What was Danny thinking with this pick? I am finding it hard to justify that he was the best player available. His age?
You were all over the idea of trading Young AND another 1st rounder for Rudy Gobert, who is three years older, could barely get off the bench for a terrible Utah team last season and was the 8th man for France in the Fiba tournament. Young, at three years younger, played 32 minutes a game for one of the best teams in US college ball, which I think is the third highest level of competition in the world.
Mike
Yes, you're right I was all over the idea of trading Young and a 27th pick for Rudy Gobert and I still am. Because Rudy Gobert, as I mentioned to you in the other post
Rudy Gobert had a 7.4 block percentage as a rookie, which would have easily led the league had he qualified (Anthony Davis and Ibaka held the top spot at 6.7). Gobert's 20.6 total rebounding percentage would have trailed only Andre Drummond (22.3), Jordan (21.6) and Andrew Bogut.
Gobert also graded out as a full-fledged rim protector, not a specialist shot-blocker. Opponents shot just 41.2 percent against him at the rim, via Spor**** player tracking data provided to NBA.com, putting him on a nearly identical level as two-time All-Star Roy Hibbert (41.1).
...Not sure what your point was but anyway I'd love you to provide your own opinion on Celticsblog and Celtics topics/debates rather than worrying about mine in every topic.
What does James Young bring to the Celtics?
Here's my point.
Someone who dumps all over a 19-year-old kid before he even steps on an NBA court while simultaneously drooling over a 22-year-old who not only could barely get off the bench for a horrible Utah team last season but couldn't beat out the mighty Joffrey Lauvergne for playing time on France's national team, despite Lauvergne also being just 22, might possibly want to reconsider how they evaluate basketball talent.
You want to talk stats? Basketball-reference.com says the average Win Share per 48 minutes in the NBA is about .100. Kelly Olynyk last season racked up a WS per 48 of .101. Gobert's WS per 48 was .045. Which means that despite his talent for blocking shots, Rudy Gobert currently SUCKS MONKEY MEAT AT PLAYING BASKETBALL.
Young might be a failure in the NBA. I can't argue against it because he's only 19 and I don't know how much he can or will get better over the next 3 or 4 years. But I can't stand to see him trashed by someone who wants to give up the equivalent of two first round picks for Rudy frickin' Gobert.
Mike