RealGM

"• If Indiana and Toronto can work out the Jermaine O'Neal-T.J. Ford trade by Thursday night, it will affect both of their drafts. If it happens, Indiana wouldn't go for point guard D.J. Augustin but would look seriously at center Robin Lopez. Augustin won't get past Sacramento at 12, apparently. The Pacers would supposedly keep No. 11 in this deal." -Andy Katz

Is the other player Bird is interested in, Robin Lopez? What do ya'll think of that? I read somewhere it is ridiculous to call him a rebounder when he only averaged 5 per game in college, of course he had his brother to compete with, but 5 is a number SF's get, not C's. I was hoping it would be Darrell Arthur.

I know his averages don't look that good, but when given minutes, he performs. His shot might be lacking, but that's taken care of with practice. It's mostly his hustle and defense that I like. Now, I know that the whole hustle + defense combination is not usually looked at above the 20th pick, but he has good rebounding technique. He also shot 100% on 3-pointers last year.

Alright, so that doesn't count, but I would consider this guy seriously, because he has the work ethic and the fire of an NBA player.

If we get the 17th pick, i think we will for 100% sure select Darrell Arthur, because he is so explosive offensively. I think he would be great with Ford and be a true scorer in our system and open Granger and Dunleavy up from the ark. With the 17th pick, i'd say it's between Lopez and Roy Hibbert. Bird seems VERY high on Hibbert. I know he can't run so it doesn't make too much sense for him to be on our team but we'd still have Murphy and Foster and would be allowed to develop Hibbert. If we develop him right, he could be a good one. He has a crazy hook shot. He's a rebounding machine and is like 7'2.

And i wouldn't look too much into his rebounds. Brook Lopez is a monster and thats one hell of a player to compete with. I think Robin Lopez is still a project, i think he came out a year early, i don't think he will make any kind of impact besides a few garbage time minutes next season as a pro.

Btw, one thing i think Pacers love about Hibbert is his passing ability. The guy has a GREAT basketball IQ (Bird is huge on this) and he moves the ball very well, probably the best passing big men in this draft, besides Kevin Love.

Robin Lopez should be a mid 2nd round pick. If we draft him it takes me back to my nightmare 1993 draft party at the old MSA when we drafted Scott Haskin over Sam Cassell.

Pick Rush, CDR, Chalmers, Lee but not the lesser lopez brother.

Or Dorsey or Aurthor but not Robin Lopez.

basketballwacko2 wrote:Or Dorsey or Aurthor but not Robin Lopez.

Dorsey? At 17? Over Robin Lopez? You can't be serious?

Robin Lopez's ceiling seems to be a player just like Jeff Foster. Perhaps his offensive game would be slightly superior, but thats the kind of player you are going to get with Lopez. Honestly, I prefer Hibbert to Lopez.

cdash wrote:Robin Lopez's ceiling seems to be a player just like Jeff Foster. Perhaps his offensive game would be slightly superior, but thats the kind of player you are going to get with Lopez. Honestly, I prefer Hibbert to Lopez.

I see Robin Lopez being a guy that can create extra possessions by taking charges similar to Jeff Foster. I do think Lopez will be a MUCH better offensive player than Jeff Foster. Robin Lopez averaged 10 a game as a 20 yr old in the toughest conference in America last year for a team that played half court ball. I believe once he gains some experience, with his athleticism he can be a guy you can count on for 12 points 8 boards a game. I really like his game and would love to grab him if we get a 2nd first rounder.

DGrangeRx33 wrote:

Dorsey? At 17? Over Robin Lopez? You can't be serious?[/quote]

No not Dorsey I was being sarcastic but there are a lot of players who I'd rather have than Robin Lopez. He be ok at 41 but not at 17.

Robin Lopez will not be on the board at 41. I would be pretty surprised if he was on the board at 20.

Yea, Robin Lopez won't last past 20. I'll be surprised if he is still there past #17.

OMG, if we draft Robin Lopez ANYWHERE I'm going to crap myself. No.... I'm serious, I am going to LITERALLY SH** my pants right there in the living room in front of my wife. My little girl will start giggling because now she isn't the only one who does it, my wife will puke all over the floor, then my head will explode.

Seriously.

I'm pretty sure the player he's talking about is Roy Hibbert. And yes, just say NO to Lopez at 17 or 19 IMO.

Orlock78 wrote:OMG, if we draft Robin Lopez ANYWHERE I'm going to crap myself. No.... I'm serious, I am going to LITERALLY SH** my pants right there in the living room in front of my wife. My little girl will start giggling because now she isn't the only one who does it, my wife will puke all over the floor, then my head will explode.

Seriously.

You know I did that back in 1993 when we drafted Scott "never played" Haskin over Sam Cassell. Only I crapped my pants and head exploaded at MSA during the draft party.

Hibbert and Arthur are the guys he's mentioned favorably. I'd guess Hibbert as he's a true center with experience.

Wizop wrote:Hibbert and Arthur are the guys he's mentioned favorably. I'd guess Hibbert as he's a true center with experience.

I agree....I think that Hibbert is the guy. After reading about Hibbert, I think that he would be a solid Center that could help us immediately. Keep in mind.....after Brook Lopez....Spreights and Hibbert are the next most NBA ready Centers. There maybe more Centers with potential...like McGee and Jordan...but I think that Hibbert ( not as much Spreights as he isn't a true Center ) is the best pick.

CableKC wrote:

Wizop wrote:Hibbert and Arthur are the guys he's mentioned favorably. I'd guess Hibbert as he's a true center with experience.

I agree....I think that Hibbert is the guy. After reading about Hibbert, I think that he would be a solid Center that could help us immediately. Keep in mind.....after Brook Lopez....Spreights and Hibbert are the next most NBA ready Centers. There maybe more Centers with potential...like McGee and Jordan...but I think that Hibbert ( not as much Spreights as he isn't a true Center ) is the best pick.

I can see Hibbert being a great defensive force in the NBA, but he is just the exact opposite of our offensive style. I can't imagine anyone less fit for our offense than Hibbert, I think Harrison actually fits our offense better than Hibbert would.

Don't really like Robin Lopez, we need a frontcourt scoring option.

Personally, I think it's Koufos, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us select Hibbert, Speights, or Arthur.

For a while, the consensus was that Augustin/Westbrook was the pick. However I think that may change after the trade has gone through.. Who do you see us targeting at #11? We could use some size, maybe a long term solution at SG (via an EJ fall down the draft or reaching for Rush at #11). I know Bird likes Hibbert at #17 but I'm starting to like the idea of Arthur at #11..

Arthur@ #11 unless someone like Bayless oe Gordon drop.