2013 NBA Draft Results: Boston Celtics Live Draft Grade
By Ben Beecken
Draft Grade: A (for the Hawks), B- (for the Celtics)
The Boston Celtics selected Brazilian big man Lucas Nogueira with the sixteenth pick in the draft, although it sounds like this particular pick is headed to the Atlanta Hawks (through the Dallas Mavericks) as part of a trade. Nogueira is an extremely intriguing prospect, and Danny Ferry continues to do a fantastic job as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks.
Nogueira will slot in very nicely next to Al Horford in the front court for the Hawks, and it looks like the Hawks may also select Dennis Schroeder out of Germany with the 17th pick, giving them a very, very nice haul in the teens of the first round. The pair of international players will make the young Hawks squad (along with their oodles of cap space) a very fun team to watch moving forward.
Both the Hawks and the Magic are rapidly re-building with impressive young talent, while the middle and top of the conference is quickly getting older. Ferry cleared cap space like a mad man last year, and there are tons of expiring contracts coming off the books this summer. Look for the Hawks to shop around this summer for a big time free agent, but if the past calender year is any indication, Ferry won’t take on a bad deal.