NBA Celtics Draft & News, Answering Your Questions

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

- Insider: Chris Kaman has slipped in workouts, footspeed/
toughness question.

Hmmm: What team benefits from Kaman slipping down in 
the draft?  Sounds like a certain franchise in the East
may be spreading rumors, but Insider counters that it's several
team sources.  (But how do you determine toughness in workouts?)

- Aleksandar Pavlovic, I saw recently compared to Richard Jefferson,
but with better offensive skills. Hard to believe he'll last to 16,
but it's a deep draft. Kryapa's another terrific Euro SF - Either
one of those two are fine. Diaw is like Joe Johnson, so you
know what you're getting. 

- Don't believe what you read in Mock Drafts. Collison isn't
slipping and could be a lottery pick. I wouldn't draft him, not that
he'll be a bad player, on the contrary, just my style is to try to
get someone who can be special.  

- Thanks to Tam for the Ainge interview information. As far as 
Ainge's candidness being an issue with the Boston Media, Ainge could 
say he was going to have Walker executed, if he took too many threes,
and no one would care these days, as it's June Swoon time for the Red
Sox.
The Celtics are very far under the media spotlight in the Boston area
at the moment. Some startling comments by Ainge might be a good
Pub thing actually.  A big Pitinoesque trade of Walker, after saying
he was a "cornerstone of the franchise" would be even better.

- If the Celtics are truly interested in Jameer Nelson, they should
trade
down and pick up a second round pick in the deal. Nelson, who's very
good
actually, just undersized, should go somewhere in the 25 - 40 range.
So, no sense in taking him at 20. (Hmm, see Katz column below for more
on Nelson.)


Andy Katz draft column follows:

Monday, June 2
 
Plenty to prove in Chicago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

 
The top prospects in the 2003 NBA draft won't be in town, but several
players have plenty to gain this week at the Chicago pre-draft camp.
Here is a quick glance at 20 players who could make or break their draft
status starting Tuesday night.

1. Troy Bell, Sr., PG, Boston College: Bell can score. No one doubts his
ability to put the ball in the basket. But he'll have to prove to the
NBA brass that he can be a true point guard. Bell played the position
some at BC, but not exclusively. If he can prove to be a distributor,
he's got an outside shot to sneak into the first round. The more likely
scenario is that he'll lock in a top-10 spot in the second round.

2. Marcus Hatten, Sr., PG, St. John's: Hatten is in the same position as
Bell. He was a breakout scorer for the Red Storm. He has a chance to
shine in three games in Chicago and crack the first round. If he doesn't
wow scouts then he'll likely fall in line with or ahead of Bell atop the
second round.

3. Ron Slay, Sr., PF, Tennessee: Slay was one of the most prolific
scorers in the SEC. He proved the ACL injury he suffered ni 2002
shouldn't be a concern after returning without a hitch this past season.
But scouts have concerns about his size to play in the post. He'll
really have to convince them that he's a forward who can score and
defend, regardless of his height. If Slay can dominate a game or two in
Chicago, he'll likely increase his workout load with other teams prior
to the draft. Slay is a reach for the first round, but a lock for the
second.

4. Dahntay Jones, Sr., SG, Duke:Jones could be this year's Freddie
Jones. The former Oregon guard impressed NBA scouts with his athleticism
so much that he landed among the top top 15 picks (No. 14 to Indiana).
This Jones is also a physical specimen, cut and strong, a player who can
make shots from all over the court. He can defend and block shots, too.
NBA teams will have to get over his lack of a true position. If they
can, then Jones has a realistic shot to move into the first round.

5. Kyle Korver, Sr., SF, Creighton: NBA teams flocked to see Korver in
Omaha and elsewhere this season to see if he could shoot as well as
advertised. He can. But he's more of a catch-and-shoot player. Korver
has to prove this week that he can put the ball on the floor to get his
own shots, as well as show that he's not slow defensively. He's another
player who someone could like late in the first round, but is more
likely a second-round pick.

6. Mo Williams, So., PG, Alabama: Williams is still on the fence about
whether to return to school. Williams has to show that he's a top 20-25
pick to stay in the draft. To do that Williams, will need to beat out
Jameer Nelson, Bell, Hatten and Marcus Moore. If Williams is one of the
two best point guards in the camp, he's likely gone. If he doesn't play
well during the three days, Alabama coach Mark Gottfried might catch a
break and get him back for his junior season.

7. Jameer Nelson, Jr., PG, Saint Joseph's: Nelson hasn't worked out for
any teams and is going to Chicago to see if he's first-round material.
He's not going to suddenly shoot up over six feet. He is what he is and
that's a scoring point guard with a very quick first step. His defense
has improved and he's looking more and more like a second-round pick. If
someone falls in love with him this week, and sees him as a late
first-rounder, then Nelson will consider the jump. But he would almost
need such a guarantee to stay in the draft.

