2012 NBA Draft - Part V

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

^^ Oh lord. Dumping a top 3 pick to get rid of Blatche when you can just amnesty him could be one of the worst trades in NBA history.

And at the same token if you know what you're doing it could be great.

I said years ago don't draft Kwame, but trade the pick for the rights to Battier and Zach Randolph (or Troy Murphy). Folks discounted me then and nothing has changed.

I said last year Irving could be better than Wall straight up. I would have traded Wall for Irving and a pick. What I heard was how Wall was so much more talented than Kyrie. No, Wall will NEVER be the shooter Irving is. He might be physically talented but we have to wait and see who is the better player. He started ahead of Wall all star weekend, BTW, but that was on a team chosen by Shaq/Barkley.

I can't even begin to think of the trade downs suggested for players who turned out to be the real deal. Last season the 6 could have gone for the rights to Leonard plus a pick.

I will keep saying this until years from now when the next Faried comes up. I usually know this stuff real well. When I have wanted to trade down by and large I have known who for. Many of us knew Leonard and Faried last season but few knew just how much better those guys would be. I said Faried looked like the BEST rookie prospect.

Right now I am saying the perceived difference between MKG and Beal isn't as great in reality between them and lower picks. MKG might not be that much better than Moe Harkless. Someone like Waiters or Lillard might be just as successful as Beal. A player nobody is taking about, Andrew Nicholson, could end up being an all star someday.

Getting rid of Blatche by amnesty is what SHOULD happen. However, Ted Leonsis might not want to do that. All I am saying is it could be possible to trade Blatche AND come up with just as good a player.

Just because the average number 3 is better that isn't the case all the time.

[Dat2U]

We're not taking Drummond...

Drummond is the second-coming of Michael Olowokandi. I'm not worried about missing out on him.

Or the next Andrew Bynum. Bigs develop notoriously slower than everyone else. Not every stud big comes out the block like Anthony Davis. I wouldn't be so quick to write off Drummond. If our goal is to accumulate assets for a consolidation deal down the line, then drafting Drummond makes sense.

Drummond may have struggled mightily on offense all year but defensively he had made huge strides by the end of the season.

I wouldn't begrudge Ernie if he choose Drummond. It would be ballsy move if he made it, which is why I think he won't considering he's basically got two years and Drummond's best ball is probably a few years away.

[Dat2U]

If Portland is offering the 6 & 11 and Drummond is on the board at 6, I'd consider it. Especially if I thought there was a reasonable possibility Dion Waiters is on the board at #11.

Dion Waiters may just be the best pure scorer in the draft.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

We're not taking Drummond. Not with our Kwame and McGee so recent in our institutional memory. Not when Nene and Seraphin are doing a great job at center. Not when Ted has instituted a philosophy of character first. Not when we are in such dire need of wing players.

Drummond is the second-coming of Michael Olowokandi. I'm not worried about missing out on him.

If not the next Olowokandi, he could be the next DeAndre Jordan. I don't want him at #3, either, nate.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

They didn't. Its just speculating on a potential trade. There are rumors that NO is offering a BYOD deal with the 10.

The Wiz should try to get another first one way or another. After watching the combine, guys like Harkless and J.Taylor are wings that can eventually be starters in this and can be had later in the first round. They would be late lotto picks in a weaker draft. Harkless in particular reminds me of Paul George.

I know they haven't actually acquired the pick, was wondering what move you have being made to get that deal done.

I thought the knock on Harkless was that he played more like a power forward than SF.

His perimeter game is even weaker than MKG's and he is not nearly as strong. That said, Harkless has terrific anticipation on defense and he is also a superior rebounder at SF. I don't like him for the Wizards but he's one of those players who has athleticism, intelligence and plays with a high motor that seems to me a good bet to improve. I like Harkless, but he does have offensive bust potential. His strength is clearly on the defensive end of the court and with the ball in transition. I like that he can play some 2, 3, or 4.

[jangles86]

We're not taking Drummond...

Drummond is the second-coming of Michael Olowokandi. I'm not worried about missing out on him.

Or the next Andrew Bynum. Bigs develop notoriously slower than everyone else. Not every stud big comes out the block like Anthony Davis. I wouldn't be so quick to write off Drummond. If our goal is to accumulate assets for a consolidation deal down the line, then drafting Drummond makes sense.

