving laterally, and once again, his length could help him blow up pick-and-rolls well at the next level.
Bamba appears to be less of a sure thing than Ayton — offensively, he lacks most of Ayton’s polish — but any coach who feels he can teach a player appropriate NBA defense would be salivating at the idea of adding Bamba to his roster.
Fit with the Celtics
Like Ayton, Bamba could be a great center addition next to Horford. As a rookie, he will likely take his lumps, but expect him to be a plus defender right out of the gate — even pro players might hesitate when they see his absurdly long limbs blocking out their sunlight.
Perhaps even better: Bamba wouldn’t have many offensive responsibilities right away. The Celtics have plenty of scorers, and they will add another one next season when Gordon Hayward returns to the lineup. Bamba’s role initially would be light on the offensive end, with rim protection and rebounding on the other. Given his skill set and physical tools, Bamba will likely be able to do a little bit of both right away.
3. Marvin Bagley, Duke (C/PF)
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 235 pounds
Wingspan: 7-foot-0
Placing Bagley behind Ayton and Bamba might be unpopular, given that Bagley keeps putting up absurdly good stat lines for Duke. He’s a fantastic both as a low-post scorer (mostly with his left hand) and as a rebounder, crashing the offensive boards for put-back dunks and layups. He’s hitting 35 percent of his 3-pointers so far this season and has shown flashes of a jumper from deep that could potentially translate down the line. His performance against No. 7 Florida was one of the seminal showings of the college season so far: 30 points, 15 rebounds and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Fit with the Celtics
So how could he fall to No. 3 on our list? A few things: One, Bagley’s defensive potential isn’t as high as the other two. He’s an acceptable shot blocker, but not an elite one, and all three bigs project well on the glass. Two, Bagley’s primary contributions look like they will be offensive. As backwards as it seems — Boston’s offense has been mediocre, while its defense has excelled — the Celtics have a ton of scoring, especially (once again) with Hayward returning. Once again, a lot could change in the next few months, but while Bagley looks like a future star, his best situation might not be in Boston.
And here’s the thing: If the Celtics land (for example) the No. 4 pick and for whatever reason Bagley is the only of the three bigs available, he’s a no-brainer selection. Horford and Bagley would be a phenomenal front court, especially with Horford stretching the floor in the pick-and-roll and Bagley cleaning up around the rim. If the Lakers pick conveys, chances are one of the top three bigs will be available, and early returns suggest that the Celtics will have several fantastic options.
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis
TIER TWO: The Wings
The wings in this draft class aren't ideal fits for the Celtics, but there is a ton of talent and potential available.
Luka Doncic, Real Madrid (G/F)
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 220 pounds
Wingspan: Unclear
At this point in the draft, we get into really interesting players who would probably necessitate movement on Boston’s part. The Celtics are well stocked at both wing and guard, and Doncic is a little bit of both.
But Doncic gets the nod here for a couple of reasons. For one thing, he would have incredibly high trade value — if Boston wanted to make a move for Anthony Davis, Doncic would be an incredibly tempting trade chip (although he wouldn’t be enough on his own, since Boston would need to match salary).
The Celtics could also hang on to Doncic, of course. He has a versatile skill set as a ball-handler, passer and shooter. Plugging him into Stevens' system would give the Celtics an opportunity to build their future while seeing what they have in Brown and Tatum, and Doncic’s ability to handle the ball and run a pick-and-roll as the handler would be fascinating.
But Doncic (or Brown or Tatum) would likely have to come off the bench behind Hayward, which would be awkward if he starts to shine. Another star wing or guard could be something of an overload for the Celtics, but it would afford them some seriously impressive options.
Michael Porter, Missouri (F)
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 216 pounds
Wingspan: 7-foot-1
Porter’s back injury is undeniably concerning, but his length and versatility could make him too good to pass up. Like Doncic, he would give the Celtics an overload of wings, but coming off the bench, he could spell Hayward and play in fascinating lineups that include Brown and Tatum. Those lineups would be able to switch everything, block shots and shoot the lights out from 3-point range (and the Celtics could still explore trades for Anthony Davis).
Three Key Questions
Here are a few questions the Celtics will need to consider.
1. Should the Celtics take Robert Williams, Jaren Jackson or Wendell Carter?
It’s worth wondering: What if the Lakers pick conveys at No. 4 or 5 and Ayton, Bagley and Bamba are all gone? Would Ainge, who clearly needs a big more than a wing, be better served reaching for one of the best of the rest?
