Zizic brings the muscle
Croatian likes physical play
Ante Zizic, the bruising Croatian center the Celtics took with the 23rd pick in last night’s NBA draft, has not discussed the possibility of being a so-called draft-and-stash player.
“I’m going to see what will happen, but I need a day to think about it, to talk to the guys on the club about it,” Zizic said.
Unlike some European big men, he has a reputation for playing physical basketball or, as some describe it, a mean streak.
“It’s my style of play,” said Zizic, who grew up playing with fellow firstrounder Dragan Bender (No. 4 to Phoenix), but emulated someone who will be familiar to Celtics fans.
“Dino Radja. I know him but not very well,” he said. “But I met him. I know he played for the Celtics.”
Slighting Bender
After seeing Bender in person twice in the last two weeks, once in Israel and on Tuesday in Waltham, the Celtics walked away unimpressed, leading to the decision not to draft the tall, floor-spacing Croatian forward.
Danny Ainge and Austin Ainge both felt his size continued to be an issue.
“He’s just so slight,” Austin said recently of concerns that never abated.
Bender came off the bench for Maccabi Tel Aviv and didn’t break the rotation in a number of games, making it difficult to judge his play this winter. Judgments, instead, were based on his success as a junior in Croatia’s national program.
Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough, who developed his hoop chops under Danny Ainge, didn’t hesitate. He took Bender with the fourth pick.
Boo party
News of the team taking Jaylen Brown with the third pick triggered a room full of boos from season ticket-holders at the Garden’s draft party, but the 19-yearold certainly left a strong impression with the Celts.
“Danny and his staff feel that he’s got significant upside,” said Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck. “He’s already an accomplished player at a young age. We feel that he’s got the physique and the competitive drive, and the motor, and the skills, and really important the character and the intelligence.
“He’s a very, very smart guy. I chatted with him a bit when he came to work out. Got to know him a bit. I went to Stanford, he went to Cal. We’ll just leave that right there. We can get over that, but really impressed with Jaylen, A to Z. And looking forward to having him in Celtics green, and think it’s the right move for our team at this time and in the future.”
Thomas the tweeter
Last night’s viewing, and listening, wasn’t only uncomfortable for Celtics fans. Isaiah Thomas, after hearing an ESPN commentator say that he overachieved last season, jumped on Twitter, his favorite forum.
“Overachieved? Damn this is a good summer lol. There is always something!” the Celtics point guard tweeted, adding another slight to his sizable pile of motivational material.
Jae Crowder, undoubtedly motivated by all of the talk about the Celtics’ failed attempt to trade for the Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, also got busy with the following tweet: “I HEAR YOU GUYS! #MOTIVATION”
The tweet was accompanied by a “thinking face” emoji.