Blakely On Johnston & Flynn: Will The Celtics Use Both First Round Picks?
With Toucher & Rich off at 98.5 The Sports Hub's second annual "Who's Your Caddy? Classic," Johnston and Flynn took over Tuesday morning.
With the NBA Draft just a few days away, CSNNE.com Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely joined the show to break down what the C's will do with their two first-round picks.
The Celtics have back-to-back picks at 21st and 22nd, but will they use both of them?
"As of now, they're planning on using both of those picks. But a lot can change between now and draft night," said Blakely. "I think they'll look to move one of those picks. You have to keep in mind they have two young players in the fold in JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, and to add two more very young players, plus Avery Bradley – who showed signs of growth this past season – you're talking about having a sizable chunk of your roster with guys that have three years or less with experience. That's a pretty hefty chunk of your roster for a team like the Celtics that has been such a veteran savvy team."
Read: Wally Szczerbiak Breaks Down NBA Draft
As for potential targets for the Celtics, Blakely sees them taking the best players available when their time comes.
When you're picking in the 20's you don't have a choice but to take the best player available. Fortunately for the Celtics, they have a lot of need," he said, noting guys like Vanderbilt's John Jenkins, Syracuse's Fab Melo and Iowa State's Royce White. "You're talking about guys that, on the surface, they're not going to replace Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen. But they're guys that could potentially, over the course of the season, help you win a game or two. When you're picking late in the first round, if you can pick a guy who can help a veteran led team like the Celtics win a few games, you'll take that player and be happy."
On the Kevin Garnett front, Doc Rivers said Tuesday morning he had a hunch KG would return to Boston. But, what if he doesn't?
"That is the worst case scenario, because not only are you losing a starting player, but the heart of your team. Rondo is the brain, Paul is the soul, and Kevin is the heart of your team," said Blakely. "You have so many holes that have to be filled if you lose KG that the Celtics will officially be in rebuilding mode."
Listen: Could Ray Allen Leave For Miami?
Plus, what does A. Sherrod think about the rumors that have Ray Allen heading to Miami? Find out that and more with A. Sherrod Blakely with Johnston & Flynn!