I would argue the Celtics could use young talent and a better trade chip more than a project big, but if Danny Ainge likes one of Williams, Jackson or Carter enough, they could be intriguing.
Williams projects as a high-level rim protector and rebounder. Jackson has impressed in the early going. Carter’s athleticism and low-post scoring look good. Any of the three could develop into the type of big man Boston could slot into really good lineups, but I would imagine the added trade value of Porter or Doncic (and the production they could bring off the bench) would top the fit of the rest of the bigs projected to go in the lottery.
2. Could the Celtics trade up or down?
Absolutely. If Boston lands the No. 5 pick and wants to move into the top two, they have real assets that could make a significant difference. Throwing in the increasingly valuable Memphis pick alongside their own might be enough to sway whichever rebuilding team lands No. 1 or No. 2.
Clearing the cupboards might be worthwhile to acquire a rookie big with potential like Bamba, Bagley or Ayton. Any of the three might be the final piece to complete what Boston is looking to build.
Trading down would be a little more complicated — the Celtics would need to find a suitor with both attractive assets and a need worth filling in the top five. But Boston has had success in the past wracking up assets and still getting their guy. If the Celtics like one of the second-tier big men, they could potentially take advantage.
3. What should the Celtics do with their own pick?
It’s easy to forget, but there’s a very real possibility Ainge’s only selection will be his own. Again, the Celtics could potentially trade up — athletic targets like guard Hamidou Diallo and center Mitchell Robinson catch the eye — but Jonathan Givony of ESPN brings up the intriguing possibility of Khryi Thomas from Creighton. In a lot of ways, Thomas (the DPOY of the Big East last year) is a perfect Celtics player — reminiscent of Marcus Smart with his toughness and highlight defensive plays.
www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2017/12/boston_celtics_2018_nba_draft.html#incart_river_index
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 18, 2017 23:11:14 GMT -5
Ayton and Bamba... wow... Ayton's build reminds me a little of D. Howard (though better offensively) and Bamba reminds me of a taller Greek Freak (though not as fast). Both very enticing... I watched both in the McDonalds or Jordan classic game (can't remember which). Was watching to see Ayton play, but I clearly remember Bamba making his presence known when in the game.
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2018 0:15:19 GMT -5
Either will be a fine addition to the current core ...
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Post by fierce on Jan 2, 2018 22:59:07 GMT -5
Or the Celtics can offer the Lakers pick in a package for Anthony Davis.
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2018 23:44:04 GMT -5
Or the Celtics can offer the Lakers pick in a package for Anthony Davis. Maybe better to use the DPE for that matching salary so we can keep Horford next to Davis. Not sure I want to pass up Ayton or Mamba unless I can have both Al & Davis. I don't see NOLA trading Davis anyway ... |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2018 23:49:06 GMT -5
Or the Celtics can offer the Lakers pick in a package for Anthony Davis. I am off the Davis bandwagon. Danny will not overbid and Pelicans are in no desperation to trade him considering that he is signed through 19-20 season. On top of that, the salary match requirements will break the roster. Next year, the Celts need to add some contracts that can be used for salary match in trades. Davis may happen in 2018-19 season. Don't see it before that. |
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Post by fierce on Jan 3, 2018 1:43:55 GMT -5
Or the Celtics can offer the Lakers pick in a package for Anthony Davis. I am off the Davis bandwagon. Danny will not overbid and Pelicans are in no desperation to trade him considering that he is signed through 19-20 season. On top of that, the salary match requirements will break the roster. Next year, the Celts need to add some contracts that can be used for salary match in trades. Davis may happen in 2018-19 season. Don't see it before that. Yes, 2018-19. I also don't think Anthony Davis is possible right now. It's when the Celts actually own a top 2-5 pick in June 2018 that rumors about Davis start up again. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 1:57:53 GMT -5
I am off the Davis bandwagon. Danny will not overbid and Pelicans are in no desperation to trade him considering that he is signed through 19-20 season. On top of that, the salary match requirements will break the roster. Next year, the Celts need to add some contracts that can be used for salary match in trades. Davis may happen in 2018-19 season. Don't see it before that. Yes, 2018-19. I also don't think Anthony Davis is possible right now. It's when the Celts actually own a top 2-5 pick in June 2018 that rumors about Davis start up again. Even then, the salary cap is not going up. Salary match will totally break up the roster. |
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Post by fierce on Jan 3, 2018 2:09:09 GMT -5
Yes, 2018-19. I also don't think Anthony Davis is possible right now. It's when the Celts actually own a top 2-5 pick in June 2018 that rumors about Davis start up again. Even then, the salary cap is not going up. Salary match will totally break up the roster. True. But I'm not ruling out anything because I also never expected that my favorite non-Celtic player, Kyrie Irving, would end up wearing Celtic green. With Ainge, anything's possible. But I will be happy if the Celts end up getting the 2018 Lakers pick and the Celts using the pick on Ayton or Bagley. |
