The State of the Celtics

Tonight is the NBA Draft and even though the Celtics have first round picks at 14, 20 and 22 (plus a second round pick at 51) - Boston fans are in a panic. They are in a panic because it looks like both Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are choosing to leave the team as free agents.

C'st la vie - chill out. Things are still very good.

Right now the Celtics could start the following players:

Marcus Smart (PG), Jaylen Brown (SG), Jason Tatum (SF), Gordon Hayward (PF) and Aron Baynes (C). That's a pretty good - and young (except Baynes) - starting five. Plus they'd be very fun to watch. And when you have Robert Williams playing at center - that's one of the best defensive lineups in all of the NBA.

Most Celts fans would like Kyrie Irving to leave at this point. The most common sentiment is "I'd be happy to drive him to the airport." Al Horford deciding to leave was a surprise and I for one will remember him fondly as a pro's pro who did all the little things and did them right. But going forward don't be surprised if the most common description of Horford in Boston will be "33-year old" Al Horford. But that's getting ahead of ourselves because Horford hasn't left for sure. He could just be testing the waters (unlikely but possible).

If Horford does leave then suddenly the Celtics have about $30 million in cap space (assuming Marcus Morris and Terry Rozier also leave as free agents) to use on one or two solid players. Add in whatever player(s) Danny Ainge drafts tonight and suddenly you are looking at a pretty deep 9-10 player roster. Sure they won't be top heavy with stars like Kyrie and Anthony Davis but it will be a solid lineup that will hopefully be (mostly) drama free.

Plus Boston still have Memphis' top pick in either next year's or the 2021 draft. That should end up being one of the best picks in the draft. Things are good in Boston. Celtics fans should all take a deep breath.

Boston Celtics Thoughts

The Boston Bruins are just 6 wins away from their 7th Stanley Cup but I can't help stop thinking about the Boston Celtics.

Tonight we'll find out if Boston has 3 or 4 first round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft. And more importantly, where that 3rd and possibly 4th pick would be in the order.

Best case the Celtics will get the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th pick. Worst case they will have two picks in the teens and 2 picks in the 20's (20 and 22 to be exact). As far as worst cases go - many teams would love to have Boston's worst case scenario. Plus there's a lot of time between tonight and the June 20th draft - plenty of time for Danny Ainge to try and work some magic.

Most of the oxygen in any Celtics discussion is still getting used up with the Kyrie Irving will he stay or will he go back and forth. After reading an article like this I honestly am leaning toward the hope he leaves camp.  I do want to stress that the trade for Irving was absolutely worth it. Worst case Boston traded Collin Sexton (the 8th pick in the 2018 draft via New Jersey's pick) for two seasons of Kyrie Irving. Best case Irving stays and combined with Anthony Davis they bring another banner to Boston. I'd do that trade again in a heartbeat.

Even if Irving leaves Boston is still in great shape. Toronto plays Milwaukee for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA finals but once the season ends and Kawhi Leonard leaves as a free agent the team will be left in rebuilding mode. Philadelphia? Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and JJ Reddick are all free agents. Chances are they lose at least 1 out of 3 (and maybe all 3). If that happens will the rest of the roster be enticing for another free agent to choose Philly? I'd take Boston's core over Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid every day (even without Kyrie).

However, having said all that, as long as Milwaukee has Giannis they remain the Beast of the East.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Was saddened by the sudden passing of Luke Perry. While many of his fans primarily think of him in roles on Beverley Hills 90210 or Riverdale - I may be alone in thinking of him as Linc Stark from John from Cincinnati (I never watched those other two shows)... Does Florida have an extradition treaty with any of the New England states? Asking for a friend... Actually like this idea a lot! Assuming the players have no eligibility left what's to stop the SEC Network from paying the players to participate? They aren't getting paid to attend the NFL combine... So President Trump accidentally called Tim Cook of Apple "Tim Apple" and Tim Cook reacts by changing his Twitter profile to this. Genius!... I was disappointed that the Patriots did not place the franchise tag on Trey Flowers but then I was reminded that Flowers and Bill Belichick have the same agent. So hope remains that some type of deal can be reached (though I'm not optimistic)... Technically this is true. Also technically true that combined the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics each have a first round draft pick in this year's NBA Draft (oh wait a minute)... "Knowledge if not digested does not give nutrition, only adds weight." - Osho... 

Sihugo Green

People talk about Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan as the biggest draft day mistake in history but for my money Sihugo Green was a much bigger mistake.

In the 1956 NBA draft, the Rochester Royals had the first pick and the Boston Celtics had the second pick (via a trade with St. Louis). With the first pick Rochester selected 6'2" Sihugo Green of Duquesne. With the second pick, the Boston Celtics selected Bill Russell of San Francisco.

The rest is history.

In case you never heard of Sihugo - he ended up playing 9 season (his last with the Celtics BTW) and averaged 9.2 points per game and 3.3 assists for his career.

