Draft Rumors And The Celtics

[Andy]

Good job Ray.  A few things:

Portland's GM  said he'd consider Roy only if the Blazers slipped to  
the 4th pick.  They won't take Roy in the the top three.  You'd have  
to think their priorities would be Morrison, Aldridge, Bargnani and  
Thomas in some order.  (They'll try to trade Randolph.)

If the Blazers stay on or near the top, the Celtics would be aided by  
both them and Charlotte going wing, sending the big guys lower.   
Portland may do this with Morrison since he gives them a boost in  
ticket sales and fan interest in what is a difficult financial time  
for the franchise.  Morrison is Portland's top wing, not Roy.

Atlanta apparently does covet Bargnani according to the unrelable  
Ford:  Knight who does the  picking in Atlanta was the one who pushed  
for Gasol while in Memphis, so there may be something behind this.   
Too bad, because Bargnani has a good chance to be one of the real  
players out of this draft.  Maybe the Celtics will move to the top 3  
and nab him.

Phoenix also yearns for Bargnani.

I think you are correct in saying M. Williams and O'Bryant right now  
have the best chance of moving up ahead of Boston (should the Celtics  
remain at #7),  but there's a lot of time before the draft.  And  
there's always Splitter.  Who knows where he'll go?  Shelden Williams  
could also rise if a team like Minnesota needs a guaranteed instant  
contributor, and depending on his true measurements.



A few more things:

This is the type of draft where a number of the best players may come  
from out of the top 10, like 2001.

The long tall guys O'Bryant, Simmons, and Sene should be all over the  
map in coming mocks.

Jefferson is very very unlikely to be traded this summer.  1) His  
value is not there after the injury riddled season.  2) They just  
hired his personal coach in Clifford Ray. 3) When he's healthy,  
performs well, and his trade value rises, they're going to want to  
keep him.

West is very unlikely to be traded too.  They just paid the price of  
developing him the past two years, and aren't going to be eager to  
move him with that investment in time and pain about to pay off.

Chicago's going big no matter what.  Probably Aldridge, maybe  
Bargnani as they have no fear of taking international players after  
Nocioni performed so well.

The top 6 players all carry concerns and flaws.  The draft order will  
determine a lot, and personal opinions on players could easily bring  
some huge surprises in those top 6.  I don't think it's near a lock  
that those will be the top guys chosen.

The Celtics really don't want to slip to 8th Tuesday night.


--Andy


















> Gathered From Across The Electromagnetic Spectrum
> & Chad Ford
>
> ~ Well, the C's leaked a bit of info to Jackie Mac
> the other day - if they're telling her, they're
> interested in Brandon Roy, it's because they know he's
> not going to be available. Roy doesn't plan on working
> out for anyone but the Top 5 Clubs and there's
> conjecture that Portland will take him. Remember, the
> Blazers were greatly interested in both Pierce and
> Gerald Green, so they are seeking a quality SG.
>
> ~ Marcus Williams is a different story. Unless Toronto
> or Atlanta (they have the hots for Bargnani as a
> scoring PF/Center) reach for him, 7 - 10 is his likely
> draft range. While he's not in the class of Chris
> Paul,
> curse you Paul Pierce, he's certainly an upgrade over
> West. Still, he's not an impact player, and unless
> Ainge gets his groove on and acquires one, the C's are
> still travelling on the slow boat down Kha-Kha Creek.
>
> ~ One thing to consider, if the C's draft Williams, do
> they really need West?  Backup ponts are a plentiful
> commodity, and West has trade appeal, certainly more
> than Tony Allen, and I laugh when people mention
> putting Orien Greene in a deal. A Jefferson/West/Wally
> deal should entice some GMs out there, if not, then
> Ainge's lauded drafting ability needs to be
> quesitioned.
>
> ~ And speaking of Williams, as of this moment it
> appears only two players could push one of the
> Almighty Six -- Aldridge, Thomas, Morrison, Gay, Roy,
> and Bargnani -- down to the Celtics. That being
> Williams and Patrick O'Bryant. Yes, Chad likes
> O'Bryant's rising stock, so one of those six teams
> needing a Center: Toronto, Minnesota, Atlanta,
> Portland perhaps could select him.
>
> ~ Which player could slip down to the Celtics,
> if O'Bryant or Williams move up? Right now, the best
> bet seems to be Tyrus Thomas. Chicago, Portland,
> Charlotte, Toronto, Minnseota, and perhaps Atlanta, if
> they want Bargnani, really don't need him. Of course,
> there will be trades and perhaps a team drafting below
> the Celtics will move up, but GS, Utah, and Seattle
> are all pretty well stocked at PF. Houston could be
> a possibility, perhaps they'd offer Swift and their
> draft pick to move up to take Thomas.
>
> It will all shape up when ping pongs do their thang...
> Ray