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Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2018 21:35:34 GMT -5
Bagley looks like an undersized Embiid. Plays above the rim more with athleticism ... Duke 55 vs NCSt 59 (ESPN)
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Post by Admin on Jan 25, 2018 12:08:49 GMT -5
C's did nothing to help themselves secure the Lakers pick (2 thru 5) losing to them as their 6 game winning streak pushes them further outside our option zone currently around 8th or 9th. So if the Lakers pick is deferred to 2019 what then ... C's still have their own 1st rounder and if around #27 here's what could be available ... pay attention to the 7 footer! Boston Celtics mock draft 2018: Celtics miss Lakers pick, take Ohio State's Keita Bates-Diop in latest ESPN list
By Tom Westerholm
AP Photo/Jay LaPreteThe Boston Celtics are currently not in a great position to land the Los Angeles Lakers 2018 pick (via Philadelphia), which is protected unless it lands between 2-5. The Lakers have been winning recently, and with no reason to tank, there's no reason to believe they will fall off significantly in the near future. That likely means Danny Ainge needs to hope for lottery luck, then look ahead to 2019 for his next (and presumably final) high-value draft pick since the Big Three era ended. But the Celtics will still have their own pick to work with, which could mean adding a valuable role player to Boston's already stacked roster. Jonathan Givony -- previously of Draft Express, now of ESPN -- released his latest mock draft on Thursday (insider), which gives us a look at the type of prospect the Celtics might be considering late in the first round. For Boston, Givony selected versatile Ohio State swingman Keita Bates-Diop for Boston -- a 6-foot-7 wing who has been rising up draft boards swiftly this season. "He's been sliding among all of the frontcourt positions for surging Ohio State and looks like an ideal fit for the modern NBA if he can find a way to rev his motor into higher gear at the professional level," Givony wrote, noting that Boston loves versatile wings. Here's a look at one of Bates-Diop's best games this season. While the Celtics have plenty of wings, multiple national NBA writers have noted the value quality two-way wings has sky-rocketed league-wide. The Celtics are one of the few teams who have a surplus at one of the league's most valuable positions, so it wouldn't be much of a surprise if they tried to add to that stockpile. Bates-Diop isn't a freak athlete, but he's long and quick enough to be a solid defender, and he's a good shooter off the catch, which bodes well for his 3-and-D potential. Expect Boston to take a long look at him, if he's available at 27. A couple of other notes from Givony's list: Givony has Mitchell Robinson going slightly before the Celtics' pick. If Boston wants a big man (and if they miss out on the Lakers pick, as they are currently projected), they might take a shot on Robinson. He is a lottery talent who made a surprise decision to attend Western Kentucky, then pulled out at the last second and is spending the year getting himself ready for the draft. The lack of college film almost certainly cost him a lottery slot, but if he's available at 27, the long, athletic big man could be a nice value move for Boston. In Givony's mock draft, the Celtics would also have an opportunity to take Hamidou Diallo, the Kentucky shooting guard. Diallo is an unbelievable athlete whose draft value stagnated a bit this year, but if he is able to show any kind of improvement as a playmaker and/or shooter, he could have excellent NBA potential. Givony projected Anfernee Simons to go in the early/mid 20s. The athletic combo guard -- who plans to wait until the final college signing period to choose whether he will enter the draft or play a year in college -- has a lot of NBA skills, but he's physically nowhere near ready for the next level. If the Celtics like Simons ( they scouted him in person at the 2018 Hoophall Classic), they could take a flier on a young player with a ton of upside. The Celtics might not get the Lakers pick this year, but the bottom of the draft offers plenty of intrigue (albeit less star potential). How the rest of this year shakes out should be fascinating. www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2018/01/boston_celtics_mock_draft_2018.html#incart_river_index
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2018 19:29:08 GMT -5
South Carolina's Brian Bowen works out for Boston CelticsBy: Greg CassoliThe Boston Celtics are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals, but that hasn’t kept the team’s front office from looking to the future. They continued to mine for talent in the upcoming NBA draft by working out ex-Louisville forward Brian Bowen, per Atlanta Hawks’ writer KL Chouinard. Bowen finds himself in uncertain waters. He was suspended indefinitely after an FBI investigation found that his family had been paid $100,000 as a means of influencing him to sign with Louisville. He’s since transferred to South Carolina, but is yet to hear word about whether or not he will have his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA. That leaves him in a difficult spot. There is no firm timetable for the NCAA to make a ruling, and Bowen must decide if he wants to stay in the NBA Draft – voiding his collegiate eligibility entirely – come the end of this month. There’s a real chance he may have to come to a determination without knowing if he’ll even be allowed to play at South Carolina. The logical conclusion might seem to be to simply stick in the Draft, but Bowen’s value as a prospect has been substantially reduced by a year on the sidelines. Teams are missing a massive data point as compared to his peers. He’ll draw interest regardless. At 6’7″, Bowen has an intriguing blend of size, athleticism and shooting potential. If the Celtics have proven anything this season it’s that there is no such thing as too many players that fit that profile. Interestingly, Bowen claims to model his game after one of Boston’s many wings, Jayson Tatum. