Basis for comparison....

[dwpacer]

If you notice how I look at guys in this draft for the Pacers, based on some trade ideas, here's how....

Versatility
OJ Mayo
Danilo Galianari
Anthony Randolph
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Nicholas Batum
Jason Thompson
Kyle Weaver
Jamont Gordon
Lester Hudson
Antonio Anderson
Anton Ponkashov
Gary Forbes
Ante Tomic

Basketball IQ
OJ Mayo
Danilo Gallianari
Kevin Love
Chase Budinger
Roy Hibbert
Nicholas Batum
Darren Collison
Courtney Lee
Ryan Anderson
Pat Calathes
David Padgett
Ante Tomic

Versatility to play multiple positions and Basketball IQ, if the got both, I'd say look out cause the Pacers will look hard at them.

[Miller4ever]

Who's OJ Mayo? Is it MY-oh, or MAY-oh?

[Miller4ever]

OJ Mayo-Probably gone before he gets down to us. He is able to play as a combo guard, which is a plus, and he's pretty savvy, and his athleticism will definitely hep him bridge the gap to the next level. He's got pretty good IQ, but if he doesn't watch out, he'll be another Larry Hughes.

Danilo Gallianari-Will be Mike Dunleavy. Seriously, the way he plays is very close to Dunleavy, although his size makes him more of a straight-up SF. On defense, he'd play the slower PFs because he's another European player with a little less quickness on the defensive end, at least man-on-man, which is how we're apparently trying to play right now. IQ's high, but he lacks consistency with his shot, which is the last thing we need right now.

Kevin Love-Um...to put this gently, he's placed at forward-center limbo, but that's more of a bad thing, because he's a bit slow on the side-to-side, but he makes up for this with hustle. If he falls, he'd bring the Jeff Foster rebounding with the ability to score. However, his last growth spurt (men don't stop until they're 25) will probably only get him to 6'10" and maybe 6'11", making him closer to an effective center. He's smart in the post. He also secretly shoots 35% on 3's. Psst...Troy Murphy, a little?

Chase Budinger-A great spot-up shooter who could be within our grasp, unlike the three above. A SG/SF who can't really create shots on his own, though, and we are a team that needs a little more instant offense. His IQ is great, and he moves well without the ball, but dribbling lacks a little something.

Roy Hibbert-Scary at 7'2", but is not exactly versatile, being something of a pure center. Plus, when I see him play, I just keep imagining Erick Dampier.

Ante Tomic-Another 7'2" guy, but I don't see him rebounding well, and it's a problem given that Our PF likes to take rebounding breaks mostly after he heaves a brick and the only guys that try really hard are Jeff Foster, Travis Diener, and (when he's in control of all of his motor skills) Troy Murphy.

These are the names that came up that I don't see really working out with the Pacers, either because we can't get them, or because they don't really fit, in my opinion. I'd love to trade up to OJ Mayo, though.

I think more important than versatility is chemistry. If a player isn't really proactive off the court with teammates, they lose points in my book. However, it's nearly impossible for us fans to see that firsthand. Also, I really look for upside. It's something that we lack as a team. Adding people who can come out and shoot well and then sit back down is redundant at this point, because we've a few of those guys, although we could use an upgrade. I guess it comes down to getting a 1 and a 5.

[ahartleyvu]

Love.... You can't count on him growing anymore. That is really reaching for a reason to draft him.

Budinger... From what I've read, he is HORRIBLE at defense. Not someone I want on our team.

I agree on Danilo. This guy has alot of potential, but so did Dunleavy. Should be a solid player with a small potential of being great.

I can see Mayo becoming a great player. I think his "ego" will strive him to become a better player.

[Scoot McGroot]

I think going to USC where Tim Floyd essentially let Mayo do whatever he wanted offensively might have hurt OJ quite a bit. It's hard to tell, from his year in college, how he fits in a team offensive mold.

[chrbal]

I honestly don't know (being a pistons fan), what is the Pacers biggest need in the draft?

I think it would be PG, finally move Tinsley, but I'm not really sure.

