QUESTION FOR YOU HOOPS GEEKS POST DRAFT.

[DEERSPINE GUY]

IMO.....CELTICS HAVE MORE TALENT THAN SIXERS.....
DID CELTS STRETCH THAT FURTHER WITH THEIR DRAFT, DID SIXERS AT LEAST STAY WITH THEM, OR GET CLOSER?

[Sect 236]

Boston got a bit of a steal with Robert Williams at 27. I actually wanted us to take him at 26 to back up Embiid. He's an undersized C at only 6'9 but he's very athletic. He's not going to do much on O outside of putbacks and lobs but he's a good defender. He's a nice developmental piece for a team looking for a future at C.

For us...Zhaire Smith can step in immediately and guard on the perimeter. He too will probably not do too much on O next year outside of cutting to the basket and putbacks but he is SUPER athletic.

Landrey Shamet can really shoot. Like, really really shoot. He can create off the dribble a bit too. He's not going to be much help on D. His lack of athleticism might hurt him.

Shake Milton is a pretty strong shooter too. He's not uber athletic either, but he's actually a pretty good defender and can switch on D and cover multiple positions.

Both Shamet and Milton can handle the PG if need be, but both were considered better prospects playing off the ball as spot up guys. Luckily, we have a 6'10 PG who is great and finding the open man.

None of these guys starts anytime soon. Milton and Zhaire will be nice to have off the bench for defensive purposes though and Milton and Shamet can maybe provide some instant offense on O off the bench.

Boston is still ahead of us talent wise just because they're adding Hayward and Kyrie to a team that already beat us. If Markelle returns to form and Jonah Bolden turns out to be a solid role player, the gap isn't HUGE but they'd still have the edge. A better conditioned Embiid and Simmons with more of a jumpshot changes a lot about this rivalry.

They also have (probably) Sacramento's high lottery pick next year plus Memphis and LAC's 1st rounders (they have some protections on them, but still more pieces to trade). They can trump us in any trade offer for Kawhi if they really wanted to. Boston is good and getting better, but so are we. It'll be a fight for a while.

[DEERSPINE GUY]

THANKS BUD.