What exactly does James Young bring to the Celtics?

[Who]

I think it is premature to write Fab Melo off as an NBA player.

3-4 years playing pro ball in Europe could do wonders for Fab Melo. Somewhere where he can receive much more coaching instruction and gain more game experience. I could easily see Fab Melo following in the footsteps of guys like Anthony Parker and Gerald Green and coming back to the NBA a few years down the road a much improved player.

Fab Melo has NBA potential (largely due to physical talent). He just needs more time to improve fundamentals and understanding of the game. He can get that playing pro ball in Europe and should have a chance to return to the NBA somewhere down the line if he puts the work in.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Personally I believe he could be the next Klay Thompson, but longer. The team Young was on , KU, was stacked with the best freshman in a very long time. He played well and averaged 15ppg and rebounded well.

Personally I believe Brad Stevens will mold him into a great 2 guard. I mean isn't that what he is known for, developing players?

[vjcsmoke]

I'd be ecstatic if Young could turn into a Klay Thompson level player.  However we haven't even seen him play against real NBA competition yet.

The good - he has above average length and athleticism.
The bad - he needs to improve basketaball IQ and defensive abilities to earn playing time on the court.

Other than that, Young is a huge unknown to me.  I would have felt better about a safer pick such as Gary Harris who already appears to have NBA-ready defense.

Too early to say, just hope that he's not the next JR Giddens!

[Tr1boy]

Young has the potential to be better than Thompson imo.  Thompson imo is too much of a nice guy on the court.  Yeah , i would be ecstatic if Young could be as good/consistent 3 pt shooter as thompson. But even if not, he still has other skills/tools that can have him leapfrog over thompson.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Young has the potential to be better than Thompson imo.  Thompson imo is too much of a nice guy on the court.  Yeah , i would be ecstatic if Young could be as good/consistent 3 pt shooter as thompson. But even if not, he still has other skills/tools that can have him leapfrog over thompson.

Yes I agree. Also his length is going to help him defensively when guarding 2's(which is the position I believe he will play mostly).
7' wingspan
8'8'' standing reach

Literally he has the same length as Zeller

[Snakehead]

What was Danny thinking with this pick? I am finding it hard to justify that he was the best player available. His age?
James Young does seem to recognize his weaknesses which is a good sign but still...
Is anyone else worried that James Young will be an enormous flop of a pick?
Do we just cross our fingers and hope he 'gets it' after 2-3 seasons?
What is his ceiling?

  One would assume that if you follow the draft at all you could write a similarly critical post about anyone who was drafted at #17. Players taken in that range are probably more likely to average 5ppg or less in their career than 10 points or more. Given that, what exactly constitutes an "enormous flop"?

We've seen these types of posts for years when the Celtics have been picking in that range.  A lot of people still don't get it.

[chambers]

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

You continuously attempt to call me out, and it's yet another case of you beating your chest for the hell if it. You have no idea about Rudy Gobert, you just saw that he was a 22 year old averaging 5.5 Points per game at the worlds.
Again, I presented the stats with no acknowledgment from you and obviously no knowledge of Rudy Gobert's play and improvement.
Once again, I've asked a completely reasonable question: what does James Young bring to the table?
Rudy gobert brings length, NBA size and dominating reach and defensive presence. He's obviously raw and unpolished, but his numbers at every level he's played have been fantastic.

James Young's numbers don't highlight anything. He's got one of the worst true shooting percentages of all 2014 draft wings. He has no dribble drive game other than a slow, predictable left handed drive vs weak defenders. His 3 point shooting suffers badly when being defended tightly.

So I presented what I'd seen and asked people to input.
All you can do is attempt to point out what is in your mind- my flawed opinion in another thread-funnily enough another thread where you decided to judge my opinion like it's completely moronic or unsubstantiated once again.
I'm not sure you realize you're doing it but it's pathetic. At least someone like Tim who doesn't agree with me will give specific evidence and statistics when he disagrees with someone like me. You love to point out why I must be wrong, but don't offer and constructive input as to why I'm wrong. You are a cyber hater. You just hate when informed people have an opinion that's different to yours. And please don't insult my basketball talent evaluation like you're some NCAA scout when you don't have the first clue about Rudy Gobert or James Young.
  And yes, I'll maintain and fully endorse giving up James Young and a very late first round pick for Rudy Gobert because Gobert's got game changing length and defensive instinct that's developed rapidly since coming into the NBA.

[More Banners]

Didn't get a chance to read the thread, but I'm thinking a 3-d guy, basically filling in the 5 the wing with a rookie contract, and hoping to create value.

Right so far?

[Snakehead]

He has potential as a defender but I think I personally would see him becoming more of an all around scorer (in particular midrange with some slashing) rather than a "3 and D" type player.  I think he is an offensive minded player and personally I don't mind that.  We need scorers badly.

He has a lot of potential as a rebounder too.  I think that could be a big strength of his.

