Boston Celtics Mock Draft: Fab Melo and 4 Targets Danny Ainge Cannot Ignore

The Boston Celtics have two first round-selections in the 2012 NBA Draft. They also will have one second rounder. Despite the team's current run into the second round of the playoffs, there are numerous flaws within in the Celtics' roster. In the draft, the Celtics will look to restock their bench, and they would be wise to give these five players a long look.

Boston's veteran-laden team will most likely have a whole new look to it next year, as they only have a few players already under contract for next season. Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen will become free agents and test the open market or ponder retirement. Paul Pierce also does not have a great many years left in the league, so the Celtics must draft wisely with their picks. 

With the 21st, 22nd and 51st choices in June's draft, the Celtics will look to both fill needs and add depth. GM Danny Ainge has had some success in the draft, with the latest example being Avery Bradley who emerged as a defensive stud late this season.

Ainge can't afford to ignore these five players over the coming months.

Possible 21st Pick: Doron Lamb

Celtics fans have grown accustomed to the way Paul Pierce plays basketball. His slow, plodding, herky-jerky style is beloved in Boston. However, Pierce will not be around forever. The Celtics already struggle scoring the basketball, and with Ray Allen's future up in the air and Pierce's advancing age, they need to be looking for a scorer in the draft.

Lamb's style is in a way similar to that of Pierce.

Lamb is not a shooter, but a pure scorer. His mid-range game is fantastic and he has improved his three-point range. Lamb got the job done for Kentucky this season, averaging nearly 14 points per game on 47 percent shooting.

Lamb is ideal for the Celtics, because he is a polar opposite to Avery Bradley, their current starting shooting guard. Bradley is a hyper-athletic defender who can struggle shooting the ball.

There are no athletic attributes that stick out about Lamb, however, he can score the basketball at alarming rates. The two players together would be an interesting combo at the position next season.

Possible 21st Pick: Fab Melo

The Celtics, in their current form, are a straight jump-shooting team. They have a very limited inside presence, as their starting 4 and 5, Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett, are mostly perimeter players. Syracuse's Fab Melo is a big man who plays on the interior and has superior athletic ability. 

Though still a raw prospect, the Celtics won't find a player with more upside this late in the draft. Melo's issues at Syracuse included being dismissed from the team and not participating in their NCAA tournament run. His eligibility issues were rumored to be academic, which shows a lot of immaturity.

Should the Celtics make the decision to re-sign Garnett in the offseason, he would be a great mentor for the young center. KG has shown an ability to help along players like Kendrick Perkins and Greg Stiemsma, and could do wonders for a kid like Melo.

Possible 22nd Pick: Drew Gordon

Over the past few NBA drafts, Celtics GM Danny Ainge has shown a definite affinity for a certain type of player. He seems to enjoy undersized power forwards who are scrappy and talented. Draftees like Glen Davis and Leon Powe have found roles and been productive as young players in Boston.

New Mexico's Drew Gordon stands at 6'9" and weighs 245 pounds, a similar makeup to those aforementioned players. Gordon is a ferocious rebounder who averaged double-digit boards in each of his last two college seasons.

Gordon is a four-year college player and would be prepared to contribute immediately in the Celtics' frontcourt. Boston is routinely defeated on the offensive glass because they are so limited at the center position. Moving Kevin Garnett there helped him offensively, but did nothing to quell Boston's rebounding woes.

Possible 22nd Pick: Meyers Leonard

If the Celtics are hoping to continue on with their current game plans, Meyers Leonard would be a good value-pick late in the first round. His game is very refined and he has NBA length at 7'1". Leonard would be an interesting player to see alongside Greg Stiemsma at center.

Leonard's ability from mid-range on offense would be a great fit with the way the Celtics are playing right now. Rajon Rondo is at his best in the halfcourt with a series of jump shooters surrounding him. Leonard could fill that role on the offensive end where he shot 58 percent last season. He is also no slouch in transition, showing fantastic athleticism for his size.

On defense, he will have to add some bulk to handle the other NBA 5s, but he has good feet and solid timing on his shot-blocking (1.9 per game). If the Celtics don't want to overhaul their offensive philosophy, then a player like Leonard could fit right into their offense. 

Possible 51st Pick: Scott Machado

As someone who watched Scott Machado play fairly regularly, I am excited to see what he can do at the next level. Teams often take fliers on long shot players with their second-round picks. Drafting Machado at the 51 spot would be less of taking a chance and more of grabbing a known quantity. 

Iona's four-year point guard led the nation in assists this past season and would be a great fit backing up Rajon Rondo for the Boston Celtics. When Rondo exits the court in games, the Celtics' offense stalls almost immediately. This is an aging team with few players who can create their own shot and even fewer who can get other players open looks. Machado can do both of those things. 

Avery Bradley is not a good enough ball handler to man the PG spot and will be starting at the 2 anyway. Keyon Dooling is a decent spot-up shooter, but is limited as a distributor. Machado would allow the Celtics' offense to transition from first to second unit almost seamlessly.