Celtic’s Draft and Party a Complete Success
The expression goes something like ‘build it and they will come.’ Well the Celtic’s threw a draft party, and everybody came and went home satisfied with everything from the outstanding food to the selections Danny Ainge and company made in the 2004 NBA Draft. With the 15th selection in the NBA Draft, Boston selected 19-year-old power forward Al Jefferson from Prentiss, Mississippi High School. With the number 24 pick they selected 6-4 shooting guard Delonte West from St. Joseph’s. And with the 25th pick they selected 6-4 guard Tony Allen from Oklahoma State. And in the second round they selected a rarity amongst today’s draftees, a senior from Mississippi, 6-8 forward Justin Reed.
Jefferson is 6’10” and weighs in at 265 pounds. His senior year he averaged a whopping 42.6 points and 18.0 rebounds a game. He has been compared to Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire. Danny Ainge said that “he’s one of the few big, young guys in the draft, but he’s got a ways to go. He’s not ready to make an impact, but he’s got great basketball instincts. The thing I like about this guy is he loves to play basketball and he’s tough, and he has an NBA body. We’re very excited.” If he becomes Amare Stoudemire (with more offensive repertoire), then the Celtic’s will have found their stud up front to take the load off of Paul Pierce.
In Delonte West and Tony Allen, Ainge and Coach River’s hope that they may have found their future starting backcourt that will comprise of one guy, West, who can shoot lights out and hopefully will become a point guard in time, ala Chauncy Billups. On Delonte West, Ainge said “we think Delonte West can play point (Ainge rated him the second best point guard in the draft after Shaun Livingston). Maybe not in the traditional fashion of point guards, but we think he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the game because his decision-making is right up there with the best of them.” And in Tony Allen, they have the Big 12 player of the year who is known for his tenacious defense, speed, and ability to score. Rivers said, “ I liked his toughness. When he got inside the 3-point line, he was almost unguardable. He got to the basket whenever he felt like it.”
Where those picks leave the status of Marcus Banks, last year’s number one pick, is anyone’s guess. As Danny Ainge said” there’s going to be a lot of competition in the backcourt.”
The second round selection of Justin Reed, evoked comments from Ainge such as “he’s a Corliss Williamson type; he’s bigger, stronger (at the three) than what we didn’t have.
I like his toughness. I love his intensity. He can score. He can defend. He can rebound.” He may be a better scoring option than last year’s number 2 pick Brandon Hunter, who was recently lost in the expansion draft to the Charlotte Bobcats. There may not be room on the roster for this young man either, but if that’s because the other picks step up to the plate, then that will termed a “good thing.”
With the draft complete, the only need the Celtic’s did not fill was finding a big man to replace the imminent departure of free-agent center Mark Blount. That is why had Seattle not chosen Bakersfield High School 7-footer Robert Swift at number 12, The Celtics probably would’ve chosen him. As of July 1st, they can begin talking to free agents and as of July 15th, they can sign a mid-level exception to a contract beginning at more than $5 million. The rumor mill has them liking Wizards restricted free agent power forward Etan Thomas, along with Adonal Foyle and Antonio McDyess. Personally I always like Foyle dating back to his college days at Colgate. If McDyess is healthy, he’d be a great addition and a steal at the mid-level exception. And if they can add a low-cost center like Michael Doleac to fill the void, well, if Jefferson and McDyess for example eat up the boards, it will compensate for not having a big-time center for the time being.
A roster of McDyess, Jefferson, Pierce, Atkins, West, Allen, Banks, Welsch, LaFrenz, and Mihm, along with Doc Rivers calling the shots, sounds almost as appetizing as the great feast the Celtic’s owners put on for everyone on draft night!
6/28/04
Jefferson is 6’10” and weighs in at 265 pounds. His senior year he averaged a whopping 42.6 points and 18.0 rebounds a game. He has been compared to Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire. Danny Ainge said that “he’s one of the few big, young guys in the draft, but he’s got a ways to go. He’s not ready to make an impact, but he’s got great basketball instincts. The thing I like about this guy is he loves to play basketball and he’s tough, and he has an NBA body. We’re very excited.” If he becomes Amare Stoudemire (with more offensive repertoire), then the Celtic’s will have found their stud up front to take the load off of Paul Pierce.
In Delonte West and Tony Allen, Ainge and Coach River’s hope that they may have found their future starting backcourt that will comprise of one guy, West, who can shoot lights out and hopefully will become a point guard in time, ala Chauncy Billups. On Delonte West, Ainge said “we think Delonte West can play point (Ainge rated him the second best point guard in the draft after Shaun Livingston). Maybe not in the traditional fashion of point guards, but we think he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the game because his decision-making is right up there with the best of them.” And in Tony Allen, they have the Big 12 player of the year who is known for his tenacious defense, speed, and ability to score. Rivers said, “ I liked his toughness. When he got inside the 3-point line, he was almost unguardable. He got to the basket whenever he felt like it.”
Where those picks leave the status of Marcus Banks, last year’s number one pick, is anyone’s guess. As Danny Ainge said” there’s going to be a lot of competition in the backcourt.”
The second round selection of Justin Reed, evoked comments from Ainge such as “he’s a Corliss Williamson type; he’s bigger, stronger (at the three) than what we didn’t have.
I like his toughness. I love his intensity. He can score. He can defend. He can rebound.” He may be a better scoring option than last year’s number 2 pick Brandon Hunter, who was recently lost in the expansion draft to the Charlotte Bobcats. There may not be room on the roster for this young man either, but if that’s because the other picks step up to the plate, then that will termed a “good thing.”
With the draft complete, the only need the Celtic’s did not fill was finding a big man to replace the imminent departure of free-agent center Mark Blount. That is why had Seattle not chosen Bakersfield High School 7-footer Robert Swift at number 12, The Celtics probably would’ve chosen him. As of July 1st, they can begin talking to free agents and as of July 15th, they can sign a mid-level exception to a contract beginning at more than $5 million. The rumor mill has them liking Wizards restricted free agent power forward Etan Thomas, along with Adonal Foyle and Antonio McDyess. Personally I always like Foyle dating back to his college days at Colgate. If McDyess is healthy, he’d be a great addition and a steal at the mid-level exception. And if they can add a low-cost center like Michael Doleac to fill the void, well, if Jefferson and McDyess for example eat up the boards, it will compensate for not having a big-time center for the time being.
A roster of McDyess, Jefferson, Pierce, Atkins, West, Allen, Banks, Welsch, LaFrenz, and Mihm, along with Doc Rivers calling the shots, sounds almost as appetizing as the great feast the Celtic’s owners put on for everyone on draft night!
6/28/04
posted by New England Magazine at 9:32 AM
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