Danny on the Draft

by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 28, 2008 6:42 AM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Steve Bulpett has some quotes from Danny about the draft and international man of mystery Semih Erden:

"We wanted to get more athletic and get some playmakers - guys who have the potential to be more than just a role player," he said. "We wanted guys who can make plays.

"We just tried to get the best players. We tried to eliminate our roster from our thinking and just tried to get the most talented guys. There’s always the need factor, the opportunity factor and the talent quotient - the talent for now and the talent for the future. You project guys three years out and whether they can help us now. All of those things come into play.

Ainge insisted he couldn’t believe Erden was available with the 60th and final pick of the draft. The 6-foot-11 banger still has one year left on his contract with his Turkish pro team, which may have helped account for his slide.

"He’ll be our first-round pick next year," Ainge said. "We don’t have a first-round pick, but he’s our guy. We think he’s got a terrific upside."

Other tidbits:

Rondo and Perk won't be taking team U.S.A. up on its offer to scrimmage with the Olympic team this summer.
Doc says "We would like to bring our whole team back"
In lieu of summer league, the Celts are holding a minicamp for free agent rookies next week
Paul, KG, Ray, and much of the rest of the team are celebrating in Vegas
Wyc is pitching a sports-related investment fund

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Thanks for the updates Hobbs.
Any word on who might be attending the camp?

by Cman on Jun 28, 2008 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

If Danny is right about Erden, what a steal. If the C’s are going to be able to bridge the success from this window to the next, we’re going to need a steal in the draft or two along the way.

Great decision by Rondo and Perk not to participate in that glorified pickup game. Complete waste of time and big injury risk…

Ownerships of NBA teams should include in their contracts mandating that their players don’t play in these staged events. It makes the season way too long and puts their player’s careers at risk. Both short term and long term.
How does Miami let Wade anywhere near this with is history the last couple of seasons? Absurd.

If owners did that, it would give our amateurs the opportunity to compete like it used to be. The owners have way too much invested in these players to stretch the season to 11 months.

by Finkelskyhook on Jun 28, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed that neither should play in those practices. Perk needs to heal up and have surgery if necessary. Rondo needs to spend every moment of the offseason shooting jumpers from the elbows and free throws.

As far as Erden, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. The kid is the 60th pick. If he pans out bonus!

by EJPLAYA on Jun 28, 2008 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

In the world of fantasy, wouldn’t the basketball world get a “jolt” if Erden became the player Greg Oden was supposed to be? Especially since Danny himself said that no player ever drafted with the 60th pick ever became a starter on an NBA club, let alone a star!

Minimal risk for maximum gain with only Semih’s MOTIVATION at stake.

by moskqq on Jun 28, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Good old Danny. He clearly picked two athletes. We have a guy that fits that profile- Tony Allen – so they probably plan to pony up for Posey and House (I hope) and let Tony go.
Glad Danny went for a “banger” and not a guy with “great wingspan”. Which is code for “bust”.

by Wildblu1 on Jun 28, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions