| Celtics’ Draft Makes Others Green With Envy Authored by Ryan Bennett - June 29, 2005 - 12:37 am
| Current Featured Columns | | Final Thoughts On The 2008 NBA Draft This year's draft was decidedly more calm and casual than the Oden/Durant showdown, which made for a more candid and personal experience.
Grading The Deal: Knicks Sign DuhonThe Knicks overpaid for a below average starting point guard, but the move should still pay dividends.
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Oh Danny Boy
Danny Granger, who has just three years of NBA experience under his belt, will undoubtedly be the man in Indiana beginning this summer.
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$10 Million For Five Players?
The Orlando Magic will be limited by the NBA's Luxury Tax in terms of filling the remaining spots on their roster. It is also possible it could cost them Keyon Dooling or Maurice Evans.
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Raptorland’s New Carnivore
The Raptors are bringing in a player who will have an immediate impact (unlike Hibbert or whomever the Raptors would’ve drafted at 17), plays a position of need (unlike Ford,) and carries a reputation of intimidation (unlike Nesterovic).
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More from RealGM's Columnists
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The Biggest problem with this draft was the over-rating of the North Carolina guys. Sean May at 13 over Green and Granger, Bernie no! Then the Timberwolves pick Rashad McCants at 14 over the same two players.
Hang on, I shouldn’t be saying oh no, my Boston Celtics have picked Gerald Green; this is great! Green is said to be a lot like Tracy McGrady, well goodbye Paul Pierce.
At pick 50, the Celtics nabbed Ryan Gomes from Providence. Gomes is a great addition and should be able to step inot 10-15 minutes per game straight away.
At pick 53, the Celtics picked Orien Greene from LaFayette a big point guard, or an undersized shooting guard. He has great defense but questionable shot selection. Ainge obviously sees some potential in him.
The Celtics can now start looking at moving some big contracts, and starting up the youth movement. Two good trades according to E Willems, a message board poster from Inside Hoops:
Boston trade:
Antoine Walker (sign and trade)
Rael LaFrentz
Mark Blount
New York trade:
Anfernee Hardaway (expirer)
Tim Thomas (expirer)
Boston trade:
Paul Pierce
Marcus Banks
Dallas trade:
Keith Van Horn (expirer)
Devin Harris
If Danny Ainge can swing those two deals, the Celtics will be far under the cap at the end of next season. The upcoming season’s roster will be young, but very exciting and talented.
C- Kendrick Perkins/ Michael Olowokandi/
F- Al Jefferson/ Justin Reed/ Keith Van Horn
F- Gerald Green/ Ryan Gomes/ Tim Thomas
G- Devin Harris/ Delonte West/ Sam Cassell
G- Ricky Davis/ Tony Allen/ Anfernee Hardaway
A few passing draft comments:
A lot of strange picks by teams. Seems like there will be a fury of trades after the draft.
Antoine Wright to New Jersey. They didn’t draft a power forward, so it looks like Abdur Rahim and the Nets may have some sort of agreement.
Did Ben Wallace pick Jason Maxiell?
Can anyone possibly see Kevin Garnett sticking around with Rashad McCants as his sidekick? McCants looks like the second coming of Latrell Sprewell, I hope the Wolves pay him enough to feed his family.
What do the Magic see in Fran Vasquez? Are they trying to build a twin tower combo? They could have drafted Gerald Green, and tried for a great inside/ outside tandem for the next decade and a half.
Did the Raptors draft Villaneuva and Graham for the Hornets in exchange for Magloire?
The Warriors have had an amazing draft. Ike Diogu, Monta Ellis and Chris Taft. They should improve by leaps and bounds next season. Ellis looks like a Gilbert Arenas clone.
How did Martynas drop so far? |
