A Final Look Around the Mock Drafts

With all the smoke that is blowing around about the draft, it's pretty certain that there will be at least a few trades before it all settles down tonight. For that reason, the mock drafts are probably just an exercise in futility. But, it will be fun to just take a look at a few of them to see what they predict of the Celtics stand pat with the 16th and 28th picks. Here's a look what the final predictions are around the different mock drafts.



NBADraft.net

16

Boston

Willie Cauley-St...

7-0

242

C

Kentucky

Jr.

28

*Boston

Jordan Mickey

6-8

240

PF

LSU

Hoops Hype
16. Boston: Sam Dekker
Small Forward / 6-9 / Wisconsin / Freshman
13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.2 apg
Dekker has been mentioned as a possible lottery pick and could easily end up going before teammate Frank Kaminsky. It’s no secret the Celtics are pushing hard to move up, using Marcus Smart and both of their picks (16 and 28) to get into the Top 10. This pick becomes difficult to project considering that the odds are strong that Boston won’t be selecting here.
28. Boston: Jordan Mickey
Power Forward / 6-8 / LSU / Sophomore
15.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg
As with their 16th pick, it’s difficult to know if the Celtics will really be picking here. Boston has a real interest in Mickey, so if they keep the pick there’s a real chance he gets taken here. They also have the 33rd pick so it’s possible that Mickey ends up going there as well.

Yahoo
16. Boston Celtics – Bobby Portis (PF, Arkansas, So., 20, 6-11, 246): The Celtics need a true rim protector, but that will be difficult to find at this stage of the draft. Instead, they may look to add some depth at power forward, where they've been starting 30-year-old Brandon Bass, who becomes a free agent this summer (as does his backup Jonas Jerebko).
28. Boston Celtics from Los Angeles Clippers – Chris McCullough (PF, Syracuse, Fr., 20, 6-9, 199): With their second pick in the first round, the Celtics could simply look to swing for the fences for the highest upside player they can draft. At 6-foot-9, with long arms and soft touch, McCullough is talented enough to get drafted much higher than this, and Boston can afford to be patient and develop him.

ESPN (Goodman)
16 Myles Turner
COLLEGE: Texas
HT: 6-11
WT: 239
POS: PF
Analysis: There is some concern about the way he runs and whether there's a medical issue, so he might drop a bit. However, the Celtics need a rim protector, and the 6-11 Turner can do that and step out and make shots. He would be tough for team president Danny Ainge to pass up if he falls this far.
28 Montrezl Harrell
COLLEGE: Louisville
HT: 6-8
WT: 253
POS: PF
Analysis: I'm not sold he'll slip this low, but if he does, he'd be a great pick for the Celtics' second first-round pick. Harrell would give Boston much-needed athleticism up front. He's a guy who can rebound at a high level, but needs to work on his skill.

ESPN (Ford)
16 Sam Dekker
Boston Celtics
COLLEGE: Wisconsin
HT: 6-9
WT: 219
POS: SF
Why they take him: There's no one else on the board who really excites Boston. Dekker doesn't necessarily excite either, but at least he has size, athleticism and gives them help at a positional need. Brad Stevens is the perfect coach to build him up and help him do what he does best. And when Dekker is confident, he can be awesome.
Why they pass: Several players who have the toughness Danny Ainge prefers -- Montrezl Harrell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson -- are still on the board. The Celtics have been working the phones hard to move up in the draft. With Cauley-Stein sliding, perhaps they can move up into the early teens and grab him.
28 Rashad Vaughn
Los Angeles Clippers
COLLEGE: UNLV
HT: 6-5
WT: 199
POS: SG
Why they take him: He has enough talent to go 10 spots higher. Danny Ainge can't pass on a good deal. Vaughn isn't ready, but he can shoot and score from anywhere on the floor. The Celtics, who are so defense-minded in their backcourt sans Isaiah Thomas, could use him.
Why they pass: The Celtics could easily go the draft-and-stash route as well. Between Hernangomez, Milutinov, Gudaitis and Turkish swingman Cedi Osman.

CBS Sports
16. Boston Celtics Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin: I don't know that I believe the Celtics will be picking here, but if they do Dekker would be pretty fun in Brad Stevens' system. He's great at moving off the ball, and might be able to play multiple positions eventually if he can improve on defense. Again though, they're a team that will actively be hoping to move up in trade talks.
28. Boston Celtics Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse: Another team with a second first-round pick swings for the fences here. The Celtics don't have a ton of length on the interior, so drafting McCullough gives them a chance to develop someone inside that might be able to protect the weak side of the rim and do a lot of things with his fluid athleticism.

