The Celtics got bigger and Oranger on draft night

That’s right folks, I’ve been dating a girl from Syracuse, NY and the Celtics drafted 2 players from Syracuse University. What can I say, I’ve been in Danny Ainge’s ear.

#21: Jared Sullinger, OSU, 6’9” PF

#22: Fab Melo, SU, 7’0” C

#51: Kris Joseph, SU, 6’6” SF

We needed to get bigger and that was clearly Ainge’s priority too. Jared Sullinger was one of the top players in the country but some back issues caused him to drop. He is a rebounding monster and has a solid offensive game. People are comparing him to Big Baby but with a better basketball IQ.

Fab Melo is a 7-footer (you can’t teach size) and a dominant shot-blocker. He could end up a Bill Russell-lite. He needs to work on his offensive game although he is athletic enough to figure it out.

Kris Joseph led SU in scoring the past 2 seasons but isn’t expected to contribute right away. He could end up being a solid player off the bench and would do well to shadow Paul Pierce.

These picks don’t really help us conceive if Kevin Garnett will be returning. Sullinger and Melo could either be his replacements or protégés. Preferably, he would come back to teach them everything he knows, which is a lot. Especially Melo and Joseph who are behind the 8-ball defensively since they played zone in college but will be playing man-to-man in the pros.

I rate the Celtics’ draft as a solid B+. That grade goes up to an A if Sullinger’s injury is nothing serious and he can be the same player he was at Ohio State. Melo also has great upside but will need to learn to become the anchor of the team’s defense. Great upside, great potential, great picks.