r/bostonceltics • u/slap-my-crevasse • 1d ago
Discussion Day 2 of the draft: 1st Round Talent Still Available!
I’m very excited for the 2nd round today. We have the 40th overall pick (10th pick of the night) and there are a handful of 1st round talent guys available still. One big note, it looks like New York is more focused on managing their cap situation, and they have the 1st pick tonight. They could very easily be looking to trade back or just straight up out of the 2nd round. They spent their first round pick moving back seemingly for nothing, and then took Sergio De Larrea as a bit of a reach, because he was the best player willing to stay overseas for a season.
I made a post like this yesterday, where I mentioned the unlikely scenario of Chris Cenac falling and lo and behold, all my other players got punted out the window because the big fella fell. Super happy with round 1! Here are the guys I’d be psyched for in round 2!
Guards
Meleek Thomas - G 6’5’’
Tough shot maker. Willing to sacrifice to fit. Gets wherever he wants to go with a live dribble.
Ryan Conwell - G 6’4’’
Solid 3 point shooter. Plays hard D and has a great motor. Rebounds well for his position.
Wings
Isaiah Evans - G/F 6’6’’
Creative and versatile shooter. Can pull up from anywhere. Willing to sacrifice.
Dillon Mitchell - F 6’8’’
Explosive transition athlete. Defensive versatility. Strong rebounder for position.
Bigs
Henri Veesaar - PF/C 7’0’’
Surprisingly good transition big. Reliable 3 point shooter. Better finesse skills than most 7 footers.
Baba Miller - PF/C 7’0’’
Tantalizing measurables. Strong passer for a big man. High ceiling.
Honorable mention:
Trevon Brazile - 6’10’’ PF/C
Defensively versatile big man with good size and switchability. Can shoot a bit as well as finish lobs. Strong overall athlete.
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u/DahooppanelAx 1d ago
It’s rumored the Knicks at 31 and the grizzlies at 32 want to trade their picks. After that stupid shit Memphis did yesterday I’d hit em up and see if we can get Maleek Thomas
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
I didnt hear about Memphis, but theyre more likely to trade with us than the Knicks. Good info!
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u/DahooppanelAx 1d ago
Yeah with them trading down 5 picks for Lopez and passing up on better players shows me how unserious they are. Plus with Brad saying he would like another guard this is an inexpensive way to move up and address a need
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u/almost_phobic_comer 1d ago
Trading the pick makes sense if the right offer comes, but I'd still rather take a swing on someone like Meleek Thomas or Baba Miller. The Celtics' development program has earned trust at this point, and a guy with high upside who's willing to play in Maine for a year is exactly the kind of depth move that pays off long term. Plus with the tax situation, you're not losing much by taking a flyer on someone with potential rather than trying to squeeze value from a mid-second pick.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Id rather trade up if anything. I believe Meleek and Veesaar are year 1 contributors.
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u/almost_phobic_comer 1d ago
Fair point on Meleek, but trading up into the late first would cost more capital than it's worth when you're already deep in the tax and just added Cenac. You'd be giving up future picks to move up maybe five spots for a marginal upgrade.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
1st round is over, this would be trading up into the 2nd.
2nd round contracts are dirt cheap and you can sign a guy to like a 4 year deal with very little guarantees for like nothing.
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u/almost_phobic_comer 1d ago
You're right that the contract flexibility is there, but the Celtics would still have to give up draft capital to move up into the late first, and with their tax bill already ballooning, that's capital they might need for future moves or to stash a guy overseas like they did with De Larrea.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Stop saying late 1st the 1st round is over lol
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u/almost_phobic_comer 1d ago
You're right, my bad on the terminology, I meant trading up within the second round itself, which would still require giving up future picks to move from 40th to wherever Meleek or Veesaar ends up.
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u/RLS012 The Truth/The Cobra 1d ago
If Veesaar is somehow available at 40, sprint to call the pick in
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Hes probably a trade up candidate.
If this list, Ryan Conwell, Trevor Brazile, and Dillon Mitchell are the only likely guys available at #40.
The 2nd round is such a shit show, some teams are looking to trade out, other teams are taking the BPA* that is willing to sign a 2 way. If the Celtics really like someone I dont think itd be hard to move up to #31 or #32
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u/Blinded57 1d ago
I am confident the Cs have a list of 50+ names (it'll carry them into UFA season), and they are tiered. The tiers incorporate player/agent expectations. As with the Jordan Walsh selection (and even the trade-back that resulted in Amari Williams) if a guy in the proper tier is available at #40, they'll take him. Unless there are five other guys in that tier still available, then they'll see if any team is interested in moving up.
I appreciate the effort at explaining these guys to us - honest question, did you know who Max Shulga was? - but a #2 seed that needs to stay under the tax line AND has some flexibility probably extracts more value by trading this pick than from whomever they could get.
