Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Director of player personnel Austin Ainge called the workout a “bloodbath,” and stressed the value of defensive-minded swingmen in a league full of high-volume scoring small forwards.
“Some of the toughest matchups in the league are at small forward,” said Ainge. “LeBron [James], Carmelo [Anthony], Paul George, all the way down the list, there’s a lot of them. You’ve gotta have a 3-man with some size.”
“Jae Crowder did a great job for us in that role this year,” Ainge continued. “We could use a few more like that.”
I’m sure Jae Crowder won’t be thrilled with the Celtics drafting a highly-touted swingman who might steal his minutes, but the Celtics don’t have much defense behind him (Turner, Datome & Wallace).
While I love a guy with toughness, I’m not going to pretend to know anything about this crop of small forwards. Here’s a brief scouting report (via Draft Express) on each of the guys:
Justin Anderson – physical specimen capable of guarding multiple positions for the Cavaliers. At 6‘6“, with long arms, good quickness, and a well developed upper body, Anderson has quick enough feet to defend wings on the perimeter and enough brute strength to defend smaller players in the post. After shooting only 30.3% and 29.4% in his first two seasons at Virginia, Anderson made 47 of his 104 three point attempts during his junior season, good for an excellent 45.2% from three point range.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – a great athlete, measured at 6’7” with a long 7’0.5” wingspan with a strong frame as well. He will be able to match up athletically with many wing NBA players, as his combination of strength, quickness and explosiveness will be difficult to match. He complements his athleticism by playing with high energy, going full speed almost all game while bouncing all around the floor. Hollis-Jefferson isn’t a prolific offensive player at this point in his career and his 14.8 per 40 minutes pace adjusted ranked near the bottom of all players in our top-100.
Branden Dawson – He’s a powerful athlete with good speed, strength, and outstanding explosiveness off of two feet. With some 20% of his possessions coming in transition, where he shot 75% as a finisher according to Synergy Sports Technology, he’s a highlight waiting to happen when he finds a lane to the rim, especially in the open floor. His physical profile also translates nicely to the defensive end, where he was terrific at times defending multiple positions at the college level en route to earning Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors as a senior.
Jonathan Holmes – Standing 6-9 with a 6-11 wingspan, a near 9-foot standing reach and a 242 pound frame, Holmes has solid size for a NBA power forward, but is quick enough to step out onto the perimeter and guard most small forwards as well. Holmes never became the knock-down shooter NBA scouts would have liked to see, and he ended his career shooting 33.1% on long distance shots and 33.3% on all catch and shoot jump shots this season according to Synergy Sports Technology.
Le’Bryan Nash – standing over 6’7 with a solid 232-frame and a 6’10 wingspan. He is a good athlete, as well, quick in transition, explosive enough around the basket, and with impressive agility for his size. He displays the physical tools NBA scouts expect from a power-wing, though he rarely proved able to exploit his physical advantage at the collegiate level.
One question… if the Celtics are going to target DeMarre Carroll in free agency, does it make sense to draft one of these guys?
Related links: Herald – Celtics hope to score by thinking forward | CSNNE – LeBryan Nash learning from Marcus Smart | ESPN – Anderson eager to silence those who doubt his shooting | Globe – NBA teams sizing up Anderson
On Page 2, the Celtics might lose their defensive guru to New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans are in advanced negotiations to hire Darren Erman away from the Boston Celtics to serve as a defensive guru under new head coach Alvin Gentry, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that Erman, who was quickly snapped up by the Celtics after his controversial ouster in Golden State late in the 2013-14 season, has been targeted by the Pelicans as an ideal addition to an all-new coaching staff because of his defensive expertise to complement Gentry’s offensive creativity.
Why leave Boston for a lateral move?
UPDATE – Woj reports Erman will become Associate Head Coach in New Orleans.
The rest of the links
ESPN – LeBryan Nash: Smart can be a HOFer | CSNNE – Bob Ryan: I would roll the dice on Cousins
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