Celts.

[BigErnMcCracken]

They also had the same court sprint time, if we're finding other ways to say they're the same.

Gordon had the third highest vertical for a big man in the history of the combine, and the fastest shuttle run among anyone who participated irrespective of position. But you don't need that to know they're not the same. Just watch them play. They're not remotely the same type of player. We'll see who turns out better. I have my suspicion.

 

[sdhusky]

Gordon had the third highest vertical for a big man in the history of the combine, and the fastest shuttle run among anyone who participated irrespective of position. But you don't need that to know they're not the same. Just watch them play. They're not remotely the same type of player. We'll see who turns out better. I have my suspicion.

so its not just that Randle has shorter arms...

 

[dsturdy5]

Looks like Kevin Love has been spending the weekend in Boston "just to see what the city is all about." He's around the Sox game today, so is Rondo, and spent time with Darrelle Revis this weekend.

 

[eos91]

I just think Gordon's got a much, much higher ceiling than Randle. Randle's got short arms, no right hand, isn't an elite athlete, and dominated guys in college by overpowering them with strength. Gordon - I think - can contribute on the defensive end right away. He tests off the charts athletically (literally, they had to change the testing devices) and he's only 18. He's the kind of kid that, when he's 22, it's going to seem like he's been in the league for a decade.

Just for reference Rudy Gay bests Aaron Gordon in standing reach, wingspan, both verticals, max reach jumping, etc... So the Aaron Gordon off the charts thing is only based on where they set the machine... Also shows what a freak Rudy is athletically

 

[amory]

Looks like Kevin Love has been spending the weekend in Boston "just to see what the city is all about." He's around the Sox game today, so is Rondo, and spent time with Darrelle Revis this weekend.

It's all anyone in Boston has been talking about. We've convinced ourselves that he's coming because it clearly wasn't just a random weekend getaway.

I'd love to see him in green, but I'm glad we have a level-headed GM like Ainge. He's exactly the kind of player that would flourish in Boston but we can't overpay. Some people in the media have talked about us sending 4 first round picks to the Wolves, plus young talent and expiring contracts. Ridiculous. We're not talking about LeBron James.

I think the Celtics' offer should be something like the #6 and #17 picks this year, along with either Sullinger or Olynyk, whichever they prefer (hopefully Olynyk...), Bogans' expiring contract and Brandon Bass.

 

[intlzncster]

It's all anyone in Boston has been talking about. We've convinced ourselves that he's coming because it clearly wasn't just a random weekend getaway.

I'd love to see him in green, but I'm glad we have a level-headed GM like Ainge. He's exactly the kind of player that would flourish in Boston but we can't overpay. Some people in the media have talked about us sending 4 first round picks to the Wolves, plus young talent and expiring contracts. Ridiculous. We're not talking about LeBron James.

I think the Celtics' offer should be something like the #6 and #17 picks this year, along with either Sullinger or Olynyk, whichever they prefer (hopefully Olynyk...), Bogans' expiring contract and Brandon Bass.

He really is a good GM, and is one of the best late pick drafters(?) I have seen. Amazing that he's so level headed when he was such a nutjob on the court.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

 

[intlzncster]

I think the Celtics' offer should be something like the #6 and #17 picks this year, along with either Sullinger or Olynyk, whichever they prefer (hopefully Olynyk...), Bogans' expiring contract and Brandon Bass.

Honestly? That's too much. Especially because you are going to have to give him big money on top of that. He opts out next year. Why not gamble and wait?

Any trade for Love would likely be contingent on him signing a longer term deal with the destination team. He'd only go to a potential contender, whether from a pieces or organizational standpoint (that's why he wants out in the first place no?). So options are limited.

Now he'd also probably accept a deal for a six month rental, and the wolves wouldn't get much. But in this scenario, you'd have a shot at him after the season ends.

I'd keep both of this year's picks as it's a deep draft. Celts could come away with something like Gordon/Shabazz. Offer the Twolves a lowball of a next year first and second rounder and keep it open all season. If they bite, great. If not, enter the contract bidding for Love next year. I don't think the Wolves are in that strong of a position in actuality.

 

[intlzncster]

Rondo looks like he's been photoshopped twice. Black head, white arms and dark legs.

 

[amory]

No thanks on Carmelo. Don't need a high priced ball stopper. Money is better spent elsewhere

 

[nomar]

The Love-to-Boston thing is no pipe-dream. It's obviously something Love wants to happen (or is at least something he's OK with), which reduces Minnesota's leverage somewhat.

I do think the Melo thing is a pipe-dream, and that's fine by me. I don't see him and Rondo working together well. (Maybe that's a bad assumption on my part.)

But Love, I want him. Even if the Celts were to unload a bunch of players and picks in a Love deal, they'd still have some good picks left plus the budget to go after FAs. (Plus some young complementary talent.) Boston has never been a great FA destination, but with Love and Rondo in place, I could see a scoring wing wanting to wear green. (Hence the Melo rumors.)

 

[tzznandrew]

No thanks on Carmelo. Don't need a high priced ball stopper. Money is better spent elsewhere

I don't love Carmelo, but he's never had a player in his prime who could score. AI was on the downside of his career when the teamed up.

The problem with an imaginary lineup starring Melo and Love is not offense. The offense will run well. It's defense. You'd have to hope that having each other to preserve offensive energy means that Melo and Love would devote themselves to becoming better defenders.

 

[intlzncster]

I don't love Carmelo, but he's never had a player in his prime who could score. AI was on the downside of his career when the teamed up.

