Re: [2019] Prospetti per il draft
Boston Celtics Draft 2019: Goga Bitadze, Sekou Doumbouya could be intriguing options at 14
Today 6:00 AM
By Matt Vautour |
mvautour@masslive.com Could the Boston Celtics look overseas with their first of three picks in the first round? ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, who specializes in overseas NBA prospects, thinks there are two players - Goga Bitadze and Sekou Doumbouya - who might make sense for Danny Ainge to consider at No. 14 if he doesn’t move the pick:
Bitadze, is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-11, 251-pound center from Georgia (the country), who is playing professionally in Serbia. His draft stock has leaped in recent weeks.
"One thing that’s well known right now is the plethora of international starting centers in the league. He fits in that mold eventually. He’s big, he’s tough, he’s sturdy. He’s skilled and he continues to improve his 3-point shooting,” Fraschilla said. “He definitely has the capability of being a modern NBA big man in the Enes Kanter, Nikola Jokic realm. I don’t want to say he’s as good as any of those guys but it’s certainly similar background and experience coming into the NBA. In my opinion, unless someone decides to bite on him a little early, he’s right in the Celtics wheelhouse.”
Fraschilla said Bitadze’s biggest concern is on defense.
“He has one major weakness and it’s what keeps him from being an absolute lottery pick. It’s lack of lateral quickness on the perimeter defensively. That’s an issue for any young big man of his size, no matter who it is,” Fraschilla said. “He’s going to have to learn how to defend and give ground and use his length, given that his lateral quickness is not going to improve dramatically. But as far as a young big man with the potential to be a starting center, I think he absolutely fits the mold.”
Doumbouya is mostly projection. The native of Guinea playing in France is only 18, but he has some intriguing potential.
“He will be the youngest player taken in the first round,” Fraschilla said. “He has prototypical NBA athleticism, size and length for a modern mobile power forward. He runs the floor hard, he can handle the ball in transition. His instincts are good for a young big guy and he’s improving as an outside shooter. He’s shooting about 36 percent from 3 and 81 from the line. There’s a lot of potential there for this guy. But we’re talking about an 18-year-old. Not a great finisher yet. He still has to improve his agility and defensive instincts.
“He certainly looks the part. There will be a team in the Celtics range that will like his long term potential because he has a modern NBA power forward body,” Fraschilla added. “Because of his age and inexperience, although he’s now playing in professional level against men. He’s another guy who fits right into the Celtics wheelhouse.”
Fraschilla thought both Bitadze and Doumbouya would likely stay in the United States and begin their NBA careers right away.
If the Celtics are looking for draft-and-stash options - players who’ll return to Europe and not require a roster spot or count against the salary cap with their No. 20 or 22 picks, Fraschilla has some possibilities:
Deividas Sirvydis is a 6-foot-8 Lithuanian lefty who can really shoot.
“He’ll be one of the youngest players in the draft. Not a super athlete. But he can really shoot it,” Fraschilla said. “He knows how to play and actually can be sort of play-making forward in the Joe Ingles range. Potential to go in the first round and he could be potentially a 20 or 22 for the Celtics depending on their salary cap situation. He’s a kid who could potentially go 20 or 22. I think that’s a little high, but some teams really like him.”
Luka Samanic is a 6-foot-11, 215-pound Croatian playing in Slovenia.
“Eventually he’s seen as a stretch big, with agility, ability to handle the ball, but physically he’s a long way from playing meaningful minutes in the NBA,” Fraschilla said. “He’s not my cup of tea right now, but he’s certainly someone all the teams have seen and are looking at with long term potential. He doesn’t turn 20 until January. He’s perfect for the Celtics to draft and stash at 20 or 22.”
Fraschilla thought Yovel Zoosman, a 6-foot-8 Israel native, wasn’t good enough to be a first round pick, but teams specifically looking for a draft and stash possibility might consider him.
“To me he’s not a first round pick. He’s more or a second. Ideal at 51. He’s a 6-foot-8, 200-pound. small forward from Israel. He’s not my cup of tea at the moment. I wouldn’t talk him with 20 or 22. More in the early second.”
Brian Bowen - After the NCAA declared him ineligible because of his role in the pay-play scandal that’s still being adjudicated off the court, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward went to Australia.
“Because he played in Australia last year and had a reasonably good season, there is some late first round buzz around him,” Fraschilla said. “He’s a ‘3 and D’ kind of guy. He could really become a good defender. He had a professional attitude and had a lot of improvement in his year in the professional league. He can play without the ball and plays with great energy. He’s not a super athlete by NBA standards. He’s just good enough. I don’t see him going 20 or 22, but he’s going to be looked at very closely by playoff teams, and especially teams that have multiple first round picks like the Celtics.”
