If the lottery goes our way, who should we draft?

[maverick4]

It is painful to follow the Celtics this year, but my one solace is talking about who the Celtics should draft if we are lucky enough to choose. The top 4 prospects are Joakin Noah, Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, and Brendan Wright (if I am missing someone, put it here).

I think Greg Oden is a solid character guy, but with limited superstar upside. Kevin Durant would be my choice, because he is a human freak of nature who is 6'10 and has point guard, post-up, and 3-pt skills.

 

[BelichickFan]

Certainly not Noah. If Oden and Durant come out they're clearly the only two to consider IMO. I'm not a Celtics fan so I don't know a lot about what the better fit would be but you want one of those two.

 

[chunkypony]

I think that Oden is the better choice. Durant, although obviously gifted physically, seems like a tab bit more like a project. I think Oden can contribute without as much development.

 

[Johnny Mac]

1.Oden
2.Durant
.
.
.
3.Wright

Anyone other than that, and I'm a sad panda.

 

[patsfan55]

1.Oden
2.Durant
.
.
.
3.Wright

Anyone other than that, and I'm a sad panda.

yup
but noah is right with wright too
however it def goes top two....next two....everyone else
we gotta hope we get a top two pick
im fine with either one

 

[BelichickFan]

but noah is right with wright too

Noah is a big effort guy and should be a solid player but his chances of being more than above average are marginal IMO.

I hope for you guys' sake that Oden and Durant come out - I want them out because my fantasy basketball league is on the 3 year plan and I have traded for the entire first round Oden and Durant BETTER come out. I also like Josh McRoberts of Duke.

 

[BradyManny]

Noah isn't going to be anything special. I don't see what all the hype is - those type are dime a dozen in drafts, and end up being 10-10 type guys in the NBA.

Oden & Durant are worth tanking it for. Position wise, obviously Oden makes more sense for us. I'm not sure where exactly Durant fits on this team with Pierce, Wally & Green, but that wouldn't make me hesitate for a second for taking him if Oden is gone.

 

[Real World]

Noah is a big effort guy and should be a solid player but his chances of being more than above average are marginal IMO.

I hope for you guys' sake that Oden and Durant come out - I want them out because my fantasy basketball league is on the 3 year plan and I have traded for the entire first round Oden and Durant BETTER come out. I also like Josh McRoberts of Duke.

I agree, Noah is not going to be anything "speacial" in the pro's. Think Joe Smith, or maybe PJ Brown. Solid player & starter, who gives you some solid numbers, but is nothing more than that. Durant is coming out, no bones about it. He's in school only cuz he has to be 19 for the draft. Oden has said he might stay in school, I hope not. My guess is the C's get teh 2nd pick, and Oden stays in school, or he comes out, and we get the 3rd pick.

As for Wright, I don't know too much about him, but he is a significant drop off from Durant and Oden. Clearly #3 as of right now. McRoberts = overrated. Is he that much better than Sheldon Williams? Maybe, but he really looks like a diet Laettner to me. No thanks.

 

[Real World]

Noah isn't going to be anything special. I don't see what all the hype is - those type are dime a dozen in drafts, and end up being 10-10 type guys in the NBA.

Oden & Durant are worth tanking it for. Position wise, obviously Oden makes more sense for us. I'm not sure where exactly Durant fits on this team with Pierce, Wally & Green, but that wouldn't make me hesitate for a second for taking him if Oden is gone.

I couldn't agree more. It's almost as if you hope both come out, and you get the 2nd pick so you don't have to decide. Durant is an extremely talented player. Carmelo Anthony wasn't as good as Durant during his one year of college ball. They are similar players, only that Durant is a tad taller. Some have said Durant is similar to Garnett. I've been wondering if this will be an instance where teams go after the size, Hakeem Ollajuwan #1 (Sam Bowie #2), over the talent, Michael Jordan #3. Now, Hakeem was no slouch, but I think we'd all prefer MJ over him.

 

[maverick4]

I've been wondering if this will be an instance where teams go after the size, Hakeem Ollajuwan #1 (Sam Bowie #2), over the talent, Michael Jordan #3. Now, Hakeem was no slouch, but I think we'd all prefer MJ over him.

Well, we do have Clyde Drexler. Woops, I mean Paul Pierce.

 

[BradyManny]

I've been wondering if this will be an instance where teams go after the size, Hakeem Ollajuwan #1 (Sam Bowie #2), over the talent, Michael Jordan #3. Now, Hakeem was no slouch, but I think we'd all prefer MJ over him.

Great point. Look at how the Pistons passed over Melo for Darko, sometimes teams can get caught up in size too much.

 

[Johnny Mac]

I also like Josh McRoberts of Duke.

Have you seen him play this year? He's gonna be the poster child for why you should come out early. He could've been a lottery pick last year. Now he could fall out of the first. NBADraft.net has him down to 22 in their mock. Knowing Ainge, though, he'll take him with the #1 pick because he's white.

 

[Real World]

Great point. Look at how the Pistons passed over Melo for Darko, sometimes teams can get caught up in size too much.

Great example. Darko might still become a decent player considering he's only like 21 or 22 I think, but the Pistons seriously erred with that choice. It's even worse when you consider that Dwayne Wade & Chris Bosh were selected after that.

 

[patsfan55]

Great point. Look at how the Pistons passed over Melo for Darko, sometimes teams can get caught up in size too much.

yup
i thought right away it was so stupid too
i mean they had big ben wallace
and the only true scorer they had was rip
why the hell did they pass on melo
wow that would piss me off to this day if i were a big piston fan

 

[BelichickFan]

Have you seen him play this year? He's gonna be the poster child for why you should come out early. He could've been a lottery pick last year. Now he could fall out of the first. NBADraft.net has him down to 22 in their mock. Knowing Ainge, though, he'll take him with the #1 pick because he's white.

LOL. He's actually picked it up a lot, his poor season was the first half dozen or so. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to compare him to Oden and Durant, etc. But I like him as a solid NBA player.

 

[Real World]

LOL. He's actually picked it up a lot, his poor season was the first half dozen or so. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to compare him to Oden and Durant, etc. But I like him as a solid NBA player.

I just think McRoberts is incediblely overrated. Duke player don't project well in the pros. Obviously Grant Hill was special, but the rest of the lot are less than spectacular.

 

[maverick4]

Just heard on WEEI that in the past 20 years, except for 2 times, the NBA Finals MVP (which goes to a player on the championship team remember) has always gone to a player who was a top-3 NBA draft pick in his year. So basically, the best players win championships in the NBA, not like in other sports where coaching wins in the NFL or pitching wins in baseball.

Keep it up Doc, keep doing a horrible job. You are the next ML Carr!!

 

[BelichickFan]

I'd say Durant has pretty much stood up and said "me, me, me" in the answer to this question.

 

[maverick4]

This is going to become one of those MJ/Olajuwon drafts, I think. Will we do what Portland did?

 

[maverick4]

This is an EXCELLENT, superb article comparing Oden and Durant

http://nbadraft.net/prevenas077.asp

I am now sold on Greg Oden if we get to choose.