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Possible Picks
With the NBA Draft scheduled for Thursday, June 24 and with the Celtics holding three first round picks, it's time to take a look at some of the prospects that could be on the Celtics radar. The Celtics could use help on the inside as well as depth to solidify their bench. So it's a good thing the Celtics have three picks to work with. Let's take a look at some of the prospects that could still be on the board when the Celtics pick 15th, 24th, and 25th in the first round.
Rafael Araujo, BYU
Tale Of The Tape: C, 6-11, 290, Senior
Skinny: Araujo is considered by many to be the top college center in the draft and has been projected anywhere from the fringe of the lottery to the late first round. He averaged 18.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a senior, while being named Mountain West Co-Player of the Year. He led BYU in scoring and ranked 11th in the country in rebounding, while posting 16 double-doubles as a senior. Araujo is a tough-minded post player, who also runs the floor well. He would most likely be able to give a team immediate help off the bench.
Best Case: Brad Miller
Worst Case: Greg Ostertag
Kris Humphries
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-9, 235, Freshmen
Skinny: Humphries played just one season of college basketball at the University of Minnesota, and it was a huge year, as he averaged 21.7 points and 10.1 boards per game while being named the Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. He also became the first freshmen to lead the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding. He also recorded a conference-high 16 double-doubles, which also ranked him in the top five in the country. Humphries is a physical player who can post up as well as knock down the jumper.
Best Case: Maurice Taylor
Worst Case: Kirk Haston
Luke Jackson
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-7, 215, Senior
Skinny: Jackson has been projected all over the first round draft board, but indications from around the league are that his stock is rising. He had a stellar career at Oregon, finishing his as one of two players (Sean Elliott) in PAC-10 history to finish his career with 1,900 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists. As a senior he was one of six players in the nation to lead his team in scoring (21.2 ppg.), rebounding (7.2 rpg.) and assists (4.5 apg.). Jackson has a solid game, as he can shoot both the three and the mid-range jumper, while also possessing a deceptively quick first step.
Best Case: Wally Szczerbiak
Worst Case: Fred Hoiberg
Al Jefferson
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-10, 265, HS Senior
Skinny: Jefferson is one of the many high school players expected to go in the first round. He posted monster numbers as senior as he averaged 42.6 points and 18.0 boards per game, but there has been questions about the level of competition he played against. Jefferson is a big strong player with an NBA body. He is a tenacious rebounder, with excellent footwork and athleticism in the post, while his jumper could use some work. Jefferson is projected to go in the mid to late first round.
Best Case: Amare Stoudemire
Sergey Monya
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-8, 220, 21 Years Old
Skinny: Monya is one of the top small forwards in the draft, and has been projected as a mid first round pick. He's an athletic forward, who has played four season of pro basketball in Europe. He has great speed and quickness and is an excellent one-on-one and team defender. Monya is reported to have a good mid-range jumper as well as the ability to step out to the three-point line.
Best Case: Manu Ginobili
Worst Case: Gerald Wallace
J.R. Smith
Tale Of The Tape: G, 6-6, 220, HS Senior
Skinny: Smith fell under the radar during his senior season, but exploded onto the scene at the McDonalds Game, scoring 25 points on 5-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc, on his way to earning MVP honors. He averaged 23.9 points and 5.0 steals per game as a senior. Smith had been projected as a late lottery pick, but over the last couple of weeks it's looking more like he might be a mid first round pick and available when the Celtics pick at 15. He is a super athlete with a 44-inch vertical leap who can also extend his jumper out to the three-point line.
Best Case: Michael Finley
Kirk Snyder
Tale Of The Tape: G, 6-6, 225, Nevada
Skinny: Snyder is an athletic player who can swing between shooting and point guard. Although primarily a shooting guard, his unselfish game will allow him to play minutes at the point. As a junior last season he was named the WAC Player of the Year, the first player in school history to earn the award. In the NCAA Tournament Snyder led Nevada in upsets over Michigan State and Gonzaga, before being eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen by Georgia Tech. Snyder has been projected all over the draft board, from the late lottery to the late first round.
Best Case: Brent Barry
Worst Case: John Salmons
Robert Swift
Tale Of The Tape: C, 7-0, 245, HS Senior
Skinny: Swift is another high school player looking to go in the first round and has been projected as a mid-to-late first round pick. As a senior he averaged 18.8 points, 15.9 boards and 6.2 blocks per game. He scored 10 points and grabbed 4 boards in the McDonald's Game, and scored 17 points, grabbed 12 boards and blocked 4 shots in the EA Sports Roundball Classic. Swift has excellent footwork and takes the ball to the hole strong. His large wingspan makes him an excellent shot blocker.
Best Case: Marcus Camby
Worst Case: Joel Przybilla
Dorell Wright
Tale Of The Tape: G, 6-7, 210, HS Senior
Skinny: Wright is a long athletic player who spent last season at South Kent Prep (Conn.). He is a big-time athlete with a good mid-range jumper, but he does not have a consistent three-point shot yet. His wingspan and superior athleticism make him an excellent rebounder from the guard position. He's projected as a mid-to-late first round pick, and should be available at one of the Celtics picks.