The problem with an imaginary lineup starring Melo and Love is not offense. The offense will run well. It's defense. You'd have to hope that having each other to preserve offensive energy means that Melo and Love would devote themselves to becoming better defenders.

Pretty sure there would be no defense played, night in night out. But, if you put one of those guys on a team where they don't have to be the guy, and the team is committed to D, they might get in line and D up.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Honestly? That's too much. Especially because you are going to have to give him big money on top of that. He opts out next year. Why not gamble and wait?

Any trade for Love would likely be contingent on him signing a longer term deal with the destination team. He'd only go to a potential contender, whether from a pieces or organizational standpoint (that's why he wants out in the first place no?). So options are limited.

Now he'd also probably accept a deal for a six month rental, and the wolves wouldn't get much. But in this scenario, you'd have a shot at him after the season ends.

I'd keep both of this year's picks as it's a deep draft. Celts could come away with something like Gordon/Shabazz. Offer the Twolves a lowball of a next year first and second rounder and keep it open all season. If they bite, great. If not, enter the contract bidding for Love next year. I don't think the Wolves are in that strong of a position in actuality.

He's going to have to be a sign and trade guy in that scenario anyways (obviously) so trying to wait him out isn't really serving a purpose other than to further discontent rondo. Celts basically have 2 first rounders for the next 4-5 years, they can give up 2-3 of them to get an elite player. The sooner they do so, the better it is from an organizational and potential recruitment of other stars standpoint.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

No thanks on Carmelo. Don't need a high priced ball stopper. Money is better spent elsewhere

Melo is a bad defender but all of the other negativity toward him is largely unwarranted. Dude carried Boeheims sorry ass to his only title, he's just never been put in a good NBA situation with any other legitimate in or near their prime stars and spent the majority of his career in the loaded west.

Doubtful he comes to Boston, but if he did it'd be the first time he played with other legitimate stars and the first time he's played with an elite distributor.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

I don't love Carmelo, but he's never had a player in his prime who could score. AI was on the downside of his career when the teamed up.

The problem with an imaginary lineup starring Melo and Love is not offense. The offense will run well. It's defense. You'd have to hope that having each other to preserve offensive energy means that Melo and Love would devote themselves to becoming better defenders.

They're 1 solid rim protector away from being solid defensively. Rondo/Bradley is about as good of a defensive backcourt as you'll find in the nba.

 

[tzznandrew]

Pretty sure there would be no defense played, night in night out. But, if you put one of those guys on a team where they don't have to be the guy, and the team is committed to D, they might get in line and D up.

That's the hope. And @PcketknfNiels is right in that getting a rim defender would mitigate some of those problems. Rondo has the capabilities to be a great defender (and has been in the past) and Bradley can seriously defend.

 

[intlzncster]

He's going to have to be a sign and trade guy in that scenario anyways (obviously) so trying to wait him out isn't really serving a purpose other than to further discontent rondo. Celts basically have 2 first rounders for the next 4-5 years, they can give up 2-3 of them to get an elite player. The sooner they do so, the better it is from an organizational and potential recruitment of other stars standpoint.

Fair enough, I still wouldn't give up any picks in this particular draft. When players like Deandre Daniels might be available in the second round, and a guy like Giffey as an undrafted free agent, this draft is too deep to pass up. Maybe not stars, but solid role player depth.

 

[Brochacho]

If the Celtics can get Kevin Love without moving the sixth pick then Ainge is a wizard.

On the subject of Kevin Love, would it be a good idea to move him to center? He is the worst one on one defender in the league (59% Opp FG when primary defender).
Centers aren't the same right now, so I think the Celtics potentially having a Gordon/Love front court could be lethal.

 

[amory]

Fair enough, I still wouldn't give up any picks in this particular draft. When players like Deandre Daniels might be available in the second round, and a guy like Giffey as an undrafted free agent, this draft is too deep to pass up. Maybe not stars, but solid role player depth.

Draft depth is actually a reason why I don't mind trading #6 and #17. If we trade those picks we can usually purchase a second round pick from another team, we did it last year to take Colton Iverson. Trading the first rounders in a deal for Love, purchasing a 2nd round pick and using it on Daniels (who just worked out for the C's yesterday, indicating at least some interest in him) sounds good to me.

And to your point, because it's such a deep draft, there will be undrafted players we can take a look at too.

I like Randle, and Smart, and Vonleh, but they don't appear to be the potential superstars that the top 3 picks could be. I'd much rather make a run at Love.

 

[intlzncster]

Draft depth is actually a reason why I don't mind trading #6 and #17. If we trade those picks we can usually purchase a second round pick from another team, we did it last year to take Colton Iverson. Trading the first rounders in a deal for Love, purchasing a 2nd round pick and using it on Daniels (who just worked out for the C's yesterday, indicating at least some interest in him) sounds good to me.

And to your point, because it's such a deep draft, there will be undrafted players we can take a look at too.

I like Randle, and Smart, and Vonleh, but they don't appear to be the potential superstars that the top 3 picks could be. I'd much rather make a run at Love.

I guess I'm thinking: Send 2 or 3 future 1's, 2 future 2's or something like that. Get Love. Draft Gordon/Randle/Vonleh (or somebody), draft Bazz. buy 2nd, draft DD, then sign undrafted Giffey. Dominate the NBA.

So you net: Kevin Love, (say) Vonleh, Bazz, DD, and giffey for 4-5 future pics and a big contract. UCONN North!