12/21/24
June 27, 2005
Sleeping through the 2005 NBA Draft: Sportsfilter member lilnemo guesses the 2005 NBA Draft's Lottery Picks.
posted by justgary to basketball at 02:57 AM - 21 comments
I expect to see a whole slew of draft day deals with the new CBA coming into effect and the current crop of fair-to-mediocre rookies entering next year. The one deal that I hope gets done is Toronto's seventh and next years first rounder to New Orleans for Jamal Magliore. Boom - there's your centre for Chris Bosh, Arujo gets to be a back-up and then you focus on getting a PG that can play some minutes with your 16th pick. NO currently wants both picks, but I think the deal could be had y splitting them this year and next.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:48 AM on June 27, 2005
What about number 28!!! A few years ago the SPURS picked no. 28 which was a kid named Tony Parker.
posted by Rage Rod 74 at 11:01 AM on June 27, 2005
Yeah, thanks for the great memories, Rage Rod. The Celtics had three picks before that selection and wound with Joe Forte as their point guard of the future.
posted by yerfatma at 11:42 AM on June 27, 2005
Damnit, what about #18? You show me yours and I'll show you mine. :p Lessee, now. Celtics, Celtics. Ah, Here we are. Celtics, Boston. Well, it depends on how Doc intends to run the team. IF Ainge truly sees the Celts as a running squad, they need either an atheletic big man who can run the floor, or a point guard who will actually develop (all apologies to Marcus Banks). At #18 you are really hoping for Hakim Warrick to fall into your lap so that you can relegate the artist-formerly-known-as-Mark-"Stealing Money"-Blount to the bench. Chris Taft may be available if his stock keeps plummeting. If Danny looks for a point, I don't see why Jarrett Jack wouldn't be an acceptable pick. However, this is Danny "Crap-the-Bed" Ainge we're talking about here. A lot of mock drafts have a 6-5 Croatian PG named Roko Ukic going here. It could happen, but considering that Doc doesn't take to international players (see Zaza Pachulia, Jiri Welsch et al) I don't think its likely. Realistically I expect Danny to either go after the Croatian guy, or severely reach and pick someone like Travis Diener.
posted by lilnemo at 01:37 PM on June 27, 2005
The one deal that I hope gets done is Toronto's seventh and next years first rounder to New Orleans for Jamal Magliore... This trade would go a long way towards smoothing things over with some very disgruntled Raptor fans. In other words, I don't think its going to happen.
posted by lilnemo at 01:44 PM on June 27, 2005
I don't see why Jarrett Jack wouldn't be an acceptable pick. However, this is Danny "Crap-the-Bed" Ainge Hmm. Jack keeps showing up in mock drafts, but the Celtics have Banks (good defender, not much offense, still working on the mental aspect) and Delonte West (good offense, good basketball IQ, has never run the point before), so I think/ hope they'll pick up a veteran point. As for Ainge's rep, he drafted three guys last year in the first round and they all contributed. Plus he got Antoine Walker back for nothing. As for Blount, it's tough to complain about resigning him when Mark seemed to be coming into his own the previous (contract) year.
posted by yerfatma at 01:49 PM on June 27, 2005
...the Celtics have Banks...and Delonte West...so I think/ hope they'll pick up a veteran point... I don't think Banks is gonna pan out. Don't get me wrong, he could have a break-out season, but if that's gonna happen he needs a change of scenery. I think last summer took a little out of him. He went from starting PG of the Lakers, to 8th/9th man on the Celts, thats gotta hurt (thanks Danny). West is solid, but it sure seemed like Doc was bringing him along slowly, but with Payton in the mix its gonna be hard to find minutes. Speaking of veteran points, Payton is a FA as is: Brevin Knight Earl Watson Damon Stoudamire Howard Eisley Tyronn Lue Darrell Armstrong Jeff McInnis Travis Best Milt Palacio Erick Strickland Rick Brunson Kenny Anderson Troy Bell etc, etc. Earl Watson seems like a good fit, but would he leave Memphis. Eisley and Stoudamire could be solid starters the rest of the list is pretty iffy.
posted by lilnemo at 02:04 PM on June 27, 2005
Earl Watson seems like a good fit, but would he leave Memphis. Eisley and Stoudamire could be solid starters the rest of the list is pretty iffy. im no expert but Brevin Knights numbers of 10 pts, 9 ast, 2 stl per game last year seem pretty solid to me. I think he would be a good pick up.
posted by rockin_the_suburbs at 02:57 PM on June 27, 2005
Sure. If you don't mind your starting point guard being on the DL for 20-30 games a season. Brevin is a solid backup point, but the Celtics need a starter who will be able to play major minutes, and help develop West and Banks. Now, if you are positive that you can give either West or Banks major minutes this year, then Brevin's a good signing.
