The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest, V14 #140

[Andy]

I like that draftexpress mock. It makes sense to me.

I think that Atlanta is the key to the Celtics draft.



1. Toronto: There have been Bargnani rumors here, but the rumors and  
argument for Aldridge is stronger. Bosh wants him. The Raptors  
desperately want to re-sign Bosh. That just about clinches it right  
there. Plus Aldridge fills a need for Toronto better than the other  
two top big guys. They will not go small here. There are no points  
worthy of that.

2. Chicago: Why would the Bulls solve their lack-of-scoring-from- 
Chandler problem by getting Thomas who might not be able to score  
enough himself? They’ve had great success with Nocioni and so won’t  
be scared of going international. They go Bargnani.

3. Charlotte can take the best wing in the draft (whoever that is in  
their opinion). They could go Thomas, but he’s fairly redundant with  
their current frontline, and they could use another scorer. Morrison  
is the top scorer coming in.

4. Portland does need frontcourt help with Przybilla maybe leaving.  
They’re probably stuck with Randolph though. But that’s not their  
biggest problem. Highest priority: They’re losing lots of money. They  
need box office help and some sort of spark right away, and Thomas  
may not provide any. Roy is regional, and an almost sure bet to be  
immediately productive. If Morrison slips they’ll grab him. This team  
is on the front row of the Oden sweepstakes no matter what they do.  
Taking Roy (or maybe even Gay) is most likely. They can get a couple  
of big bodies at 30 and 31. Roy over Gay because of the regional  
angle and experience.

5. Atlanta: I was all set to have M. Williams go to Atlanta, but the  
buzz is that Billy Knight doesn’t like him. Knight’s a strange  
personnel guy and he could do anything here including draft yet  
another small forward. He could go Thomas, Gay, a point, O’Bryant, or  
trade out. But, if the rumor is smoke and he goes M. Williams then…

6. Minnesota… would almost surely take Gay over Thomas as Thomas has  
no place to play there with Garnett in front of him.

7. Celtics: So, if Atlanta passes on Thomas, he’ll very possibly  
slide to here. If Atlanta takes Thomas the Celtics pick from the next  
group: M. Williams, S. Williams, O’Bryant, Splitter,  or maybe  
there’s a longshot chance they choose a very long human being, Saer  
Sene. (I don’t believe the Rondo rumor.)

I really think Sene will rise in the coming weeks. He is too imposing  
a presence not to. That big man workout coming up will be fascinating  
to hear about. S. Williams, Simmons, O’Bryant, and Sene… ( who  
draftexpress still has in the second round)



Stats from Sene's final Belgian league game:  23 minutes,  4-4 from  
the field, 2 free throws, 10 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks.



--Andy




> this brings up an intersesting point.
>
> draftexpress has Tyrus Thomas falling to us -- in a scenario that's  
> not too
> outside the realm of
> possibility:
>
> [http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1310]
>
> 1. Tor: aldridge
> 2. CHI: Bargnani
> 3. CHA: Morison
> 4. POR: Roy
> 5. ATL: Marcus Williams (i think they'd go for T Thomas but M.  
> Williams also
> makes sense)
> 6. MIN: Gay
> 7. BOS: Thomas
>
> Ellie -- as a past Usenet Mockdraft GM :) -- woudl you take Thomas  
> over, say
> Carney, OBryant, et al.
>
> (the other) mark
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> like Parish, too.  And these are not guys available at #7 for the most
> part (esp. now with the age restriction). If you're not in the top  
> 3-4,
> your best bet for big men is to let some other team do the 2-4 year
> development phase with them, then aquire them via trade/FA, or  
> 'grass is
> greener' philosophy.
>
> Ellie