What should we be looking for in the June 22 NBA draft?

[jmost]

I think we have the 5th pick of the second round and the consensus seems to be that there will be some good players available.

Any thoughts about what kind of player we should be looking for?

To me it seems we are thinnest at big man, especially with Al nearing the end of his useful career, Rob's durability still not proven, and Grant's future with us in doubt, but I've heard others say we need another wing.

Or do we just go with best player available?

I wonder if Brad might package our pick plus Pritch to move up.

[jmost]

I'm reading that the Celtics are quite active in trade talks leading up to the draft.

Also that Gallinari exercised his player option to stay with us next year.

[Roadrunner]

Is this Brad's first draft? If Danny were GM, the fans including me would be screaming for a "BIG", and he would draft the under-sized guard that could not shoot, however played NBA ready defense.

[jmost]

This is actually Brad's 3rd draft as he got the GM job in early June 2021. His first two picks, both 2nd rounders, were Juhann Begarin ([HASH]45) and JD Davison ([HASH]53). The [HASH]35 pick will be the highest pick Brad has had.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pritch or Grant were part of a pre-draft trade. And I think we're going to be looking for a big man. Brad has to be thinking ahead to the post-Horford years.

[Roadrunner]

I do not think Brad will be able to trade future FRP, because of the new CBA. I doubt Grant will be resigned, because BOS has way too many players that make between $10m-$20m. If Pritchard is still on the roster, because of his rookie salary.

@35, I would like to see either Santago from UCONN or Bates from EM.

Also, I think Brogdon will be traded. Great player, when healthy which is never the case.

[jmost]

I agree that Grant is probably not a Celtic next year. I've been assuming that he'll get an offer from someone, we'll match it and then trade him - rather than just letting him walk for nothing. Is there a way anything can happen with him before the draft? If there is I don't know it.

Brogdon was great for us, but was hurt at the worst possible time. As I understand it, the new CBA makes it really hard for us to keep JB, JT, Smart, White, Brogdon and maintain any kind of roster-building flexibility. So, yeah, a trade is likely.

[Roadrunner]

I would be shocked Grant receives a better offer than he turned down already (circa 2022). He is a solid player, and probably is a better fit to BOS than any other team.

If Brogdon did not get hurt circa ECF, I would argue to keep however he is an injury waiting to happen.

The new CBA basically prevents teams like GS, LAL, BOS from reloading/retooling. Once a team reaches the second apron, 1) mid level exception is gone; 2) can not trade more salaries than receives, and 3) can not trade FRP. Thankfully, BOS has the best cap wizard, Mike Zarren.

[jmost]

Well, after a long night of waiting and waiting for us to actually make a pick we intended to keep, we wind up with the [HASH]38 pick, Jordan Walsh - who looks like a defensive monster but offers little offensively at this point. 6'6" with a 7'3" wingspan, a relentless motor, and an edge, on that end of the court he sounds like a bigger, more athletic Marcus Smart. He shot under 30% from 3 in college, but so did Smart and Jaylen, so time will tell on that. He's very raw offensively.

Brad also restocked the largely barren cupboard of 2nd round picks. If my count is correct, and I wouldn't bet on it, he added 4 additional 2nds during the night.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, by trading out of the first round he opened up the ability to sign a mid-level guy, who presumably would be more able to help us right away than a late draft pick.