The Celtics are extremely unlikely to use all eight picks they hold in this year’s NBA draft, but the fact that they have all those picks, including five in the second round, means Boston will be diligent about evaluating all sorts of prospects. The club is hosting 12 players for pre-draft workouts today, and the two six-man groups feature a handful of less recognizable names. Here’s the full list of the participants, per Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com (Twitter link): Isaia Cordinier (France), Perry Ellis (Kansas), Nick Faust (Long Beach State), Pascal Siakam (New Mexico State), Jarrod Uthoff (Iowa), Guerschon Yabusele (France), Kellen Dunham (Butler), Roosevelt Jones (Butler), Hunter Mickelson (Kansas), Dyshawn Pierre (Dayton), Tanner Plomb (Army), and Jordan Sakho (Spain).
Here’s more from around the Atlantic, including details on another team hosting a pre-draft workout today:
- The Raptors will have an individual workout for Gonzaga big man Domantas Sabonis today, as Sportsnet’s Michael Grange tweets. Toronto will also be hosting a six-player workout that features Winston Shepard (San Diego State), Jake Layman (Maryland), Damian Jones (Vanderbilt), Diamond Stone (Maryland), and Stephen Zimmerman (UNLV). Brandon Austin, whose workout with the Raptors was previously reported, is also participating today.
- In a weekend mailbag, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star tackles several Raptors-related questions, discussing potential outside free agent targets and predicting the odds of Toronto’s own free agents returning.
- During an appearance on WFAN, new Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek confirmed that he’ll make the final call on his assistant coaches, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Kurt Rambis remains under consideration for one of the spots on Hornacek’s staff.
- If the Celtics get a chance to make a pitch to Kevin Durant in free agency, they should play the history card, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com (video link), who says Boston could give Durant the opportunity to be the next star in a long line of greats that includes Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and many more.
Celtics will get okafor and Noel for 3 pick and Marcus smart. Flip okafor to Phoenix for 4 and 9 picks. Take bender and Murray
Boy that stuff must be good your on…..
You must be a genius. I’m surprised teams aren’t lining up at your door to offer you their GM job.
Don’t do drugs
If Okafor is worth the 4th and 9th picks why don’t the 76ers trade him to Phoenix and keep Noel?
Because Dennis is playing 2k.
Just say No! to drugs
He said Okafor & Noel lmao (and I’m a 6ers fan) that’s not happening
Saying you’re a sixers fan doesn’t validate your point at all
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Celtics picking Perry Ellis with one of those 8 picks. The guy’s a winner
I want to see them take Bentil if he’s around at 33
31 I mean
I do like Okafor to the Celtics for 3rd pick and RJ hunter
Draft Simmons and Murray or Dunn
Sign Harrison Barnes
Leaves you with a young lineup of
Noel
Barnes
Simmons
Hunter
Dunn or Murray
Maybe use the late first rounders on guys like Bentil, Ulis, Zizic
Leaves you with Embiid, ISH, Stauskas, Covington,and maybe saric on bench
Simmons isn’t dropping to number 3
My bad, miss read it. Thought you were saying it from celtics point of view
Trade #3 Rozier, Jerebko, and Amir for Jimmy Butler . Sign Hassan Whiteside (cheaper than Horford) Lure Kevin Durant. Re-sign Evan Turner. Sign Joakim Noah. Starting lineup of IT, Butler, Durant, Crowder, Whiteside. Bench – Smart, Bradley, Turner, Olynyk, Noah.(If they lose Turner look out for Kent Bazemore, Jared Dudley, Allen Crabbe, SETH Curry) Continue to Develop RJ Hunter and Jordan Mickey.
That package for Butler is laughable. The only real thing of value in that trade is the #3 pick. A trade for Butler starts with that pick, two of Crowder/Smart/Bradley, probably another first round pick (this year or future) and maybe throw in a spare part or two. Also there is no way Boston would have the cap space to sign Durant and Whiteside (both of whom will get max contracts) and Turner/Bazemore/Crabbe (each of them will probably get at least $10 million a year).
Sorry Reggie, that’s just not good