Lottery Mafia
16. Boston- Sam Dekker | SF | Wisconsin | Junior
Dekker is a versatile forward that will fit well in Brad Stevens’ system. He is athletic and can defend multiple positions, but his ability to shoot the 3-ball has teams concerned the most. Expect Boston to be one of the most active teams in trying to trade up, as the team has two first round picks this year and a handful in the coming years to dangle as bait.
28. Boston- Chris McCullough | PF | Syracuse | Freshman
I highly doubt the Celtics will hold onto this pick, but they could choose McCullough as a high-potential option that would not need to play right away. Coming off an ACL tear, McCullough could be a very good rim protector and long-term contributor for the Celtics, or whichever team acquires this pick.

Fox Sports
16. Boston: Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky (6-6, 205). Shooting guard may be this draft's weakest position. Booker is the one who stands out. We already knew of Booker's shooting abilities, but at the NBA combine and during workouts, Booker has calmed any questions on his athleticism and quickness. There's a humility and a blue-collar nature to Booker that tells me he'd fit well with Brad Stevens.
28. Boston: Rakeem Christmas, F/C Syracuse (6-10, 243). Sure, Christmas is old for a first-rounder at 23. But for a team in need of a rim protector, he has enormous length -- his wingspan is the second-highest of any draft-eligible player. During his dominant senior season, Christmas expanded his reputation as a shot-blocker/rebounder, then he had an excellent NBA combine where he showed more versatile offensive skills than ever before. He's a strong, dynamic athlete who has the feel of a solid NBA rotation player.

NESN
16) Boston Celtics: Bobby Portis, Arkansas (PF, 6-10, 240) Portis rebounds, defends, plays with a high motor and made tremendous strides offensively at Arkansas. For more on the Celtics potentially targeting Portis, check out the latest NESN.com NBA Draft podcast with Celtics beat writer Zack Cox and SB Nation’s Kevin O’Connor.
28) Boston Celtics (via Atlanta): R.J. Hunter, Georgia State (SG, 6-5, 185) R.J. Hunter would be a great value pick for Boston late in the first round. The Celtics need more outside shooters, and Hunter would be able to fill that role. He also averaged 19.5 points per game in leading Georgia State to the NCAA Tournament.

SB Nation
16. Boston Celtics: Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
The Celtics value players who can switch on pick-and-rolls and Portis excelled in that area at Arkansas. He has the lateral quickness to defend wings and he's a solid pick-and-roll defender who plays with high intensity, making him a tone-setter on that end. Offensively he's good all-around and could exceed expectations if he extends his range to three.
28. Boston Celtics: R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia State
Hunter is the type of player who could benefit from sliding and being drafted by a team where he could find an immediate role, which would be the case with the Celtics. He's a sharpshooter with deep range and his ability to run off screens would be of great value of a team that ranked 27th in three-point percentage last season.

Draft Express
16 Celtics Rondae Hollis-Jefferson SF Arizona, Sophomore
28. Cliff Alexander PF/C (Kansas - Freshman)

SI.com
16   Boston Celtics   KELLY OUBRE, G/F
KANSAS, FRESHMAN| 6-7, 200
Celtics GM Danny Ainge is one of the most aggressive executives during the draft process. Boston would love to move up, and they have engaged at least one top-10 team, per a source. One GM said the Celtics “are one of the few teams thinking big.” How big? Two executives who have spoken to Boston's front office say no one is untouchable on the roster. If the Celtics stay put, Oubre looks to be the best player on the board.
28 Boston Celtics Cliff Alexander, F
Kansas, Freshman | 6-8, 240
It wasn’t long ago that Alexander was considered a lottery pick. A turbulent season at Kansas put an end to those thoughts, but there is no denying Alexander’s potential. He’s a big, physical shot blocker who plays well off the ball. At the back end of the first round, Alexander is a worthy risk.

CSNNE
16. Sam Dekker
Small Forward | Wisconsin
If the Celtics are unable to move up into the top 10, settling for Dekker at No. 16 is a pretty good consolation prize.
28. Jordan Mickey
Power Forward/Center | LSU
Has great instincts and timing as a shot-blocker from the weak side defensively; can play above the rim and fini

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