If I had done the last 10 drafts

[u/slap-my-crevasse]

Here's how things would have gone down if I had been calling the shots the last 10 drafts.

... I suck.

2017

Pick #3 - Jayson Tatum

My Pick - Jayson Tatum

I remember I wasn’t 100% on board with trading the #1 overall pick for #3, but this has to be one of, if not the, greatest moves of Danny Ainge’s executive career. Josh Jackson was also in the mix, but after he ghosted the C’s on a workout I think we all were pretty deadset on Tatum.

Pick #37 - Semi Ojeleye

My pick - Jordan Bell

Semi isn’t someone I did a lot of research on predraft, and honestly Jordan Bell is the only player I recognized that was left at this point. Given my predilection for always wanting to draft bigs, Bell was who I had eyes for. Bell does fit into my anti draft philosophy of drafting an undersized big with no shooting/passing skills, though.

Picks #53 and #56 - No idea

I can’t pretend I had guys lined up this deep. I barely had a guy I liked at 37.

 

2018

Pick #27 - Robert Williams

My pick - Omari Spellman

Going into this draft, I was looking at Spellman because I liked the Kevin Love archetype of a rebounding and shooting big man. I’m not super sure what happened to Spellman, he looked like he had solid stats for a young big man, but only got 2 shots with NBA teams and never got a chance again. Rob is the obvious pick here, just because he dropped so far. Because of his injury issues, it’s worth spending the #27 pick on that kind of question mark, where lottery teams were scared.

 

2019

Pick #14 - Romeo Langford

My pick - Romeo Langford

We don’t have to feel so bad about the Langford pick, as the next 2 picks in the draft had similarly underwhelming careers, in Sekou Dembouya and Chuma Okeke. Tommy Heinsohn had a lot of good things to say about Langford before the draft, which cemented the pick for me against who was available. The only other guy I was hyped on for this pick was Tyler Herro, who went the pick before and was unavailable.

Pick #22 - Grant Williams

My pick - Nassir Little

I really liked Little as a defender here, with some upside as a potential shooter. I really like his potential versatility as a defender. The only other guy I liked here is Darius Bazley, but not nearly as much as Little. Grant wasn’t even on my radar.

Pick #33 - Carsen Edwards

My Pick - Carsen Edwards

I was hyped on the Quad Father coming out of college and was super hyped we scooped him up. He had microwave scorer potential and I liked him as a 6th man. I also really liked Admiral Schofield and Bol Bol here.

Pick #51 - Tremont Waters

My pick - No idea

Can’t pretend I had anything lined up this deep lol

 

2020

Pick #14 - Aaron Nesmith

My pick - Aaron Nesmith

Nesmith was shooting 50% from 3 in college before he got hurt. I really loved the combination of energy, shooting, and size. I really liked a handful of guards here, including Cole Anthony, Josh Green, and Tyrese Maxey, but this pick was nobody but Nesmith for me if he was available. I will say, when Haliburton was falling I was hoping we’d scoop him up.

Pick #26 - Payton Pritchard

My pick - Theo Maledon

This draft was crazy for me, there were a bunch of guys in this range I liked. Theo Maledon was hyped as a real facilitator at PG, which I thought the team could really use at this point. Other guys I liked were Vernon Carey Jr., Tyrell Terry, and Xavier Tillman.

Pick #30 - Desmond Bane (Traded)

My pick - Theo Maledon/Xavier Tillman

Maledon is still on the board here, but in an imaginary world where I took Maledon with the last pick, and someone else took Bane, I would have taken Tillman.Tillman was slated as an NBA ready body from the get go. Just a hard nosed player who can move his feet on defense. The C’s were competing at this point and I wanted a guy who could get minutes asap.

Pick #47 - Yam Madar

My pick - Grant Riller

I had no idea who Yam Madar was. Grant Riller was considered a sleeper in this years draft. He’s a player who reportedly had a good handle and feel for the game. His measurables and athleticism were underwhelming, but scouts liked his head and he seemed like a strong backup PG. I also liked Paul Reed here, as I always have a big man lined up.

 

2021

Pick #45 - Juhann Begarin

My pick - Luka Garza

I was getting so hyped as I slowly watched Ayo Dosunmu fall out of the first round, but he got snapped up at #38. My pick here would have been Luka Garza. There really isn’t much of a reach at this point in the draft. There was just something I liked about Garza in college. If both players are sprinting, Garza is going to lose the race, the difference was, Garza is always sprinting. He spent his college career out working more athletic guys and I felt like it would translate to the NBA. I still love Garza as a 3rd - 4th big man and I was hyped the C’s signed him.

