2010 NBA Draft Thread: Nets Select Derrick Favors

[jzmagik]

I truly believe the Nets should pick Cousins. After the workout on Monday, from what I've read, Cousins out powered Favors, and has a better outside shot. Polinsky said he was comfortable from "20 feet out", whereas Favors was comfortable from "15-16 feet," but still is "a work in progress." I know Favors is more athletically gifted, but Cousins is better offensively at this point. I also feel that Cousins will bring more toughness to the team, and fit into Avery's defense game plan every night. Cousins is a gamble, given his attitude problems, but I really think the Nets should take the risk.

I think Cousins fits in LESS into an Avery defense than Favors. Neither him nor Brook can guard NBA 4's. The one thing everyone felt from the workout was that Cousins is a FIVE...PERIOD at this stage of where he is at. ANd that Favors wasnt even breaking a sweat in some of the harder drills thrown at him. That he was the freak athlete. Defensively...hands down Favors is the more NBA ready...better fit for the PF spot. Cousins who like Brook is most comfortable on the low blocks is the much better offensive player at this stage. Yes, he has more range and a nice shot. But is that the goal here? To tunr him into a 15-20 foot set jump shooter? He isnt busting guys off the dribble in the NBA at the size he is. I like that he has touch...and I wont cry if he is the guy...but after sleeping on it...and re=reading all that was said and seen in their workouts...I come away thinking...yeah...they did lock in on Favors at 3...and uless they can accomplish more in terms of creating cap space or adding assets...they draft him at 3 to keep him at 3. Or even better...pass him at 3, help themselves cap space wise or asset wise and get him even lower in the draft. Minny under the cap and with assets we would like that are duplicates for them...it just might happen like that.

Now they play their game of chicken. We take Favros at 3 I expect to keep him. We take Wes I expect to hear a deal before the draft is over. We take Cousins I think its a pick em.

I think Cousins bust potential is way too high to risk our pick on him. His mental immaturity and reports of laziness are just too much. Sure he has skills, but I highly doubt he'll ever reach his full potential with his attitude.

There's a reason why GMs around the league were put off by what they saw from him in workouts, and now his agent and Cousins are trying to do damage control and make him seem like a mature and fiery (in a positive light) kid.

Favors is pretty much the opposite of Cousins. He's level-headed, plays above the rim, is a strong defensive presence, and raw.

[demens]

Now its Monroe lol. Thorn needs to be put in a home.

[Basileus777]

I'm glad it seems like Cousins is off the table, but Monroe and Wesley?

[enetric]

This is the first actual negative comment Thorn has made about anyone in the mix at #3. The Monroe compliments are just that. He likes this guy in general...and I am thinking that means if they traded further down. I like Monroe too. I would be unhappy to trade that far down to get Monroe if all we do is create more cap space. I would like more than that, or I dont want to trade that far down. Like...if we create cap space and still get Favors...great. If we trade all the way to where Monroe is a good pick...I want an asset plus cap space. Did Monroe come up today as a result of GSW moving Maggs? Are they eyeing a deal with them? Sac also made a deal this week. Do they have a deal that could take cap space from us and land an asset at the same time making it worth trading down?

Back to Cousins. For Rod to say something this definitive I think Cousins is out of the mix at #3 should we keep #3 for ourselves.

Surprise! Rod Thorn, like any good poker (or three card monte) player, is playing a new hand late in the game and his name is Greg Monroe, Georgetown's 6'11" PF/C. Not only that, but Thorn seemed to eliminate DeMarcus Cousins from the mix at #3 in talks with beat reporters.

First Cousins. While praising the 6'11" Kentucky center, he essentially eliminated him from contention, pointing to deficiencies at the power forward position. "It’s a leap of faith there to suggest that he can play the 4. He can shoot the ball well, and he can face the basket. But I don’t think he’ll take it from 20 feet and go by people, and defensively it could be even more of a problem."

That would seem to mean the competition is down to Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson. Not so. Thorn says nice things about the (barely) 20-year-old Monroe. "We like Monroe a lot," Thorn said. "He’s a lot different than Derrick Favors. He has an all-around game — left hand, right hand, great size. So I don’t think you (eliminate him) by any stretch. Monroe’s looking very good to us."

Are the Nets considering moving down to nab Monroe...or Epke Udoh, who they also like? "We haven’t talked to anyone about moving as of yet," he said. "Right now, I’d say no. But it could be a possibility."

[enetric]

I'm glad it seems like Cousins is off the table, but Monroe and Wesley?

He has to be flushing things out for trading down options and still getting a top 6 pick.

[mikhailjordan]

Now that I'm over the initial shock... I think the fact that Thorn has brought up Monroe validates the fact that this is just a smokescreen.

It's well known that Minnesota covets Wes Johnson and Sacramento covets Greg Monroe (not sure why they'd take him over Cousins though), Thorn's just gauging value IMO...

[SpeedyG]

Actually glad to hear about Monroe and Udoh. When Johnson's name came up, I was definitely worried. Now that others name has come up, I feel better again. This is nothing more than a GM throwing things out there to make other GMs think...

Basically...to me what it boils down to...

#3 is up for grabs...now what are YOU willing to give up for it? Let the bidding begin...

[Basileus777]

I'm glad it seems like Cousins is off the table, but Monroe and Wesley?

