Is Thabeet a viable option for the Sixers in the Draft?

[ahwi_quacoe]

We are currently a young team growing offensively and becoming a defensive force. We don't neccesarily need anymore 3's or offense from the draft especially if we plan to address that in Free Agency. So does Thabeet become an option that makes us even better defensively. Someone who can pick up defensives sets and contribute on that end at least with even more size and ability to run the floor ? I don't think we are ready to blow all our money on a power forward and be locked into a bad contract. Do we continue to keep this team growing together offensively and allow the young guys to improve marginally as opposed to picking up a major player who we may have to play around to keep happy?

Opinions ?

[SendEm]

PF or SG. If the Sixers draft anything else they didn't help themselves out in my opinion.

[THFM]

PF or SG. If the Sixers draft anything else they didn't help themselves out in my opinion.

We need a back up Center too, Booth is not a option next year.

[Wildfire]

At our range, Thabeet would be an amazing pick. But I also think a couple other guys will be even BETTER picks, like Arthur, Budinger, Collison, Clark, McGee, Augustin, and maybe even reach for Chalmers.
I would like Thabeet, but more pressing needs that have an almost equal (and more realizable) ceiling will probably be available.

I'm quickly becoming very excited for this draft, because I think we'll draft a guy who will either be a future starter or 6th man. I'm very confident Stefanski will do well.

The one thing I do NOT want to do is draft another swingman (I think Clark will be a Josh Smith type PF in the NBA and Budinger would be too good to pass up, that's why I mentioned them). We are set with Iggy, Thad, Carney, and Green for a long time. So unless someone with top 10 talent (like Budinger) falls to us, I'm taking either a C, PF, or PG.

[corwin]

I'm all for picking the best big man available & it looks like there will be quite a few. Thabeet could be the next Motumbo. If you can draft a guy like that at 16-18 you really have to do it. This team definitely needs a back-up center. PF is a bigger need but I also agree with Wildfire that a back-up center is almost as high a priority. Don't forget, the team was lucky in that Sam didn't miss much time this year.

[dbodner]

At 17, I'm all for BPA. I haven't watched enough of Thabeet to know if he's BPA at that point, but if he is I'm not going to pass on him due to immediate team needs.

[The Guilty Party]

Even though I'm all about Arthur... I am with dabods in that the Sixers should take the BPA at #17. If Stefanksi/DiLeo determine that to be Thabeet than so be it.

[freshie2]

Definitely. This team needs a backup center, and if he's the BPA at that point, you take him. Young, long, athletic shot blocker who's still learning the game...can't argue that selection in the late teens/20's.

[chrice]

If Thabeet stays healthy, I think he'll be a very solid player. Most freshman/sophomore centers that don't do well in the nba, tend not to do well because they're limited offensively and their contribution is solely off of dunks and put backs. But Thabeet looks like he won't have that problem. He's not lightning fast or anything, but he's fairly mobile for his size. Although not the prettiest form, he's also starting to develop some touch around the basket as well as some passing ability. I'd definitely take him at the current position, even moreso than the other lopez. Can never have too much depth at Center.

[freshie2]

Plus, he comes in as a backup to Sam...very little immediate expectations other than challenge shots and rebound.

[mkm2]

Thabeet doesn't seem like a crazy idea at all. If you look at most likely course of offseason action, all efforts will go toward acquiring an impact PF -- via free-agency or trade. If we assume Ed will be able to do that, then the assessment of our needs changes a bit. Thad shifts to SF, Iggy to SG. Carney (if he's still here) and Willie backup those two roles. Lou is our backup PG. While we need to a PG to develop (in Ollie's place), center actually becomes a more immediate need. We have Jason Smith at the PF spot. But Booth isn't going to cut it. When Sammy leaves the game, the only player on the team that can approach his shot-blocking prowess is Mr. Mary Carey. He's not a center.

So... really, if Ed can land a PF via free-agency, they may well see a young backup, defensive center, as the most pressing draft need. Very possible they target Thabeet, should he be available.

[Johnny Broad-Street]

I just want a legit NBA caliber player who can add to this team's success and chemistry. Over the years I've gotten away from rooting for a position as that has backfired so many times with teams passing on someone in the interest of getting a position of need. I think if we add as much talent through FA and the draft as possible, we'll be in good shape in the future.

That being said....I want a large space-eating body to play next to Dalembert, in a perfect world.

[IglooKing2]

With Miller's status highly uncertain beyond next year, I think the Sixers ought to strongly consider taking a PG with their pick (Augustin would be my first choice here). But if they don't go down that route, and don't see a PF whom they're confident will be better than Jason Smith, then a center like Thabeet makes a lot of sense.

Not just because he could easily be an upgrade over Calvin Booth, but because, if he develops well and the Sixers get a PF who can defend elite big men, he might make Sammy expendable in a year or two.

[STChaser]

The idea of being able to rest Sam and bring in a guy like Thabeet is just flat out scary. We've seen our interior get shredded all season when Sam sits. Having an athletic 7'3 shot blocker as our reserve 5 would allow us to continue running the fast break throughout the game. That being said, IF we draft Thabeet, we better finally bring in that big man coach. Anyway, I would love to see a lineup next season of:

PG: Miller, Lou
SG: Iguodala, Green
SF: Thaddeus, Carney
PF: Josh Smith or Okafor, Jason Smith, Evans
C: Dalembert, Thabeet

I think it really comes down to this; if DiLeo finds that there is a PF who he is really high on that's still available with our pick, he should take him. BUT if the wish-list of PF's are all gone and Thabeet, DeAndre Jordan, or JaVale McGee are still on the board, I think you have to seriously consider taking the best 5 available.

STChaser

[Sixers24]

Thabeet sucks. No offensive game, slow foot speed, limited knowledge and feel for the game, and extremely weak, both in his upper and lower body. There are way, way better picks than him. And no to Hibbert too. Just about all of the above apply to him as well.

[STChaser]

That's why I brought up DeAndre Jordan and JaVale McGee too.


STChaser

[Skates]

Thabeet also seems to lack basketball instincts, if anything he reminds me of a larger, less athletic Dalembert coming out of college. He's a long term project, which may be fine depending where you are picking. In the mid to late teens I think there will be better options, but if we pick up a late first rounder Thabeet does have some potential. Hibbert can probably contribute more quickly as a back-up center in the right system, but I don't see him as a fit in our run and gun attack on offense or defense.

[Sixers24]

That's why I brought up DeAndre Jordan and JaVale McGee too.


STChaser

To be honest I just glanced over most of the thread to make my statement.

To the Jordan and McGee options, I don't think you, or really anyone else has seen enough of them to truly know what they can be. I'd be much more for drafting one of them on the chance - if there is one, and this will have to be decided by the Tony DiLeo's of the world - that they could be a good to great player. To me, Hibbert and Thabeet could be an ok player, or they could be stiffs that won't have any impact save 15 minutes a game or something like that. They're much more proven commodities than McGee or Jordan, but all they have proven is that they aren't that good.

[dbodner]

I don't like DeAndre Jordan AT ALL. If he's drafted top 10, he's going to be a huge bust IMO.

I haven't seen enough of McGee to have an informed opinion.

[tk76]

I bet a big, athletic untalented back-up center like Diopp gets signed for 6M+ this summer. If we can get a similar or better back-up center that can be a defensive presence while only paying them a rookie scale contrtact- it would make excellent buisiness sense.

If that player can develop to where they can replace Sam when his contract expires in 3 years- even better.

I have no idea if Thabeet is that guy. I have read there are questions about his work ethic- but those same questions were raised about Sam when he entered the draft.