My early draft pick choices are: Looney, Levert, Ashley

[PickNRoll]

Levert really has exceptional court vision too.  That's the part I can't really think of a comp for.  He was slinging bullet passes around in the games I watched and he has the size to do it.  Sadly, they were bouncing off guy's chests.  Weak Michigan team.

[hwangjini_1]

nm

[Smartacus]

top pick:
*Emmanuel Mudiay (skill to be one of the very best pgs in the game.)
comparison: John Wall+ Kyrie Irving mix/ Deron Williams

early 20s:
*Trey Lyles (smooth offensively gifted 4 with range and good rebounder)
low end comparison: Brandon Bass
high end comparison: Carlos Boozer

*Egemen Guven (highly skilled young European pf with post game and above average physical tools)
high end comparison: Pau Gasol

*Christian Wood (outstanding combo of length athleticism and skill.. can put the ball on the floor and blow by bigs while facing up.. good shot blocker)
comparison: John Henson/Taj Gibson

second round:

*Dakari Johnson (fairly unathletic big man good size... raw offensively but you can tell he is going to be a good post scorer..great hands ok footwork and feel)
high end comparison: Nene

*Rashad Vaugn (freshman scorer with good athleticism and nice jumper)
comparison:Danny Green/athletic Marcus Thorton

I've watched all the Mudiay stuff and I'm just not seeing it. He looks like a great player, don't get me wrong, but John Wall's athleticism is on another level.  If Wall is a 10, Mudiay is an 8.5.

The Reggie Lewis comp is pretty good, actually.

Youre right. I dont see the John Wall level athleticism. John Wall is a freak but i added Kyrie Irving who is less athletic so i guess it balances out 

In your defense though Mudiay isn't exactly in concrete shoes out there either. Even if he doesn't possess Wall's goat like end to end speed or sheer explosiveness he has close to elite change of speed ability. The problem that I see for him being a fit on this team is that he may be a bit of a malcontent.

Mudiay went to Dion Sanders school Prime Prep For 2 Years...

The charter school -- co-founded by NFL Hall of Famer Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, hence the name "Prime Prep" -- is facing closure due to improper financial management and a failure to comply with the state's education code, according to the Texas Education Agency. In other words, it might soon cease to exist. But Prime Prep has existed since 2012 -- although, for purposes of qualifying academically to compete at an NCAA institution, Prime Prep has never been considered a safe route, mostly because it has, according to the NCAA, forever "been under an extended evaluation period to determine if it meets the academic requirements for NCAA cleared status."

Translation: Attend Prime Prep at your own risk.

What defenders of Prime Prep might point out is that Prime Prep alums Jordan Mickey and Karviar Shephard enrolled at LSU and TCU last year and were cleared academically, and that's true. But a source told CBSSports.com that both players needed a waiver to get through the Eligibility Center, and that their waivers were only considered because both had done enough academic work before enrolling at Prime Prep to meet the waiver threshold. The source added that neither Mickey nor Shephard ultimately relied on even a single course from Prime Prep to attain initial eligibility.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24627290/those-two-years-spent-at-prime-prep-put-emmanuel-mudiay-in-a-tough-spot

Many great players including Derrick Rose have had academic issues in the past that have had no discernible on court impact. I just get nervous when players think that they are exempt from the process of becoming a pro. Make's you wonder what other areas will they neglect. Film Study? Learning the system? Injury Rehab? ETC

 

[PickNRoll]

On Levert's draft prospects after injury:  http://www.draftexpress.com/article/NBA-Draft-Prospect-of-the-Week-Caris-LeVert-4804

[notthebowler]

I don't see how you possibly take Lavert with a first given his injury history. If you take him and he never gets off of the injured list you look like a complete fool. A great team with a late 1st can take that chance, but not us.

[PickNRoll]

I don't see how you possibly take Lavert with a first given his injury history. If you take him and he never gets off of the injured list you look like a complete fool. A great team with a late 1st can take that chance, but not us.

People are talking about the Clipper or 76ers pick, but yeah, it's a gamble.

[notthebowler]

I don't see how you possibly take Lavert with a first given his injury history. If you take him and he never gets off of the injured list you look like a complete fool. A great team with a late 1st can take that chance, but not us.

