| Draft Day Wish List From Celtics Fan Chris Lehane Authored by Christopher Lehane - June 28, 2007 - 1:15 pm
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I have a number of principles I follow in analyzing players, including: (1) They must be dynamic players (defined as you notice them as soon as you turn on the game in all aspects -- they don't fade away at times but are people who you keep coming back to because they impact the game in a variety of ways on a constant basis)); (2) I must have seen them actually play multiple times (which rules out the Euros and, in the past, the high school kids; my exception here is Yi -- who I have watched primarily on bad video and youtube but who as soon as you see him he appears to have intangible qualities that are readily apparent); (3) I am a believer in production over potential (I like guys who produce in college versus guys who have the potential to produce but have yet to produce); (4) I analyze the draft with a realistic understanding that if you actually get a guy who is going to be a solid producer, you have done a good job; and (5) I am a believer in character – but not in terms of whether a guy is a nice guy off the court -- but whether the guy plays to win on the court.
In this context, and consistent with these principles, here is my take for the C's:
(1) Trade -- Though it looks dead and Danny Ainge said it was dead -- do not trade for Shawn Marion... he is a system guy and while he probably makes the C's a definite playoff team in the East... he is not a franchise changer... Better to stay with the formula of building a team then panicking.
(2) My draft list for the C's in order of preference: Yi, Conley and Brewer.
-- Yi: 7 foot guy who runs like the wind; can shoot; can jump; is heavier and stronger than people realize (compare his physical size and weight to Odom); and has charisma/understands American pop culture is worth the risk... C's are in a position where they need to take risks... I fear that this will be a reprise of the Gasol and Dirk where the C's identified an interest in those players before others only to see the players stock rise in the last 24 hrs...
-- Conley: Second to Durant, he was the most dominant freshman on the court last year... once he gets a consistent J, he could be Isiah-like... Centers and Point Guards are the most valuable players in the league... and with the new rules, having this guy driving off of pick and rolls will make Pierce and Big Al even better... I know we have Rondo (who I like a lot)... but this guy in my opinion after Durant, Oden, and Yi is the best available player and plays the most important position outside of a dominant center... take him... use Rondo as an energy guy/defensive stopper off the bench (and hope he finds a J and can become something more than Jaque Vaugh or Eric Snow -- and more like Barbosa).
-- Brewer: The second coming of Scottie Pippen/Josh Howard... this guy is going to be the type of guy who makes his team so much better because he does so much and doesn't need to shoot the ball 20 times a game... lock-down defender... supreme athlete... winner... tough... can't go wrong with him...
My Sleepers (who I hope the C's can nab with their second round pick... I would consider giving up the first round pick from next year and this year's second round pick to move up a bit to get either Williams, Marco or Dudley):
Sean Williams: Not as much of a sleeper anymore... I wonder how far he will shoot up the draft... If he takes the game seriously he can be Ben Wallace II... Likely gone by the second round...
Marco Belenelli: This guy lit up Team USA (and they were guarding him)... Italian version of Drazen Petrovic... will contribute immediately because he can shoot and will surpise people with his athleticism... He will be the toast of the North End... Imagining Yi and Marco on the C's is a very cool thought....
Jared Dudely: I think Al Skinner is a GREAT coach... I love the BC kids -- tough, smart, winners... I also think because of Skinner's system that the BC players all bget under-rated because it is not a system that allows players to appear especially athletic (even when they are)... Dudley is a winner who makes people around him better... He will be a very nice pro and could even become a Josh Howard type player some day...
Stephane Lasme: My Amherst College biases may be coming out here... But this guy just dominated the games he was in from a shot blocking and rebounding perspective... He reminds me -- and this goes back some time -- to a throwback player like a Paul Silas or even Truck Robinson (in his N.O. Jazz years)... |