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/11/report-south-carolinas-brian-bowen-works-out-for-boston-celtics/
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2018 19:34:45 GMT -5
Kentucky's P.J. Washington works out for Boston CelticsBy: Greg Cassoli University of Kentucky’s P.J. Washington can be added to the list of players that have worked out with the Boston Celtics prior to the NBA Draft this summer, per the Louisville Courier Journal’s Fletcher Page. The 6’7″ forward averaged 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.4 minutes per game, while posting .519/.238/.606 shooting splitsWashington, like many of the prospects the Celtics have seen up close, is yet to hire an agent and is still determining whether or not he’ll stay in the draft or return to school for one more year. “It’s real simple — if he’s guaranteed a first round pick, then he’ll stay in the draft,” Paul Washington (P.J.’s father) said, per Page. “If he doesn’t get that, we’ll have to make a decision. It’s PJ’s decision. Now, if he doesn’t get a first-round guarantee and a team says he’ll be an early second round pick, then PJ might say he wants to do that. That’s his decision as well. But the easiest thing is if he gets a guarantee in writing that he’ll go in the first round.” The younger Washington is dealing with an injured pinky finger that will require surgery once his pre-draft workouts are complete. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/09/kentuckys-p-j-washington-works-out-for-boston-celtics/
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2018 19:48:19 GMT -5
Georgia Tech's Josh Okogie works out with Boston CelticsBy: Greg Cassoli
The Boston Celtics continued their pre-draft evaluation process by working out Georgia Tech’s Josh Okogie. The 6’4″ guard averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1 block per game in his Sophomore campaign with the Yellow Jackets. He’s yet to sign with an agent and is still determining if he’ll stay in the draft or return to school for another year. “I think, really, the goal is to stay in the league,” he told reporters after a workout with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. “If going in the second round is how I’m going to go and stay, I don’t know. But right now, I’m always shooting for the best possibility, and I think I have the potential to be a first-round pick, so that’s everything I’m shooting for."Okogie is focused on growing his game in preparation for competition at the next level. “I think, obviously, everybody likes my motor,” he said. “I can go all day long. One of the things I need to improve on, I think myself, is creating my own shot. I’ve improved on that greatly, but you can never get too good on anything. Just keep improving on the things that I’m doing well and try to lift my weaknesses.” Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, has never been one to shy away from high-energy players with developing games, as Okogie describes himself to be. Obviously that’s no guarantee that he’ll wind up with Boston, but it’s not surprising that the Celtics gave Okogie a look. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/08/georgia-techs-josh-okogie-works-out-with-boston-celtics/
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2018 19:54:12 GMT -5
St. John's guard Shamorie Ponds to work out for Boston CelticsBy: Greg Cassoli  The Boston Celtics won’t have a first-round pick at the top of the NBA draft this summer, the first such occasion in years. That doesn’t mean they’ll stop searching for talent. Boston has had success turning less-heralded picks into rotation players, most recently with second-round selection Semi Ojeleye. The Celtics are taking a closer look at St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds, as they seek to find the next diamond in the rough. Ponds hasn’t signed with an agent, which means he can opt to back out of the draft and return to school. How much interest he draws throughout the pre-draft process will likely determine his decision. Ponds led the Big East in scoring as a freshman last year, averaging 21.6 points per game, along with 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals.celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/05/st-johns-guard-shamorie-ponds-to-work-out-for-boston-celtics/
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2018 18:02:15 GMT -5
BYU's Elijah Bryant to work out for Boston CelticsBy: Greg Cassoli  According to a recent report from the Desert News’ Jody Genessy, the Boston Celtics are among the teams that BYU guard Elijah Bryant will work out with leading up to this summer’s NBA Draft. Unlike many of the players that Boston has spent time evaluating in recent weeks, Bryant has officially decided to opt out of his senior season.