[Scoot McGroot]

Essentially, it's either a PG or possibly a center. If we're not confident in JO or plan on moving him sooner rather than later, a PF would be a need. We could always use a young, long-term SG option. However, SF is about the only position that is not a need at all.

[count55]

I really don't think we should draft a Center. While I'm sure I'd love to have the postplaying, running, shotblocking, defensive force to patrol the lanes that everybody pictures, I don't think that guy exists in this draft. I also think it's the position with the highest likelihood of being a complete bust, and I also think it's the position you can live without the most.

I'm still leaning very much towards wanting a PG, even if he's not the perfect guy. I think Westbrook and Augustin are the guys I want at 11. It's stating the screamingly obvious to say that Rose is the guy the Pacers could use more than anything else, but that's a pipe dream.

I like Love as a player, and I think he'll be a good, but not great player in the league.

Guys like Mayo, Gordon, and Bayless would be guys to take if we got in position, but they're all pretty risky IMO.

At this point, I'm more set on what I want it not to be (another SF/Swingman or a 7-foot project) than what I really want it to be.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I really don't want Mayo. I see him becoming a Marbury like distraction. Nothing ever too serious, but always there. I also think he will pan out to be a Ben Gordon like player at best, I don't see him ever being a star like everyone seems to think.

I really think DJ will be a solid bench player in the NBA, not our next starting PG. I think he will be a Earl Watson type player. Good role player, but nothing more.

I wouldn't mind taking Westbrook, I like his potential, I see something there.

At #11, assuming some of these players fall a little, which they very well might not. I'd want to take Westbrook, Jordan, or McGee.

[cdash]

Augustin will be a solid NBA starting point guard. I like him. I dont care that hes undersized, for point guards that really doesnt mean crap anymore. He is a really smart player and would fit in seamlessly with our style of play. I dont think he would start immediately for us (Point guard has the biggest learning curve from college to the NBA), but halfway through the season or so he would be ready to put in quality minutes on a team that I think will be in a playoff race. My wish list goes as follows (assuming we dont luck out and get in the top 3): Augustin, Westbrook, or Jordan (I think he has high bust potential but to get a guy who has that much upside at #11...hard not to roll the dice). I would be extremely unhappy if we took: Speights, any small forward, or McGee.

[Miller4ever]

I'm really just starting to hate the whole positions-specific style of lineups. A team that shares on offense and matches up against the opponent can have five guards for all I care. When it comes to drafting needs, I would rather take another SF that plays tough D and passes well than a a guy who is labeled as a PG just because of his size. I don't really have examples from this draft pool, and I believe I may be ranting a little bit. NBA positions are like music genres. General definitions are applied to players, but it really all depends on the player that it is, and I think that Donnie is going to draft the best one, regardless of position.

[Orlock78]

Donnie?

This team needs 2 things, Defense and Guards. I say Westbrook, Mayo, Augistine. In that order. I'd be shocked if one of them wasn't available when we picked. Actually that is one thing I am looking forward to. Looking at the draft it seems nearly impossible (assuming we have the 11th pick) that somebody worthwhile isn't going to drop to us. Thank god. No matter what happens I think we'll walk away with someone who can really help us.

p.s. PLEASE Lord PLEASE... Don't let us take Kevin Love in the draft.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I'm really just starting to hate the whole positions-specific style of lineups. A team that shares on offense and matches up against the opponent can have five guards for all I care. When it comes to drafting needs, I would rather take another SF that plays tough D and passes well than a a guy who is labeled as a PG just because of his size. I don't really have examples from this draft pool, and I believe I may be ranting a little bit. NBA positions are like music genres. General definitions are applied to players, but it really all depends on the player that it is, and I think that Donnie is going to draft the best one, regardless of position.

I see what your saying, but unless a player has superstar talent, they rarely make it as a starter in the NBA if they are in between sizes. They end up being great bench players though.

[count55]

I'm really just starting to hate the whole positions-specific style of lineups. A team that shares on offense and matches up against the opponent can have five guards for all I care. When it comes to drafting needs, I would rather take another SF that plays tough D and passes well than a a guy who is labeled as a PG just because of his size. I don't really have examples from this draft pool, and I believe I may be ranting a little bit. NBA positions are like music genres. General definitions are applied to players, but it really all depends on the player that it is, and I think that Donnie is going to draft the best one, regardless of position.

