Six teams found especially good value with at least one of their picks in Thursday’s National Basketball Association draft, including the Celtics and the Lakers.
Advertisement
It turned out to be pretty simple.
“The only thing I felt bad about is that Wyc went out there”, said Ainge.
And they expressed as much a little later after the Celtics used the No. 23 pick on Croatian center Ante Zizic, making them the first team to select two global players in the first round since the Detroit Pistons took Darko Milicic and Carlos Delfino in 2003.
“We weren’t even close to any of the offers that came in. None of them were even in the mix”, Grousbeck said after Brown was selected. If it were close, we might’ve stretched.
The good news for the worldwide players drafted is that the pressure to perform is a little less heavy this year.
“I had no idea, I promise you I had no idea”, Brown said from NY. But since the draft, I have come to terms with our decisions. Either of them come here and I’m buying my parade tickets for 2017. “Guys that can guard multiple positions are very valuable, and I think I add to that really well”.
Jaylen Brown answers questions during an interview after being selected third overall by the Boston Celtics on Thursday in Brooklyn, N.Y.
He also has a reputation as an elite defender, which could be a good fit with Boston’s defensive culture.
So with the pick of Zizic, it’s the second worldwide pick that the Celtics and Ainge made on the night of the draft and two possible “draft-and-stash” type player that he took as Yabusele is also seen as that kind of player too. In France, he averaged 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from three. But he also reiterated that he believed there was quality talent beyond the top two picks.
The best I can say about this group is that my friend’s 8-year-old son, Mason, is a huge Yabusele fan. It is possible both could be stashed in Europe for a few years to develop.
With very little competition around them, Yabusele and Zizic will both have an opportunity to be a main contributor in their front court.
It’s not easy to make a good team into a great team in the National Basketball Association. The Celtics selected Kevin McHale third overall in 1980, Len Bias second in 1986, and Chauncey Billups third in 1997.
Boston had three first-round picks and wasn’t able to make a significant trade. I said that this is the season to pull off a big move, that now is the time to make a push for the Eastern Conference throne. “I’m super excited. I cannot wait to get there and can’t wait to get everything started, can’t wait for the season to start, and I’m happy to be a part of the family”. “But I’ll view this as that people really care”, Grousbeck said.
Amir Johnson may not last the second year of his contract, Jared Sullinger may be expecting more money than the Celtics are willing to pay and Tyler Zeller regressed horribly last year. While Celtics fans will be more concerned with his abilities on the hardwood than the sand, many should like the mean streak comment.
Advertisement
Brown will help solidify the wing, and with Evan Turner a free agent, the Celtics needed reinforcements there.
