NBA Mock Draft Pick #8 -- Kristaps Porzingis, Forward, Latvia
The Pistons trade 8th overall pick to the Boston Celtics. Celtics send back Kelly Olynyk, 16th & 33rd overall picks.
SB Nation's Celtics blog, CelticsBlog, explains the pick:
The Celtics have a lot of picks and young players but needed to upgrade the talent on the roster. Moving up allowed them to pick the 7 footer Porzingis who some feel could wind up being the best player from this draft. His shooting and rim-protection potential fit nicely with the system that Brad Stevens is implementing. Kelly Olynyk is a nice rotation player but has a limited ceiling and shares time with Sullinger already. This trade makes this young team even less experienced in the short term, but should be a long term upgrade. Pistons trade 8th overall pick to the Boston Celtics. Celtics send back Kelly Olynyk, 16th & 33rd overall picks. Celtics taking Porzingis.
The Celtics have a lot of picks and young players but needed to upgrade the talent on the roster. Moving up allowed them to pick the 7 footer Porzingis who some feel could wind up being the best player from this draft. His shooting and rim-protection potential fit nicely with the system that Brad Stevens is implementing. The downside is that he's going to take time to develop.
Kelly Olynyk is a nice rotation player but has a limited ceiling and shares time with Sullinger (and others) already. This trade makes this young team even less experienced in the short term, but should be a long term upgrade. There's also a very good chance that a lot other moves could be on the horizon come July 1st.
SB Nation's Pistons blog, Detroit Bad Boys, explains the trade:
It's not going to be easy to fill holes in the starting lineup at both small forward and power forward this summer. By trading the pick, we get a solution at one of those spots while also still getting a solid pick in a deep draft.
Olynyk is a great fit for the direction this team is heading. With Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond causing havoc in the pick and roll game, Olynyk will get a lot of open shots. It was tempting to keep the pick, or even ask for Sullinger instead with his superior rebounding ability, but Olynyk's mobility off the ball should make him better for our team.
With the 16th pick, we also should still be able to grab a quality prospect for the wing - not with the upside of others perhaps, but still someone solid who should be able to contribute right away.
1) Minnesota Timberwolves: KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS
2) Los Angeles Lakers: JAHLIL OKAFOR
3) Phoenix Suns (via Philadelphia 76ers): D'ANGELO RUSSELL
4) New York Knicks: JUSTISE WINSLOW
5) Orlando Magic: WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN
6) Philadelphia 76ers (via Sacramento Kings): MARIO HEZONJA
7) Denver Nuggets: EMMANUEL MUDIAY
8) Boston Celtics (via Detroit Pistons): KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
10) Miami Heat
11) Indiana Pacers
12) Utah Jazz
13) Phoenix Suns
15) Atlanta Hawks
16) Boston Celtics
17) Milwaukee Bucks
18) Houston Rockets
20) Toronto Raptors
21) Dallas Mavericks
22) Chicago Bulls
27) Los Angeles Lakers
28) Boston Celtics
29) Brooklyn Nets
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