People are talking about the Clipper or 76ers pick, but yeah, it's a gamble.

Yeah, I'd be ok with him in the second round, but not with the guaranteed deal he would get in the first.  You should be able to get a solid role player with the Clippers pick.

[hwangjini_1]

I don't see how you possibly take Lavert with a first given his injury history. If you take him and he never gets off of the injured list you look like a complete fool. A great team with a late 1st can take that chance, but not us.

People are talking about the Clipper or 76ers pick, but yeah, it's a gamble.

Yeah, I'd be ok with him in the second round, but not with the guaranteed deal he would get in the first.  You should be able to get a solid role player with the Clippers pick.

i understand your point on drafting a solid role player. but right now, i could also understand going for broke with the clipper pick, either with levert or someone similar.

the celtics have a bunch of solid players already, bench/role guys. next, the celtics have FOUR first round picks and philly's 2nd rounders, which will be around 31-34 range. they have more than ample opportunity to pick up role players should they want to do so.

for now, i think ainge should gamble with the clip pick.

[Tr1boy]

I don't see how you possibly take Lavert with a first given his injury history. If you take him and he never gets off of the injured list you look like a complete fool. A great team with a late 1st can take that chance, but not us.

People are talking about the Clipper or 76ers pick, but yeah, it's a gamble.

Yeah, I'd be ok with him in the second round, but not with the guaranteed deal he would get in the first.  You should be able to get a solid role player with the Clippers pick.

i understand your point on drafting a solid role player. but right now, i could also understand going for broke with the clipper pick, either with levert or someone similar.

the celtics have a bunch of solid players already, bench/role guys. next, the celtics have FOUR first round picks and philly's 2nd rounders, which will be around 31-34 range. they have more than ample opportunity to pick up role players should they want to do so.

for now, i think ainge should gamble with the clip pick.

+1. Levert is fully set to recover. Risky but no more risky than what the 76ers did drafting noel

[konkmv]

I think this time we will be lucky and get a top 3 pick.... i like towns.... i also believe that we will have 3 first rounders...using a trade exception to absorbe salary... lets say 3 21 24.... trade up  with second rounders and you finslly have 3 13 24 and 31.... towns looney dakari and harrison....

[notthebowler]

I don't see how you possibly take Lavert with a first given his injury history. If you take him and he never gets off of the injured list you look like a complete fool. A great team with a late 1st can take that chance, but not us.

People are talking about the Clipper or 76ers pick, but yeah, it's a gamble.

Yeah, I'd be ok with him in the second round, but not with the guaranteed deal he would get in the first.  You should be able to get a solid role player with the Clippers pick.

i understand your point on drafting a solid role player. but right now, i could also understand going for broke with the clipper pick, either with levert or someone similar.

the celtics have a bunch of solid players already, bench/role guys. next, the celtics have FOUR first round picks and philly's 2nd rounders, which will be around 31-34 range. they have more than ample opportunity to pick up role players should they want to do so.

for now, i think ainge should gamble with the clip pick.

+1. Levert is fully set to recover. Risky but no more risky than what the 76ers did drafting noel

Id be ok with swinging for the fences on a guy whose upside is well beyond what he has shown of the court - like Loony, for example. Injuries are just a different animal to me. I don't view Lavert and Looney in the same light with respect to risk/reward. Different perspectives.

[Tr1boy]

This guy is impressive.   Nice skills/potential and i'm impressed by his willingness to battle downlow/dive for loose balls


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6es44VOuQQ

[clover]

Two undersized PFs in one draft, for this team? Even Danny's not likely to go there.

[Tr1boy]

Two undersized PFs in one draft, for this team? Even Danny's not likely to go there.

Looney is a sf/pf . 6'9 with a 7'4 wingspan and 35-36 vertical leap

He would play the sf spot for the Celts

[hwangjini_1]

Two undersized PFs in one draft, for this team? Even Danny's not likely to go there.

Looney is a sf/pf . 6'9 with a 7'4 wingspan and 35-36 vertical leap

He would play the sf spot for the Celts

and if his outside shot is for real, he will play it very, very well for the celtics. i would not be disappointed if ainge chooses looney.