He has to be flushing things out for trading down options and still getting a top 6 pick.

Yeah, after these latest statements that seems like a pretty likely scenario. It says a lot about Cousins and how teams are valuing him that Thorn is willing to dismiss him outright.

[mikhailjordan]

Well if you look at why Thorn is dismissing Cousins it's strictly because he thinks he's a center (and resultantly not capable of playing next to Brook Lopez), so I wouldn't look too much into that...

[Basileus777]

Well if you look at why Thorn is dismissing Cousins it's strictly because he thinks he's a center (and resultantly not capable of playing next to Brook Lopez), so I wouldn't look too much into that...

It still suggests that Thorn doesn't care to convince anyone that the Nets might draft him, perhaps because no one wants to trade up for Cousins.

[BasketCase1]

Glad to hear Monroe is in the mix but I feel Thorn is up to something. Maybe it will be the 2001 draft all over again where he trades a supposed big name for some ready-now, solid players?(Okay, so Brandon Armstrong didnt exactly work out)

Here is an article from a writer for Dime magazine on Demarcus Cousins. Thoughts???
http://dimemag.com/2010/06/nets-will-ma ... s-cousins/

[vincecarter4pres]

I'll tell you, I still highly doubt we go any other way then Favors, but I would rather trade much further down and take Paul George plus get an additional legitimate asset then take Wesley Johnson at 3 overall, or really, take him at all.

I think Johnson will be a solid pro, but never great, or a star. He screams high level role player to me and that's nice and all, but not at the 3rd overall pick.

George has much higher upside, it's not even close. Even if Paul George has higher bust potential(along with Derrick Favors for that matter), when you draft this high you swing for the fences as long as that player seems to have a high shot at reaching most of their potential and a likely high floor and I think Favors and George both have that.

I doubt it's much to be concerned about, it's probably Rod just putting it in the air to see what offers get thrown his way between now and the moment Stern is walking to the podium, but it still makes me somewhat nervous.

[-soul fist-]

I like faVors I think he's an exciting player to root for
cousins has a nice face for interViews
i'll take either..no to wes johnson

[Jersey Generals]

We really got screwed by falling to number 3. Things would be much, much simpler with either Turner or Wall.

[Pugsley_2491]

I was thinking about the 2006 draft with Rondo and Marcus Williams and I see some similarities in this draft with Favors and Cousins. Marcus had a high body-fat percentage, out of shape and with a questionable attitude. Although he did have lottery skills with the potential to be one of the top point guards in the draft. Cousins has the same red flags whereas Rondo and Favors have the athleticism and potential...

[Pugsley_2491]

Also, with a Monroe possibility. What about the #3 for the #5 + Casspi? (maybe throw in the #27)?

[enetric]

Also, with a Monroe possibility. What about the #3 for the #5 + Casspi? (maybe throw in the #27)?

If rumors are true, we just dealt CDR for a future pick. To me that validates that we are not going to take on assets that take away cap room at this time.

So if we trade down, I dont expect to hear...Nets get sp and so and lower pick for #3. I believe we will either create salary cap space, or we will convert salary into lower priced assets...which of course also creates cap space. The one exception if I had to guess is if we can add a star player, like the Paul rumor. It all seems very clear to me that the game plan is to come away with two star players by the time all the wheeling, dealing and free agent signing is done. SO if we can trade for one now...great. If not, then all signs point to what I have been saying all along. Maximize cap space, and go shopping.

Now, there are only three players that get you to the next tier of cap room. Either move Devin Harris, or move Yi and Humphries. Move Humphries alone with CDR gone....and we are at 13mil...very close to David Lee range. But you need to move both him and Yi or Devin to get to an extra 16 and change to go after two tier 1 guys like Lebron, Wade, Bosh and Amare.

Anyone know, what the cap hold of Rubio would be if he doesnt come for another year? And not speculation...can we find out for absolute certainty? I am asking because...that determines how interesting a Devin/3 for Rubio/4 deal really is.

[vincecarter4pres]

On the Rubio question, I'm honestly not positive, but as far as I remember, his cap hold would be the same as the cap hold for the 5th pick this season, which is $2,812,200.

[enetric]

See if you can find out for sure. But can you see wher I am going? That would be ideal. Cap space, youth, prospect, and still get to take Favors.

[enetric]

I found this very interesting. What he said is the way you word it when you actually have had legit conversation and you are considering it....

As Thursday night's NBA Draft draws closer, rumors of the New Orleans Hornets entertaining numerous offers for the services of All-Star guard Chris Paul continue to circulate.


And general manager Jeff Bower on Tuesday refused to comment on any possible scenarios involving Paul, the face of franchise.


"I'm not going to comment on rumors, regardless of confirming them or denying them or saying how believable or unbelievable they are," Bower said. "Because it's something that will be there throughout the free agent process. I'm not going to begin commenting now.

"We have the duty to listen and have dialog with teams about all of our players. I've also always said we have a very high value and opinion of what Chris provides for us. Things really haven't changed."

Pressed whether he wanted to put to rest all rumors regarding Paul, Bower would not commit.

"It's going to go on, whether I say that or not, the speculation," Bower said. "We have a very high opinion of his value, what he provides for our team, what our objectives would need to be met. We have a duty to listen to calls and have discussions with teams. And that's as far as we would go with any player."