The NBA Draft Thread

[cassanova brown]

Kemba Walker is another PG in the league who found success without a lengthy wingspan. He's 6'1 with a 6'3 wingspan. 

 

[buc em]

Is Hinkie about to be the Dungy to Colangelo's Gruden?

 

[lovehateself]

 
Kemba Walker is another PG in the league who found success without a lengthy wingspan. He's 6'1 with a 6'3 wingspan. 

both he and kyrie are more combo guards who can be hidden on defense 

doesnt hurt to play with guys like lbj and a versatile guy like batum

 

[ill steelo]

Kemba is a much better comparison considering Steph's shooting & Kyrie's creativity off the bounce are major outliers.

But then so is DSJs athleticism

Anyway. kemba made himself into a fine player. And DSJ is substantially better at this stage than kemba was.

 

[nick.]

Knicks have strong interest in Ntilikina. Mavs have done a better job recruiting and building relationships. He wants to be in Dallas

Wonder what Dallas would give up to move up to #8

 

[junglejim]

Wonder what Dallas would give up to move up to #8

Man, Mavs may get the steal of this draft.

 

[100027]

Bill Simmons (who spent 90% of the podcast drinking Danny Ainge Kool Aid and said the Celtics were the 3rd best team in the NBA) had a great segment where his dad came on and trashed Ainge's draft record.

It took the whole podcast but it was nice to listen to a non-homer Celtics fan.

Jarred Sullinger 

Fab Melo 

J.R. Giddens

Trading for Telfair

Olynyk

Rozier

Gerald Green 

Bill's like "well the next 8 picks were all terrible but then we took Marcus Smart number 6..."

 

[nick.]

I'd call Kelly Olynyk a hit

 

[junglejim]

I'd call Kelly Olynyk a hit

Kelly was a solid pick for the spot

 

[100027]

I'd call Kelly Olynyk a hit

At the very, very, very, very best he's an OK role player.  Not a desirable one.  That's kind of the point.  Ainge's only draft hits have been good role players in the post Big-3 era.  

 

[nick.]

Someone of Olynyk's caliber is really all you can ask for in the late lottery.

 

[B Sox]

At the very, very, very, very best he's an OK role player.  Not a desirable one.

Some team going to give him $10-$12M per year this summer...

 

[100027]

Some team going to give him $10-$12M per year this summer...

Well as a fan I think you should listen to the pod, because it does a good job of two different opinions from fans of the same team.  I'm definitely on the side of Ainge's draft record being questionable at best but I'm sure you hear these arguments all the time among Celtics supporters.

 

[B Sox]

Terry Rozier? Really? Who else would you have taken instead with the 16th pick?

He played a really solid role in the Wizards series.

 

[cassanova brown]

Someone of Olynyk's caliber is really all you can ask for in the late lottery.

Hindsight is of course 20/20 but there were some good players drafted Olynyk that year. Greek Freak and Gobert were both available. If Ainge is going to be labeled a genius you got to knock him for those misses.  

 

[100027]

Terry Rozier? Really? Who else would you have taken instead with the 16th pick?

The point is your entire strategy has been around collecting mid to late assets and you've totally failed to find true difference makers with those picks whether it's in the lottery or the late or mid first. 

All these guys are replacement level.  Yeah they're not terrible.  They're fine for the draft position.  But they don't win championships for you.  And when you do have a good core you can sign those guys off the street.

 

[nick.]

Terry Rozier? Really? Who else would you have taken instead with the 16th pick?

He played a really solid role in the Wizards series.

I thought Bobby Portis would be the pick

 

[100027]

Ainge's draft picks are what Al Horford was to bigtime free agent signings.

 

[B Sox]

I thought Bobby Portis would be the pick

I actually thought that too at the time, but he hasn't been anything special thus far...

If you're picking outside of the lottery, and in the 20s for the most part, getting a role player is generally the best case scenario for you unless you get really lucky.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

The point is your entire strategy has been around collecting mid to late assets and you've totally failed to find difference makers with those picks whether it's in the lottery or the late or mid first. 

This. Failed to trade the assets and then failed to draft anybody worthwhile. Can't praise him when he collects picks and then when he picks bums say yea but look at the draft position

 

[junglejim]

This. Failed to trade the assets and then failed to draft anybody worthwhile. Can't praise him when he collects picks and then when he picks bums say yea but look at the draft position

In all fairness to Ainge, the really good picks didn't start until last year. I thought he was fine until he traded down to pick a player who plays the same position as the 3 pick last year.

 

[100027]

He has to hit last year and this year.  That's what it all comes down to.

 

[B Sox]

Ainge turned a 25 win team into a 1 seed in 3 years. And now the good picks are just beginning to kick in....

 

[ballinsam23]

You guys should also give some credit to Brad Stevens for making it work and literally getting the best out of every single one of his players.

 

[B Sox]

You guys should also give some credit to Brad Stevens for making it work and literally getting the best out of every single one of his players.

Of course. He's one of the best coaches in the league.