Around the Mock Drafts 1.0

I'm back from my yearly hibernation to recover after the season.  I'm going to jump right in with a spin around the various drafts.  It seems that every site has a mock draft as we approach the June 25 NBA Draft.  The Celtics have 4 picks and it's obvious that they don't need 4 rookies on the team this season. The second rounders can be players that they can stash in Europe and maybe they can keep 2 rookies, but I personally think they are going to use 2 or 3 of those picks to trade up and go for one first rounder. So, these mocks may really be a lesson in futility but it's something to fill in the 10 days until the draft.  Here are the picks from some of the bigger mocks. 



Hoopshype
16. Boston: Bobby Portis
Power Forward / 6-10 / Arkansas / Sophomore 17.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.2 apg
The Celtics continue in their rebuilding mode and with two first rounders could look to package to move into the lottery. Portis has nice versatility at the 4 position and would offer solid value at this pick.
28. Boston: Chris McCullough
Power Forward / 6-9 / Syracuse / Freshman 9.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 apg
The Celtics need talent and while McCullough will likely take a while to contribute, he offers a great deal of potential at this area of the draft. There have been some rumors that the team likes him, and it would no shock if Ainge goes after a kid who flashed major talent early in the season before coming down to Earth and then suffering an ACL injury.
(Just what the Celtics need... Two more power forwards)

NBA Draft.net
16. Boston Kelly Oubr 6-7 205 SF Kansas
28. Boston Christian Wood 6-10 215 PF UNLV

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).
Boston
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 Jeff Goodman Mock Draft 5.0
16 Boston Celtics 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.
(A power forward with injury issues... just Danny's type)
28 Boston Celtics 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.

CBS Sports
16. Boston Celtics Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky: I don't think the Celtics end up selecting here. They have four picks in this draft and seven picks in next year's draft to use as ammo for a trade, as well as a cavalcade of middling rotation pieces to use as sweeteners. So basically, I have allotted them the best player available on my board, Trey Lyles. Lyles is a guy that any of Indiana, Utah or Phoenix could be interested in, and the Knicks have already made their interest in him (at whatever level it may be) known. The Celtics here and the Knicks above them at No. 4 are going to be the teams that make this draft go haywire.
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.

SportsWire
16. Celtics: Trey Lyles, PF Kentucky
HT: 6'10" | WT: 235 lbs | AGE: 19
Boston struggled from the perimeter last season (27th in three point percentage). Lyles isn't a three point shooter quite yet, but he has good range for a big man and could help their floor spacing.
28. Celtics: Christian Wood, PF UNLV
HT: 6'11" | WT: 220 lbs | AGE: 19
Wood's tantalizing ability to both block shots and also step out on the perimeter would help Boston in both areas, as the Celtics struggled with both this past season.

Hoops Stuff
16. Boston Celtics- Trey Lyles- PF- Kentucky
The Celtics are a talented young team, but they lack a franchise big, which Lyles can become for them. They could really use a center, but there just isn’t one who fits at 16 and although they have Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, Lyles can be better.
28. Boston Celtics- Robert Upshaw- C- Washington
This is a luxury pick for the Celtics and as they need a center, they might as well draft one. The Washington big man is an elite shot-blocker and rebounder who could become a starter for them.

NESN
16) Boston Celtics: Bobby Portis, Arkansas (PF, 6-10, 240) Portis has good size, defends well and is one of the better rebounding power forwards available. He would be a nice replacement for Brandon Bass if the veteran forward leaves Boston as a free agent.
28) Boston Celtics (via Atlanta): Olivier Hanlan, Boston College (PG/SG, 6-4, 190) Hanlan might be a reach at this point in the draft, but the Celtics need shooting and versatility and the BC guard brings both to the table. He averaged more than 19 points per game, and shot 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range in his junior season with the Eagles.

CNN SI
6 Boston Celtics*
WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN, C
KENTUCKY, JUNIOR | 7-0, 240
[Trade: Celtics acquire No. 6 pick from Kings in exchange for No. 16, No. 28 and No. 33 pick.] With Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins in place and having taken Nik Stauskas last season, the Kings could pass on a slew of top-notch wings and frontcourt types and deal the pick to a team like Boston in order to acquire more assets. The Celtics roster features several skilled young bigs, but none with the ability to anchor a defense like Cauley-Stein. He’ll thrive alongside a solid guard corps and help push Boston’s rebuild forward.
(The Kings then take Tyus Jones at 16 and Cliff Alexander at 28.)

