Pick Watch 2013

[NikolaPekovic]

If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally

the thing s he does fit a need. an athletic, defensive big man. probly the 2nd biggest need for our team.

[cpfsf]

i'm not endorsing trading the pick. just wondering though, has there been any offers on the trade board yet?

[Gideon]

If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally

the thing s he does fit a need. an athletic, defensive big man. probly the 2nd biggest need for our team.

I agree that Noel fits a need right now... but I also feel like you don't draft somebody on his level to be a back-up. Sure, in his first season (which he will probably miss the start of anyway and then be coming back from injury) it would likely be fine for him to back up Love and Pek and play 28 mpg or whatever, but in the long run somebody that talented drafted that high isn't meant to be a back up. Pek and Love are also too good to be back ups IMO, so somebody would probably have to be dealt at some point.

It probably would have been more accurate of me to say he would cause a positional logjam than that he doesn't fit a current need. I would still lean towards picking him if it's viable, but I think this issue would have to be addressed of moving either Pek or Love (if not now than a season from now) if we pick Noel. I'm really all for drafting Noel -- however I don't want to pick him and then under-utilize him in the maddening way the Jazz have with Favors... so there is the big issue of whether we are willing to move Love or Pek if we draft Noel.

[NikolaPekovic]

If Noel drops because of his injury, I think he would be an incredible steal anywhere outside of the top 2 or 3. I'm actually really high on Noel. I know he doesn't fit our needs positionally

the thing s he does fit a need. an athletic, defensive big man. probly the 2nd biggest need for our team.

I agree that Noel fits a need right now... but I also feel like you don't draft somebody on his level to be a back-up. Sure, in his first season (which he will probably miss the start of anyway and then be coming back from injury) it would likely be fine for him to back up Love and Pek and play 28 mpg or whatever, but in the long run somebody that talented drafted that high isn't meant to be a back up. Pek and Love are also too good to be back ups IMO, so somebody would probably have to be dealt at some point.

It probably would have been more accurate of me to say he would cause a positional logjam than that he doesn't fit a current need. I would still lean towards picking him if it's viable, but I think this issue would have to be addressed of moving either Pek or Love (if not now than a season from now) if we pick Noel. I'm really all for drafting Noel -- however I don't want to pick him and then under-utilize him in the maddening way the Jazz have with Favors... so there is the big issue of whether we are willing to move Love or Pek if we draft Noel.

I see what you mean. But he still has alot of things to work out in his game. He could still be playing 20 mins a game as a rookie backup PF/C on a playoff team.

Drafting him gives us insurance as well. If pek doesn't end up being worth his contract after we see him next to love than we can move on with the Love/Noel frontcourt combo for the future. Which could end up being one of the best Big men duos in the league depending on how Noel devolops.

[[RCG]]

Starting doesn't really matter as long as he gets good minutes. Someone is bound to get injured or miss a couple games here or there too.

Love(36)/Noel(12)
Pekovic(30)/Noel(18)

[Gideon]

Starting doesn't really matter as long as he gets good minutes. Someone is bound to get injured or miss a couple games here or there too.

Love(36)/Noel(12)
Pekovic(30)/Noel(18)

I suppose we could draft him now and just keep an eye on the situation and do what we have to do in a year or two... I'm ok with that approach, but I really just don't want to stifle young talent the way Utah has. I know people argue that you can rotate three high-level players for two positions, but it's not an idea I'm fond of, and I think it rarely works well with young talented players who are capable of being big contributors.

[NikolaPekovic]

http://espn.go.com/nba/lottery2013/mockdraft


Well what i can tell from the generator. Marcus smart is a top 5 pick forsure, he was taken with the first pick by alot of teams. I did it about 20 times and never got the first pick. Portland even got it with a .06%... lol.

It basically has us taking Mcelmore, Noel, Oladipo, then Shabazz in that order.



Oladipo was often taken before shabazz, so heres to hoping one of our guys will be there at 8.

