NBA Draft LIVE Blog: No Fireworks For Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NBA Draft has finally arrived. Follow along throughout the night for all the updates!
1205 a.m.: That's your draft ladies and gentlemen.
As we said before, there weren't really many fireworks for the Boston Celtics -- or around the league for that matter.
For Celtics fans wondering what direction the team is heading after tonight, that is still TBD. They didn't pull off a blockbuster trade like many hoped, with no Kevin Love coming to town or Rajon Rondo leaving it, but instead used both picks to take some talented players. While both would look good in Celtics green, it's still not clear if they'll be here come training camp.
In Smart and Young, Ainge drafted two players who gives him options on the roster. With Smart, Ainge now has options with both Rajon Rondo (a free agent after this season) and even more so Avery Bradley (a restricted free agent this summer). If a team offers Bradley a hefty contract, the Celtics can say farewell and let Smart take over at the two. If Ainge gets blown away by an offer for Rondo, or wants to trade Rondo for fear of him leaving next summer, he can make that trade and still have a point guard of the future.
In Young, Ainge now has a wing player to take over for Jeff Green if he can find any takes.
Neither player is perfect, and both have plenty of room for improvement, but it looks like the C's took the two best players on the board when it came time for them to pick. If the purpose was to gather even more potential trade chips or give themselves a little more roster flexibility, they did just that.
We didn't get the fireworks we wanted with the Celtics, but there's a good chance they are coming. There is a lot of summer left, and teams are waiting for Lebron James to make his next decision to move forward.
The fireworks are coming. Just be patient.
10: 46 p.m.: The first round is in the books, with 30 more selections set to be made in the second round.
The San Antonio Spurs closed things out by taking Kyle Anderson out of UCLA with the 30th overall pick. That's the third Bruin to be drafted in the first round, and Anderson will likely go on to be an NBA Finals MVP in the coming years.
Just prior to that selection, the Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Stanford senior Josh Huestis.
There weren't any fireworks with the Celtics, and there weren't many around the NBA either. In all, just three trades were made. Nine freshman went in the first round, and there were six international players selected.
We're on to the second round now, where teams have two minutes to make their picks. We're going to peel off of the live blog to break down the Celtics' two first-round picks, but if there are any trades or big picks made, we'll bring them to you!
10: 25 p.m.: With their third first-round pick, the Phoenix Suns drafted Bogdan Bogdanovic, a 6-6 guard from Serbia.
Right after that, the L.A. Clippers drafted Washington guard C.J. Wilcox with the 28th pick.
Just two more picks in the first round.
10:14 p.m.: And the picks have started flying in, which is nice.
Houston drafted power forward Clint Capela out of Switzerland with the 25th pick. It sounds like the Swiss big man could be on the move though.
Right after that, the Charlotte Hornets/Miami Heat drafted PJ Hairston, who put up some impressive numbers in the NBA D-League last season.
As for Chartlotte's trade with Miami, they received the 26th pick (Hairston) and a second rounder in exchange for Napier. Which is too bad, because a Napier-Kemba Walker backcourt would have brought back some great memories for UConn fans.
10:06 p.m.: Shabazz Napier is going to the Heat.
Napier, who led the Huskies to the NCAA title last season, was drafted 24th overall by the Hornets, and for a moment we thought he would join fellow Massachusetts native Noah Vonleh on the Hornets. But he was shipped to the Miami Heat, who hope a better point guard like Napier will keep Lebron James in South Beach.
Napier can score, he can pass, and most importantly, he wins. It's just a shame he'll try to do all those things in Miami, but it's good to see the 2014 Final Four Most Outstanding Player find a home in the NBA.
10:03 p.m.: Rodney Hood was a guy linked to the Celtics at 17, but he had to wait around a few picks longer.
Hood, a talented forward out of Duke, was taken 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz. Hood put up impressive numbers despite being in Jabari Parker's shadow last season.
9:58 p.m.: With the 22nd overall pick, the Memphis Grizzlies drafted shooting guard Jordan Adams out of UCLA.
A good finisher who can score, Adams is also praised for having a nose for steals. Sounds a little like Tony Allen, who the LA Clippers reportedly tried to pry from Memphis earlier today.
