Some underrated players/hidden gems:
Alec Burks and Chris Singleton: Boston doesn't have the means to move up to draft these guys, but they're going to be a lot better than some others who are going to be drafted before them.
Comparison: Burks=Jalen Rose; Singleton = something between Mbah-a-Moute and Ron Artest
Nikola Vucevic: I didn't have the best impression of Vucevic after seeing him in a youth tournament a couple of years back but I've had the chance of watching a couple of hours of his Sinergy clips and I think he has improved quite a bit. He'll be a defensive liability - due to his shortcomings on transition and defending the ballscreen - but he has enough offensive talent and the adequate rebounding to be a valuable 20mpg backup center. Great threat of the pick'n'pop, good midpost game and I particularly enjoyed seeing him making plays using headfakes and putting the basketball on the floor for 1/2 dribbles. Very rare to see a 7fter making those kind of plays.
Comparison: Luc Longley
David Lighty: a very good defender with a very good long-range set shot. Mistaken free. Smart player who knows his limits. Plus rebounder.
Comparison: Less lethargic Brandon Rush
Some guys I don't like at all:
Kenneth Faried: unskilled offensively, bad defender, great rebounder. Reggie Evans if everything pans out.
Kyle Singler: too slow, not sure what he can do offensively to make up for the putrid defense.
Iman Shumpert: very good athlete but I not much of a basketball player. Extremely poor decision-making process. Some potential as a defensive specialist due to his size + athleticism. Reminds me of Marcus Banks.
Some guys I'd be underwhelmed with:
Chandler Parsons - A very good shooter but a man without a position. A Ryan Gomes/Brian Scalabrine type of player.
Reggie Jackson - I think he has defensive potential but I'm not sure his offensive game will translate at all to the NBA. Similar to Avery Bradley - but with less certitude about his defense.
Some guys I'm neutral/slightly positive about:
Jimmy Buttler - I'd like him a lot more if he could shoot better. Very well rounded player otherwise even though lacking a bit of athleticism. Reminds me of Jared Dudley... but Dudley developed into a very good shooting threat.
Tyler Honeycutt - Very good defender. Another guy I'd like a lot more if he had a better long-range shot. The injuries and his lack of strength also scare me.
David Bertans - Still a 18 years old kid that needs to mature physically but plays with immense energy and is a solid shooter. I'd take him as a long term project, he's not up too much right now but he has more potential than any other player projected in the late 20s.
What would I do?
1 - I'd try to get David Lighty with the 2nd rounder (probably implies paying some money to move up a bit).
2 - I'd use the 1st rounder in Nikola Mirotic. He signed a 5 years contract with no affordable buyout clause in the next 3 but even though there's a lot about him I don't like - not sure his shot-creation skills, at their current level, can be translated to the NBA - he's still young, has been developed his game every season and he's the only player with high-level talent that can be available at that point of the draft. If not, I guess I'd take Honeycutt and try my best to offer him the bestd nutritional/strength/physio regime available.
Topic: Who do you think the Celtics will/ should pick? (Read 8636 times)