[Murphs56]

I really think we can become the third worst team in the NBA with our injuries. My big fear is Love and Budinger are going to win a lot of games when they come back though.

[Grits n Gravy]

I really think we can become the third worst team in the NBA with our injuries. My big fear is Love and Budinger are going to win a lot of games when they come back though.

i'm really not sure personally but i think you might be right. we have a very tough 10 games coming up that, in light of injuries - depending on the status of pek and ak, we probably only have a chance in 2.
2/3 - @ portland
4/3 - vs miami
6/3 - vs washinghton
9/3 - @ denver
10/3 - vs dallas
12/3 - vs san antonio
13/3 - @ indiana
15/3 - @ houston
17/3 - vs new orleans
18/3 - @ memphis

thats a pretty brutal stretch. our only games that we should be have a chance in are washington and new orleans. even washington is playing great ball lately as they won 7 of 9 with nene in the line up before losing their last two with nene out(he is day to day and will probably be back when we play them).

as of today:
26. Memphis (38-19)

10.Toronto (23-36) -9.5
9. Detroit (23-38) -8.5
8. Minnesota (20-35) -8.5
7. Phoenix (21-39) -7
6. New Orleans(21-39) -7
5.Cleveland(20-39) -6.5
4. Sacramento (20-40) -6
3. Washington (18-39) -5.5
2. Orlando (16-43) -2.5
1. Charlotte (13-45)

[[RCG]]

Please let us slip to #4, we are so close!

Keep Kirilenko & Pek out until after the Washington game.

[Murphs56]

Please let us slip to #4, we are so close!

Keep Kirilenko & Pek out until after the Washington game.

If Washington keeps playing the way they are playing, I'm pretty sure we can finish at 3. I don't think we can overtake Orlando or Charlotte but 3 would be nice. Like I said, with Love and Bud expected to play somewhere around 15-20 games, that may really hurt our draft status

[Klomp]

Through 3/2

1. Charlotte (13-45) .224
2. Orlando (16-43) .271
3. Washington (18-39) .316
4. Sacramento (20-40) .333
5. Cleveland (20-39) .339
6. Phoenix (21-39) .350
7. New Orleans (21-39) .350
8. Minnesota (20-36) .357
9. Detroit (23-38) .377
10. Toronto (23-37) .383
11. Philadelphia (23-34) .404
12. Dallas (26-32) .448
13. Portland (26-30) .464
14. Los Angeles (28-30) .483
----------
26. Memphis (38-19) .667

Sunday's Key Games
PHI @ WAS
CHA @ SAC

[NikolaPekovic]

Either way. I know kahn will mess it up and will overpay for some shooter with the pick.

[Klomp]

(Not So) Fun Fact

2011-12: Started 21-20; finished 5-20 (without Ricky Rubio)
2012-13: Started 15-14; 5-22 since (without Kevin Love)

[[RCG]]

Nice wins by the Wizards and Kings!

[Murphs56]

Yup game against the Heat next. We should get blown out there..Then we'll see what happens against the Wiz

[cpfsf]

since we're considering every possible scenario to increase our odds, i'll add another to the mix. wish for san antonio losses. they are currently the #1 seed. they are our last opponent of the season and they may rest their starters if the outcome of the game does not affect their seed.

[[RCG]]

since we're considering every possible scenario to increase our odds, i'll add another to the mix. wish for san antonio losses. they are currently the #1 seed. they are our last opponent of the season and they may rest their starters if the outcome of the game does not affect their seed.

Well Tony Parker is out for awhile so that is a solid possibility.

[Klomp]

since we're considering every possible scenario to increase our odds, i'll add another to the mix. wish for san antonio losses. they are currently the #1 seed. they are our last opponent of the season and they may rest their starters if the outcome of the game does not affect their seed.

I think they'll rest their starters no matter what anyways. It's the San Antonio way.

[Murphs56]

The Spurs bench would beat our starters. At least without Love and Bud