Official Speculation Thread (Pt.LII "Lottery/Draft" Edition)

[toquito]

I'm conflicted about wanting us to get the worst record in the league. Better pick or extreme embarrassment? I can't decide. (bobcats winning at half)

[Neon1]

I feel like Smart needs to lose weight. 225 at his height? he's already heavier than both Mclemore and Noel (!)

Him and McLemore are the same height anyways though.

[akhenaten]

I'm not surprised by the advanced stats results for Oladipo. He's one of those players who is making something happen on every play, oftentimes doing things that won't show up in a box score. I'm sure I'm in a very small minority on this, but I would even take him #1. Watch Hennigan shock everyone and do it.

[KillMonger]

Looking at the way Jeff Green is playing and i can't help but wonder if Harkless could end up looking like that? i would be content if Harkless's skillset ended up like Jeff Greens' or Nicolas Batum

[G-Heel]

Looking at the way Jeff Green is playing and i can't help but wonder if Harkless could end up looking like that? i would be content if Harkless's skillset ended up like Jeff Greens' or Nicolas Batum

Not everyone can be an allstar. If Harkless ends up like Greens or Batum, that would be pretty good. He's less of a scorer than those guys, but capable of playing better defense. So if he's on their level, he would be a valuable asset.

[KillMonger]

Looking at the way Jeff Green is playing and i can't help but wonder if Harkless could end up looking like that? i would be content if Harkless's skillset ended up like Jeff Greens' or Nicolas Batum

Not everyone can be an allstar. If Harkless ends up like Greens or Batum, that would be pretty good. He's less of a scorer than those guys, but capable of playing better defense. So if he's on their level, he would be a valuable asset.

I agree, i would be very content if he ended up like those guys. They are not quite stars but very good players that any team would want and can fill up the stat sheet. To me Harkless has potential to be a scary defender man, imagine a 6"8-6"9 Avery Bradley, tenacious defense plus decent shot blocking

[DMBucks22]

Hey,

Im flying in from milwaukee and will be trying to go to the game on 4/10. Looking for any advice for buying tickets. Im looking to sit lower level. And any places to go before hand to have a couple.

[blue and white]

Hey,

Im flying in from milwaukee and will be trying to go to the game on 4/10. Looking for any advice for buying tickets. Im looking to sit lower level. And any places to go before hand to have a couple.

ticketmaster lol and stub hub, were rarely sold out anymore and since the team sucks tickets are cheap to come by

[Ayt]

The more I read your comments, the more I'm convinced that trading down (or even out) wouldn't be that bad idea this year.

An interesting thought. Would Orlando for instance trade a high 1st, the TPE, and Harrington to Chicago for Marquis Teague, Carlos Boozer, and a future first?

This creates a PG upgrade, a massive expiring that arises during a nice off-season FA market, and a 1st in a draft worth drafting in.

..

That is an absolutely abysmal trade for Orlando. That would be one of the worst trades in recent NBA history. 90% of Bulls fans would jump all over that trade without even thinking about it.

Teague might not even be an NBA player. He's barely been on the court despite Rose being out, and, when he has played, he's been atrocious. Boozer is so massively overpaid that Chicago could realistically use their amnesty clause on him. He's owed 15.3M and 16.8M the year after. Chicago, assuming they don't amnesty him, would be sending out 1st round picks to get out of that contract, not the other way around. Their future 1st would almost certainly be in the 20+ range.

Instead, Orlando can keep their top 5 pick while drafting someone just as good as Teague by buying a late 1st or a 2nd rounder for 3M or less. They can also cut Harrington and pay him 7.4M this offseason rather than paying Boozer 15.3M next year and 16.8M the year after.

[Bensational]

if we want to trade out, i'm sure there will be offers on the table. most likely nothing we will want, but offers none the less.

if we can draft Smart, Utah might be interested in a deal of:

Smart + Afflalo + TPE for Favors + Alec Burks + Marv Wiilliams.

getting closer to that point we might get an idea of what teams might consider blowing things up, too. underperforming stars might become available. etc.

i'd definitely consider trading out of the draft, if there was a better prospect on offer. i wouldn't just give the pick away though.

[MagicFan32]

some advanced stats draft rankings
http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=977
http://shutupandjam.net/draft-rankings/
both seem to be big on noel porter and oladipo. weiland used to be high on smart but has recently changed his view

this jives with what i've been seeing....Noel was really improving before he got hurt, he went from a player i didn't really like to one where you could see him growing every night. the kid loves to play defense, and is a great finisher. he jumps like Amare, but has Tyson Chandlers length. I would take him no.1 right now, Smart scares the crap out of me

[I Rasharted]

The more I read your comments, the more I'm convinced that trading down (or even out) wouldn't be that bad idea this year.