posted by lilnemo at 03:11 PM on June 27, 2005
im no expert but Brevin Knights numbers of 10 pts, 9 ast, 2 stl per game last year seem pretty solid to me. I think he would be a good pick up. Brevin's a real defensive liability against bigger guards, so what you're getting offensively you're giving defensively. Personally, I hope that the Raptors either trade up (Peterson + 7 for the Blazers 3rd is a small rumour) or deal for Magloire; outside of maybe the top 5 or 6, the rest of the field aren't stars in the making; there are a lot of role players, but the Raptors need a star.
posted by dfleming at 03:35 PM on June 27, 2005
Brevin's a real defensive liability against bigger guards Well then, Earl Watson would solve that problem. If you stack them up together.
posted by yerfatma at 03:51 PM on June 27, 2005
Straight from the horse's mouth:
Unless the Celts have a point they can't pass up in the draft, it is almost certain they will look to add a veteran point guard through free agency (think a Mike James [news] or Chucky Atkins type of player) who can be a backup and step in more regularly if Marcus Banks [news] and Delonte West falter. Seeking to clear up confusion based on an earlier comment, Ainge said, ``I would be very, very comfortable with Marcus and Delonte as my top two point guards. I wouldn't feel real comfortable going into the season with two point guards. I'd like to get a third point guard, but it doesn't mean that it's somebody that's better than Delonte or Marcus. I think that those guys will be the lead for the first and second point guard positions. I have a great deal of confidence in those guys.''
posted by lilnemo at 05:12 PM on June 27, 2005
Admission: I might have read that before I tried to act knowledgable.
posted by yerfatma at 05:50 PM on June 27, 2005
Whoever the Celts pick at point guard is going to be undermined for the simple fact that they need a center, a big man, someone versatile to take on Indiana and Detroits bigs. Its not rocket science Danny Ainge!!! The 76ers have been in the same boat for years already. IMO, Danny Ainge needs to take his head out his overpaid corn hole. Since hes taken over he has produced nothing, nada, zilch.
posted by Rage Rod 74 at 10:55 PM on June 27, 2005
I was with you when you said ther Celtics need a big man. But you lost me at Danny's done nothing. I was disgusted when he traded Antoine, but in retrospect he hasn't really made a bad personnel step yet. Other than Mark Blount. Ainge has had 5 draft picks in two years and they're all going to be contributors next year.
posted by yerfatma at 06:06 AM on June 28, 2005
I wish someone would tell me why so many mock drafts have Sean May going somewhere between 11th-17th picks in the draft. I know hes undersized but you can't overlook how well he played.
posted by rockin_the_suburbs at 02:50 PM on June 28, 2005
...mock drafts have Sean May going somewhere between 11th-17th picks in the draft... Lets break it down really quick. Strengths: Soft hands. Good footwork. Gets good position on the low block. Has good timing. Has several post moves. Weaknesses: Measured out at 6'7". Has a considerably shorter wingspan than several forwards (and a few guards) who are roughly slotted in the same draft position. Has exhibited poor conditioning. Does not get up and down the floor very quickly. Is not very atheletic. May will largely be drafted based on his polished low-post game, and his pedigree. 11-17 sounds about right given his skill set, a slide in his stock (due to poor workouts, etc.) or a late push by another draftee could drop him into the 20s. yerfatma, do you buy any of this talk of the Celts dealing Pierce and selecting a SG/SF with their pick?
posted by lilnemo at 03:37 PM on June 28, 2005
yerfatma, do you buy any of this talk of the Celts dealing Pierce and selecting a SG/SF with their pick? They'd move him if the opportunity arose. As a fairly hard core fan (defined here as: started watching again on the first (Travis) [K]night of the Pitino Era, just after getting out of college where I couldn't see them), I'd be ecstatic if they moved Pierce for, as they say on sports radio, "value". Whether they move him or not, they need a "serviceable big man". Danny insists to all media outlets that will listen he doesn't draft by position but by best athlete (and EKG reading). All the same, swingmen grow on trees. The idea was they'd swap Pierce for a pick they could get a big man at and then sign Ray Allen. Allen is a much more palatable player than Pierce (at this point), but at the end of the day he's only a better jump shooter. He won't bring the rebounds, assists or steals that Pierce does. They'll be interesting again this year. I don't think that will translate to playoff wins unless Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, Delonte West and Kendrick Perkins mature very quickly. I don't know who will be the regular point. Dunno if Antoine or Paul will be back. Don't know which of the last two Mark Blount seasons is closer to true. Of course, there are only a few real powers in the East (Detroit, Miami, Indiana), so interesting could be good enough for a home playoff round. Or it could be the last rebuilding year before they get good.
posted by yerfatma at 04:42 PM on June 28, 2005
Don't know which of the last two Mark Blount seasons is closer to true Oh god, that's funny. Mark Blount is STEALING money.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:31 AM on June 29, 2005
Can we get cap relief in the new deal for that?
posted by yerfatma at 08:40 AM on June 29, 2005
Damnit, what about #18?