Celtics: Looking Back at the Terrible 2012 Draft

Looking back at one of the Celtics’ worst drafts in team history

In a shortened lockout season in 2011-12, the Boston Celtics managed to win the division with a 39-27 record and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite their successful season, the Celtics ended up with a decent pick – 21st overall – and also owned the 22nd pick in the draft from the Oklahoma City Thunder through the Kendrick Perkins trade.

Despite two first round picks, and a late second rounder, Boston ended up with one of their worst draft classes in recent memory. The 22nd pick Fab Melo and second round pick Kris Joseph only combined to play in 16 games. Now with Jared Sullinger likely on his way out after the Celtics rescinded his qualifying offer, the end to the horrific 2012 draft is finally upon us.

Sullinger was easily the most successful out of the three. He managed to play 258 games and start 171 of them over four seasons. Aside from his weight issues, he had a solid run with the Celtics, making it somewhat surprising that he’s lasted this long on the open market.

After falling out of the lottery due to back concerns, Sullinger was never able to reach the level many expected he would. Injuries aren’t to blame, nor is his weight, rather he was just inconsistent with Boston and could never establish himself as the team’s best big man. Even last season, when he clearly was the most talented player in the Celtics’ front court, his inconsistent play continued to apply doubts in people’s minds.

Sure, he led the team in rebounds per game (8.3), but you never knew what to expect from him on a game-by-game basis. There were games where Sullinger looked like a starting-caliber big man, and then there were times he looked like how he did in the playoffs.

The lasting memory of Sullinger getting bullied in the paint by Paul Millsap and Al Horford is definitely a reason why he’s still not signed, and is a good comparison when reminiscing on the 2012 draft. It got to a point where Brad Stevens almost took him out of the rotation entirely. He ended up averaging a mere 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 13.5 minutes.

Although, he provided no defense and the Hawks didn’t respect his outside shot so the lane remained clogged. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as Sullinger shot an atrocious 31 percent from the field and 28.9 percent from two-point range.

While that shouldn’t be how we remember Sullinger’s time in Boston, it’s likely the last we see of him in green. The lasting memory should be that for three years he was seen as guy ready to break onto the stage and become the player many people expected, but it never happened.

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite averaging a double-double per 36 minutes in all four seasons with the Celtics, and averaging 13.3 points per game in his second and third year, there was always something missing from his game.

It wasn’t his weight, it wasn’t that he miserably failed trying to become a stretch-four. Maybe it was his mediocre defense or inability to string together more than a couple of good games in a row. Either way, he was a decent role player for four seasons in Boston, and maybe he’s not a bust, but he didn’t pan out, either. He always left us wanting more, knowing that there was potential for him to do so, but he could never deliver.

With that being said, he still gave more to Boston than Fab Melo and Kris Joseph did, combined. The Syracuse teammates, as previously noted, only played in 16 games. While second rounders, like Joseph, flop all the time, Melo is a different story.

At the time, it was an odd pick, and it is more so now. Melo was that year’s version of Skal Labissiere, but not as talented. In 30 games for Syracuse as a sophomore, he posted 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. While his defense was his selling point, he wasn’t tough in the paint when working on the glass, and unless he was dunking the ball, he had no impact on the offensive end.

In short, he was drafted solely on potential, despite many people questioning how much was really there. Boston was still in the Doc Rivers and Big 3 era, and drafting a young big man who could develop behind Kevin Garnett would be beneficial. In a sense, the Celtics were trying to draft their future front court, preparing for Garnett’s departure.

In the end, Melo was up-and-down between Boston and Maine all season and only managed to play 36 minutes for the Celtics before being traded to Memphis the following year. The seven-footer was eventually waived by Memphis and Dallas before taking his talents overseas.

In his little playing time, he showed very little improvement from college. He blocked two shots in garbage time, was atrocious on offense, besides when he was right at the basket, and had no impact on the glass.

More from Hardwood Houdini

Melo was a bust, and one of the worst draft picks by the Celtics in recent memory.

At the time, it seemed like a solid draft by Boston. NBADraftNet and CBS Sports gave the Celtics a B+, ESPN gave Boston a B and Yahoo went out on the limb by giving them an A. There were high hopes for two big men budding with potential, one of them being a two-time First Team All-American, and a small forward who had a solid career with Syracuse.

Teams rarely find two starters in one draft, especially when picking outside of the lottery, but many people felt the Celtics had done that. Sure, Sullinger started 73 games last season, but he was far from a starting caliber player.

Next: Could Jaylen Brown Start for Boston?

I guess it’s just a good thing that the 2012 draft is behind us, and the last remaining bit the Celtics have of the draft is Jae Crowder.

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