An interesting thought. Would Orlando for instance trade a high 1st, the TPE, and Harrington to Chicago for Marquis Teague, Carlos Boozer, and a future first?

This creates a PG upgrade, a massive expiring that arises during a nice off-season FA market, and a 1st in a draft worth drafting in.

..

That is an absolutely abysmal trade for Orlando. That would be one of the worst trades in recent NBA history. 90% of Bulls fans would jump all over that trade without even thinking about it.

Teague might not even be an NBA player. He's barely been on the court despite Rose being out, and, when he has played, he's been atrocious. Boozer is so massively overpaid that Chicago could realistically use their amnesty clause on him. He's owed 15.3M and 16.8M the year after. Chicago, assuming they don't amnesty him, would be sending out 1st round picks to get out of that contract, not the other way around. Their future 1st would almost certainly be in the 20+ range.

Instead, Orlando can keep their top 5 pick while drafting someone just as good as Teague by buying a late 1st or a 2nd rounder for 3M or less. They can also cut Harrington and pay him 7.4M this offseason rather than paying Boozer 15.3M next year and 16.8M the year after.

That's one of those proposed trade scenarios where you blink a few times to make sure you read it right, laugh a little under your breath, and move on.

[magicman123]

The more I read your comments, the more I'm convinced that trading down (or even out) wouldn't be that bad idea this year.

An interesting thought. Would Orlando for instance trade a high 1st, the TPE, and Harrington to Chicago for Marquis Teague, Carlos Boozer, and a future first?

This creates a PG upgrade, a massive expiring that arises during a nice off-season FA market, and a 1st in a draft worth drafting in.

..

So let me get this straight, you're already calling Smart a bust like Thabeet, yet you wanna trade a top 5 pick and the TPE for marquis freaking Teague? Who we had no interest in? and we could of easily drafted him last year? plus we take on boozers terrible deal? We could of used the TPE on Rudy Gay, but we decide to use it on Boozer and forfeit a top pick?

[Neon1]

LoL

[trebone]

The more I read your comments, the more I'm convinced that trading down (or even out) wouldn't be that bad idea this year.

An interesting thought. Would Orlando for instance trade a high 1st, the TPE, and Harrington to Chicago for Marquis Teague, Carlos Boozer, and a future first?

This creates a PG upgrade, a massive expiring that arises during a nice off-season FA market, and a 1st in a draft worth drafting in.

..

So let me get this straight, you're already calling Smart a bust like Thabeet, yet you wanna trade a top 5 pick and the TPE for marquis freaking Teague? Who we had no interest in? and we could of easily drafted him last year? plus we take on boozers terrible deal? We could of used the TPE on Rudy Gay, but we decide to use it on Boozer and forfeit a top pick?

[trebone]

Teague could probably be had for a future 2nd...

[Orlando_Pride]

At this point all we can do is trust that our scouts will make the right decision for our future. Thus far they have not given any reason not to trust them. The draft will never be a guarantee. Everyone thought Davis will be a Franchise player and he still may be but at this point he isn't even the best player at his position on his team. Anderson keeps getting minutes over Davis. Okafor was suppose to be the best player without question from his draft and we all know how that ended up. Hopefully whoever we pick will pleasantly surprise us in 2014 (we do not want to get out of the Wiggins sweepstakes). I am on board for whoever could help us on defense the most, which seems to be Noel.

[Def Swami]

Rick Bonnell ‏@rick_bonnell
Talked to couple NBA scouts. McLemore likely top pick, but he's a piece, not a superstar. The riser is Oklahoma St. point Marcus Smart.

[BadMofoPimp]

At this point all we can do is trust that our scouts will make the right decision for our future. Thus far they have not given any reason not to trust them. The draft will never be a guarantee. Everyone thought Davis will be a Franchise player and he still may be but at this point he isn't even the best player at his position on his team. Anderson keeps getting minutes over Davis. Okafor was suppose to be the best player without question from his draft and we all know how that ended up. Hopefully whoever we pick will pleasantly surprise us in 2014 (we do not want to get out of the Wiggins sweepstakes). I am on board for whoever could help us on defense the most, which seems to be Noel.

Sometimes, a superstar is not known while they are in College. Look at Dwayne Wade as he was the 5th pick in the draft while Darko was chosen before Wade and Bosh. Thus, you never know. Sometimes, it is up to the player, himself, with their desire and motivation to prove people wrong. There could still be a superstar in this draft, but that probably won't be known until they hit the NBA.

[Orlando_Pride]

Rick Bonnell ‏@rick_bonnell
Talked to couple NBA scouts. McLemore likely top pick, but he's a piece, not a superstar. The riser is Oklahoma St. point Marcus Smart.

How is Smart a riser. He has been top five pick in almost every mock draft for 2 months now.