Drummond may have struggled mightily on offense all year but defensively he had made huge strides by the end of the season.

I wouldn't begrudge Ernie if he choose Drummond. It would be ballsy move if he made it, which is why I think he won't considering he's basically got two years and Drummond's best ball is probably a few years away.

+1

[hands11]

While I still see some Wade in Beal, there's another guy who also comes to mind when I think of Beal. Mitch Richmond. Mitch was not as good as athlete as Wade or as good off the dribble, but he was a much better shooter than Wade, as I expect Beal to be. Mitch was a solid 6'5, a height I could see the 18 year old Beal growing to. I expect Beal to be a good rebounder for SG...like both Wade and Richmond. And Beal will probably be an above average shotblocker for a SG...not unlike Wade who is probably the best shotblocking SG in the game.

Beal said in the interview that he was 6-4 and 3/4. Draft X has him listed at 6-5

I definitely saw some Wade in him in that video clip. Hell, the guy on the video who is reviewing him even compares him to Wade and Allen. I remember watching other clips and seeing some Iggy in him. There have also been Eric Gordon comparisons. Those are a lot of good players to be compared to.

He interviews like a Ray Allen. He is very mature and smart. The kid has wide shoulders. On the court he show more fire. You can see it in his swag and on his face. He is no wall flower. He shoots. He likes to attack the basket. He doesn't mind contact. He used to be a PG. He rebounds. He is 18.

As a SG prospect, what more do you want. He is as good a prospect as there is.

I have long said every really good team needs a SG or SG/SF who can do it all. Beal seems to fit that description. They will still need to add a SF who can score, shoot and defend if they want to ever be a top top team but Beal would be a really nice piece to the puzzle.

There looks to be some really nice pieces in this draft. DraftX seems to have top 6 correct. But I think Damian Lillard may go higher then they have him.

[DCZards]

There are huge risks associated with trading a third pick for say a 10th or 11th pick, especially for a GM who wants to keep his job. Yes, there are instances where the 10th pick turned out to be better than the 3rd pick but it's rare. It's fun for us on this board to propose scenarios where a team ends up swapping the 3rd pick for the 10th pick because, unlike the GM, team or owner, there are no repercussions for us if the idea bombs.

(CCJ, D. Williams is better than Bynum, IMO, and I like Paul George but Favors will be the better player in 2-3 years.)

[closg00]

Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder hold pick No. 28, but it’s unlikely that they’ll keep it. Sources close to the situation say that Oklahoma City is satisfied with their young core and they aren’t interested in paying a prospect guaranteed money when he likely won’t be part of the rotation. The Thunder will likely trade or sell the pick. If they aren’t able to move the selection, expect them to draft a foreign player who they can keep overseas for several years.

Please try to get this pick Wizards, we could buy this pick and package it with 32 and possibly move into the teens.

We should be able to trade our #33 straight up for the #28 just to help them avoid taking on a guaranteed contract.

Nice!! 32 for 28, OKC could take a flyer on someone or stash. There will be someone on the board at 28 who can help I his team.

[hands11]

x

[hands11]

If Portland is offering the 6 & 11 and Drummond is on the board at 6, I'd consider it. Especially if I thought there was a reasonable possibility Dion Waiters is on the board at #11.

Dion Waiters may just be the best pure scorer in the draft.

wow, look at this mock. They have Beal going 10th. I find that really hard to believe.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1223 ... t-in-years

This report has Barnes going to SAC town as does DraftX
http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento- ... rnes-kings

This looks closer to the truth except I think the Wizards take Beal
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1223 ... irst-round

[hands11]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/mock-draft

These guys have Beal going second. That would suck. Charlotte should go after Robinson over Beal.

It would suck if we had to trade up to get Beal.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

There are huge risks associated with trading a third pick for say a 10th or 11th pick, especially for a GM who wants to keep his job. Yes, there are instances where the 10th pick turned out to be better than the 3rd pick but it's rare. It's fun for us on this board to propose scenarios where a team ends up swapping the 3rd pick for the 10th pick because, unlike the GM, team or owner, there are no repercussions for us if the idea bombs.

(CCJ, D. Williams is better than Bynum, IMO, and I like Paul George but Favors will be the better player in 2-3 years.)