9:52 p.m.: With the 21st overall pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Michigan power forward Mitch McGary.
At 6-10 he can help the Thunder right now, and he's one of the quicker big men in the draft this year. This pick could mean even less playing time for old friend Kendrick Perkins.
9:44 p.m.: The Toronto Raptors went international with their first pick, drafting Brazilian forward Bruno Cabocio.
ESPN said he is described as the "Brazilian Kevin Durant." I do not know anything about Bruno other than he's 6-9, and for that I apologize. But then again, it doesn't sound like many know much about this kid.
9:33 p.m.: With the 19th pick, the Nuggets drafted Michigan State guard Gary Harris. The Bulls technically made the pick for them, but you get the picture.
Harris was expected to be a lottery pick, so he dropped a little bit tonight.
9:32 p.m.: With the 18th pick, the Suns selected Syracuse point guard Tyler Ennis.
Ennis averaged 12.9 points and 5.5 assists for Syracuse last season.
9:20 p.m.: In need of a scorer, the Celtics took Kentucky's James Young with the 17th overall pick.
Young was one of the better shooters in the NCAA in 2014, shooting 41 percent from the field while averaging 14.3 points per game. He shot just 35 percent from beyond the arc, but could be a lethal three-point shooter in the NBA. The freshman scored 20 points in Kentucky's NCAA title game loss against UConn and 17 points in their Final Four win over Wisconsin. He could take over at small forward if Boston chooses to trade Jeff Green at some point.
At 6-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, Young is a perfect fit for either shooting guard or small forward, depending on how all the dominoes fall for Boston.
As of right now the Celtics are done, but Danny Ainge is a big fan of second round selections. We'll see if he makes a move to get a pick in the second round.
So far though, CBSSports' Matt Moore is a fan of Boston's draft tonight:
Celtics: A-: A real plug-and-play option that allows them to move Green. Nothing complicated and they got two good talents in this draft
— Matt Moore Action Network NBA (@MattMooreTAN) June 27, 2014
9:15 p.m.: The Celtics are back on the clock.
The Chicago Bulls (for the Denver Nuggets) drafted 6-11 center Jusuf Nurkic from Bosnia. But before the Celtics could jump on the clock, NBA commissioner Adam Silver honored Baylor's Isaiah Austin, who had to withdraw from the draft after being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. He played while legally blind in one eye at Baylor, but found out just days ago that he couldn't continue his career.
Silver said "The NBA selects Baylor's Isaiah Austin" in another classy move by the new commish.
And now the Celtics are back on the clock.
9:10 p.m.: With the 15th pick, the Atlanta Hawks selected Michigan State big man Adreian Payne.
If it wasn't for Wiggins, Payne would have won the award for "Best Dressed" on draft night:
9:00 p.m.: One potential pick for the Celtics at 17 is off the board, as the Suns have selected TJ Warren with the 14th overall pick. The offensively gifted small forward was the ACC player of the year in 2014 after averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for NC State.
8:55 p.m.: With the 13th overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted point guard Zach LaVine out of UCLA.
Just a note: Kevin Love is still a member of the T-Wolves.
The Phoenix Suns are now on the clock, with the Celtics just a few picks away from making their second first-round selection.
8:52 p.m.: With their second pick of the first round, the Orlando Magic drafted forward Dario Saric with the 12th overall pick.
Saric just signed with a team in Turkey, so he won't be eligible to play in the NBA for two years. That won't matter to the Magic though, who will send Saric to the 76ers for Elfrid Payton, according to Wojnarowski.
So the 76ers will now have to wait on Embiid and Saric, after waiting on Noel last season.
8:42 p.m.: Dougie "McBuckets" is going to Denver to Chicago.
The Nuggets drafted the offensively gifted Doug McDermott with the 11th overall pick, but will now reportedly ship him to the Chicago Bulls. In return, the Nuggets get the 16th and 19th overall picks.
McDermott was the national player of the year, Big East player of the year and NCAA scoring champ in 2014 at Creighton.