Best Case: Desmond Mason
Worst Case: DeShawn Stevenson
Compiled By: Brian Gleason
Rafael Araujo, BYU
Tale Of The Tape: C, 6-11, 290, Senior
Skinny: Araujo is considered by many to be the top college center in the draft and has been projected anywhere from the fringe of the lottery to the late first round. He averaged 18.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a senior, while being named Mountain West Co-Player of the Year. He led BYU in scoring and ranked 11th in the country in rebounding, while posting 16 double-doubles as a senior. Araujo is a tough-minded post player, who also runs the floor well. He would most likely be able to give a team immediate help off the bench.
Best Case: Brad Miller
Worst Case: Greg Ostertag
Kris Humphries
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-9, 235, Freshmen
Skinny: Humphries played just one season of college basketball at the University of Minnesota, and it was a huge year, as he averaged 21.7 points and 10.1 boards per game while being named the Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. He also became the first freshmen to lead the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding. He also recorded a conference-high 16 double-doubles, which also ranked him in the top five in the country. Humphries is a physical player who can post up as well as knock down the jumper.
Best Case: Maurice Taylor
Worst Case: Kirk Haston
Luke Jackson
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-7, 215, Senior
Skinny: Jackson has been projected all over the first round draft board, but indications from around the league are that his stock is rising. He had a stellar career at Oregon, finishing his as one of two players (Sean Elliott) in PAC-10 history to finish his career with 1,900 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists. As a senior he was one of six players in the nation to lead his team in scoring (21.2 ppg.), rebounding (7.2 rpg.) and assists (4.5 apg.). Jackson has a solid game, as he can shoot both the three and the mid-range jumper, while also possessing a deceptively quick first step.
Best Case: Wally Szczerbiak
Worst Case: Fred Hoiberg
Al Jefferson
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-10, 265, HS Senior
Skinny: Jefferson is one of the many high school players expected to go in the first round. He posted monster numbers as senior as he averaged 42.6 points and 18.0 boards per game, but there has been questions about the level of competition he played against. Jefferson is a big strong player with an NBA body. He is a tenacious rebounder, with excellent footwork and athleticism in the post, while his jumper could use some work. Jefferson is projected to go in the mid to late first round.
Best Case: Amare Stoudemire
Sergey Monya
Tale Of The Tape: F, 6-8, 220, 21 Years Old
Skinny: Monya is one of the top small forwards in the draft, and has been projected as a mid first round pick. He's an athletic forward, who has played four season of pro basketball in Europe. He has great speed and quickness and is an excellent one-on-one and team defender. Monya is reported to have a good mid-range jumper as well as the ability to step out to the three-point line.
Best Case: Manu Ginobili
Worst Case: Gerald Wallace
J.R. Smith
Tale Of The Tape: G, 6-6, 220, HS Senior
Skinny: Smith fell under the radar during his senior season, but exploded onto the scene at the McDonalds Game, scoring 25 points on 5-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc, on his way to earning MVP honors. He averaged 23.9 points and 5.0 steals per game as a senior. Smith had been projected as a late lottery pick, but over the last couple of weeks it's looking more like he might be a mid first round pick and available when the Celtics pick at 15. He is a super athlete with a 44-inch vertical leap who can also extend his jumper out to the three-point line.
Best Case: Michael Finley
Kirk Snyder
Tale Of The Tape: G, 6-6, 225, Nevada
Skinny: Snyder is an athletic player who can swing between shooting and point guard. Although primarily a shooting guard, his unselfish game will allow him to play minutes at the point. As a junior last season he was named the WAC Player of the Year, the first player in school history to earn the award. In the NCAA Tournament Snyder led Nevada in upsets over Michigan State and Gonzaga, before being eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen by Georgia Tech. Snyder has been projected all over the draft board, from the late lottery to the late first round.
Best Case: Brent Barry
Worst Case: John Salmons
Robert Swift
Tale Of The Tape: C, 7-0, 245, HS Senior
Skinny: Swift is another high school player looking to go in the first round and has been projected as a mid-to-late first round pick. As a senior he averaged 18.8 points, 15.9 boards and 6.2 blocks per game. He scored 10 points and grabbed 4 boards in the McDonald's Game, and scored 17 points, grabbed 12 boards and blocked 4 shots in the EA Sports Roundball Classic. Swift has excellent footwork and takes the ball to the hole strong. His large wingspan makes him an excellent shot blocker.
Best Case: Marcus Camby
Worst Case: Joel Przybilla
Dorell Wright
Tale Of The Tape: G, 6-7, 210, HS Senior
Skinny: Wright is a long athletic player who spent last season at South Kent Prep (Conn.). He is a big-time athlete with a good mid-range jumper, but he does not have a consistent three-point shot yet. His wingspan and superior athleticism make him an excellent rebounder from the guard position. He's projected as a mid-to-late first round pick, and should be available at one of the Celtics picks.
Best Case: Desmond Mason
Worst Case: DeShawn Stevenson
Compiled By: Brian Gleason
