Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
With Rivers present, the Celtics finished the second day of predraft workouts, which featured six players: four point guards and two centers.
The point guards: Myck Kabongo of Texas, Baylor’s Pierre Jackson, Miami’s Shane Larkin, and Missouri’s Phil Pressey. The centers: Pittsburgh’s Steven Adams and Creighton’s Greg Echenique
On Friday, the Celtics hosted six other players, also four guards (Marquette’s Vander Blue, Virginia Tech’s Erick Green, Providence’s Ricky Ledo, and Louisville’s Peyton Siva) and two centers (Colorado State’s Colton Iverson and Kansas’ Jeff Withey).
The Celtics have the 16th overall pick in the June 27 draft and no second-round picks.
Several of the 12 players they hosted are projected to be second-round picks, outside of perhaps Larkin, Adams, and Green, who are projected to be drafted in the first round.
However, the Celtics need help at both the point guard position, where there is no capable backup to Rajon Rondo, and at center, where the only player at that position currently on the team’s roster heading into next season is Fab Melo.
Boston Globe – Celtics’ Terrence Williams gives his side of the story after arrest
While the headline and first portion of this Globe story is about Terrence Williams, we won’t delve too much into that since John covered it yesterday. Instead, we’ll highlight how Doc was present for the pre-draft workouts yesterday in Waltham. This might seem like it should fall into the “yeah, so?” category but since there has been so much discussion and debate on if he’ll return, we can put this into the “leaning more towards the 90 percent of 90-10 returning” category. Sure, he could still change his mind over a Memorial Day BBQ. It’s possible that while grilling up some burgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, whatever… that he wants to become the next Bobby Flay on the Food Network and pursue his life-long dream. Even if his grilling skills are amazing, I still expect his better skills as Celtics head coach to be back in Boston next season and beyond.
Aside from that, it appears as though the C’s might be tipping their drafting hand a bit, by bringing in point guards and big men. They definitely NEED several of the latter, but the point guard aspect is interesting. I wouldn’t use the 16th pick to draft a backup for Rajon Rondo, especially if they do decide to hold on to Terrence Williams. But there are growing rumblings amongst C’s fans that they could trade into the second round to draft a PG. They do not own a second rounder this year, having sent whatever they did have to Portland as part of last year’s trade for Courtney Lee.
It might only be a pre-draft workout, but it’s nice to see basketball being played in Waltham again and to hear the random dribbling sounds and sounds of coaching instructions being shouted out. It’s never fun to have the season end so early so this was nice to see. It’s even better to see Doc there. For now, watching draft prospect videos on Draft Express will have to suffice. The C’s still have lots of decisions to make, and the clock is ticking down to a month away from when we’ll know more (which is when Pierce’s contract decision must be made).
Related links:
ESPN Boston – Draft workouts: PGs and centers stage | CSNNE – Celtics host potential draft selections
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Williams: ‘Two side to every story’ | Globe – Cleveland Cavaliers have first pick in NBA draft for second time in three years (Sunday Notes) | Boston Herald – Terrence Williams happy to practice | Roy Hibbert-Carmelo Anthony shows power of sports (Sunday Notes) | CSNNE – Terrence Williams speaks about arrest | MWDN – Celtics’ Williams tells his side of arrest
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
