2009 NBA Draft

Crossova21 · Post #1 » by **Crossova21** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:45 pm

If the season ended today and the draft order was based on current standings, who do you think the Pacers would select and why?

Crossova21 · Post #2 » by **Crossova21** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:47 pm

I would love to see us get Holiday. He's already getting comparisons to Dwayne Wade. The Pacers have never really had a slasher like Wade or Iverson and it would be nice to see something other than fundamental Indiana Basketball.

Post #3 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:25 pm

My type of thread. haha

A few things, according to Slam magazine, Rubio told Brandon Jennings that he will not enter the draft until 2010. Also, with Rubio out, Blake Griffin will probably be the #1 player taken. I think the NBA draft is fixed and no way we will get the #1 pick. lol

Two players left out, are Jordan Hill from Arizona and Gani Lawal from Georgia Tech. Hill wasn't ever super hyped out of high school or early in college but he's having a great season and has faced some good defenses already. He just dominated Gonzaga this past weekend and helped Arizona get the upset win. He's slowly becoming a very strong NBA prospect. Gani Lawal is a beast. Only down side to him is his size. He's only like 6'8. Other then that, a lot of people i heard compare him to a Chris Bosh or a LaMarcus Aldride. However, both of those guys are taller by like 3 inches so i don't know how much that will play into it. Right now, he's averaging 19ppg, 12rpg and over a block a game. Not bad for a sophomore.

cdash · Post #4 » by **cdash** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:12 pm

Rubio told Brandon Jennings? Since they are such great friends and all...

I'm not buying that, and I am not buying that he wont be in the draft. He'll be there. Its a weak draft, he wont fall out of the top 5.

If we went by current standings, we would get what, the 8th pick? So most of these guys are gone by then. I like Curry though in that range.

notque · Post #5 » by **notque** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:28 pm

I'll take Curry plz. kthx.

Post #6 » by **Miller4ever** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:34 pm

Whoever is the best low-post scorer, we'll need.

bballpacen · Post #7 » by **bballpacen** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:45 am

Miller4ever wrote:Whoever is the best low-post scorer, we'll need.

QFT

Post #8 » by **count55** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:00 pm

I'd be leery of Rubio. Nowitzki is really the only Euro that was drafted relatively highly (#9) that's worked out. The others top 10 picks (Bargnani, Milicic, Araujo, Skita) have all busted.

It seems safer to me to go late with a Euro whose going to season over there for a couple years. Those guys have a much higher hit rate.

Also, I'd be floored if the draft board looked anything like this. A lot will change over the next seven months.

I think we'll be looking for a big guy. I wouldn't be surprised if Bird covets a Dale Davis clone (don't know if there's one out there.) Remember, Bird was a huge Dale supporter when he coached here.

Post #9 » by **mizzoupacers** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:35 pm

A Dale Davis clone would be just about a perfect fit with our current team.

But since it's nearly Christmas, could I have a Dale Davis with a side order of Moses Malone low-post scoring?

MillerTime101 · Post #10 » by **MillerTime101** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:16 pm

Do we go for a Center or PF? Murphy has been great this year and his contract doesnt run out for another couple years, Hibbert looks like he is going to be our center for the future.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #11 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:21 pm

The Pacers won't be picking anyone on that list. The only player there that would really help the Pacers is Griffin and he will be gone by #1.

The Pacers are set at SG and most the players on that list are SGs, so you can count them out. That basically leaves Mullens and Thabeet, which we might pass up considering we just drafted Hibbert to be the future C for us. I wouldn't hate the Mullins pick as I believe he could play some PF too, he would take a while to develope though.

As for Thabeet, the guy is an absolute douche. I would cringe at seeing this guy as a Pacer. He is nothing more than a 7'2 Jamaal Tinsley with a bigger mouth. He basically said Harongody and Hansbrough were not very good at all compared to him. When he and Harongody played, Harongody had 32/16 while Thabeet had 4 points. The guy is a joke. He had some other quote that just showed how classless he is. I don't remember it exactly, but it was something along the lines of "I don't need college, I'm 7'2 with skills, I'm a lock in the lottery." Man, I will be so pissed if we draft this guy.

