Will our draft pick even help next year?

Post #1 » by **theBigLip** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 4:53 pm

It isn't guaranteed, but it is looking like we should get our pick, and most likely at #8. So after all the hype about how great this draft is, how much of an impact do you think our draft pick will have on our team next year. Wiggins is certainly #1 and not going to drop to #8 unless he tears his ACL in the next few weeks, and even then he probably wouldn't drop that far. So for all the rest of the top 10 picks...

Embid, Randle, Vonleh, Gordon - we've already got a 3 headed monster down low. I doubt any of these guys would get significant minutes to improve our team next year. Maybe down the road, but not next year.

Parker - we could really use a SF and he could help. But I think it is safe to say that he won't drop to #8 either, and there are rumors he may not come out at all. No help from him for us next year.

Exum, Ennis, Smart - Smart or Ennis will likely be available to us, maybe even Exum depending on how things play out. Are any of them better than Jennings? I think all of them could be. It may take them awhile to settle in, but they could likely play more in control, be a pass first PG, and help our team - next year.

Harris, Hood - we could certainly use a SG. KCP might develop, but he isn't doing much for us now. Stuckey will certainly be gone (and take his lack of outside shooting with him). Harris could help us next year (and I'm a Wolverine and I still like him).

So, IMHO, it seems like if we don't get lucky and get a top 3 pick, Smart or Harris should be our pick and they can help us next year.

ImHeisenberg · Post #2 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 5:06 pm

It's difficult to say, Lip.

Who the next coach is will greatly dictate a lot of things. Then, there's the consideration that Monroe, and Jerebko can potentially be gone, so drafting a post player could yield them a lot of minutes.

If we're drafting at 8, I'm assuming Wiggins, Embiid, Parker (if he declares), Exum, Randle, Smart, and either Vonleh or Gordon are off the board. If Parker stays, we can expect the other 7 to be out of our range. If Aaron Gordon is there at 8, I'd take him. If Smart were to fall that far, I'd take him. Smart's biggest weakness is that he can't shoot. He would already be an upgrade over Jennings in size, strength, defense and heart.

After those guys, I think your potential to get a franchise player is just as good at 8 as it is at 18. That's why I would be a huge advocate to trade back with a team like the Suns for their two mid-first round picks.

I'm not too bullish on Gary Harris. His shooting percentages aren't good. He projects as a guy who can play both ends of the floor, but how well? I actually like Stauskas more than Harris. I think Nik's floor is a bigger JJ Redick, a passable defender at his apex and a lights out shooter who can create for others as well.

I'm really enticed by Zach LaVine. His numbers don't impress me, but there were extenuating circumstances for him at UCLA. If he can play PG, his potential could be huge.

I hate any notion of drafting Rodney Hood. He's a one-way player, and he wasn't even impressive offensively, considering playing next to Jabari at Duke offered him plenty of operating room and didn't have to carry the offensive load.

Clarity · Post #3 » by **Clarity** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 8:04 pm

Wiggins, Parker, Exum or Smart could really help.

Randle is the only big aside from Embiid (who we prob wouldnt take) who is ready to play in year 1.

Us getting better by even 1 game is really dependent on moving Josh & Brandon, with them as the #1 & 2 options our ceiling is where we are right now.

Defor · Post #4 » by **Defor** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 8:19 pm

I'm just gonna hope we move up , it would make this season almost bearable.

Post #5 » by **Timmaytime** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 9:47 pm

ImHeisenberg wrote:It's difficult to say, Lip.

Who the next coach is will greatly dictate a lot of things. Then, there's the consideration that Monroe, and Jerebko can potentially be gone, so drafting a post player could yield them a lot of minutes.

If we're drafting at 8, I'm assuming Wiggins, Embiid, Parker (if he declares), Exum, Randle, Smart, and either Vonleh or Gordon are off the board. If Parker stays, we can expect the other 7 to be out of our range. If Aaron Gordon is there at 8, I'd take him. If Smart were to fall that far, I'd take him. Smart's biggest weakness is that he can't shoot. He would already be an upgrade over Jennings in size, strength, defense and heart.

After those guys, I think your potential to get a franchise player is just as good at 8 as it is at 18. That's why I would be a huge advocate to trade back with a team like the Suns for their two mid-first round picks.

I'm not too bullish on Gary Harris. His shooting percentages aren't good. He projects as a guy who can play both ends of the floor, but how well? I actually like Stauskas more than Harris. I think Nik's floor is a bigger JJ Redick, a passable defender at his apex and a lights out shooter who can create for others as well.

I'm really enticed by Zach LaVine. His numbers don't impress me, but there were extenuating circumstances for him at UCLA. If he can play PG, his potential could be huge.

I hate any notion of drafting Rodney Hood. He's a one-way player, and he wasn't even impressive offensively, considering playing next to Jabari at Duke offered him plenty of operating room and didn't have to carry the offensive load.

Lavine on offense reminds me of Jamal Crawford, I would completely get on board assuming he's an active defender. Sadly we might be getting what we see from ucla now that howland isn't there to delude his players talent

Q00 · Post #6 » by **Q00** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 10:08 pm

If we pick 7th probably not much next year, but maybe we get someone that will pan out longterm. Best case is probably just trading it for a proven vet though.

We can't trade it directly but we can make our pick for another team and then trade him afterwards.

Warspite · Post #7 » by **Warspite** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 11:56 pm

There is no single pick, FA or trade that can be made to make us a 50 win team. This pick is just another step. Adding a future starter and potential allstar to our rotation will help improve this team and give more flexibility for trades.

