Thursday, June 23, 2005
Boston Celtics 2005 Draft Preview
The Boston Celtics have the 18th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft.
C’s had a great draft last year, as Danny Ainge selected forward Al Jefferson (#10) and guards Tony Allen and Delonte West with the team's three first-round picks.
Allen, Jefferson and West all showed during their rookie season's that they could be productive players for the Celtics for many years to come.
All-Star Paul Pierce played all 82 regular-season games and averaged a team-high 21.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Ricky Davis averaged 16 points while playing in all 82 games.
Under first year head coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics finished the 2004-05 season with a 45-37 record, which was good enough to earn them the Atlantic Division crown and the third seed in the East. However, Boston fell in seven games to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the postseason.
Veteran point guard Gary Payton can also become an unrestricted free agent. He will likely move on.
Forward Antoine Walker will be re-signed if he is willing to take the $5 Million exception.
Danny would love to move the salary of Mark Blount or Raef LaFrentz ; they would likely have to take on bad contracts for these bad contracts or give up their #18 draft pick in order to acquire bad but expiring contracts.
Key Player(s): Tony Allen (Guard), Mark Blount (Center/Forward), Ricky Davis (Guard), Al Jefferson (Forward), Raef LaFrentz (Center/Forward), Gary Payton (Guard), Paul Pierce (Guard), Antoine Walker (Forward), Delonte West (Guard).
Team Needs: Point guard and a strong rebounding forward.
Draft picks: 1st round (18th overall), 2nd round (50th overall), 2nd round (53rd overall)
The Boston Celtics have the 18th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft.
C’s had a great draft last year, as Danny Ainge selected forward Al Jefferson (#10) and guards Tony Allen and Delonte West with the team's three first-round picks.
Allen, Jefferson and West all showed during their rookie season's that they could be productive players for the Celtics for many years to come.
All-Star Paul Pierce played all 82 regular-season games and averaged a team-high 21.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Ricky Davis averaged 16 points while playing in all 82 games.
Under first year head coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics finished the 2004-05 season with a 45-37 record, which was good enough to earn them the Atlantic Division crown and the third seed in the East. However, Boston fell in seven games to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the postseason.
Veteran point guard Gary Payton can also become an unrestricted free agent. He will likely move on.
Forward Antoine Walker will be re-signed if he is willing to take the $5 Million exception.
Danny would love to move the salary of Mark Blount or Raef LaFrentz ; they would likely have to take on bad contracts for these bad contracts or give up their #18 draft pick in order to acquire bad but expiring contracts.
Key Player(s): Tony Allen (Guard), Mark Blount (Center/Forward), Ricky Davis (Guard), Al Jefferson (Forward), Raef LaFrentz (Center/Forward), Gary Payton (Guard), Paul Pierce (Guard), Antoine Walker (Forward), Delonte West (Guard).
Team Needs: Point guard and a strong rebounding forward.
Draft picks: 1st round (18th overall), 2nd round (50th overall), 2nd round (53rd overall)