8:36 p.m.: The 76ers have made their second first-round pick, selecting point guard Elfrid Payton out of the University of Louisiana Lafayette. He's a great defender with some offensive deficiencies, but the 76ers will have him plenty of time to grow alongside Michael Carter-Williams.
Although after writing that, Wojonarowski tweets that Payton could be on the move. We'll keep an eye out as we await our first trade of the evening.
8:28 p.m.: Haverhill's Noah Vonleh is off the board, going to the Charlotte Hornets with the ninth overall pick.
Vonleh played one season with the Indiana Hoosiers, and impressed many during workouts with his crazy 7-4 wingspan and HUGE hands. He has a lot of potential, and a lot of room for growth. But it's good to see a local kid go in the Top 10 again.
8:22 p.m.: The Kings held on to that eighth pick, and selected Michigan forward Nik Stauskas.
8:17 p.m.: Julius Randle skipped his second workout with the Celtics to hit a GQ shoot, thinking he would be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers come Thursday night. He was right.
The Lakers took the Kentucky big-man with the seventh overall pick. His draft stock took a hit due to injury concerns, but the kid is a beast and nearly carried the Wildcats to the NCAA title.
For those interested in hearing what Wyc Grousbeck has to say about Marcus Smart, tune in to 98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones Show, as the Celtics owner will join the show shortly.
8:10 p.m.: With the sixth overall pick, the Celtics drafted guard Marcus Smart -- per numerous reports.
In two seasons at Oklahoma State, Smart averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 assists and 5.9 rebounds. He's a gifted defensive guard and gives Boston some options with Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley. Should Bradley bolt as a restricted free agent, Smart could play alongside Rondo at the two-guard spot (something he said he's open to doing). If the Celtics decide to trade Rondo during the season, which is looking very likely at this point, Smart can slide in as the point guard of the future.
Smart could have been the top pick last year, but chose to return to OK State. His shooting is his biggest issue, but he is very athletic and can be explosive to the basket.
Maybe the most interesting part of the pick is that Chad Ford beat Wojnarowski to the news on Twitter.
We'll have much more on this selection throughout the night, so stick with CBSBostonsports.com!
8:02 p.m.: With the fifth pick, the Utah Jazz have taken Australian guard Dante Exum.
The Celtics are now off the clock, with both Aaron Gordon and Joel Embiid off the board. Likely candidates for the Celtics now are Marcus Smart, Noah Vonleh and Julius Randle.
Don't worry about that McLemore trade: Wojnarowski has since tweeted that the Kings are planning on keeping the eighth pick.
7:56 p.m.: The Celtics were said to be "locked in" on Aaron Gordon with the sixth pick, but apparently the Magic were just as locked in to him with the fourth pick.
The Magic drafted the Arizona big-man, who averaged 12.4 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Wildcats in his only NCAA season.
The Jazz are on the clock, with the Celtics on deck.
Note: Wojnarowski is two picks ahead of the TV broadcast. Good job, good effort ESPN!
7:53 p.m.: If you were worried the Celtics would take a chance on an injured Embiid, you don't have to loose anymore sleep.
With two picks in the top 10, the Philadelphia 76ers drafted the Kansas big man third overall. They did a similar move last year, trading for Nerlens Noel despite knowing he would be out for all of last season.
Embiid looked a little disappointed, showing no reaction on TV when the pick was announced.
The Orlando Magic are now on the clock.
7:49 p.m.: Philly's pick isn't in yet, but we have a trade rumor involving the Celtics.
The C's are reportedly talking about swapping the sixth overall pick with the Sacramento Kings for shooting guard Ben McLemore -- the seventh pick in last year's draft. The report comes from Wojnarowski, of course.
McLemore had a disappointing rookie season for the Kings, averaging just 8.8 points per game on 38 percent shooting from the floor.
There must be more to the package, but Rajon Rondo's name was not mentioned in Wojo's tweet.
7:45 p.m.: The Bucks got their man, and went with Jabari Parker with the second overall pick.
The Duke forward put up some impressive numbers in his lone collegiate season, averaging 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The Bucks were in desperate need of a star, and Parker should give them just that. There are questions about his work ethic, especially on defense, but he's got a very polished offensive game.
The 76ers are now on the clock, and the Embiid watch is on.