Boneman2 · Post #12 » by **Boneman2** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:49 pm

I would definitely consider Thabeet if we don't have the fortune of drafting Griffin with the overall first. Hasheem is the best ready-made post defender available. Mullens has bust tatooed in big red letters across his forehead, too me. Speaking of Harangody, he will struggle to put up Troy Murphy's numbers in the pros, last years stats.

My preferences based on need only:
#1 Griffin
#2 Thabeet
#3 J. Hill
#4 Lawal

JarrettJackSG · Post #13 » by **JarrettJackSG** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:04 am

count55 wrote:I'd be leery of Rubio. Nowitzki is really the only Euro that was drafted relatively highly (#9) that's worked out. The others top 10 picks (Bargnani, Milicic, Araujo, Skita) have all busted.

It seems safer to me to go late with a Euro whose going to season over there for a couple years. Those guys have a much higher hit rate.

Also, I'd be floored if the draft board looked anything like this. A lot will change over the next seven months.

I think we'll be looking for a big guy. I wouldn't be surprised if Bird covets a Dale Davis clone (don't know if there's one out there.) Remember, Bird was a huge Dale supporter when he coached here.

Uh...araujo the BYU center? O_o.

if we don't get the 1st pick, I see is drafting thabeet (would love him as a pacer), hill, or greg monroe.

Lionel Messi · Post #14 » by **Lionel Messi** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:32 am

count55 wrote:I'd be leery of Rubio. Nowitzki is really the only Euro that was drafted relatively highly (#9) that's worked out. The others top 10 picks (Bargnani, Milicic, Araujo, Skita) have all busted.

It seems safer to me to go late with a Euro whose going to season over there for a couple years. Those guys have a much higher hit rate.

Also, I'd be floored if the draft board looked anything like this. A lot will change over the next seven months.

I think we'll be looking for a big guy. I wouldn't be surprised if Bird covets a Dale Davis clone (don't know if there's one out there.) Remember, Bird was a huge Dale supporter when he coached here.

re: araujo...
he's from brazil, i never knew brazil was in europe...interesting...

Post #15 » by **pacers33granger** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:19 am

of course griffin would be the perfect player for us but its highly doubtful that we get the number 1 pick. id love to have rubio just based on his potential but as count said you should be weary of euros who are lottery picks. also we're pretty set for the future at the guards and dont see the need for a guard unless hes a sure thing like rose.

id say the most logical choice may be thabeet if hes there when we pick, though we have hibbert waiting in the wings. i wouldnt be surprised if we traded it if theres not a low post scorer worth taking when we're on the clock.

cdash · Post #16 » by **cdash** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:53 am

Chad Ford's little Mock Lottery/Draft Simulator thing is up and running a little early this year. Without us getting a top 3 pick, in every scenario we were taking Greg Monroe. I can live with that.

IndieRuso420 · Post #17 » by **IndieRuso420** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:11 am

Thabeet

Post #18 » by **pacers33granger** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:20 am

cdash wrote:Chad Ford's little Mock Lottery/Draft Simulator thing is up and running a little early this year. Without us getting a top 3 pick, in every scenario we were taking Greg Monroe. I can live with that.

yea i played around with that a bit earlier today. i wouldnt mind monroe either, but that simulator is severely limited since it doesnt take into account the team at all. no matter what it just places the same prospect in the same place. when the wolves got the first pick they still had them taking griffin. with the fact that they have jefferson and love at the bigs already and with mchales unwillingness to take the BPA apparently id doubt theyd take him. if they didnt trade the pick id assume theyd take rubio and try to move foye to the two or as a backup combo guard.

though monroe would probably work best for us where we're likely to pick.

Post #19 » by **Gremz** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:47 am

If Monroe declares (tough to say being a Georgetown project) then he is exactly the player i'd like to see us take.

IndieRuso420 · Post #20 » by **IndieRuso420** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:25 pm

Monroe won't be ready to help this team on offense or defense next year.

I don't like that pick at all.

For me Thabeet is the guy. Rasho will probably be gone next year, meaning Hibbert moves up to starter. Thabeet will get time to adjust by coming off the bench. Before you know it, Hibbert and Thabeet is one of the best C one-two combo's and they are both under 24. They will have size, defense, and the right amount of offense.

Who Would the Pacers Draft Right Now if the Season Ended Today?