Flotsam and Jetsam NBA Championship Edition

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Congratulations to LeBron James and the Cavaliers for bringing a chmpionship to the long-suffering City of Cleveland... Chad Finn has a nice appreciation of what this win means for LeBron James... LeBron James in now 4-2 in playoff game 7's. I need to remind people the Bill Russell was 10-0 in game 7's. It bugs me that Russell always seems to be left out of these conversations... Good question...  It can be argued that Kevin Love had a much better game last night than Steph Curry. I wonder how the Cavs winning the championship effects all the "trade Kevin Love" talk... Fence Jumping Alligators would be a good name for a band... Now that the Finals are over the NBA world turns to the upcoming Draft. I'm really curious what Danny Ainge ends up doing with all the assets he's stock-piled. My guess is that he keeps the 3rd pick and takes Buddy Hield from Oklahoma. It is also worthy to note that their's not a single player on the Nets that would be worthy trading the 3rd pick for straight-up. Think of that...

Sihugo Green

People talk about Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan as the biggest draft day mistake in history but for my money Sihugo Green was a much bigger mistake.

In the 1956 NBA draft, the Rochester Royals had the first pick and the Boston Celtics had the second pick (via a trade with St. Louis). With the first pick Rochester selected 6'2" Sihugo Green of Duquesne. With the second pick, the Boston Celtics selected Bill Russell of San Francisco.

The rest is history.

In case you never heard of Sihugo - he ended up playing 9 season (his last with the Celtics BTW) and averaged 9.2 points per game and 3.3 assists for his career.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Guy tricks people into thinking he was an NBA draft pick - good for him!

- Cool - Winston Churchill with the equivalent of a medical marijuana prescription of his day.

- Classy move by rival TV station

- I keep saying - DeflateGate is going to get Roger Goodell fired

- The sky over Fenway (and most of Mass) on Tuesday was incredible

- Heh Heh

- 15 things about Monty Python and the Holy Grail you might not have known.

Sihugo Green

People talk about Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan as the biggest draft day mistake in history but for my money Sihugo Green was a much bigger mistake.

In the 1956 NBA draft, the Rochester Royals had the first pick and the Boston Celtics had the second pick (via a trade with St. Louis). With the first pick Rochester selected 6'2" Sihugo Green of Duquesne. With the second pick, the Boston Celtics selected Bill Russell of San Francisco.

The rest is history.

In case you never heard of Sihugo - he ended up playing 9 season (his last with the Celtics BTW) and averaged 9.2 points per game and 3.3 assists for his career.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations. I'm conflicted about the Celtics two first round draft picks. I think both Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo are great value picks and even if only one guy pans out then the draft was a success. I'm conflicted because I knew who both players were going in and these days that's normally not a good sign... The show Louie was back last night but I missed it because the Red Sox were playing on the West Coast. Anyway - here's 50 cool pieces of Louis CK fan art (although some of these don't even look like him)... I was thinking that a good comparison for Sullinger was a slightly taller Ryan Gomes. I really hope Sullinger can stay healthy (note to Celtics - keep him away from any Red Sox medical staff)... Heh heh - Dora the Explorer the Movie... Last night Saint Bonaventure had a player taken in the first round of the NBA draft. I fully expect a 5,000 word screed from Bill Simmons about why can't Holy Cross produce NBA draft picks sometime today... Physics questions and the Avengers. I would seriously watch a show on the Science Channel that had physics professors answering these questions... Elizabeth Hurley was supposedly the original choice to play Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies. Hurley was (IMHO) at one point the hottest woman in the world... I love reading stories about Romney Superfan Jim Wilson. I would love to see regular guy Wilson debate Obama political operative David Axelrod...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

Awesome - Bob Ryan basketball savant and the 1972 NBA draft

The new Redskins media guide cover starring RGIII (well it should be) 

The greatest discovery in modern archaeological history 

Guy Beringer invented brunch. His inspiration: the hangover

The Lindgren Thread, Loans, and Advice for my Generation by Phil Galfond. I didn't realize that Eric Lindgren was such a deadbeat.

Good point

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I was disappointed by the lack of players from the Patriot League being represented in the NBA Draft last night. That disappointment is tempered by the fact that Holy Cross had same number of players chosen as Michigan State... I really want to own this painting... If you are bitten by Abe Vigoda - do you become a zombie?... A double rainbow! What does it mean? Obama's war on Libya! What does it mean?... One thing the real draft proves is that those mock NBA drafts are ALWAYS a waste of time (just like those mock NFL Drafts)... More art that I'd like to own... Interesting tidbit - giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrae... Prohibited means "not allowed" but you never hear anyone say "hibited" for things that are allowed. I'm not sure if hibited is even a word. I'll be very gruntled if it is... "Britney Spears" is an anagram for “Presbyterians”... The FBI gets Whitey Bulger and the military gets Osama bin Laden meanwhile Iran still hasn't gotten Salman Rushdie. USA! USA! USA!... Why is it OK to say "I bring you tidings of comfort and joy" around Christmas but rest of the year people will look at you funny if you say it... The tea dumped in the historic Boston Tea Party had a modern value of about $847,000. That's a little less than what Milwaukee Brewers paid 40-yr old Jim Edmonds last year... This is why I love Penn and Teller so much