Boston Celtics
Post by Ian Noble on Jul 15, 2013 20:58:06 GMT
Draft Drama 2013
The Boston Celtics 2013 Draft war room this evening has been a hurricane of activity, highs, lows, optimism but ultimately disappointment.
Two days ago the Celtics pulled off the biggest trade in their recent history by moving two Hall of Famers for the #2 and #5 draft picks based upon how the Rookie Draft was predicted to unfold.
Paul Pierce, the epitome of a legendary Celtic, team leader for the past 15 years of the franchises history, and Kevin Garnett, one of the greatest Power Forwards ever to play the game, were traded for both of Cleveland's picks in the 2013 Draft. The picks were stationed at #2 and #5.
At number 1 the Houston Rockets had already picked Victor Oladipo, a player that the Celtics had never had in their cross-hairs anyway.
The picking of #2 however, the pick which turned out to be Ben McLemore, was never a sure thing, Celtics GM Ian Noble was torn between McLemore and UNLV Power Forward, Anthony Bennett.
Looking at the draft order though, it was clear that if the Celtics picked McLemore they could quite easily land Anthony Bennett.
At #3 were the Charlotte Bobcats, a team whose founding GM was scheduled to be replaced, and at #4 are the Orlando Magic who had publicly stated from Day 1 that they would take Alex Len.
1. Houston Rockets (via SAS) - Victor Oladipo[/b][/size]
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (via TOR) - Ben McLemore[/b][/size]
3. Charlotte Bobcats - [/b][/size]
4. Orlando Magic - [/b][/size]
5. Cleveland Cavaliers - [/b][/size]
6. Atlanta Hawks - [/b][/size]
Two days ago it seemed a sure thing that Bennett would fall to #5 and the Celtics would begin their long awaited rebuild with a confident splash! Oh how all that would change though...
Another day passed and the league awaited Charlotte's newbie GM, James Kay, and in the interim period the commissioner picked Cody Zeller for the franchise, a safe pick and a fair one, especially considering the new GM could change their mind later on.
Another day passed and Monday evening rolled around, and that's when things took a turn for the worse for the Boston Celtics plans.
James Kay, the newbie Bobcats GM, finally turned up and instantly changed his pick to Nerlens Noel - the only other all star calibre Power Forward in the draft.
The heat was turning up on the Celtics, who had admitted in a previous post having McLemore, Noel and Bennett in their Top 3 prospects of the draft.
All hopes were dashed when Orlando GM, Blake Bowman appeared and stated to Noble, in a trade private message, that he needed a Power Forward and a Guard this draft and, with Bennett being the only true quality Power Forward remaining, the Celtics got screwed by a newbie picking Noel and the Magic almost certainly picking Bennett.
In a last minute effort to save something from the draft, Ian Noble agreed to a deal that would send the #5 pick to Orlando, as well as Boston's #25, in exchange for Orlando's 2014 1st Rounder and San Antonio's much touted 2015 1st Rounder.
What will become of those future picks however, is anybody's guess, and the Celtics have, not for the first time in their franchise's history, once again been screwed on draft night
Though it is not official yet, this is how the Top 5 picks will play out:
1. Houston Rockets (via SAS) - Victor Oladipo[/b][/size]
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (via TOR) - Ben McLemore[/b][/size]
3. Charlotte Bobcats - Nerlens Noel[/b][/size]
4. Orlando Magic - Anthony Bennett[/b][/size]
5. Cleveland Cavaliers -<a guard> [/b][/size]
The Boston Celtics 2013 Draft war room this evening has been a hurricane of activity, highs, lows, optimism but ultimately disappointment.
Two days ago the Celtics pulled off the biggest trade in their recent history by moving two Hall of Famers for the #2 and #5 draft picks based upon how the Rookie Draft was predicted to unfold.
Paul Pierce, the epitome of a legendary Celtic, team leader for the past 15 years of the franchises history, and Kevin Garnett, one of the greatest Power Forwards ever to play the game, were traded for both of Cleveland's picks in the 2013 Draft. The picks were stationed at #2 and #5.
At number 1 the Houston Rockets had already picked Victor Oladipo, a player that the Celtics had never had in their cross-hairs anyway.
The picking of #2 however, the pick which turned out to be Ben McLemore, was never a sure thing, Celtics GM Ian Noble was torn between McLemore and UNLV Power Forward, Anthony Bennett.
Looking at the draft order though, it was clear that if the Celtics picked McLemore they could quite easily land Anthony Bennett.
At #3 were the Charlotte Bobcats, a team whose founding GM was scheduled to be replaced, and at #4 are the Orlando Magic who had publicly stated from Day 1 that they would take Alex Len.
1. Houston Rockets (via SAS) - Victor Oladipo[/b][/size] 2. Cleveland Cavaliers (via TOR) - Ben McLemore[/b][/size] 3. Charlotte Bobcats - [/b][/size] 4. Orlando Magic - [/b][/size] 5. Cleveland Cavaliers - [/b][/size] 6. Atlanta Hawks - [/b][/size]Two days ago it seemed a sure thing that Bennett would fall to #5 and the Celtics would begin their long awaited rebuild with a confident splash! Oh how all that would change though...
Another day passed and the league awaited Charlotte's newbie GM, James Kay, and in the interim period the commissioner picked Cody Zeller for the franchise, a safe pick and a fair one, especially considering the new GM could change their mind later on.
Another day passed and Monday evening rolled around, and that's when things took a turn for the worse for the Boston Celtics plans.
James Kay, the newbie Bobcats GM, finally turned up and instantly changed his pick to Nerlens Noel - the only other all star calibre Power Forward in the draft.
The heat was turning up on the Celtics, who had admitted in a previous post having McLemore, Noel and Bennett in their Top 3 prospects of the draft.
All hopes were dashed when Orlando GM, Blake Bowman appeared and stated to Noble, in a trade private message, that he needed a Power Forward and a Guard this draft and, with Bennett being the only true quality Power Forward remaining, the Celtics got screwed by a newbie picking Noel and the Magic almost certainly picking Bennett.
In a last minute effort to save something from the draft, Ian Noble agreed to a deal that would send the #5 pick to Orlando, as well as Boston's #25, in exchange for Orlando's 2014 1st Rounder and San Antonio's much touted 2015 1st Rounder.
What will become of those future picks however, is anybody's guess, and the Celtics have, not for the first time in their franchise's history, once again been screwed on draft night
Though it is not official yet, this is how the Top 5 picks will play out:
1. Houston Rockets (via SAS) - Victor Oladipo[/b][/size] 2. Cleveland Cavaliers (via TOR) - Ben McLemore[/b][/size] 3. Charlotte Bobcats - Nerlens Noel[/b][/size] 4. Orlando Magic - Anthony Bennett[/b][/size] 5. Cleveland Cavaliers -<a guard> [/b][/size]
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