But people saying defense, I get that's appeal for him but personally I don't think Young has that mindset.  Maybe it can be ingrained in him but he seems like a guy who wants to score a lot of points.  And I'm fine with that.  We need shooters and guys for Rondo to feed.

[Celtics4ever]

Rudy gobert brings length, NBA size and dominating reach and defensive presence

Some of the same things that Young brings to the SG position.  Ideal height and reach.

As far, as I know, this Gobert for Young thing is something  made up and never had legs from an actual trade standpoint?   Are people whigging out about a proposed trade that never happened?

[Snakehead]

Are people whigging out about a proposed trade that never happened?

50% of the posts on this forum.

[Tr1boy]

Gobert if he can pack on pounds without losing his quickness/decent athleticism could be like a mutombo, anthony davis light one day.   Forget stats, he affects/controls the paint at times (just needs to not get bullied by stronger opponents and stay on the floor).  He has a good feel for the game, very good motor and obviously his ridiculous length.

I wouldn't trade Young for him though as he could be a special player also. But if Danny could pull some magic and get Gobert on the cheap, i would be all for that.

Zeller/Gobert would give us confidence at the C spot. No more easy layups. If you go against a heavy center, you can always put sullinger on them.

[chambers]

Young has the potential to be better than Thompson imo.  Thompson imo is too much of a nice guy on the court.  Yeah , i would be ecstatic if Young could be as good/consistent 3 pt shooter as thompson. But even if not, he still has other skills/tools that can have him leapfrog over thompson.

Yes I agree. Also his length is going to help him defensively when guarding 2's(which is the position I believe he will play mostly).
7' wingspan
8'8'' standing reach

Literally he has the same length as Zeller

See the part that's got me puzzled is Ainge saying he's a small forward.
Does he have the speed to keep up with SG's regardless of his length?
Does he have the strength to defend NBa SF's?
All I can think is with the right locker room/ team mates like Smart+Bradley who are committed to good D already, with a coach who can reach young players like Stevens, that they have reason to believe this is less of a long shot pick than I think.
I guess they figure his length, age and established shooting skills are good enough building blocks- which is understandable.
I'd still be very shocked if anyone took him at #14 though given how deep this draft was.
I'm just not seeing what Ainge is seeing unless I'm simply looking into young too deeply at his age.

[rondohondo]

Young has the potential to be better than Thompson imo.  Thompson imo is too much of a nice guy on the court.  Yeah , i would be ecstatic if Young could be as good/consistent 3 pt shooter as thompson. But even if not, he still has other skills/tools that can have him leapfrog over thompson.

Yes I agree. Also his length is going to help him defensively when guarding 2's(which is the position I believe he will play mostly).
7' wingspan
8'8'' standing reach

Literally he has the same length as Zeller

See the part that's got me puzzled is Ainge saying he's a small forward.
Does he have the speed to keep up with SG's regardless of his length?
Does he have the strength to defend NBa SF's?
All I can think is with the right locker room/ team mates like Smart+Bradley who are committed to good D already, with a coach who can reach young players like Stevens, that they have reason to believe this is less of a long shot pick than I think.
I guess they figure his length, age and established shooting skills are good enough building blocks- which is understandable.
I'd still be very shocked if anyone took him at #14 though given how deep this draft was.
I'm just not seeing what Ainge is seeing unless I'm simply looking into young too deeply at his age.

young reminds me of Corey Brewer , nothing more than a role player .

[Who]

Young has the potential to be better than Thompson imo.  Thompson imo is too much of a nice guy on the court.  Yeah , i would be ecstatic if Young could be as good/consistent 3 pt shooter as thompson. But even if not, he still has other skills/tools that can have him leapfrog over thompson.

Yes I agree. Also his length is going to help him defensively when guarding 2's(which is the position I believe he will play mostly).
7' wingspan
8'8'' standing reach

Literally he has the same length as Zeller

See the part that's got me puzzled is Ainge saying he's a small forward.
Does he have the speed to keep up with SG's regardless of his length?
Does he have the strength to defend NBa SF's?
All I can think is with the right locker room/ team mates like Smart+Bradley who are committed to good D already, with a coach who can reach young players like Stevens, that they have reason to believe this is less of a long shot pick than I think.
I guess they figure his length, age and established shooting skills are good enough building blocks- which is understandable.
I'd still be very shocked if anyone took him at #14 though given how deep this draft was.
I'm just not seeing what Ainge is seeing unless I'm simply looking into young too deeply at his age.

I think it is because his ball-handling and passing is a bit limited. Most starting SGs can provide some secondary ball-handling and passing. Those who can't often end up as bench players (SG) or - if they have enough size, which James Young has -- playing minutes at SF instead.

I read somewhere that James Young was hoping to bulk up to 230lbs.

6 foot 7, 230lbs with 7-0 wingspan and and a 8-8 standing reach is solid small forward size.