CCJ Opinions: Bynum plays with an aging, shot jacking SG. He is a dominating C who is only getting better.

Facts: By FAR Bynum was the most effective Laker in 12 playoff games played.

http://www.nerdnumbers.com/splits?team= ... F16%2F2012

DCZ, I don't know what to make of this Kobe vs Bynum comparisons on NBA.com, but it looks interesting.

http://www.nba.com/advancedstats/player ... 2;season=p

Next links shows that Bynum was #2 in FG%, #2 in rebounds per 48, #3 in blocks per 48, and #4 in Efficiency per 48, MOST IMPORTANT is Bynum is #13 in FG per 48 but only #28 in FGA per 48. He makes a lot of shots but does not take that many shots comparatively (due to Kobe jacking shots IMO).

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andrew_by ... stats.html

DCZ, going back to Williams vs Bynum, Deron had a bad year. He led the league in turnovers. Since he left Utah after helping Jerry Sloan call it a career, Deron didn't do much for the Nets except say he will stay only if Dwight comes to the team.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/deron_wil ... stats.html

I don't want to waste time arguing that Williams isn't a tremendous player when he is right. I know about his 57 point game. I know he and Paul sure turned out to be better than the player drafted between them, Marvin Williams. Deron is a scoring PG and an excellent one when he is at the top of his game. Like Bynum, he is a bit of a coach killer. Bynum can be a team killer and so can Deron.

If you think Williams is better, fine. I think Bynum doesn't get the ball enough and he is steadily improving, while Deron has peaked. My original point, any way, is that many times the #3 pick turns out to be better than the #10. I probably convinced few. Fine.

I showed many times players late in the draft turn into stars, like and Al Jefferson.

I will continue to believe trade downs can be good, and I think one getting rid of Blatche could be great.

The thing I see now is how good of a prospect Beal really is and the same for MKG. I understand why many think it is ludicrous to not keep the pick. Personally, I still think something like replacing MKG with Zeller and Ross, while getting rid of Blatche might have a very good positive effect. Stability, camaraderie, team play, and maybe getting a better offensive player as opposed to an all world competitor and defensive player could help.

We will see. Funny thing is I believe EG is going to draft Barnes at #3. That is as likely as him drafting Beal or MKG IMO.

[Wizardspride]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/mock-draft

These guys have Beal going second. That would suck. Charlotte should go after Robinson over Beal.

It would suck if we had to trade up to get Beal.

We wouldn't trade up to get Beal.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

We're not taking Drummond...

Drummond is the second-coming of Michael Olowokandi. I'm not worried about missing out on him.

Or the next Andrew Bynum. Bigs develop notoriously slower than everyone else. Not every stud big comes out the block like Anthony Davis. I wouldn't be so quick to write off Drummond. If our goal is to accumulate assets for a consolidation deal down the line, then drafting Drummond makes sense.

Drummond may have struggled mightily on offense all year but defensively he had made huge strides by the end of the season.

I wouldn't begrudge Ernie if he choose Drummond. It would be ballsy move if he made it, which is why I think he won't considering he's basically got two years and Drummond's best ball is probably a few years away.

What kind of hands does Drummond have? What adjustments does he make on his FTs? What kind of teammate is he? How are his folks, or any family connections that might show you what to expect from him? How have his teams done in HS and AAU? He is just 18 and he is a man child.

My questions are with his competitive fire. Is Drummond coachable or McGee-like in the uptake of new ideas and methods? But on McGee, Dat you are so right. Some guys just take a while to mature. The competitive fire is there with Javale. He plays Bynum better than any other big except Dwight Howard plays him. Javale has found coaches that can play him only to his strengths.

One thing I can foresee is if Drummond was the pick at 3, he would be in a great place to be mentored slowly. Wittman is direct but a good coach for developing players who are open to instruction.

Personally, I want Zeller for the Wizards because he is a grinder who knows how to play basketball. He is very intelligent, a very proficient rebounder, he knows how to run the court, he is a basketball player and NOT a great athlete. He is a better rebounder than Seraphin from what I have seen so far, despite being thin. I think Tyler Zeller is going to surprise some people. I would rather have an 80% FT shooter than a 30% shooter, but Drummond has the genetics to become a beast in time.