NBA Draft

[apbc12]

Hey, remember when IB said the ACC All-Freshman team would destroy any other conference's similar squad? Hilarious.

[missoulaEagle]

Did anyone take Rakim Sanders and his "NBA body"?

[claver2010]

Did anyone take Rakim Sanders and his "NBA body"?

If he ever dedicated himself like Duds did, he would've gone in the 1st. Disappointing but not surprising.

[twballgame9]

Did anyone take Rakim Sanders and his "NBA body"?

If he ever dedicated himself like Duds did, he would've gone in the 1st. Disappointing but not surprising.

Bingo. Kid totally blew it.

That said I turned it on for 5 minutes last night to see all of the good basketball players slide out of the lottery and all of the great athletes that can't play basketball move up. Waiters at #4 and Sullinger at #21 pretty much takes the cake.

[DavidGordonsFoot]

Did anyone take Rakim Sanders and his "NBA body"?

If he ever dedicated himself like Duds did, he would've gone in the 1st. Disappointing but not surprising.

Bingo. Kid totally blew it.

That said I turned it on for 5 minutes last night to see all of the good basketball players slide out of the lottery and all of the great athletes that can't play basketball move up. Waiters at #4 and Sullinger at #21 pretty much takes the cake.

I got an even heartier laugh out of the Drummond pick.

[claver2010]

Did anyone take Rakim Sanders and his "NBA body"?

If he ever dedicated himself like Duds did, he would've gone in the 1st. Disappointing but not surprising.

Bingo. Kid totally blew it.

That said I turned it on for 5 minutes last night to see all of the good basketball players slide out of the lottery and all of the great athletes that can't play basketball move up. Waiters at #4 and Sullinger at #21 pretty much takes the cake.

I got an even heartier laugh out of the Drummond pick.

Hasheem Thabeet 2.0

[DavidGordonsFoot]

Did anyone take Rakim Sanders and his "NBA body"?

If he ever dedicated himself like Duds did, he would've gone in the 1st. Disappointing but not surprising.

Bingo. Kid totally blew it.

That said I turned it on for 5 minutes last night to see all of the good basketball players slide out of the lottery and all of the great athletes that can't play basketball move up. Waiters at #4 and Sullinger at #21 pretty much takes the cake.

I got an even heartier laugh out of the Drummond pick.

Hasheem Thabeet 2.0

Yup, except he's 4 inches shorter and averaged 2 fewer BPG in college. Thabeet can't even average 1 BPG at the next level.

[HJS]

That draft was horrific... completely devoid of all talent. Kinda reminds me of the draft that produced Tim Duncan and Keith Van Horn. The NBA is garbage and has to figure out a way to remake its product. Because, what they are doing now ain't working.

[claver2010]

I literally couldn't care less about the NBA draft, granted maybe it's because I don't like what the NBA has become. From a play POV it's probably part of what TWB said, it's more about athlete opposed to who can play basketball. Or maybe it's because the players that come out this year were dogshit. Really with a top 5 pick you're hoping the guy can become a solid contributer? A 6th man on Cuse who played roughly half of the game on average is a top 5 pick? That worked out well for Marvin Williams.

It also should be noted that Drummond shot 29% on his FTs. Lord knows these Yukon knuckledraggers aren't going to class, god forbid the alcoholic can get them to put up some FTs between their thefts of student's property and playing games.

[twballgame9]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

[bignick33]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

I agree with every point. Fucking A.

I would add that Melo will probably be a bust, but it was worth a shot for the upside.

[twballgame9]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

I agree with every point. Fucking A.

I would add that Melo will probably be a bust, but it was worth a shot for the upside.

I don't see Melo as a bust, if for no other reason than he is a legit defender in the paint. But I do agree that he is probably going to be a one-dimensional Samuel Dalembert/Theo Ratliff center, at least for a while. Regardless, it was worth a shot, and the other kid from Cuse is the kind of kid that's nice to have at the back end of the roster - all around solid player.

Great draft with Sullinger - the other two picks are pedestrian, but good, and Melo has a small potential for turning out great. Can't complain.

So....with free agency pending, and the Brandon Bass for OJ Mayo idiocy on the table, let's project.

PG Rondo
SG Bradley
SF Pierce
PF Bass
C Garnett

Sullinger
Dooling
Moore
Veteran to be named later
Veteran to be named later
Stiesma
Johnson

Melo
Joseph

[branchinator]

Liked the Sullinger pick. Wanted Perry Jones but won't fault Ainge for taking a flyer on a 7 footer. I miss the days when every lottery pick didn't have some massive flaw(s) to their game.

