Late Round Luck
By: Brian GleasonJune 1, 2005
There aren’t too many guarantees when holding the 18th pick in the NBA Draft. It takes a quality scouting staff and some flat out luck to land top-notch NBA players in the mid to late first round. But what are the chances of drafting a quality player that late in the first round?
Just ask Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. Ainge was the 31st pick of the 1981 NBA Draft and wasn’t even the Celtics first pick of the draft, he was their third pick overall. Ainge went on to average 11.3 points per game in eight seasons with the Green, while appearing in one All-Star game and sliding two championship rings on his fingers. Not to shabby for the 31st pick of the draft.
How about Reggie Lewis? The Celtics made him the 22nd pick of the 1987 draft. Lewis went on to play six successful seasons for the Celtics before his tragic death in 1993. Lewis averaged 17.6 points per game for his career and made the 1992 All-Star Game. Other former Celtics that were drafted in the mid to late first round include Jon Barry, a key member of Houston’s 50 win season this year, and Rick Fox and Brian Shaw, who both were part of the Los Angeles Lakers three-peat of a few seasons ago.
Another reason to be excited about the Celtics 2005 Draft is looking at the current roster. Ricky Davis, one of the top bench performers in the NBA this season, was drafted 21st overall in 1998 by the Charlotte Hornets. And for those of you with shorter memories, just take a look at Delonte West (24th overall) and Tony Allen (25th) who were both key members of the team in their rookie seasons as the Celtics won their first Atlantic Division Championship in 12 seasons.
The Celtics aren’t the only ones who have had luck in the latter part of the first round; there have been some solid NBA players and even some All-Stars drafted 18th or later in the last ten years. The list of All-Stars includes Michael Finley, Latrell Sprewell, Theo Ratliff, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Andrei Kirilenko and Jamaal Magloire. The Celtics wouldn’t mind finding a couple players of that caliber with the 18th pick.
Recent drafts are even more evidence that drafting late in the first round is not a death sentence. With the recent invasion of high school and international players it raises the talent pool and pushes quality players later in the draft.
Take a look at the 2000 NBA Draft. Picks 18-21 were Quentin Richardson, Magloire, Speedy Claxton and Morris Peterson - not a bad group. In 2001 you can find names like Zach Randolph, Brendan Haywood, Samuel Dalembert, Jamaal Tinsley and Tony Parker – all of whom were picked 19th or later. And one of the breakthrough performers of the last two playoff seasons has been Tayshaun Prince, the Detroit Pistons first round pick in 2002, selected 23rd overall.
So with the recent track record of some late first round picks and Danny Ainge’s track record in his first two drafts as the Celtics man in charge, there is reason for fans to be excited about the Celtics draft this season. Though you won’t see Andrew Bogut or Chris Paul on the board when the Celtics pick, with some quality scouting and a little bit of that old leprechaun luck, the Celtics can find a quality player to help the Green as they strive to raise banner 17.