“I really wanted to feel out everything,” Bryant told reporters after a recent work out with the Utah Jazz. “After I talked to Coach for the last time, I kind of wanted to go with my gut feeling after praying and really thinking about it. I wanted to live with my decision, so that’s why I decided to do it.” For him, entering the Draft represents the culmination of a lifelong pursuit of playing professional basketball. “I think,” he said, “it was in my best interest to pursue this dream.” Bryant takes the next step in his journey to the NBA after averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists and earning first-team All-WCC honors. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/13/report-byus-elijah-bryant-to-work-out-for-boston-celtics/?utm_source=celticswire&utm_medium=recirc&utm_campaign=rail-most-popular
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Post by Admin on May 17, 2018 0:20:41 GMT -5
Report: Seton Hall's Desi Rodriguez works out with Boston CelticsBy: Greg Cassoli  Former Seton Hall standout Desi Rodriguez can be added to the list of players that have worked out with the Boston Celtics in advance of this summer’s NBA Draft, per the New York Post’s Zach Braziller. The 6’6″ forward averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in his senior season last year. His efforts were enough to earn him All-Big East Second Team honors. Rodriguez joins a growing group of players that the Celtics have taken an in-person look at, most of whom are projected to go in the back end of the first round or later. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/15/report-seton-halls-desi-rodriguez-works-out-with-boston-celtics/
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Post by Admin on May 17, 2018 21:56:59 GMT -5
Is something afoot? Porter is a top 6 draft pick and Danny is meeting with him TOMORROW!Boston Celtics to interview Michael Porter Jr.By: Greg Cassoli  According to the Orlando Sentinel’s (My Comment: Isn't that where the Magic play?) Josh Robbins, Michael Porter Jr. will meet with the Boston Celtics on Friday. Porter was once considered the top overall prospect in his class, but was sidelined for the overwhelming majority of the past year with a back injury. That’s hurt his stock some, but he’s still not likely to be available to the Celtics, who hold the 27th overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Their interest is intriguing nonetheless. It’s possible they just want to get a feel for Porter’s personality. Building a relationship with potential stars is never a bad idea, particularly when navigating future free agent and trade markets. There’s also an outside chance that Boston is hoping to move up in the draft. They’ve got a war chest full of future picks and roster stocked with young, impactful players. It’s not that hard to imagine the Celtics looking to land a top-end talent if they feel they can acquire one at a reasonable price. Porter is the type of big, versatile forward that Boston has prioritized building around in recent years. It may have had an eye on him since well before the upcoming interview. And that might be all this is. Perhaps the Celtics have admired Porter from afar and just want to a chance to better understand him. The more data a team has on a player the better. It’s unclear if Boston’s interview will include a look at Porter’s medicals. His back could push him up or down draft boards in a major way.Even if there is considerable concern for his future health, it isn’t likely that Porter will drop to a place where the Celtics could take a flyer on him. That won’t keep Boston from being prepared to make a decision on him if he does.
celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/17/report-boston-celtics-to-interview-michael-porter-jr/
Comment: I'm sticking with my gut instinct that Rozier and another FRDP and possibly MOAR picks are discussed in a trade with the Orlando Magic
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Post by Admin on May 17, 2018 22:18:49 GMT -5
BTW, The C's could be sincerely interested in Porter if he slips out of the top 5-10 but Danny could also be leaking his name to keep his real target out of the media ... at #6 the big that the C's could really be after might be Jackson or even Bamba, whichever one the Mavs pass on. That's makes sense if trading up ... Here's a look at the potential draft order from 1-6: celticshomecourt.freeforums.net/post/47651/thread |
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Post by DaCeltics on May 19, 2018 0:31:20 GMT -5
Ayton and Bamba are my favs. I have to learn more about MP jr.
