RealGM

Report on the Cousins/Favors NJ workout: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/ ... id=5311683

Highlights:

The Nets worked out Syracuse small forward Wes Johnson last week, but new majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov has said acquiring a power forward to complement Lopez is the team's No. 1 player personnel priority in the offseason.

Favors has pretty much been a consensus No. 3 pick in draft previews, but stocks have historically tended to rise and fall dramatically in the final 72 hours before the draft.

And while Favors, the 6-foot-10, 18-year-old Georgia Tech freshman, clearly is the more athletic player, Cousins, a 6-foot-11 freshman, was the superior perimeter player, Polinsky said.

And:

"Look, Coach Johnson wants someone who can come in here and play. I think he's got to look at it from what he wants to do, what he wants to run," Polinsky said. "How quickly a guy can fit in will be important, but also you never want to leave a guy on the board who you think down the road can be a really terrific player.

Due to his perimeter skills, there's a real possibility that the Nets see Cousins as a better fit next to Lopez than Favors. Also, Avery Johnson apparently wants to get a guy who is ready now (which also points to Cousins) and is rumored to have liked Cousins before the workout.

Edit:

As far as the Wolves are concerned, I think that Cousins at 3 would be a best case scenario for us. I firmly believe that Kahn wants to come out of this draft with both Favors and Johnson, and it would be much easier to use our pieces (namely Jefferson) to trade for 5,6, or 7th pick than the 3rd. This would also have the added benefit of saving Kahn from himself by preventing him from passing on Cousins for Johnson.

Strange... i just read some things on the New Jersey board which had the opposite spin, saying it looked like Cousins was a 5, and the pick was likely Favors. . .

It's possible. Of course, they could just be blowing smoke. NJ is interesting, because the best players available at 4 are a C and a PF. They've already got a great young C, and they can sign one of the free agent PFs available this offseason.

So do they stick at 4 and A) grab a big or B)draft Johnson, or do they trade down and drop some salary/pick up assets?

Good post. I saw this earlier as well and really thought that Favors could drop to us if NJ goes Johnson or Cousins. I also want to point out that DET wants to move up to grab Cousins. On ESPN mock draft on TV, they moved the Pistons to our 4th spot on the hands-on computer screen and said that DET could trade up with a team that could take Cousins. Now on the wiretap it says that Cousins prefers DET. Interesting.

Krapinsky wrote:Strange... i just read some things on the New Jersey board which had the opposite spin, saying it looked like Cousins was a 5, and the pick was likely Favors. . .

Interesting, I wrote that up right before I went over to the Net's board to see what they had to say.

Here's the article: http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2010/0 ... t_can.html

Highlights:

The problem: He’s undoubtedly a five – say, the kind that Philly should seriously consider building around, but probably won’t. He’s lost some weight – down to 292 – but his size and skills say center, period.

Edit:

As far as Cousins being a 5, I wonder if the Nets would consider a "twin towers" approach with him and Lopez? Lopez obviously has some experience with it after playing with his brother at Stanford.

And:

That report from Minneapolis about Favors being out of shape? It was a feint, obviously. At least the Nets think so: Their internal dialogue in the last few days was about how Minnesota has already told the kid he’s their choice at No. 4, so the Wolves want to see him drop.

“I didn’t think so,” was all Polinsky would say when asked if the Georgia Tech kid was out of shape.

Favors dropping to 4 would be great. If detroit can deal directly with NJ to select Cousins that would be even better as favors would for sure drop to us. We better not deal with detroit for #4 (cousins). Johnson will not sniff 7. I will gladly do Al for prince #7 and use the #7, and Gomes or whatever to move up to 5 and take Johnson.

If george can drop to 16 ....

Darko - Favors - Hollins
Favors - Love
Johnson - Brewer
George - Ellington
Sessions - Flynn

I actually think this is a real possibility. I'd be pretty ecstatic if he dropped into our laps. He's not the most NBA ready but he's got sick tools and would bring excitement along with him here to Minny, not to mention defense. Re-sign Darko and we have a really good defensive frontcourt. If we could somehow get Favors AND WJ this would be an absolute epic draft.

I'm still really liking Cousins but I really like Favors. The one thing at the very least I think you can expect out of this guy is Defence and Dunks. He has almost the same measurements that Dwight Howard had and he is only 18. He probably will never reach that but I think this guys floor is still pretty high. For and 18 year old kid to be as strong as he is, is good because he isn't just gonna be pushed around in the post. The reports from his workout said he had a nice right jumphook right now too. I don't think you can go wrong with either Cousins or Favors.

The plot thickens!

Draftexpress just twittered this:

Cousins' camp is denying my report. Says that "he's a fan of Philly, NJ, Sac and Detroit. That's the fact. Nothing more. nothing less."

All these reports are driving me crazy

I think NJ is using the "maybe we'll draft Cousins" as a smokescreen to see what teams like DET will offer them to move up. In the end, I think that all of these lower teams calling the blufffs of the higher picks teams, so the draft will still end up going Wall, Turner, Favors, Johnson, Cuz - with maybe some trading afterwards, unless DET really blows NJ or MN away with an offer.

I will not believe that NJ could pick Cousins over Favors until I hear it announced by David Stern.

chadfordinsider

Another strong workout for Cousins in NJ today vs. Favors. He shot the lights out again. From what I gather it's now a toss-up in NJ @ 3

Videos from the NJ wortkouts:

http://www.nba.com/nets/video/2010/06/2 ... index.html

Interesting Notes:

1.Cousins says that he's more comfortable playing the 5 right now but would prefer to play the 4 because it allows him to show his perimeter skills.

2. Favors doesn't disagree with Minnesota's take with his conditioning. He says that right now he's in workout shape not game shape.

Is it as simple as this?

1996: #4 pick - Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech
2003: #4 pick - Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
2010: #4 pick - Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech????

If the trend continues (every 7 years a GT player is selected fourth overall), then either we get Favors at 4, or we trade out of the spot because he is there and somebody else really wants him, possibly still netting us Wes Johnson.

Obviously it isn't this simple, but it's fun to think about.

Cousins is now my favorite player in the draft. I think he'll be remembered as the best player in the draft 10 years from now.

I can easily see Favors drop to #4 for three reasons ... Wall, Turner and the fact Favors is not only very young, but raw. The return may be too risky when Cousins is sitting right there ready to roll if they don't over-analyze his character.

I still pick either Favors or Cousins. WJ is a nice player but Favors and Cousins have just supreme potential.

Nobody is doubting cousin's potential. he is the 2nd best if not the best potential prospect. The work ethic is lockeroom concerns are that much of an issue.

Pumaman wrote:Is it as simple as this?

1996: #4 pick - Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech
2003: #4 pick - Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
2010: #4 pick - Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech????

Love it, Pumaman. I'm sold!