[pick6pedro]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

I agree with every point. Fucking A.

I would add that Melo will probably be a bust, but it was worth a shot for the upside.

I don't see Melo as a bust, if for no other reason than he is a legit defender in the paint. But I do agree that he is probably going to be a one-dimensional Samuel Dalembert/Theo Ratliff center, at least for a while. Regardless, it was worth a shot, and the other kid from Cuse is the kind of kid that's nice to have at the back end of the roster - all around solid player.

Great draft with Sullinger - the other two picks are pedestrian, but good, and Melo has a small potential for turning out great. Can't complain.

So....with free agency pending, and the Brandon Bass for OJ Mayo idiocy on the table, let's project.

PG Rondo
SG Bradley
SF Pierce
PF Bass
C Garnett

Sullinger
Dooling
Moore
Veteran to be named later
Veteran to be named later
Stiesma
Johnson

Melo
Joseph

Isn't Jeff Green still in the picture?

[claver2010]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

I agree with every point. Fucking A.

I would add that Melo will probably be a bust, but it was worth a shot for the upside.

I don't see Melo as a bust, if for no other reason than he is a legit defender in the paint. But I do agree that he is probably going to be a one-dimensional Samuel Dalembert/Theo Ratliff center, at least for a while. Regardless, it was worth a shot, and the other kid from Cuse is the kind of kid that's nice to have at the back end of the roster - all around solid player.

Great draft with Sullinger - the other two picks are pedestrian, but good, and Melo has a small potential for turning out great. Can't complain.

So....with free agency pending, and the Brandon Bass for OJ Mayo idiocy on the table, let's project.

PG Rondo
SG Bradley
SF Pierce
PF Bass
C Garnett

Sullinger
Dooling
Moore
Veteran to be named later
Veteran to be named later
Stiesma
Johnson

Melo
Joseph

Where does fit into your rotation

[DavidGordonsFoot]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

I agree with every point. Fucking A.

I would add that Melo will probably be a bust, but it was worth a shot for the upside.

I don't see Melo as a bust, if for no other reason than he is a legit defender in the paint. But I do agree that he is probably going to be a one-dimensional Samuel Dalembert/Theo Ratliff center, at least for a while. Regardless, it was worth a shot, and the other kid from Cuse is the kind of kid that's nice to have at the back end of the roster - all around solid player.

Great draft with Sullinger - the other two picks are pedestrian, but good, and Melo has a small potential for turning out great. Can't complain.

So....with free agency pending, and the Brandon Bass for OJ Mayo idiocy on the table, let's project.

PG Rondo
SG Bradley
SF Pierce
PF Bass
C Garnett

Sullinger
Dooling
Moore
Veteran to be named later
Veteran to be named later
Stiesma
Johnson

Melo
Joseph

Where does fit into your rotation

easy. puff puff pass.

[branchinator]

will be taking Fab Melo under his wing

[twballgame9]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

I agree with every point. Fucking A.

I would add that Melo will probably be a bust, but it was worth a shot for the upside.

I don't see Melo as a bust, if for no other reason than he is a legit defender in the paint. But I do agree that he is probably going to be a one-dimensional Samuel Dalembert/Theo Ratliff center, at least for a while. Regardless, it was worth a shot, and the other kid from Cuse is the kind of kid that's nice to have at the back end of the roster - all around solid player.

Great draft with Sullinger - the other two picks are pedestrian, but good, and Melo has a small potential for turning out great. Can't complain.

So....with free agency pending, and the Brandon Bass for OJ Mayo idiocy on the table, let's project.

PG Rondo
SG Bradley
SF Pierce
PF Bass
C Garnett

Sullinger
Dooling
Moore
Veteran to be named later
Veteran to be named later
Stiesma
Johnson

Melo
Joseph

Isn't Jeff Green still in the picture?

Yes. Assuming his heart is okay. Fill one of the veteran spots with him

[eepstein0]

The C's still need someone off the bench who can score. I like Green, Steisma, Sullinger and Mayo/Ray Allen. Just please no Jamal Crawford and no more of Dooling, he's absolutely putrid.

[twballgame9]

The C's still need someone off the bench who can score. I like Green, Steisma, Sullinger and Mayo/Ray Allen. Just please no Jamal Crawford and no more of Dooling, he's absolutely putrid.