Last yr we drafted a player at #8 and signed a near max salary player and look how much it improved the team. Another pick is not going to fix everything but its a start.

whitehops · Post #8 » by **whitehops** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 2:16 am

I think if we strike the lotto it might be pretty good. there is usually a team around the 8th pick that moves into the top 3:

2013 - Washington moved from 8th to 3rd
2011 - LAC (to Cleveland) moved from 8th to 1st
New Jersey moved from 6th to 3rd
2010 - Philadelphia moved from 6th to 2nd
2009 - Memphis moved from 6th to 2nd
2008 - Chicago moved from 9th to 1st
2007 - Portland moved from 7th to 1st
2006 - Toronto moved from 5th to 1st
2005 - Milwaukee moved from 6th to 1st

if Sacramento passes us then obviously we have a better shot at moving into the top 3.

dan2314 · Post #9 » by **dan2314** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 5:13 am

im still almost certain that we finish 8th, and then someone from below moves up and we drop to 9th and lose the pick. thats the way this season has gone.

Clarity · Post #10 » by **Clarity** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 5:50 am

dan2314 wrote:im still almost certain that we finish 8th, and then someone from below moves up and we drop to 9th and lose the pick. thats the way this season has gone.

This is the scenario id put money on.

wallace72 · Post #11 » by **wallace72** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 6:06 am

dan2314 wrote:im still almost certain that we finish 8th, and then someone from below moves up and we drop to 9th and lose the pick. thats the way this season has gone.

It's going to be that way,

the way everything is going wrong this year, bet your money!

Joe Berry · Post #12 » by **Joe Berry** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 10:43 am

You can't burden any draft pick to turn this ship around. New GM, new coach,trades and free agency is the way to go. The draft pick is just a plus in this rebuilding effort.

willywazza · Post #13 » by **willywazza** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 11:36 am

Gary Harris would be neat.

The Penguin · Post #14 » by **The Penguin** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 1:08 pm

Clarity wrote:
dan2314 wrote:im still almost certain that we finish 8th, and then someone from below moves up and we drop to 9th and lose the pick. thats the way this season has gone.

This is the scenario id put money on.

Actually we are going to end up tied with Sacto, then we'll lose the coin flip to fall to 8th, then Cleveland will jump us to knock us to 9th.

Seriously though, we haven't caught a break outside of some teams doing dumber stuff than us in the Drummond draft, aren't we due? I know the NBA has a hard on for saving basketball in Cleveland and granting Nick Gilbert's never ending "make-a-wish" but if the NBA wants a poster child for rewarding "not tanking" and owes it to Gores for his "thanks for buying a franchise" gift then we've gotta be it. Given our luck we'll jump to 3 after Parker foolishly decides he's got unfinished business at Coach K's koombaya corral.

Ghost · Post #15 » by **Ghost** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 6:44 pm

I like LaVine as well, he's just so smooth and athletic .. but at the same time he's got a nice stroke (even though it's awkward looking). He's one of them people where every shot that he takes you think it is going in. He was also a point guard when he was younger and then he just grew a ton, so he's turned into more of a 2guard size-wise.

If we stay at the 7/8 range like it's projected, it would depend on what position the GM goes for of course. The NBA draft isn't really a thing where people can come in and swing around a franchise, all the players are drafted on "potential" and still have a lot of room to grow and improve. I personally would like to see Tyler Ennis come to Detroit. I think that he can be a franchise point guard and can be trusted to run an offense... he can also shoot and isn't a shotjacker, so that's something that would be nice to see. However, would that really help us as early as next year? Not if Jennings is still on the roster... because he would probably be the starter. If we jumped up and took Jabari and he started at small forward, I think that could really help next year because he would be someone who could create his own shot in the halfcourt. Plus, he can shoot the ball from deep and that is obviously a weakness. Not really something that can be banked on at this point, it's definitely a long shot to jump up that far in the lotto. On top of that, it would then add the "who starts at PF?" element... because either Monroe or Smith would be coming off the bench. Unless you want Jabari coming off the bench or one of Monroe/Smith are traded, but I seriously just could not grasp the logic of starting all three of Drummond/Monroe/Smith after this past season...

So whoever takes over as GM is going to have to get busy trying to work out these big decisions. Whoever ends up being the head coach for next season is also going to have to be very disciplined and strong minded so he begin turning them into a real team.

whitehops wrote:I think if we strike the lotto it might be pretty good. there is usually a team around the 8th pick that moves into the top 3:

2013 - Washington moved from 8th to 3rd
2011 - LAC (to Cleveland) moved from 8th to 1st
New Jersey moved from 6th to 3rd
2010 - Philadelphia moved from 6th to 2nd
2009 - Memphis moved from 6th to 2nd
2008 - Chicago moved from 9th to 1st
2007 - Portland moved from 7th to 1st
2006 - Toronto moved from 5th to 1st
2005 - Milwaukee moved from 6th to 1st

if Sacramento passes us then obviously we have a better shot at moving into the top 3.

Wow, that's very interesting actually. Nice information!

Clarity · Post #16 » by **Clarity** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 8:36 pm

Piston Prince wrote:

Actually we are going to end up tied with Sacto, then we'll lose the coin flip to fall to 8th, then Cleveland will jump us to knock us to 9th.

Seriously though, we haven't caught a break outside of some teams doing dumber stuff than us in the Drummond draft, aren't we due? I know the NBA has a hard on for saving basketball in Cleveland and granting Nick Gilbert's never ending "make-a-wish" but if the NBA wants a poster child for rewarding "not tanking" and owes it to Gores for his "thanks for buying a franchise" gift then we've gotta be it. Given our luck we'll jump to 3 after Parker foolishly decides he's got unfinished business at Coach K's koombaya corral.

We are so due but to be fair most of our bad luck is self inflicted my man.