Also, Celtics have I believe 4 picks in top 47. I'd be pretty happy if they were able to move up and end up with only two picks from that four. Couldn't you imagine Washington at 9 or maybe Charlotte at 8 being interested in 14, 26, and 47? If you like someone in particular---Nesmith is a possibility, but no doubt others---feels like a good time to consolidate. BB would surely approve
There are going to be guys leaving, so there’s always room for more guys at the end of the bench. And there are some
really interesting physical specimens that are likely going to be there at 30 & 47 that will allow Boston to take some homerun swings on players that might benefit from developing on a contender. Also, unless Danny
really loves Devin Vassell or Patrick Williams and is convinced they won't get to 14 I don't see them trading up (this is a very flat draft pool).
If Grant or Romeo pan out, the Celtics will absolutely roll out 4-5 wing lineups and feel fine about it.
I don't track high school recruits, but given Danny has, around the 10-15 range, picked post-hype players who were highly rated out of high school and struggled a bit in college (Avery Bradley, Romeo Langford) are there any similar profiles in this year's draft around slot 14?
These two have the same answer, more or less. If Precious Achiuwa floats to 14 I could absolutely see Ainge grabbing him. He was a highly recruited big wing in HS that Memphis ended up moving to C after the NCAA canned James Wiseman. He's currently 6'9"/225 and looks like he can carry another 20-30lbs without losing any explosiveness. With his 7'2" wingspan and 9'+ standing reach he has the ability to play C in the same way that Theis does. ANd he does have a wing's offensive game, outside the shooting. But if Jay Larranaga can turn Marcus into a non-terrible shooter, he can probably do the same here.
Anyway, Achiuwa allows them to put five guys on the floor that can defend 1-5 (especially if they also end up with Tyler Bey), which will give opposing coaches nightmares.
Yeah the 30th pick is a good time to take him. But at 14, either a super athletic big, a combo guard like Nesmith/Cole Anthony/RJ Hampton, or another wing would be the way I'd go
Cole Anthony has some length problems. I don't see Boston going for him. I could absolutely see them drafting Hampton, though, with his combo guard game.
I'd really like a shooter to put on the bench. I was reading KOC's draft guide and it seems like Aaron Nesmith fits that description right around where we'll be picking with the Grizz's pick?
Nesmith has some real 3&D potential. Jaden McDaniels and Josh Green are two other guys to keep an eye on in that regard. Green can't shoot at all, but he's got a +4 wingspan and is
really athletic and really busts ass on the defensive end. I discussed McDaniels earlier in the thread, but the more tape I watch the more I like him. I'm skeptical that he can much past 230 on the size scale, but with that height/length combo it might be enough for him to seize the third wing spot next to the J Crew (and, as a Jaden, he'd fit right in).
I see Carey or another limited guy like him as being a cost effective replacement for one of those MLE level bigs, if that's the direction that Ainge wants to go. Sure. We can find that guy for 5M, if he wants to come here. Or you can draft and pay him under 2M, and there's no recruitment necessary.
The chance of getting a franchise altering piece at 14 is small, let alone 30.
The problem with guys like Carey is that it takes them a while to adapt to the speed of the NBA game. So you end up having to sign someone like Theis anyway. I could see them grabbing Isaiah Stewart in the late first if he's available. Much better mobility for the modern game, with the mass/length to be an effective C.