Draft

["Ouellette Steve" <souellette@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Every year for about 10 years I've heard that "this year's draft is thin." I
don't think it's true this year. Scouting guru Marty Blake himself said it
looks like the deepest in a long time.

While there are three clear star talents, I think there are a ton of guys in
the next class, thanks to the early entries and the astounding number of
foreigners. As many as 13 foreign guys expected to go in the first round? Guys
who might normally be late first rounders like Troy Bell (still see him having
at least a Dana Barros career), will go in the second round.

This is as good a year as any for the Celts to have picks No. 16 and 20 (and
to have someone besides Chris Wallace/Leo Papile doing the draft). Just wish
that A) they didn't pick one spot behind the Magic, who also need a point
guard and B) They had a second rounder, which would be useful for a change.

STEVE


This draft is so thin that I wonder if we should pay $886,000 (rookie
scale for #20 pick) for some plodding big-body or the sixth-best
miniature PG wannabe who is not only raw but also bereft of upside
potential.  After all, there are so many more talented and immediately
helpful vet min. types available for $637,435 (max figure their
salaries could count against the luxury tax).

If it were me, I would postpone this pick. I would take my chances that
future drafts will contain more talent, and that Philly will not finish
as high as third in the ED for the next few seasons, yet hopefully
escape the lottery.

[demime 1.01b removed an attachment of type application/ms-tnef]