Draft Day Blueprint

Hello All. Welcome to The Little Papi Urban Achievers, a sports and entertainment blog with a Boston slant. The first item to addressed is my plan to revive the mighty Boston Celtics.

Step 1-Name Jeff Bodner GM. Danny Ainge has done a good job drafting, and despite last year's record, the team does have more talent than when he took over. However, his trade record is bad enough that he can clearly be upgraded. While I'm sure many of you out there can do better than Danny, I'm making the decision and I'm naming myself. For those of you who doubt me, please review my comments to the Boston Globe following last year's draft.

JEFF BODNER San Diego Two disappointing seasons have elevated [Sebastian] Telfair from a controversial No. 13 pick to someone worth the No. 7 pick? The Celtics didn't want more youth, but Brandon Roy is older and more experienced. [Theo] Ratliff may have one year less on his contract than [Raef] LaFrentz, but that relief is two years down the road and Ratliff can't stay healthy. We traded a first-round pick in 2007, which is supposed to be the strongest draft in memory, for a first-round pick in what has been deemed the weakest. The only way this day is saved is if we use the pieces to get [Allen] Iverson. Is it only logical that if we've got The Truth, we must have The Answer?
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company

As you can see, I advocated one of two moves. Plan A was keeping the pick, which would have netted the team reining Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy. Plan B would have been to acquire AI, in a rumored deal that would have cost the team the #6 pick and Wally Szczerbiak. Add either Iverson or Roy to the current roster and the Celtics become a legitimate threat to win the East.

Step 2- Try and trade for an all-star caliber veteran. The most cost effective option I've heard is Andrei Kirilenko, who supposedly could be had for Szczerbiak and Gerald Green. If this is true, the team should jump at this. Kirilenko would bring much needed defense and would thrive if he was moved back to his natural power forward position with Al moving to center. The team could then use its first round pick on Corey Brewer. A Starting lineup of West or Rondo, Brewer, Pierce, Kirilenko and Jefferson would be nasty. This is the exact plan endorsed by the Sports Guy, who is dead on with this one.
If this trade is just a rumor, any of the names that have been linked to the team (KG, Marion, Jermaine O'Neal) would be worth giving up the #5 pick for as long as the team does not part with Jefferson. Any of these three paired with Pierce and Big Al would make the team contenders in the East. I would also consider a similar deal for Rashard Lewis. Assuming the team does not move the #5 pick, step 3 becomes obvious.

Step 3-Draft the best player available. The Celtics are much better than they appear, if healthy, last year's team would have flirted with .500, add a successful lottery pick into the mix and the team should surpass 45 wins. If I were GM, I would rank the draft as follows.

1)Gregg Oden-A franchise big man. The Celtics could have competed for a title this year if they had landed pick #1.

2)Kevin Durant-Should be one of the top small forwards in the league and will average over 20 ppg his rookie season.

3)Al Horford-A beast inside who drains the 15 foot jump shot. Would look perfect paired with Jefferson for the next decade.

4)Mike Conley Jr.-Incredibly quick, and a great decision maker. He gets knocked for being 6'1", but he has a 6'5" wingspan and a 39" vertical. He will be an all star some day. (That said, I could see passing on him for one of the next two guys due to the presence of Rondo/West. Not sure I would pass on him, but I could see it.)

5)Yi Jianlin-I will admit I've never seen this guy play, but he's supposed to have huge upside and he has wowed with his skills and athleticism in workouts. Additionally, he averaged 24 pts and 11 reb in China's top league. The foreigners who have panned out (Nowitzki, Gasol, Ming, Parker, Ginobli, Bargnani) were all players with real experience in their native countries. The busts (Darko, Tskitishvili, etc.) tend to have been workout wonders.

6)Corey Brewer-Give Tayshaun Prince shooting guard skills and you've got Corey Brewer.

7)Jeff Green-A do it all small forward who contributes across the board. Would fit in great with the current roster.

8)Brandon Wright-In a few years, I may look foolish for putting him this low. However the fact that his effort has been questioned, means I may look foolish for putting him this high.

9)Joakim Noah-A proven winner, who will bring enthusiasm, defense and leadership. Too bad he can't shoot.

Top Sleeper-Jared Dudley-If he falls to the 2nd round, the Celtics need to pounce. This guy will be a valuable player for the next decade.

Anyhow, thanks to anyone who read this. I'll be back soon with my opinions on the Celtic's moves tomorrow and promise future posts will not be so self aggrandizing. My hope is this blog will develop into a community, or at least a forum for discussion, so if you have any feedback, please don't hesitate.
-Bodner