Boston Celtics: Redrafting the last decade of first round picks
Original pick: Fab Melo
New pick: Draymond Green
Draymond Green is one of the players that you wonder why he never played in a Celtics uniform. Green was been universally known as the glue guy, even in high school and college. He never excelled at one specific thing, but he knew how to make any team he played with better. Danny Ainge’s inamorato, Green was exactly the type of player the Celtics looked for. Instead, the Celtics took Fab Melo.
Melo had one true strength. He was one of the biggest guys in the draft. However, he had turnover and footwork issues and had a number of problems off the court, including work ethic. Even though there dozens of red flags, Melo’s raw potential was enough for the Celtics to take him at 22.
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Fab Melo had a relatively disappointing career, which only lasted one season, while Green was an all-star by his fourth season with Warriors. In all fairness, his success in the NBA was partly due to the system he was in. But Boston basketball was about players like him, unselfish and smart, putting their body and mouth on the line in order to win every part of every game.
Adding Draymond Green to the Celtics would have at least made the team more exciting, but his presence on both ends would have helped the development of others while providing a much-needed piece.
MarShon Brooks, the only Celtics first-round selection in 2011, was traded on draft night to the Nets. So let’s move on to 2010. Avery Bradley helped the Celtics on a few runs, but was there anyone that could have been more effectual?