8. Tommy Smith, Sr., F, Arizona State: Smith was one of the standouts at
the Portsmouth Invitational for seniors. But the key will be whether he
was a one-hit wonder. If he stars in Chicago then he's got a legit shot
to get in the second round, possibly into the middle of the second.
Scouts will be watching to see if Smith has the staying power to hold up
over two scouting camps.

9. Luke Walton, Sr., F, Arizona: Walton is far from a lock for the first
round. He is one of the best passers in the draft. But the knock on
Walton is his size to play inside. He would have to play small forward
in the NBA and the question that will dog him in Chicago is whether he
can defend an NBA small forward. If Walton shows he can, he's got a shot
to go high in the second round. He'll have to really climb, however, to
get into the late first round.

10. Hollis Price, Sr., G, Oklahoma: Price will be the toughest player in
the camp. He's already proven to be one of the best leaders in college
basketball the past two seasons. That's great, but for the NBA, he has
to prove he can play the point. He's a scoring guard who excelled in
Oklahoma's system. He must prove that he can be more of a distributor
for him to get into the upper part of the second round. 

11. Keith Bogans, Sr., G, Kentucky: Bogans is back in Chicago after
declaring early two years ago as a sophomore and ultimately returning to
school. He's an erratic shooter and not seen as a tremendously talented
penetrating guard. He'll have to make shots to feel secure about getting
drafted in the second round. Bogans could fall prey to senioritis among
the NBA teams. If they didn't love him after his sophomore year, then
they might be turned off after his senior season.

12 James Lang, Central Park Christian H.S., Birmingham, Ala.: Lang might
end up being the only high school senior at the camp. If that's the case
then he'll stand out. But he already does. Lang is a wide-body and needs
to ensure that his weight doesn't bring down his stock. If he can show
that his body is movable then he's got a shot to go high in the second
round. 

13. Marcus Moore, Jr., G, Washington State: Moore might have declared
even if Paul Graham didn't get fired. But the hiring of Dick Bennett
meant Moore was gone. Moore's game is uptempo and he didn't want to
stick around if he was going to go at a slower pace. But Moore has to
prove he can be a true point for the scouts to be enamored with him for
a high second-round spot.

14. Ruben Douglas, Sr., G, New Mexico: Scoring was never an issue for
Douglas in college. (He led all Division I players in 2002-03 at 28.0
ppg) But the Lobos' go-to scorer will have to stand out in Chicago. His
early workouts were positive, but he needs to continue to make a
statement. Big-time scorers from lower-profile programs haven't always
resonated with the NBA. Douglas could change that mindset if he displays
his ballhandling skills well enough in Chicago and beyond this month.

15. Jason Kapono, Sr., G, UCLA: Kapono, like Korver, is one of the best
stand-still shooters in this draft. That alone could help him go high in
the second round. But Kapono has to do more. He's got to show he isn't a
defensive liability. If he can drive to the basket consistently then
he's got a chance to improve his stock.

16. Travis Hansen, Sr., G, BYU: Hansen helped himself in Portsmouth. He
has shot the ball well throughout May. If he can do the same in Chicago,
Hansen has a shot at cracking the top tier of the second round. Scouts
will look to see if he can remain a consistent perimeter threat under
pressure. 

17. Carl English, Jr., G, Hawaii: English is another solid scorer from
the wing ... but the question remains: Can he play the point? If he can,
English has a chance to move himself up in the draft. If he's strictly a
gritty driver to the basket, or a jump shooter, then he won't come near
the top of the second round.

18. Marquis Daniels, Sr., G, Auburn: Daniels really helped himself in
the NCAA Tournament. His game against Saint Joseph's in the NCAA first
round might have locked him into the second round. He has worked out
well so far, but if he can play some defense and keep on scoring, then
he has a chance to move up after Chicago.

19. Andre Emmett, Jr., F, Texas Tech: Emmett hasn't hired an agent so he
could still return to school. Emmett could be the sleeper in this bunch,
as well as the Chicago camp. Emmett is a big-time scorer, regardless of
position. If he comes close to being a 20-plus point scorer for three
days this week then he could easily stay in the draft. 

20. Jarvis Hayes, Jr., G, Georgia: Hayes remains on the list to play in
Chicago. But the NBA wouldn't be surprised if he passes on the camp. If
he doesn't, then he'll probably be the only player in Chicago that has
the potential to crack the lottery. If he skips the camp, he's still a
late lottery to mid-teens pick in the first round.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.