Official #2 Pick Thread - Ford #7: Parker

[Bernman]

You can't compare Bennett to wiggins or embiid.

It was more of an analogy, and it fits if either Wiggins or Embiid are "projects". If a guy is going to get that label among the first few picks, then you shouldn't draft him, because you should expect potential and reliability selecting that high. If Wiggins or Embiid do little their first year, every fan should rationally be scared about their futures.

Though, I for one don't buy what Ford is saying that Embiid is the least NBA ready guy of the top 4, and shouldn't be expected to do much next year. I think he's the 1st or 2nd most NBA ready guy, and should be expected to do a lot next year as a result, because the guy has NBA size, shot-blocking timing, intensity, poise, post moves, touch, etc. How are these not NBA ready attributes? He's got things to work on to become great in the long run, but he should be good immediately, preventing whoever drafts him from selecting overly high next year, which isn't a bad thing overall. Better to already be going in the right direction, then hoping, unrealistically, for that to occur.

[Max Green]

AC (England )
Any thoughts on what/ who the Lakers get for the number 7 pick? What chance they don't trade it?

Chad Ford (1:41 PM)
I think they have even a greater incentive to trade the pick than the Celtics. Kobe is coming back. He doesn't want to be in the lottery. Of the players that will be left on the board when the Lakers draft, both Marcus Smart and Julius Randle would be instant impact players. But they wouldn't have the same impact that a veteran All-Star would. I think the Lakers will try hard to package that pick to get back a veteran talent to pair with Kobe if they can. But that's a big if. Teams covet the No. 7 pick, but I don't think they get Kevin Love, Al Horford, LaMarcus Aldridge for it. Maybe something like Larry Sanders and Brandon Knight

If we draft Embiid, I would be all over that deal.

[Badgerlander]

That is a lot, but it would certainly go a long way towards ensuring the Bucks land another top pick in 2015.

Yep the chase to get Parker's good friend Okafor would be on, not to mention opening cap space to pursue other picks in salary dumps, etc.

[White+Purple]

Sanders and Knight for Aaron Gordon? Hell yes.

[El Pooch Grande]

That is a lot, but it would certainly go a long way towards ensuring the Bucks land another top pick in 2015. I'd do it and take Vonleh or Gordon.

Very interesting that he mentioned those players.

Smart, Randle, Vonleh, Gordon all work for me...I would do that deal in a heartbeat. Blow this team up!

[europa]

I'd rather it be Henson & Knight but I'd do it with Sanders, especially if Embiid was the pick at 2.

[Matches Malone]

Sanders and Knight for #7 (Smart)

Ilyasova, Henson and #31 for #8 (Randle/Vonleh/Gordon)

Move forward with a core of Giannis, #2, #7, #8, Middleton, Wolters

[Ron Swanson]

Sanders and Knight for Aaron Gordon? Hell yes.

Or Vonleh, Smart, Randle?

Gimme a Giannis, Vonleh, Embiid front court for the next 4 years and let's see what happens

[jr lucosa]

For me it would depend on who's available at 7. I understand that part of it is getting Sanders off the roster so we can have **** interior D and be terrible again, but I'm not sure if I really believe that the guys who will be left at 7 will ever be better than the player Larry is right now.

[europa]

Ilyasova, Henson and #31 for #8

That's pretty bad for the Kings unless they think Henson's gonna be a star.

Then again, these are the Kings we're talking about. They might do 8 straight up for Ilyasova.

[europa]

For me it would depend on who's available at 7. I understand that part of it is getting Sanders off the roster so we can have **** interior D and be terrible again, but I'm not sure if I really believe that the guys who will be left at 7 will ever be better than the player Larry is right now.

I think it may be a longshot too. However, if Embiid is the pick at 2 you might as well deal Sanders. You're gonna have to at some point so why not do it not to get a second Top 10 pick in a strong draft.

[M-C-G]

AC (England )
Any thoughts on what/ who the Lakers get for the number 7 pick? What chance they don't trade it?

Chad Ford (1:41 PM)
I think they have even a greater incentive to trade the pick than the Celtics. Kobe is coming back. He doesn't want to be in the lottery. Of the players that will be left on the board when the Lakers draft, both Marcus Smart and Julius Randle would be instant impact players. But they wouldn't have the same impact that a veteran All-Star would. I think the Lakers will try hard to package that pick to get back a veteran talent to pair with Kobe if they can. But that's a big if. Teams covet the No. 7 pick, but I don't think they get Kevin Love, Al Horford, LaMarcus Aldridge for it. Maybe something like Larry Sanders and Brandon Knight

If we draft Embiid, I would be all over that deal.

That is a lot to give up, and wouldn't consider it unless Smart or a guy like Exum slides to there...I am not doing that deal for Gordon.

I still think Henson OR Sanders could bring back a 8-10 pick + bad contract on their own.