Jamal Crawford can certainly score. Hate the guy, but he can put it in the hoop

[eaglesmith]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

A rich man's Elton Brand is a bit much. He's not nearly as athletic as Brand was before his achilles tear, nor as long, which enabled Brand to get shots off taller defenders. Sullinger has a great feel for playing in the post, but he's gonna get some shots blocked early and often. He'll get abused defensive too. His midrange game will be a plus, though.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Teague actually went to the Bulls at 29. As a Bulls fan, I wanted Jones III to fall one more spot. He'd have been a steal there, even if they already have a loaded front court. Getting to learn the game and not have to put up points on a team with Durant, Westbrook, and Harden is ideal for him. He could be the best player in this draft if he actually wants to compete.

Teague is raw, but the Bulls brass was shocked he fell that far. They were looking for a SG, but when a guy with Teague's ability falls into your lap, you grab him and hope he can play a few minutes a night immediately.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

Harrison Barnes certainly has the talent, but he strikes me as having the same problem as Perry Jones III, too little assertiveness. Barnes needs to be on a team where he won't be the #1 option. You don't think Anthony Davis will live up to the hype?

[BCEagles25]

I'm gonna assume we resign Ray and KG. Here's why we're in the Eastern Conference Finals next year (at the very least).

PG - Rondo
SG - Bradley
SF- Pierce
PF - Bass
C - Garnett

LET'S NOT FORGET! We have Jeff Green. Why is this significant? Because he's the key to us winning it all. And here's why. Imagine, for a second, if we had him this year. I believe that pushes us to the Finals in 6, as opposed to how we lost it in 7. He could start over Bass at PF (he's good enough, even though Bass is above average), or he could come off the bench behind Pierce and contribute 25-30 minutes switching between SF/PF. He's got an improving 3 point shot, is very capable of rebounding, and is an above average defender. He's a good young talent, has the potential to be very good. He has good size at 6'9 and is fairly athletic. If we can re-sign him, Bass, Ray, and KG, we're contenders.

In that scenario, let's not forget that we have Pietrus as the 8th man coming off the bench behind Ray and Green, assuming Green backs up Pierce at the 3. Pietrus is an excellent defender, a pretty high IQ guy, and he can shoot it. That game 7 stretch against the Heat was terrible for him -- but remember what he brings to the table.

So that bench looks like:
Green, Ray Allen, Pietrus, Catfish Daniels, (Sullinger/Melo), Dooling

Not bad. I'll take that team any day of the week.
All we have to do is get them to sign the dotted line.

[twballgame9]

I'm gonna assume we resign Ray and KG. Here's why we're in the Eastern Conference Finals next year (at the very least).

PG - Rondo
SG - Bradley
SF- Pierce
PF - Bass
C - Garnett

LET'S NOT FORGET! We have Jeff Green. Why is this significant? Because he's the key to us winning it all. And here's why. Imagine, for a second, if we had him this year. I believe that pushes us to the Finals in 6, as opposed to how we lost it in 7. He could start over Bass at PF (he's good enough, even though Bass is above average), or he could come off the bench behind Pierce and contribute 25-30 minutes switching between SF/PF. He's got an improving 3 point shot, is very capable of rebounding, and is an above average defender. He's a good young talent, has the potential to be very good. He has good size at 6'9 and is fairly athletic. If we can re-sign him, Bass, Ray, and KG, we're contenders.

In that scenario, let's not forget that we have Pietrus as the 8th man coming off the bench behind Ray and Green, assuming Green backs up Pierce at the 3. Pietrus is an excellent defender, a pretty high IQ guy, and he can shoot it. That game 7 stretch against the Heat was terrible for him -- but remember what he brings to the table.

So that bench looks like:
Green, Ray Allen, Pietrus, Catfish Daniels, (Sullinger/Melo), Dooling

Not bad. I'll take that team any day of the week.
All we have to do is get them to sign the dotted line.

Any Celtics bench next season will have the two Purdue kids on it, especially Moore. The Cs are very high on him.

[twballgame9]

Sullinger is a rich man's Elton Brand with a jump shot to 20 feet. The fact that he slid the the Celtics is inexplicable. Even as a poor man's Elton Brand, he's a steal at 21.

A rich man's Elton Brand is a bit much. He's not nearly as athletic as Brand was before his achilles tear, nor as long, which enabled Brand to get shots off taller defenders. Sullinger has a great feel for playing in the post, but he's gonna get some shots blocked early and often. He'll get abused defensive too. His midrange game will be a plus, though.

