Possible Second Round Picks For The Celtics

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

When you're drafting 50, it's like diving into the hay stack and
hoping the needle hits you in the head....

But it's not impossible to come up with a contributing or even
quality player.

Just difficult.

And here are some of the players the Celtics are/could/should be
interested in:

1. Anderson Varejao - Now this could be a great draft pick.
Vaarejao, a 6-10 and growing Brazilian wowed the scouts (along
with his teammate Nene Hillario), as a member of the Brazilian
National team. His time away from the National Team in
Europe with FC Barcelona hasn't been as productive, and
thus he's drawn scant attention compared to his lottery-
bound teammate. But Anderson has talent and is in
the Tom Chambers/Raef  LaFrentz mode.

2. Christous Tapoutos - A 6-9 Greek player, who's been compared to
Toni Kukoc, but needs a couple of more years of Euro seasoning,
bulk, and defense. May well pull out of the draft.

3. Mladen Sekularic - Not that the Celtics need another shooting guard
(and since he's not the greatest athlete, probably better suited to
small forward),
but Sekularic from Mornar, Yugoslavia presents great size: 6-8, and a
nice touch.
Plus he's a better defender than Josip Sesar. Not that that's much of an
accomplishment.
Could be a real steal at 50, and think of him as the Yugoslavian Casey
Jacobson,
if he doesn't exit stage left from the draft.

4. Zaur Parchulia - There's talk of this 6-11 Georgian going in the
first round,
and likely gone before the Celtics draft, but an intriguing prospect.

5. Maurice Baker - Jim O'Boring loves him because he's a great three
point shooter and plays defense. Chris Worthless loves him because he's
quick and an athlete. The
rest of the NBA doesn't love him because they question his work ethic,
and his
point guard skills (more of a 6-1 combo guard). Could be an upper middle

class Sam Cassell. If you combine Baker and Cook, you'd have Kevin
Johnson.

6. Lee Benson - Has big time offensive skills, size, and a boatload of
rust, age,
and prison time. Worth a nice shot at 50.

7. Luis Scola - Argentinian power forward compared to Eduardo Najera,
but more
talented. Likely gone by the time the C's draft, but stranger things
have happened.

8. Predrag Savovic - Likely to be long gone before the Celtics chose,
but an
interesting prospect in that he can shoot and pass and be a point
forward.

9. Chris Highwayman Christofferson - Probably not around because he's
got the size: 7-2,
bulk: 300 pounds, and speed: can run the court.

10. Marcus Taylor - 6-3 PG from Michigan State with lots of potential,
but not
ready for the NBA. Should go back to school.

11. Fatih Solak - Big, strong, tall, soapy-handed Turkish center who's
very raw and a mite
slow.

12. Corsley Edwards - From that Bball Powerhouse Central Connecticut
State,
Edwards, 6-8, 285 is Mr. Hustle and a likely second round pick. In fact,

he'll probably be drafted ahead of the Celtics. Then again, when you're
at fifty, that
applies to a lot of players. Edwards could develop into the next Jahidi
White.

13. Lonnie Baxter - Undersized but productive power forward with a lot
of heart, who will likely outlast workout warriors chosen much higher.
.
14. Mario Kasun - Croatian seven-footer and you can't buy height.

15. Sam Clancy - Possibly could drift down, because of size questions
and a recent injury. C's were interested in drafting him with the 21st
pick
in last year's draft, before he pulled out.

And who would I draft?  Anderson Varejao, but he'll probably be gone.

Ray