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Post by thejuice on May 19, 2018 10:53:43 GMT -5
This draft is loaded with quality talent at the 4/5 position. Id love to see the Celtics cash in on Roziers year this year, and deal him and maybe our 1st this year, and move up into the top 6 or 7 picks and get one of:
Ayton, Bagley (not happening unless top 1-3), Bamba, MPJr, Jaren Jackson, Wendell Carter.
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Post by Admin on May 19, 2018 13:21:43 GMT -5
Donte DiVicenzo, Omari Spellman draw interest from C's ahead of 18' NBA DraftBy: Quenton S. Albertie  Villanova University’s stars and 2017-2018 NCAA champions Donte DiVincenzo and Omari Spellman have drawn the interest of the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft. According to Philadelphia-based sportswriter Keith Pompey, Spellman worked out for the Celtics ahead of the NBA Draft Combine and DiVincenzo will have a private workout with the Celtics on Monday. The Celtics have the 27th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and could select either Nova product as neither are projected to be lottery picks.  Spellman, a 6-foot-9, 260 pound freshman, averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 0.7 steals per game last season. He’s a New Age big man who can score from all three levels with efficiency but he isn’t extremely athletic, making him more pick-and-pop than pick-and-roll. He’s a solid interior defender who is proactive and intelligent but he’s not guaranteed to have the impact against NBA athletes that he had in college. DiVincenzo, a 6-foot-5, 200 pound junior, averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season. He burst onto the national scene after leading the Wildcats to victory in the National Championship game with 31 points. He’s intelligent, athletic, gritty, can shoot, defend, create shots for teammates and be a solid rebounder at his position. There may be no better time for him to ride out his momentum. As Beantown knows, coaching is important. Consequently, the fact that Villanova’s Jay Wright is one of the hottest coaches in the college game — much like Celtics head coach Brad Stevens was at Butler University — should hold weight when assessing the learning curve the two would have in the NBA. In DiVincenzo’s estimation, Wright has prepared them not just physically but mentally as well. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski: celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/18/donte-divicenzo-omari-spellman-draw-interest-from-celtics-ahead-of-2018-nba-draft/
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Post by Admin on May 19, 2018 13:34:20 GMT -5
Creighton’s Khyri Thomas meets with Boston CelticsBy: Quenton S. Albertie
According to The Omaha World-Herald’s Jon Nyatawa, Creighton University’s Khyri Thomas met with the Boston Celtics at the NBA Draft Combine. The Celtics have the 27th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and Thomas, a sharpshooting combo guard with tremendous length and defensive potential, would fit immediately as a three-and-D archetype whose primary contributions will come off-ball on offense and on-ball on defense.  While Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier hold down the point guard position, Thomas is can be the backup shooting guard (playing behind Jaylen Brown) from Day 1.Marcus Smart is also a guard, nominally, but he plays the game much more like a point-forward; he creates for others off-the-dribble, rebounds well and can guard multiple positions but the art of sharpshooting eludes him. Playing him behind Jayson Tatum or Gordon Hayward (one of whom could start as an undersized power forward next season) would be wise. Thomas made at least 39.3 percent of his three-point attempts in each of his three seasons at Creighton, ending his career with a 40.6 three-point percentage after converting 41.1 percent of his three-balls in his third, and final, season. However, he’s much more comfortable and effective shooting the ball from a set position than when he’s on the move. With his athleticism, fluidity and ball-handling ability, all which are solid, Thomas can get to the rim on closeouts. He can also make moves from the post, though it typically results in a no-dribble jumper. Nonetheless, Thomas’ best attribute is his defense. He was a two-time and back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year for the Big East conference. His physical profile (6-foot-10 wingspan, 200 pounds, solid strength), technique (low stance), effort (high motor, multiple efforts on rotations), instinct (excellent anticipation on-ball and attacks both driving and passing lanes) and attentiveness to detail (does homework on matchups, game plan) made him one of the NCAA’s best defenders. He even drew the praise of opponents, like Villanova University’s Donte DiVincenzo. Per Jason Quick of NBC Sports Northwest: If Thomas is selected by the Celtics in the 2018 NBA Draft, [he] should be welcomed with open arms. celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/18/creightons-khyri-thomas-meets-with-celtics/
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Post by DaCeltics on May 19, 2018 15:40:00 GMT -5
I like DiVincenzo a lot!!! He may too good to come off the bench though!
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Post by DaCeltics on May 19, 2018 15:48:35 GMT -5
Spellman looks like a young Al Horford!
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