And the kid Machado that is universally considered the best distributor in the draft doesn't even get a sniff? Oh and the idea that Teague slips to the second round while Kidd Gilchrist goes #2 is laugh out loud funny.

Teague actually went to the Bulls at 29. As a Bulls fan, I wanted Jones III to fall one more spot. He'd have been a steal there, even if they already have a loaded front court. Getting to learn the game and not have to put up points on a team with Durant, Westbrook, and Harden is ideal for him. He could be the best player in this draft if he actually wants to compete.

Teague is raw, but the Bulls brass was shocked he fell that far. They were looking for a SG, but when a guy with Teague's ability falls into your lap, you grab him and hope he can play a few minutes a night immediately.

Mark my words, Harrison Barnes will be the only superstar pro in this draft.

Harrison Barnes certainly has the talent, but he strikes me as having the same problem as Perry Jones III, too little assertiveness. Barnes needs to be on a team where he won't be the #1 option. You don't think Anthony Davis will live up to the hype?

Like MJ when he was at UNC, Barnes had little in the way of stats because he played with 3 other first round picks. Barnes will assert himself in the NBA.

Anthony Davis will be a solid big man in a few years when he puts on 40 pounds and learns how to play man up defense on guys bigger than him. He's not going to score much for a few years. He's a rich man's All Horford.

Oh, and one of Sullinger's strengths is his length. He can't leave the floor, but he has long arms. He'll be fine in the post against most PFs and he will play a little 3. Perhaps a better comparison for him is as a less athletic Antwan Jamison.

[apbc12]

Sullinger has at least as good a chance of ending up Sean May 2.0 as he does of ending up Elton Brand 2.0.

[Shaddix]

Celts are going to sign OJ Mayo now that he's an unrestricted FA. Ainge has had his sights set on him for awhile now.

[BC923]

Sullinger has at least as good a chance of ending up Sean May 2.0 as he does of ending up Elton Brand 2.0.

this, i was a little disappointed by the pick. I realize you have to take him there, but I don't love his game in the NBA.

[twballgame9]

Sullinger has at least as good a chance of ending up Sean May 2.0 as he does of ending up Elton Brand 2.0.

this, i was a little disappointed by the pick. I realize you have to take him there, but I don't love his game in the NBA.

I actually love his game. He was one of the few guys in the draft that can actually play basketball. People don't like him because he's not one of those unskilled athletic guys that everyone loves. Be happy, the Celtics got that guy with the next pick, fortunately he's a center.

Everybody loves Corey Magette. I like basketball players. Sullinger is a basketball player.

[apbc12]

Sullinger has at least as good a chance of ending up Sean May 2.0 as he does of ending up Elton Brand 2.0.

this, i was a little disappointed by the pick. I realize you have to take him there, but I don't love his game in the NBA.

I actually love his game. He was one of the few guys in the draft that can actually play basketball. People don't like him because he's not one of those unskilled athletic guys that everyone loves. Be happy, the Celtics got that guy with the next pick, fortunately he's a center.

Everybody loves Corey Magette. I like basketball players. Sullinger is a basketball player.

He is skilled, no doubt about that. The things I don't like about him: he was an inexplicably poor rebounder in college; he's a bad defender; he's a post player who plays below the rim at 6'8", and he'll have a huge adjustment trying to score against guys who may not be as skilled but will eat him alive physically; and he struggled to stay under 280 as a 19 year old. What happens as he gets older? The list of guys who have had successful careers at 300 pounds is really, really short - without considering the back problems.

None of this is to say I wouldn't have drafted him. At that pick he's worth the risk. I wouldn't have taken Melo - I'd have taken the kid from Vandy instead. He's a similar player but seems to actually like basketball.

[bignick33]

The things I don't like about him: he was an inexplicably poor rebounder in college; he's a bad defender; he's a post player who plays below the rim at 6'8", and he'll have a huge adjustment trying to score against guys who may not be as skilled but will eat him alive physically; and he struggled to stay under 280 as a 19 year old. What happens as he gets older? The list of guys who have had successful careers at 300 pounds is really, really short - without considering the back problems.

None of this is to say I wouldn't have drafted him. At that pick he's worth the risk. I wouldn't have taken Melo - I'd have taken the kid from Vandy instead. He's a similar player but seems to actually like basketball.

I generally agree with your college hoop observations. That said, think you're being harsh on what I've highlighted above. Can you expound?