If you could tell Lasry and Edens (Edens calls Embiid-pg8)

[MrPerfect1]

Sounds like an awesome event and lots of great stuff about the new owners, a lot to be optimistic about.

Only 2 things from what I read that I am not a huge fan of:

1)New Owners making the pick? Either leave it to the GM you trust or hire a GM you do trust. Don't see how them making the call is a positive sign

2We do not need an Alpha scorer. We need ball movement and someone who can collapse defenses and make the entire team better. The Spurs offense functions OK without an Alpha scorer. Granted, Alpha Scorer and Ball Movement do not have to be mutually exclusive, but usually they are and often Alpha Scorer means lots of Iso.

[Baller2014]

I don't understand what they were thinking... they just told other teams they're going to take Parker or Embiid. All that does is hurt their leverage... why would you say that?

[DanoMac]

I don't understand what they were thinking... they just told other teams they're going to take Parker or Embiid. All that does is hurt their leverage... why would you say that?

Leverage for what, exactly?

[Baller2014]

To trade the pick for instance, even if they only trade down one or two spots and still get the guy they want. I mean, why tell everyone. Heck, why let Cleveland know. Maybe Cleveland will trade down because they think they can get the guy they want at #3-4, but by telling them who you'll take they suddenly have no need to worry about that. The Cavs might be torn 50-50 between Embiid and Wiggins. You tell everyone publicly you'll take Jabari, and they might say "hey, I guess we can just trade to #3 and get our guy".

[blazza18]

As I keep saying we are not going to draft a player that does not ultimately want to be here, and I don't think we know for certain that Exum does...new culture or not.

I personally think the below article will forever haunt me and be the elephant in the room regarding Exum. I am convinced that it will be fun to watch Exum and Kevin Love battle Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in a few years for LA supremacy, while Jabari leads the Bucks past them both!

Spoiler:

A draft prospect who grew up overseas really wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. But a team drafting before the Lakers also wanted the player. So, the player threated to sign with a foreign team if he couldn’t go to the Lakers.

Safe to say, the Nets wish they had called Kobe Bryant’s bluff/threat (or if you prefer, threat/bluff) and drafted him before the Charlotte Hornets did on behalf of Los Angeles in 1996.

Eighteen years, could the scenario repeat itself?

Dante Exum is working out in Los Angeles preparing for the draft, and he’s said the Lakers would be his ideal fit. Via Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report:

“Definitely L.A. is one option,” he said. “I’ve been to L.A. many times and I love the city, and it is a great city. If I get the opportunity to go to L.A. and play for the Lakers, I know I’ll have love for the city. And their fans are loyal and they have the rivalry with the Clippers. But just to be in an environment where you have a great player like Kobe, where you have a mentor in a way as a rookie, I think that would be the best option.”

Maybe that’s an idle assessment, but maybe it’s the first step of a a bluff/threat (or if you prefer, threat/bluff). After all Exum’s agent is Rob Pelinka, who also represents Kobe (though Arn Tellem represented Kobe as a draft prospect in 1996).

At least one general manager is concerned. Sean Deveney of Sporting News:

But would Exum go so far as to try to angle his way onto the Lakers, who currently have the fifth-worst record in the NBA? That’s the concern among some front-office executives around the league.

“When you hear some of what he says, it does make you wonder how the process is going to go as far as workouts and that sort of thing,” one general manager told Sporting News. “We have seen this story before, of course. I am not sure a player can have that kind of control, though.”

Grasping at straws again. Dante said nothing wrong in that article.

[blazza18]

I don't understand what they were thinking... they just told other teams they're going to take Parker or Embiid. All that does is hurt their leverage... why would you say that?

These guys aren't stupid. Can't trust a word they say about who they do and do not like in the draft.

[DanoMac]

To trade the pick for instance, even if they only trade down one or two spots and still get the guy they want. I mean, why tell everyone. Heck, why let Cleveland know. Maybe Cleveland will trade down because they think they can get the guy they want at #3-4, but by telling them who you'll take they suddenly have no need to worry about that. The Cavs might be torn 50-50 between Embiid and Wiggins. You tell everyone publicly you'll take Jabari, and they might say "hey, I guess we can just trade to #3 and get our guy".

I think the Bucks are more focused on getting their guy in this deep draft rather than worried about what other teams are going to do.

As far as our pick is concerned, the chances we trade it is probably >1%.

[Ill-yasova]

I don't understand what they were thinking... they just told other teams they're going to take Parker or Embiid. All that does is hurt their leverage... why would you say that?

Maybe that's what they want them to think. My point being this is a draft, take nothing seriously.

Sent From My Rotary Phone

[PedroGrande]

As far as our pick is concerned, the chances we trade it is probably >1%.

The Chances are over 1%? nice prediction captain

(and now i hope you guys dont do the > < sign in a different way than us)

[bizarro]

-Larry Sanders is valued and will not be given away.

-The arena deal is getting done. They know what they're doing. Just be patient.

-Steinmiller, Walter, Burr...others....tonight and the next month are their swan song.


Probably biggest one of interest.....Hammond is not making the pick....and Drew is gone.

Paul first told me of this news by telephone last night. Little did I know, MBBOT was filming my reaction!

[Garbs_7]

Wow Paul's notes from the other page sound amazing. Very exciting stuff

[Garbs_7]

Also, heading to youtube to get myself ok with a Jabari pick

[AussieBuck]

4 Inches longer Tobias Harris is a guy I can talk myself into. Twirly agrees

[Garbs_7]

4 Inches longer Tobias Harris is a guy I can talk myself into. Twirly agrees

[Chapter29]

A few comments.

I would really like some elaboration on the Hammond not making the pick and Drew being gone.

Who is making the pick? I sure hope our owners are not taking the lead on that. I hope we haven't picked Parker already, especially prior to any workouts that would be ridiculous. Glad to hear we will work out the top 4. I would like to see a few more. Don't want Chris Paul slipping past us this time.

Once Wiggins comes in and they see that crazy athleticism I think they will be having second thoughts.

Drew being gone obviously is a great thing, but why would that even be said at any level?

[AussieBuck]

Hehe with all the **** retreads getting interviews right now Drew could get a job.

[Treebeard]

I don't understand what they were thinking... they just told other teams they're going to take Parker or Embiid. All that does is hurt their leverage... why would you say that?

These guys aren't stupid. Can't trust a word they say about who they do and do not like in the draft.

As you say these guys aren't stupid. I would bet they have a very clear understanding of leverage. I'd also speculate even if Hammond is sidelined, and no real GM in place, that they've had some expert opinion on who the next several teams want, what they need, and what they've got to dicker with.

At this point any names tossed into public knowledge are just to chum the waters

[ReddWing]

Remember those ownership rumors? Herb really gave this organization a chance to survive here with this sale.

[Newz]

Seems like it was a pretty awesome night. Lasry (both of them) and Edens both seem like pretty down to earth guys.

[vlietinho]

At this point any names tossed into public knowledge are just to chum the waters

Exactly.