7:40 p.m.: With their second straight first overall pick, the Cavaliers drafted Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins
After the Anthony Bennett disaster from last year (pilled on to that Dion Waiters pick in 2012), the Cavaliers went with what many see as a "can't miss" pick in Wiggins. The 6-8 forward averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in his only season at Kansas, and is a freak athlete with a ton of potential.
It was back and forth between Wiggins and Jabari Parker for most of the year, and that discussion returned last week when Embiid underwent foot surgery. In the end, it's Wiggins who ends up going first overall, as many suspected when he played his first game for the Jayhawks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are now on the clock (if you don't like spoilers, stay off Twitter. Mainly stay away from Wojnarowski's account).
7:32 p.m.: And we're underway in Brooklyn. The Cleveland Cavaliers are now on the clock, and have five minutes to make their pick.
Andrew Wiggins? Jabari Parker? Maybe they still take Embiid -- foot injury and all? We'll know in a few minutes...
7:17 p.m.: The draft is just a few minutes away, but it appears a local prospect's stock is falling.
Haverhill's Noah Vonleh is on the slide, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. It was thought that the Indiana product could be a potential target for the Celtics at sixth, but Woj is reporting the highest Vonleh will likely go is to the Lakers at seventh.
Another quick tidbit from Wojnarowski: The Pelicans are shopping forward Ryan Anderson and guard Austin Rivers. The Herald's Steve Bulpett tweeted to keep an eye on the Celtics as a possible landing spot for Austin.
6:49 p.m.: Celtics great Cedric Maxwell wants the Celtics to draft a big man tonight, and there happens to be one he loves.
Maxwell joined Dan Roche on WBZ-TV's 6 p.m. newscast, and would love to see Boston draft Kansas center Joel Embiid. He doesn't care if the C's have to move up or Embiid drops to six, he wants to see the 7-footer in green next season.
"The thing about him which is really different is he is not duplication of what you already have," said Max. "You have a multitude of power forwards and guards. How do you change the prospect of your team? Get a big who can play in the interior, block shots and rebound for you."
Max wouldn't be surprised to see Ainge make a trade, given all of Boston's chips, if he cannot draft Embiid.
6:24 p.m.: Danny Ainge is in a very good mood heading into tonight's draft.
"Does anybody have any questions that I probably won't answer?," he asked the media just a few minutes ago as he took the podium at the TD Garden.
Ainge did give out some info in his brief availability, saying that he feels the team will likely use their two first-round selections. He said it is very unlikely they move up tonight, but it's possible that they move back. The team is ready for any different scenarios that may present themselves.
"I think that probably, most likely, it looks like we'll keep them," he said of their first-round selections. "I do feel like we're going to get a good player at six; a player who can be a started in the NBA. How good they can become, time will tell."
Ainge, maintaining his stance that this draft is "over-hyped," said he does not expect to add any players who can make the team championship contenders on their own.
Ainge also said the team has looked over Joel Embiid's medical records, and that he believes in his medical staff. That's the only comment he made on Embiid.
6:17 p.m.: The night we've been speculating about for months is here, and it's a very big one for the Boston Celtics. In a few short hours we'll have a better picture of what the future of franchise holds, and if we're in for a quick rebuild or a longer one.
At the moment, Boston owns the sixth and 17th overall selections in the draft, but that could all change in an instant. There have been rumors of Boston moving up, plenty of rumors of them sending their picks and young players to the Timberwolves for Kevin Love, and even those endless rumors of the Celtics dealing point guard Rajon Rondo to begin a complete rebuild. There are also other players on the C's roster with the potential to move, from Jeff Green and Brandon Bass to Keith Bogans' waive-able contract.
For now, those all remain just rumors. But Danny Ainge always seems to be active on draft night, and tonight will likely be no different. The Celtics currently don't own a second round selection, where Ainge has had some very good success in the past, so at the very least, expect "Trader Danny" to try and acquire a late pick if he sees someone on the board he likes.
The Cavaliers, at the moment, will be on the clock beginning at 7:30 p.m.. Stick with CBSBostonsports.com throughout the night as we bring you all the rumors, any trades, and of course, each selection throughout the first round!
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