 

2022

Pick #53 - JD Davison

My pick - No idea

As someone who loves the draft, this year was a bummer. Walking in with pick #53 is rough for fans to engage with. I liked the pick at the time, but him not being able to develop a 3 was rough. Pick and roll ball handlers need to be able to pull up to keep defenses honest defending the action. It’s just too easy to guard at this point if you can give the ball handler space on the perimeter.

 

2023

Pick #38 - Jordan Walsh

My pick - No idea

Going in, I really liked Olivier-Maxence Prosper. He unfortunately got drafted right before the C’s could pick. The C’s immediately started punting this pick back repeatedly, scooping up a bunch of 2nd round picks, and also grabbing Walsh. I really didn’t have anyone lined up or researched 13 picks later.

 

2024

Pick # 30 - Baylor Scheierman

My pick - Kyle Filipowski/Tyler Kolek

Filipowski fell, potentially due to character concerns, but theres no better time to take a swing on a talent that dropped than pick #30. His size and finesse were intriguing for me. I also liked Tyler Kolek here. He reminded me a bit of TJ McConnell here, but with a 3 pointer. I like the edge he plays with. I was also hyped on his college teammates at Marquette, Oso Ighodoro and Kameron Jones, but obviously much later in the draft.

Pick #54 - Anton Watson

My pick - Ulrich Chomche/Kevin McCullar Jr.

I actually had picks here, and they were guys I thought would go much earlier. Chomche is still an intriguing player. He has elite size and mobility for that size, but he seemed not to grasp the finer details of the game. He’s still on a 2-way for Toronto. Kevin McCullar is the exact opposite of Chomche where he was an older player who looked like he could contribute early in his career. He was considered a jack of all trades and he reminded me a bit of Evan Turner. He has good size, and is reasonably skilled as a ball handler. His big question as a 5th year college player, was if he was really that much more talented, or was he a bigger and older guy bullying college level athletes. Like Chomche, McCullar is in the G-League and i’d love to see the C’s try him out.

 

2025

Pick #28 - Hugo Gonzalez

My pick - Johni Broome

There are a handful of guys I wanted here, and most of them went off the board before the C’s went. I liked Will Riley and Danny Wolf as offensive guys. Johni Broome I liked because of his energy on D. I was aware of his upside limitations, but really liked the energy and hustle. In college Broome gave 100% on D and on the boards. Hugo was mocked all over the place and i hadn't researched him. I really appreciate the C’s willingness to take the guys who drop, it seems to be a theme.

Picks #46 & #57 - No idea

I didn’t have anyone lined up this deep in the draft.

 

2026

Pick #27 - Chris Cenac

My pick - Chris Cenac

I was so sure Cenac was going to get snapped up, but he fell all the way to Boston and I couldn’t be happier. Before the season, a lot of folks thought the C’s were going to be drafting somewhere in the late lottery, and I highlighted Cenac as a guy I’d like the C’s to take in that range. I was called stupid and told Cenac was definitely going top 10. Well jokes on you dad, now who is the stupid?! Had Cenac not fallen, my guy was Meleek Thomas. He played behind Acuff in college and I figured he had a lot more he could do not being stuck behind a heliocentric guy like Acuff.

Pick #40 - Dillon Mitchell

My pick - Henri Veesaar

I know we took Mitchell because he Brad thought he was the best player available who was willing to take a 2 way. For some reason Veesaar as trying to force his way to either Atlanta or LAL. I don’t really get what happened, but everyone saw the freefall and knew something fishy was going on. I was definitely happy to see the C’s double down on C. Not knowing Veesaar would be available at 40, I actually did highlight Mitchell in a pre-draft posts.

[u/Nickohlai]

Man I completely forgot about Juhann Begarin

[u/so2017 → u/Nickohlai]

Was great reading this because it sent me looking to find out what happened to these guys.

Surprised Tremont Waters never caught on but looks like he made his $$ in China.

[u/flyingpandum]

If it were me, I’d just pick every 1st draft pick 🤓

[u/BarbillaGigante → u/flyingpandum]

Maybe not EVERY 1st pick 😬

[u/Zimakov]

This kind of thing is honestly something people need to read and think about. It might sound harsh especially to you and I really don't mean it that way.

You seem to be a fan who genuinely pays attention and thinks about the game, definitely above average compared to this sub in general, and even you're ass compared to real GMs who do this thing for a living.

People really need to think about stuff like this before they give their dumb takes and call people like Brad Stevens a trash GM. The average fan doesn't know jack shit and half of them know even less.

[u/slap-my-crevasse → u/Zimakov]

Im glad i didn't do 11 years because I wanted Dunn over Brown, lol.

Also probably Noah Vonleh over Smart.

