Expert: Fabio Anderle - 5/28/2006

Question
What will the C's end up doing with the 7th pick in the draft?  It seems as though Aldridge, Thomas, and Morrison are slated to go 1, 2, and 3.  Bargnani seems like he'd go to Portland at 4, Marcus Williams to Atlanta at 5, and Gay to Minnesota at 6 which leaves Brandon Roy available at 7.  Though if the order went like that, I can't see the C's holding onto Roy.  This does seem like a very deep draft if you need a 2/3...too bad the C's are stocked in those spots.

It seems that the best option for Boston is to orchestrate some kind of deal involving Portland and Charlotte.  The Bobcats can acquire the Celtics' 7th pick, Ryan Gomes, and a future pick for the 3rd pick in the draft and Primoz Brezec, Portland can take Wally Szcerbiak, Kendrick Perkins, Dan Dickau Primoz Brezec, and the C's can end up with Zach Randolph, Jarret Jack and the 3rd pick (selecting Adam Morrison).  This deal gives all the 3 teams involved the right mix of players they'd want in years to come.  The C's could then use some of the MLE on Lorenzo Wright, who can provide defense and veteran leadership off the bench.
PF Z. Randolph/ A. Jefferson/ B. Scalbrine
SF A. Morrison/ G. Green
C R. LaFrentz/ L. Wright/ D. Jones
SG P. Pierce/ T. Allen
PG D. West/ J. Jack/ O. Greene
-What do you think the C's will end up doing with the 7th pick?

Answer
My personal opinion is that, as long Ainge can't orchestrate a deal which would give the Celtics a solid player with a palatable contract, he'll stick with his pick. There are three reasons that make me think like that: 1) Ainge has ALWAYS drafted well and 2) draft picks have low contracts which don't affect your cap situation and 3) in the last years a lot of picks have slipped because teams were looking for position and not for talent like the Celtics GM always seems to do.
On your "deal forecast", I can only say that I would love to see Jack, Morrison and Randolph, but I would not get rid so easily of Szczerbiak, a deadeye shooter which has allowed Pierce to flourish in the second half of the season by keeping defenses honest with his long distance bombs.


Fabio