2012 Draft, Part VI (Draft Week is Here!)

[DCZards]

No, but based on your posting style lately, I'm expecting that you will.

I think your problem with my "posting style" is that I've been disagreeing with you lately.

[The Consiglieri]

I would too. I'm really confused about why so many are obsessing about filling a hole with a guy that would fill it effectively instead of infusing the team with the best talent with the most upside possible which is in our view MKG, but admittedly not the view of some (apparently 70% of F.O.'s have Beal #2 according to Ford). I don't care about the presence of Ariza, getting a player that has the chance to be special and would totally transform the mentality of the franchise, and the fans view of the franchise is his floor really, if he doesnt develop a great offensive game. How is that bad? Far too many people seem to think he's a pretty good defensive player, and a rah rah nice kinda leader. He is much much more than that, though I understand the concern because you can't quantify everything he contributes right now with metrics.

[sashae]

I'd be very happy if we end up with MKG. Very happy.

[mohammed10]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... p_For_Beal

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but we can throw a bit more fuel on the fire...

#3 for Harden? Rico? Anyone?

[penbeast0]

Interesting take as always over at http://hoopsanalyst.com/ . . . . here's his top 5 players in the draft, and it's as unique for the rest of the group but with at least reasons other than that everyone seems to be hopping on a particular bandwagon.



1.Anthony Davis PF-C, Kentucky: The sky is the limit for Davis. Everything about him says he’ll become a legendary player.
2.Dion Waiters G, Syracuse: Someone has to be #2. I went with Waiters because of upside. He has star ability and might even be able to play some point. In 5 years it might seem really silly to have Waiters at #2, but I suspect most other current mocks will look just as silly. Know that the gap between Davis and Waiters is greater than the gap between Waiters and Jesse Sanders at #60.
3.Andrew Nicholson PF, St. Bonaventure: I don’t envy teams drafting in spots 2-5. Nicholson seems like a reach here and he is. But other than Davis he was the best big guy in the nation for the final 3 months of the season. That’s why I have him ahead of Robinson.
4.Thomas Robinson PF, Kansas: He reminds me of Jordan Hill from a few years ago. Like Hill his numbers scream journeyman despite that high-revvin’ motor of his.
5.Brad Beal SG, Florida: Beal would be the safe choice at #2. I feel he’ll become a pretty good SG, possibly a borderline all-star. I’m just leery about using too high a draft pick on any SG other than a Wade or Kobe clone.

[DCZards]

Chad Ford's take on Barnes, which I share for the most part, especially the "perception" stuff.

FORD: With Davis, MKG and Beal off the board, I take Harrison Barnes. His biggest problem is perception. Coming out of high school he looked like he could be the next Kobe Bryant. He hasn't been anything like Kobe.

SIMMONS: You just won the ESPY for "Understatement of the Year."

FORD: The haters have come out of the woodwork for him. But Barnes is a special talent. He's got great size for his position, is an excellent athlete and has a very good jump shot. He's also got a great basketball IQ and isn't afraid to take big shots. He should really benefit playing alongside Irving in Cleveland, or being Charlotte's alpha dog if the Bobcats make a move here. His best comp is probably Indiana's Danny Granger, but I do believe he has more upside.

[tontoz]

I know he's not the only one that can make a big leap next yr. I just brought that up because of the ridiculous accusations that he has a poor work ethic. No one knows how good his work ethic is at this point, so to call it "poor" is unprecedented.

Yeah, him losing 20 lbs doesn't add up, but his body fat % was pretty good though. Just saying that Blatche wouln't even bother losing any weight

you must be talking about someone else because I never said he has a poor work ethic. I said he has a poor motor.

His physical tools are nothing special relative to the guys he will be playing against, and when you add in his weak skills/motor the superstar talk is nothing more than wishful thinking.

[TheBigThree]

24 hours to go.

God help us if EG over thinks this. Beal is the player we need and should be the obvious pick.

[mohammed10]

24 hours to go.

God help us if EG over thinks this. Beal is the player we need and should be the obvious pick.

But knowing how Emperor Ernie operates, he'll choose Barnes

[Dat2U]

Chad Ford's take on Barnes, which I share for the most part, especially the "perception" stuff.

FORD: With Davis, MKG and Beal off the board, I take Harrison Barnes. His biggest problem is perception. Coming out of high school he looked like he could be the next Kobe Bryant. He hasn't been anything like Kobe.

SIMMONS: You just won the ESPY for "Understatement of the Year."