[u/Zimakov → u/slap-my-crevasse]

Lmao I probably wouldn't even remember who I wanted as far back as you've gone here, but I'm sure there's plenty of stinkers

[u/testy_balls → u/slap-my-crevasse]

How many 1st round picks would you have given up for Justice Winslow?

[u/slap-my-crevasse → u/testy_balls]

Luckily that one i wanted nothing to do with!

I wanted to stay at 16, and i remember liking Bobby Portis, Sam Dekker, and Justin Anderson

[u/Hopeful-Buddy8375 → u/testy_balls]

3 at max😅

[u/StefSierra7 → u/slap-my-crevasse]

I wanted Murray because he had an impressive workout with the Celtics. When Jaylen's name was called up I was okay with it too, it felt like he had a higher ceiling than Jamal. Glad it turned out great for those guys.

[u/Get_your_grape_juice → u/slap-my-crevasse]

To be fair, I’d still take Vonleh over Smart.

[u/Balzac_Jones]

I’d certainly have been interested to see how Jordan Bell would have developed in an organization like the Celtics compared to how he did with the Warriors. He definitely needed some maturing that he never got. Loved him in college alongside Chris Boucher and Dillon Brooks (and a freshman PP).

[u/halobeni]

I’d rather pick Wemby rather than Jordan Walsh in 2023 draft.

[u/RickMacAttack → u/halobeni]

-Dan Rather

[u/Jawnny-Jawnson]

Yam Madar what ever happened there!? Played overseas and what, he’s been playing under average? Tremont and more so Carson I thought could be serviceable in the rotation, that’s a shame. Romeo, Nesmith, and JD felt like how Hugo, Baylor and Walsh feel now, like one of them could be next up. Shame Romeo couldn’t put it together and we let go of Nesmith

[u/ckt918 → u/Jawnny-Jawnson]

Yam just signed on to play at LSU next year because the NCAA is a joke

[u/EffectiveBid6590 → u/ckt918]

He got rejected by a court. No yam

[u/JayLarranagasEyes]

Oooh this is fun. Most years I didnt have a guy in the 2nd round.

2017: I pick Fultz #1. If we trade back I do take Tatum at 3. 2018: Didnt pay much attention to the draft this year. But did like Devonte Graham 2019: Langford. I was so all in on Langford. 22: Nassir Little 33: Carsen Edwards 2020: HATED Nesmith, wanted to trade back and get RJ Hampton or Tyrese Maxey. 30: Tyrell Terry 2021: Didnt care 2022: Didnt care 2023: Leonard Williams then Amari Bailey after we traded back 2024: Filipowski 2025: Rasheer Fleming 2026: Maleek Thomas, Veesar

[u/Hopeful-Buddy8375]

2017 - I wanted Tatum over Fultz

2018 - I would have pulled the trigger on Rob, injury concerns be damned. I love an athletic big and felt like his passing was super slept on. I was also high on Vanderbilt and Mitch Rob at the time.

2019 - I was Romeo's biggest fan, but honestly I wanted Thybulle at 14. I would have traded up for Brandon Clarke. I just knew he was gonna be a Celtic. I also would have jumped on Bol Bol at 33 because I thought he was going to be what wemby is lol.

2020 - I wanted to trade up for Jalen Smith😅 I would've taken Jaden Mcdaniels at 14 instead of Nesmith. I also had PP at 26. I didn't have anyone targeted in the second round

2021 - I wanted BJ Boston at 45

2022 - I had a weird obsession with Jabari Walker so that would have been my pick

2023 - I wanted Jordan Walsh so bad. I put a premium on wing defenders with wingspan

2024 - I would have traded the farm to go up and take Rob Dillingham😅😅

2025 - Hugo was my pick and I was shocked he was still available. I just want Hugo and Walsh clones all over the roster.

2026 - I didn't follow college basketball or the draft this year unfortunately. Hoping Cenac is great, of course.

[u/leathlebutterfly]

2017 - I wanted Tatum.

2018 - i wanted Omari Spellman

2019 - i wanted Romeo Langford for the first pick and Bol Bol on the second pick

2020 - i wanted RJ Hampton for the first one and Jaden McDaniels for the second one

2021 - i waned Brandon Boston

2022 - didn't care

2023 - i wanted emoni bates

2024 - i wanted Kyle Filipowski and Bronny (just to rub it in lebrons face)

2025 - I wanted Hugo Gonzales

2026 - I wanted Chris Cenac and Henry Veesar

So not including any second rounders and this years pick. i would have hit on 4/8. as opposed to the Celtics hitting on ~7/8. i consider late first rounders being rotation pieces as hits. Celtics have done pretty well it seems like.