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Brad Stevens: Celtics Draft Picks Won't Have 'Any Expectation' To Produce
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- Brad Stevens: Celtics Draft Picks Won't Have 'Any Expectation' To Produce
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The Boston Celtics general manager, Brad Stevens, shared an interesting opinion about the impact of his two freshly drafted rookies.
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"I hope we're good enough that it's hard for any 18-year-old or 19-year-old to come in here and be really good out of the gate," Stevens said. "I think that usually is more about their own personal development and growth, and learning how hard it is and learning how to be a part of a team and learning how we work and how we go about it every day. If they can add value that's great, but there won't be any expectation of that. From my standpoint there certainly is probably a lot of excitement and expectation."
It's easy to see his angle, but it is still unusual to see a general manager admitting that there "won't be any expectation" of getting production on the court from your draft picks.
It is especially interesting when thinking about the fact that last season's second-round draft pick, Hugo Gonzalez, put in starter minutes at times in his rookie season.
"We were sitting here last year, and I didn't think the guy that we drafted would play at all for us, but you never know, let's see," Stevens said. "We'll see how they all come in and work, and he'll certainly have the opportunity like everybody else, but you're behind when you're 19."
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The player Stevens is referring to is former Houston Cougars forward Chris Cenac Jr., who was drafted No. 27 overall by Boston on Tuesday.
Stevens said the program he played for played a part in the decision to draft him in the first round.
"He's just a good young player," Stevens said. "I think with his size and his length, and when you play in the program he's played for, he's been taught well and been held to a high standard. I like that and he will undoubtedly come here and be eager to jump into it.
"He's a good worker. He's a good person. He's got a lot to learn, but we're excited about starting that process with him."
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