[paulpressey25]

The Larry Sanders/Knight thing is interesting, because I'm not sure that Chad just made that up on his own. I know in the past he'd spend hours thinking up creative stuff like that, but less so now that he works part time at this ESPN job and teaches law school. That feels like one side floating something out there, maybe even the Bucks.

If you believe the intel from last week, E/L want to be bad next year also, don't think Knight is PG. Then you add in the question of whether you want Larry around the young players.

[Bernman]

AC (England )
Any thoughts on what/ who the Lakers get for the number 7 pick? What chance they don't trade it?

Chad Ford (1:41 PM)
I think they have even a greater incentive to trade the pick than the Celtics. Kobe is coming back. He doesn't want to be in the lottery. Of the players that will be left on the board when the Lakers draft, both Marcus Smart and Julius Randle would be instant impact players. But they wouldn't have the same impact that a veteran All-Star would. I think the Lakers will try hard to package that pick to get back a veteran talent to pair with Kobe if they can. But that's a big if. Teams covet the No. 7 pick, but I don't think they get Kevin Love, Al Horford, LaMarcus Aldridge for it. Maybe something like Larry Sanders and Brandon Knight

That's interesting. I've suggested that exact trade a few times in the last couple months.

I think it makes a lot of sense for the Lakers because Larry can justify Kobe's chucking, Knight fits better off ball with another ball dominator in the halfcourt (being a team's Jason Terry to Nowitzki for example), and they are both relatively young to remain assets after Kobe retires.

But it only makes much sense from the Bucks' standpoint if Embiid falls to us. Not only would we have some impetus to clear Larry then even when his stock is somewhat low, but the value around 7 projects to be heavily power forwards. It wouldn't make much sense to draft Parker, and then Aaron Gordon. That would be Kahn-esque.

But to me it is really best case scenario that Embiid drops, and prompts a move like this for another top 10. I just don't think this will happen with the Bucks because Lasry said if Embiid drops the back is a real concern. Unless, we move up to 1 somehow, and still get that 7 too somehow.

[Licensed to Il]

I posted that deal a month ago, not saying I deserve a medal or a cookie, just that it makes a lot of sense for the Lakers once they come to terms with how dumb it was for them to give that extension to Kobe. Now their path is locked in, and their options are limited. While LA is still a destination city, free agents with a lot of options are not going to want to go get yelled at by Kobe while getting hammered by the 9 or 10 western conference teams that are much much better.

Knight and Sanders is rich for the 7th pick, but it lands us Smart or Nurkic.

It is hard to reinvent a franchise in one off season. But new owners, a new coach, two lotto picks, and rolling the dice on a few 2nd rounders is a fantastic start.

[Badgerlander]

The Larry Sanders/Knight thing is interesting, because I'm not sure that Chad just made that up on his own. I know in the past he'd spend hours thinking up creative stuff like that, but less so now that he works part time at this ESPN job and teaches law school. That feels like one side floating something out there, maybe even the Bucks.

Agreed. I think if Smart is there they'd do the deal in a heartbeat. Randle and Vonleh scare the hell out of me though.

[White+Purple]

Sanders and Knight for Aaron Gordon? Hell yes.

Or Vonleh, Smart, Randle?

Gimme a Giannis, Vonleh, Embiid front court for the next 4 years and let's see what happens

One of Smart, Vonleh and Gordon will be there at #7, no need to bring Randle into this

[MrPerfect1]

I don't like giving up both Sanders and Knight for only #7, seems like an overpay.

Sanders has DPOY caliber Defensive Ability and Knight at least has value as a SG or 6th Man. If we get Embiid, I am willing to trade Sanders, maybe Sanders + Udoh, or Sanders + Sessions.

[White+Purple]

But it only makes much sense from the Bucks' standpoint if Embiid falls to us. Not only would we have some impetus to clear Larry then even when his stock is somewhat low, but the value around 7 projects to be heavily power forwards. It wouldn't make much sense to draft Parker, and then Aaron Gordon. That would be Kahn-esque.

Vonleh projects strongly to be a C with his standing reach and build in my opinion. And Parker/Gordon/Giannis would have 96 minutes at the forward positions between them; though Sanders/Knight/Middleton/Ersan is a massive roster turnover.

[Ron Swanson]

The Larry Sanders/Knight thing is interesting, because I'm not sure that Chad just made that up on his own. I know in the past he'd spend hours thinking up creative stuff like that, but less so now that he works part time at this ESPN job and teaches law school. That feels like one side floating something out there, maybe even the Bucks.

If you believe the intel from last week, E/L want to be bad next year also, don't think Knight is PG. Then you add in the question of whether you want Larry around the young players.

I think that trade idea is entirely contingent on Embiid falling to us at #2. If it happens, I'd be all over shopping Larry for the #7 or #8 pick. Try and convince SAC that you get an elite rim-protecting C and allow Cousins to move to the 4 and fully utilize his mid range game (think Al Horford).

Although it would be interesting to know if the new owners simply don't view Larry as a long term piece.