I'm a firm believer in the classic positions. By that, I mean our best teams had players at each position who, stylistically, personified the classic definition of that position:

PG - Mark Jackson
SG - Reggie Miller
SF - Chris Mullin, then Jalen Rose
PF - Dale Davis
C - Rik Smits

I like versatility to some degree, but ultimately I think a team functions best when the players are filling relatively specific roles. It allows the team function more seemlessly as a unit, without getting in each other's way (IMO).

I do agree that I am very queasy about the idea of the "combo" guard, which is really code for a too-short SG. However, we're not going to get a star at 11. If we're lucky we'll get a solid, if unspectacular starter or a good rotational player.

I think Augustin has classic PG skills and could be a solid starter in the NBA, or at least could be an upgrade in the two-headed PG situation with Diener. The other guy in that range that I think is going to be a solid player in the league is Kevin Love, though he doesn't particularly fill a need.

Westbrook is a guy that is problematic because he's that combo guard-type, but he could be a good rotational player and help both athletically and defensively, we don't have an overabundance of 2's, either, so he'd be somebody that would make some sense.

Again, pretty much everybody at 11 is going to be flawed, particularly in this draft, and I don't see a "best available player" who's a SF-type, so I'd lean towards drafting for need.

[mizzoupacers]

I pretty much agree with Count's posts here. Give me five good starters who complement each other over a bunch of mix-and-match guys who are "versatile" any day. But, this isn't the strongest of drafts, and I don't think we're going to get a superstar starter at #11, so I'm more willing to consider 'tweeners who could fill a clear need. While I have some reservations about Westbrook, he seems like the most logical choice given who is likely to be available. Augustin seems logical too, but I have a higher degree of confidence that Westbrook will turn out to be the perimeter defender we need, than that Augustin will turn out to be the starting pg we need. Granted, in large part that's because it's so much harder to find a good starting pg than a guy who can defend on the perimeter. So maybe we'd be better off getting a just OK starting pg than a good, solid defensive guard (although I think that Westbrook could provide some offense as well). Heck if I know.

I still think that ten years from now, we could look back on this draft and say that the Best Player Available was Chris Douglas-Roberts, but I think more of his potential is as a scorer than as a stopper, and the Pacers don't have nearly as much trouble scoring than they do stopping.

If not CDR, then I think Love could turn out in hindsight to have been the BPA--if he can hack it physically, and if he isn't already gone in the first ten picks (I think he probably will be). But again, unless he surpasses my expectations, he figures to be a better offensive player than defensive in the NBA, and we need defense.

[count55]

and the Pacers don't have nearly as much trouble scoring than they do stopping.

I'm not refuting this perception, but I found the following stat kind of interesting:

Offensive Rating: 106.0 (19th of 30), Defensive Rating: 107.5 (15th of 30)

These are points scored or points allowed per 100 possessions. While it could be a case of lies, damn lies, and statistics, it could indicate that we're (a) not as far along offensively as we would intuitively think and (b) not as far away defensively as we believe.

We're not great in either case, but it seems to me slight improvements in both offensive and defensive efficiency could have a sizable impact on wins/losses.

[Miller4ever]

Hey, we averaged out to 17th place in overall rating. Hm...

[JarrettJackSG]

I still think a swinging 3/4 that can guard opposing 4's and play like a 3 is the best for us, if we don't want to go the PG route.

My draft board for our position would be...

Tier 1 (ones we'd be lucky to get0
Rose
Bayless
Mayo
Gordon

Tier 2: (More reasonable)
Westbrook
Greene
Randolph
Jordan
McGee
CDR.

[cdash]

I just cant see how you think a 3/4 is a bigger need for us than a point guard or center. I see how that type of player would help, but I think a point guard is our unquestioned #1 offseason priority.

[JarrettJackSG]

Well, for one thing, I have a belief that we can survive with Tins + Flip for another season. For another, I don't see us picking up a reasonably good point guard for our system that's an upgrade.