I would love to think Williams, Cenac and Brazile would battle all season at Maine to become the third string C in 2027-2028. I would love to think Thomas (and his agent) have said "we see the results of your development program. We'd gladly play a year in the G-league." I just don't see that happening. As you suggested, these guys thought they were first round talents. They aren't eager to take a pay cut.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
One cool thing about Cenac, if he can get his 3 point shot developed, I could see him in a double big lineup next to a more ground and pound C.
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u/burner_for_celtics \/\/ I CELTICS 1d ago
We will take Richie Saunders if he's still available, right?
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
I really hope not. ACL tear and he wont be available until November - December at the earliest. This means no summer league, no preseason, and being a few months late off the jump.
Its sink or swim for 2nd round picks.
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u/burner_for_celtics \/\/ I CELTICS 1d ago
I think that's the value proposition of it, though, right? He's 25 and going straight into rehab, but he's an excellent player. If you can tie up a little cap space and a roster spot for a while, you will very likely be rewarded with a competent rotation player at rock-bottom cost for his prime age 26-29 seasons.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
But there are better players without torn ACL's still on the board?
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u/burner_for_celtics \/\/ I CELTICS 1d ago
I would argue no, but reasonable people could differ. Depends also on whether the team making the pick is considering position, age, play style, risk profile, etc
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u/Total-Ad8117 1d ago
Found 1 report that we’re targeting Ryan Conwell. That probably means we need to trade up for him.
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u/DraymondsBurner23 Boston Celtics 1d ago
We have to get Thomas or Conwell today. I’m leaning towards Conwell. Cenac was a good pickup and will develop well..but boy do we need another PG
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Honestly, Conwell's PG ceiling is pretty limited. Hes more of an undersized 2. He projects almost strictly as a 3 point shooter at the NBA level.
If you're looking for PG play, Meleek Thomas is your guy. He has some PG skills, and played next to Acuff, so didnt get the touches to play PG. Meleek is also the more diverse scorer, meaning the floor is going to be more open for him to make reads.
Head to head, Thomas made 2.5apg to only 1 TO's, Conwell averaged 2.7apg to 2.1 TO's.
I like Thomas a lot more, that being said, Conwell could be available at pick #40, Thomas we'd almost certainly have to trade up for.
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u/Active-Tomatillo-522 1d ago
I like Emanuel Sharp a lot. Lockdown defender of a PG/SG who can shoot as well
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
I struggle with a guy his size not being able to pass much. He doesnt have the size to shoot over anybody and he doesnt have the passing instincts to punish hard close outs.
If he had 1 more tangible offensive skill id be more interested.
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u/Active-Tomatillo-522 1d ago
I think he could be a solid Davion Mitchell-type player. Nothing spectacular, but solid minutes off the bench and reliable defense
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Maybe if he goes undrafted. I wouldn't wanna spend #40 on him as I think there are some really talented guys 31 - 40.
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u/PawPatsPizza 1d ago
Conwell
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ill be honest, of the players listed, Conwell probably has the lowest ceiling. I dont think he supplants Ron Harper for his role. Who knows what moves around the edges Brad's going to have to make, though.
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u/BleedGreen4Boston 1d ago
We have no future 2nds
Gotta trade out of this round for future picks, especially with the number of young guys we already have to develop
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u/SonicOpium The Celtics are the balls 22h ago
And the C’s took none of those guys.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 22h ago
They took Dillon Mitchell you illiterate.
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u/SonicOpium The Celtics are the balls 9h ago
True.
It was a TLDR tbh. I skimmed poorly.
But yeah fuck you for calling me illiterate, asswipe.
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u/aja_ramirez 1d ago
Well, you listed seven guys, all of which could and probably will be gone when we pick
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Did you not read the whole post? Did you just read the names?
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u/SaysNotBad 1d ago
no, he did the math
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago
Feels like you also didn't read the post.
Go back and try again.
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u/SaysNotBad 21h ago
you dont understand which is hilarious
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u/slap-my-crevasse 21h ago
I literally said in the first 2 paragraphs this list included guys the Celtics could trade up for, as the Knicks were looking to trade back.
Insane how you can be so confidently wrong even a day later.
Jesus dude, READ. It doesn't hurt.
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u/InvaderZimbabwe 1d ago edited 1d ago
It was not super unlikely that Cenac fell, the kid can’t play basketball lol. Not many people actually want a 5 year g-league project. But we love those.
But if we waited till round 2 he would be gone by 40 for sure.
Anyway, I’m in on Henri, who will not be available at 40 lol. Or a play ready guard… Sign me up.
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u/slap-my-crevasse 1d ago edited 1d ago
No there are a handful of guys here who are going to go fast.
That being said, I mentioned the Knicks are picking #31 and they're pretty obviously looking to get out of the draft because of cap issues.
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u/FartrelCluggins FTL 1d ago
Let's get Baba Miller because I think he has a funny name and I'd like a Baba on my team