Chad Ford Pre-Lotto write-up

granger05 · Post #1 » by **granger05** » Tue May 19, 2009 5:20 pm

Chad Ford has two articles up today on the teams in the lottery. One is insider only, but each only contains a small blurb on the Pacers.

Indiana Pacers (0.6 percent chance of winning lottery)

Pick 1: Blake Griffin
Pick 2: Ricky Rubio
Pick 3: Hasheem Thabeet

Analysis: The Pacers' biggest need is an athletic big man. If they landed Griffin, they would be a serious threat in the playoffs.

Rubio ultimately would be an upgrade over T.J. Ford, and Thabeet would give the Pacers some much-needed shot-blocking.

• The Pacers could use some good fortune. Since the Ron Artest brawl, the franchise has been snake-bitten. What they need more than anything else is an athletic big man. Add Griffin to the mix and the Pacers are a dangerous playoff team next season.

I doubt we would take Thabeet at 3 personally, that just seemed like lazy analysis.

Post #2 » by **Grang33r** » Tue May 19, 2009 5:30 pm

ESPN2 is having a draft lottery special today at 3pm ET. I guess they are going to go over each teams needs. Should be a cool show.

Post #3 » by **PR07** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:13 pm

Thabeet makes sense if we didn't already have Hibbert. You can't play them both at the same time though, and Roy has shown flashes that he'll be a solid starter in this league. I think Jordan Hill would probably be pick #3.

IndieRuso420 · Post #4 » by **IndieRuso420** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:25 pm

We would still take Thabeet over Hill.

We could find another 6'10" PF via FA or 2010 draft.

Finding a 7'3" shot blocking developing C with an 8 foot wingspan and really nice athleticism..... well you're not going to find that again for possibly 5+ years.

IndieRuso420 · Post #5 » by **IndieRuso420** » Tue May 19, 2009 7:05 pm

IndieRuso420 wrote:We would still take Thabeet over Hill.

We could find another 6'10" PF via FA or 2010 draft.

Finding a 7'3" shot blocking developing C with an 8 foot wingspan and really nice athleticism..... well you're not going to find that again for possibly 5+ years.

Bruno disagrees with me LOL

cdash · Post #6 » by **cdash** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:38 pm

^So does the rest of Pacernation.

chatard5 · Post #7 » by **chatard5** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:34 pm

Haha, yeah. I don't want Thabeet at all really. Ooh man, Griffin would just be amazing. It is tonight at 8:30, correct?

chatard5 · Post #8 » by **chatard5** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:01 am

Alright, I am pumped and am ready to be severely disappointed!

chatard5 · Post #9 » by **chatard5** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:17 am

Gosh, we really would be so much better with Griffin. The NBA owes us! I am not greedy and will take #2. Even #3, but I would prefer trading it. I still want Conley, so if they get the 2 and take Rubio I am sure we can work something out... Oooh the possibilities. Just get to the ping-pong balls! I am just hoping I hear the Bobcats before the Pacers!!!

cdash · Post #10 » by **cdash** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:45 am

I wouldn't trade Rubio for Conley.

chatard5 · Post #11 » by **chatard5** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:48 am

Damn you Stern. I meant #3, which wouldn't be Rubio, for Conley.

chatard5 · Post #12 » by **chatard5** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:50 am

Wow, OKC and Memphis could be good. I hope one of them gets the #2 and trades either him or their other PG to the Pacers. Thanks guys!

cdash · Post #13 » by **cdash** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:50 am

If OKC gets the top pick, I am calling shenanigans.

chatard5 · Post #14 » by **chatard5** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:52 am

Sucks for Sactown.

chatard5 · Post #15 » by **chatard5** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:53 am

EJ and Griffin... Uhoh!

Conley is available, thanks Rubio!

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #16 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Wed May 20, 2009 2:57 am

I just told Grang33r last night, I would rather land the #13 pick than the #3 and waste it on Thabeet.

Boneman2 · Post #17 » by **Boneman2** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:17 am

I'm all about Dejuan. I still like Thabeet though, and think he will be a monster by his third season. Blair is really what this team lacks though. His tenacity and toughness would add a whole new dimension on how teams prepare for us. He might be short but he is so damn strong.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #18 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:21 am

I don't care how strong he is, he is 6'6. Our SG will be the same height as him.

DeJuan Blair will be out of the NBA in 5 years - quote me, do whatever you'd like. He will not last.

Post #19 » by **Grang33r** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:27 am

Boneman2 wrote:I'm all about Dejuan. I still like Thabeet though, and think he will be a monster by his third season. Blair is really what this team lacks though. His tenacity and toughness would add a whole new dimension on how teams prepare for us. He might be short but he is so damn strong.

i honestly don't see much positive in selecting a Jason Maxiwell or a Brandon Bass with the 13th pick. they are nice depth guys and if Blair was available late in round one, i wouldn't mind getting another pick and taking him, like mid-20s. The 13th pick shouldn't be a depth guy. Blair will be picked this high mainly due to a weak draft overall. Blair is a 6'6 power forward. Has battled weight problems his entire life almost and is VERY raw on offense if you hear almost any expert speak about him.

cdash · Post #20 » by **cdash** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:05 am

I think he will be much closer to Paul Millsap than Ike Diogu. The key for him is keeping his weight down. I'm not wild about the guy, but I'm not sure you can do a whole lot better at #13 in this draft. Honestly, I'm all for packaging the pick with Tinsley, Ford, Murphy, whoever, and seeing if we can't get a veteran post player. Keep our options open.