With the 21st pick in the 2012 draft, the Celtics picked Jared Sullinger out of Ohio State.
PROSPECT: Jared Sullinger
POSITION: Power Forward
SCHOOL: Ohio State
CLASS: Sophomore
HEIGHT: 6'9"
WING SPAN: 7'1.25"
WEIGHT: 268lbs
Strengths: Sullinger has decent size for a post player measuring 6’9” (in shoes) with a 6’11.5” wingspan … He is a bruising throwback post player that uses his 268 pound body to create angles for his shot and to clear space on the boards … Very physical player that uses his body to wear down opposing big men. Comfortable finishing around the rim with either hand … Has excellent hands and footwork and shows very good touch around the basket … Solid rebounder, he attacks the glass at both ends of the floor and creates offensive opportunities off of putbacks…Shows decent form and touch on the 12-18 footer … Passes well out of the post …
Weaknesses: Does not possess elite athleticism…Is prone to having his shot blocked and has some difficulty with longer athletic defenders…Does not run the floor extremely well…Shows ability, but needs to improve consistency of mid-range jumper...Lateral quickness is lacking, creating defensive mismatches versus perimeter oriented PFs…Is not a particularly dominant defensive player due to lack of explosiveness and quickness…Weight could be a long-term issue. Was redflagged at the combine with back issues which may or may not affect his play in the pros.
With the 22nd pick, the Celtics chose Fab Melo out of Syracuse.
PROSPECT: Fab Melo
POSITION: Center
SCHOOL: Syracuse
CLASS: Sophomore
HEIGHT: 7'0"
WEIGHT: 255 lbs
WINGSPAN: 7'2.5"
Strengths: Fab Melo is a true 7 foot center with great length... He has better than average footwork for a young center his size at this part of his career ... He's a capable passer out of the post ... Positions himself well underneath the basket, making himself an easy target for entry passes, and the number 1 candidate on the floor for offensive rebounds and putbacks ... His wingspan, combined with his above average mobility for a 7 footer will make him a shotblocking force in the paint ... Has worked hard in the past year to shed excess lbs and tone his body ...
Weaknesses: Fab has the size and length you look for in a prospect at the center position, however he's raw and will need to work on every offensive aspect of his game ... He has some basic post moves, but the fluidity/explosiveness in his execution is too slow at the moment ...Will need to work on developing more in depth post moves to become more of an offensive threat ... He's not the greatest athlete, and can get lost in an offensive set as he adjusts to playing in a faster and more up-tempo game ...
With the 51st pick in the 2012 draft, the Celtics picked Kris Joseph out of Syracuse.
HEIGHT: 6'7"
POSITION: Small Forward
WEIGHT: 215 lbs
WINGSPAN: 6'11"
Strengths: Kris seems to be a quintessential swingman small forward ... He's a great athlete, with tremendous leaping abilities ... He is always active, always trying to make something happen around the basket whether its getting tips or put backs ... He's an above average rebounder mainly due to his explosiveness, high energy and constant motor- always following shots ... His long wingspan and athleticism give him potential to be good defender ... Offensively he's always looking for the open space ... His short range game is good, not great, although seems to be improving with each game ... Tends to shoot better off one dribble as opposed to catch and shoot ... Has an explosive first step making for one or two strong takes to the rim per game when a lane is available ... Weaknesses: Despite leading Syracuse in scoring, Joseph rarely showed the willingness, or the skill set, to dominate. His shot creation with the ball in his hands is limited. Off the dribble moves are highly predictable. He seems to tighten up rather than be free-flowing with his movements, serving as a detriment to his first step. Deliberate jumpshot mechanics. Does not have wrist strength to convert off balance opportunities. He sat in a zone for nearly four full seasons, albeit, that zone did have man principles. Never quite fulfilled the promise he displayed during an eye catching sophomore campaign. At 23 years of age he’s old for his draft class placing real boundaries on further growth in his skills.