Sheridan Hoops
16. Boston Celtics – Sam Dekker, SF, Wisonsin
The Celtics are loaded with future draft picks and will be very active on draft night, but if they stand pat watch for Dekker or Montrezl Harrell. Dekker became the x-factor for Wisconsin during their run in the Big Dance.
Dekker may not be a conventional three or four in the NBA, but he will be out on the court playing because of his fearless style of play and infectious energy. He does it all: scoring, shooting, rebounding, defending. As Brad Stevens showed this season, he doesn’t care about traditional positions as much as finding players who play hard.
Dekker’s biggest weakness right now is a lack of a consistent shooting stroke, but as he becomes more consistent he can play forward in the NBA and match up against a variety of opponents. After making just a third of his 3-point attempts for the Badgers, my hope would be that he is currently shooting 1,000 a day prior to his individual workouts.
28. Boston Celtics (From Los Angeles Clippers) – Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Before Celtics fans freak out over the pick, this will likely be moved on draft night either to a team wanting to add a late first or as part of a package to move up or acquire a veteran.
This is a good spot for Wright, who is a four-year player who capped off a great collegiate career and should be a very serviceable PG from day one in the NBA.
NBA coaches love long point guards who can cover opponents, and Wright sure can do that. Offensively, Wright is a very capable scorer who can attack the rim or stroke it from beyond the arc.
Again, expect this pick to be swapped or the Celtics to go international here if they keep it.

CSNNE
16 Boston Rondae Hollis-Jefferson SF Arizona
28 Boston (via LAC) Robert Upshaw C Washington

NBA Draft.com
16. Kelly Oubre Jr. - SF
College: Kansas
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 200 lbs
*28. Chris McCullough - PF
College: Syracuse
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 220 lbs

NBA.com
16. Boston Celtics: Bobby Portis, Arkansas, 6-11, 246. Big guy with a skilled game. And they probably won’t get Kevin Love this summer. Has NBA size and a solid face up game.

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 many wings and he's a solid pick-and-roll defender who plays with high intensity. Offensively he doesn't bring the same upside as some of Boston's other bigs, but he's good all-around.
28. Boston Celtics: Robert Upshaw, C, Washington
Upshaw has a slim chance of succeeding with major off-court problems that shouldn't be underestimated, but the Celtics have enough picks that will allow them to feel comfortable taking a crack at him. No player at this point of the draft has the upside he does, with elite rim protection, rebounding and a developing offensive skillset.

Draft Express
16. Sam Dekker
SF (Wisconsin - Junior)
21.1 years old | 6'9" | 219 lbs
2014-15 NCAA (40 GP)
13.9 PPG 5.6 RPG 1.2 APG 25.9 PER
28. Chris McCullough
PF (Syracuse - Freshman)
20.3 years old | 6'9" | 199 lbs
2014-15 NCAA (16 GP)

Inside Hoops
16) Boston Celtics:
Tyus Jones | Duke | Freshman | PG | 6-1 | 185
2014-15 Stats: 11.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.6 apg, 41.7% FG, 37.9% 3FG in 33.9 mpg

Fox Sports
16. Boston: Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA (6-9, 222). Looney’s length and rebounding and defensive prowess indicate he could be a great role player in the NBA. But that projection discounts his touch from 3-point range. Looney shot 41.5 percent from there his one season at UCLA, which is the X-factor in his game that could vault him into the lottery.
28. Boston: Christian Wood, PF, UNLV (6-10, 215). Wood will be a project but one with high upside, especially if he’s able to put some muscle onto a fantastic NBA frame. He’s great close to the rim and surprisingly good from 3-point range, too. Right now, though, he’s all potential -- as much as any player who could be available at this point.

Chad Ford ESPN
16
Trey Lyles
Boston Celtics
COLLEGE: Kentucky
HT: 6-10
WT: 242
POS: PF
The Celtics seem to be intent on moving up in the draft. The question is whether their assets (a bunch of solid young players and some middling first-round picks) can get them there. If they stay at No. 16, they'll take the best player available. I think that's Lyles. Not only does he fit a need (Jared Sullinger is their only other 4 under contract next season) but I think he's the best talent still on the board. Lyles could go as high as Indiana at No. 11 or Utah at No. 12.
28
Christian Wood
Boston Celtics
COLLEGE: UNLV
HT: 6-11
WT: 216
POS: PF
The Celtics are in definite need of shot blocking and athleticism in their frontcourt. Wood is raw and can be a bit flaky, but his talent is off the charts and Danny Ainge is the sort of GM willing to take those risks. If Wood every gets his act together, he could be the steal of the draft. Chris McCullough and Robert Upshaw are other possibilities.

For now, I'll just go with the picks and the blurbs from the various sites to explain their picks. I'll go a bit deeper into the drafts, players, and picks later.

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