FORD: The haters have come out of the woodwork for him. But Barnes is a special talent. He's got great size for his position, is an excellent athlete and has a very good jump shot. He's also got a great basketball IQ and isn't afraid to take big shots. He should really benefit playing alongside Irving in Cleveland, or being Charlotte's alpha dog if the Bobcats make a move here. His best comp is probably Indiana's Danny Granger, but I do believe he has more upside.

That was a good article and found this quote interesting.

I'm judging every lottery pick in this draft by one question: "Could you have played in that insanely athletic 2012 Finals I just watched?" We can't say that's where the NBA might be headed because it's already there — we just saw it. And for MKG, the answer is, "Yes, he would have absolutely fit into that Finals … and maybe even slowed down Durant or LeBron a little." I don't care that he can't shoot yet. He'll figure it out. I agree with you — Pippen is the right comparison here. But it's his competitiveness that really stands out for me. You stick someone on your team who cares that much and everything else will fall into place. Eventually. Naturally, he'll probably drop to fifth because this continues to be the dumbest professional sports league on the planet.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Chad Ford's take on Barnes, which I share for the most part, especially the "perception" stuff.

FORD: With Davis, MKG and Beal off the board, I take Harrison Barnes. His biggest problem is perception. Coming out of high school he looked like he could be the next Kobe Bryant. He hasn't been anything like Kobe.

SIMMONS: You just won the ESPY for "Understatement of the Year."

FORD: The haters have come out of the woodwork for him. But Barnes is a special talent. He's got great size for his position, is an excellent athlete and has a very good jump shot. He's also got a great basketball IQ and isn't afraid to take big shots. He should really benefit playing alongside Irving in Cleveland, or being Charlotte's alpha dog if the Bobcats make a move here. His best comp is probably Indiana's Danny Granger, but I do believe he has more upside.

I give Chad Ford credit for having really good connections. Ford has inside sources who tell him when their deals or picks are imminent. I give him that much. However, statements like this show me whoever he's talked with gave him some bad info. Barnes is not like Granger.

Before Danny Granger was drafted I recall debating on this site. One thing I liked about Granger was that he averaged over two blocks and two steals per game his final NCAA season. He did so while posting good rebounding numbers, too. The knocks on Granger at draft time were New Mexico's level of competition and Granger's history of injuries.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/pla ... ger-1.html
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/pla ... nes-1.html

Granger was better in just about every category than Barnes. Granger was a very complete player coming out of college.

[7-Day Dray]

Man, you'd swear Beal is Jordan by the way people talk him up on this board.

[DCZards]

Man, you'd swear Beal is Jordan by the way people talk him up on this board.

It's not just this board. I'm watching the ESPN draft special with Bilas, Van Gundy, etc. and apparently half the GMs in the NBA have the hots for Beal. I fear someone will trade up and grab him at 2. Oh well.

[Rafael122]

Watching the ESPN draft special. Andy Katz reported the Wizards have fielded calls about the 3rd pick, particularly from teams in the bottom half of the first round, including OKC. Interesting.

Obviously in this scenario, you would ask for Harden.

[gesa2]

Watching the ESPN draft special. Andy Katz reported the Wizards have fielded calls about the 3rd pick, particularly from teams in the bottom half of the first round, including OKC. Interesting.

Obviously in this scenario, you would ask for Harden.

With the contracts we just took on, what would our cap/ lux tax situation be if we made that trade?

[whataknight301]

Wiz should draft MKG.Why,? cause this dude is versatile, lebron like athleticsism, attacks the rim with fearless ferocity much like lebron, and a team leader and character guy.
He is a hard worker, good rebounder and masterful defender. His defense is leeps and bounds above barnes and beal, nba ready D. He is willing to improve on his shooting, he will get better shooting the rock.
I can imagine a Wall MKG combo for many years. He is a winner, He can play the 2,3,even 4 if called upon. Draft him.

[payitforward]

I wonder if the Cats would swap picks for us if we gave them Crawford? Probably not, but I'd count that as a plus!

Actually, no pick swap is required -- just take the guy! Please!

[whataknight301]

MKG & RG3 FTW

[Mizerooskie]

MKG can't play the 2 or 4. He's a pure slasher 3.

[Rafael122]

Watching the ESPN draft special. Andy Katz reported the Wizards have fielded calls about the 3rd pick, particularly from teams in the bottom half of the first round, including OKC. Interesting.

Obviously in this scenario, you would ask for Harden.

With the contracts we just took on, what would our cap/ lux tax situation be if we made that trade?

It's basically a wash, Blatche makes $6.5 million, Harden makes $4.6 million, but include their first round pick and second round and its basically the same salaries.