RealGM

As you all know, we currently have the 16th pick. That could land us a talented PF considering the depth there is in this year's draft class. However, Ideally, I think this is the draft to try to get one more mid-round pick. In my opinion, there are just too many PF/C available who could turn into something special this year. Would it not make sense to draft two PF/C's with the idea that at least one of them will pan out rather than pursuing the Brands, Josh Smiths, Okafors, etc.?

Just to give you all an idea of what could be had with two mid-rounders, below is a list of possible PF/C's that should be available. I would concentrate on finding two things; 1) a wide body PF/C with post moves like Speights - someone who could evolve into an Al Jefferson type forward, and 2) a pure athlete who can play the 4 like Ibaka or Thompson - someone who could evolve into a Marion/Josh Smith prospect for this team. I would not put it past DiLeo and Stefanski to snuff these two prospects out for us, and truth be told, I'd almost rather take our chances with this year's draft than throw millions at an injury prone Brand or tweener like Smith.

JaVale McGee
Darrell Author
Anthony Randolph
Kevin Love
Donte Green
Robin Lopez
Jason Thompson
Roy Hibbert
DJ White
DeAndre Jordan
Marreese Speights
DeVon Hardin
Serge Ibaka

I think that you are overrating this draft.

SendEm wrote:I think that you are overrating this draft.

I think your underating this draft big time. In fact, I think this draft is so good their are SGS in round 2 that will carve out a good career in the NBA. I would still take Speights or Thompson with our pick and try to buy another pick and draft a shooting guard like Shan Foster. I still wish I could see some game film on Lester Hudson, since he had those huge games against Memphis and Vanderbuilt.

The only way I take Zach Randolph in a deal is, the deal somehow someway includes the 5th pick coming to Philadelphia,which would give us so many ways to go.

Won't necessarily be the 5th pick..but we will find out tonight.

We already have 5 below average power forwards. We don't need to add one more, let alone two. SendEm is right, this isn't that great of a draft. The most realistic expectation for the 16th pick is a guy at the level of a Jason Smith.

I think you are underrating our scouting personnel.

And you can't tell me that of all those names, none of these players are going to have an impact in this league. Jason Maxiell was drafted 26th. Millsap was drafted 47th. Josh Smith was drafted at 17. Turiaf was drafted with the 37th pick. Amir Johnson, who is more talented than any PF on our roster, was drafted with the 56th pick. Point is, among that group I mentioned, there absolutely WILL be some players who become major contributors. This is a deep draft in terms of PF/C's. I think we should make the most of it.

STChaser wrote:I think you are underrating our scouting personnel.

And you can't tell me that of all those names, none of these players are going to have an impact in this league. Jason Maxiell was drafted 26th. Millsap was drafted 47th. Josh Smith was drafted at 17. Turiaf was drafted with the 37th pick. Amir Johnson, who is more talented than any PF on our roster, was drafted with the 56th pick. Point is, among that group I mentioned, there absolutely WILL be some players who become major contributors.

You can say that about any draft. We will have future drafts to add more fringe prospects to our roster. There's no need to spend our few assets to add a pick, especially if it's just a mid/late pick.

STChaser wrote: This is a deep draft in terms of PF/C's. I think we should make the most of it.

Wait until we actually see who stays in the draft before you say that. And a lot of the people you listed aren't realistic options for us unless we move up a good deal.

There might be some talented players in this draft, but not talented enough to warrant passing on free agency... If Brand or Smith somehow become realistic possibilities, then we sure as hell don't turn away because we drafted a PF at pick 16.

DJ White. I like him. I think we can get him in the 2nd round.

This depends on who is available when the Sixers draft and what overall strategy the team has and a few other factors, but given the youth of some of the major contributors on the team, I think this might be one year where trading out of the draft could be acceptable. I normally don't say that, but with an extremely young (no pun intended) team and clearly defined needs, I think trading out should be considered.

I'd consider using the pick as part of the package for a starting PF. With cap space, semi-decent trade chips, and a first round pick, there's got to be some PF out there that would really improve this team.

If that option isn't available, maybe try and play on some other GM's desperation and get 2 future first round picks and add a few rookies a year or two down the line once Young and Smith and Williams are a little more seasoned and its easier to integrate a few more youngsters.

This depends on who is available when the Sixers draft and what overall strategy the team has and a few other factors, but given the youth of some of the major contributors on the team, I think this might be one year where trading out of the draft could be acceptable. I normally don't say that, but with an extremely young (no pun intended) team and clearly defined needs, I think trading out should be considered

CPops, if we're building a team for the future, why bother getting a PF who can contribute immediately; why go for the seasoned player? If anything, I think we're in the perfect position to draft our PF and let him mature with the rest of the crew. Why rush things? Look how competitive this young team was last season. Why move away from something that's been working?

STChaser

Sixerscan wrote: The most realistic expectation for the 16th pick is a guy at the level of a Jason Smith.

I think this is a big possibility, but I dont think it would be the worst thing in the world, I like Jason Smith. However, Its obvious we need a player of larger impact, just may not come trough the draft

Realistically, I think a decent player can be picked up anywhere in the first round in this draft. Not saying this is an incredibly deep draft, but it is one of those (in my opinion) where there are so many similarly skilled players that you just have to get lucky. Kind of like 2003 in the way its sort-of top heavy with LeBron, (Not nearly as great at the top with this one of course), but remember David West dropped to 18 in that draft, because there wasn't really a clear cut order after the "great" players. Barbosa, Josh Howard as well.
So I mean, like say Spreights falls, and you get lucky and he improves his conditioning, it would be a great value pick.

Brand is just not the guy , please forget about him . He's done nothing for the Clippers . He's undersized , his athletic ability will wane and we will be on the hook for an undersized power forward who will no longer be able to perform effectively as a power forward. Can't we spend the money we have waited so long for on something that will benefit us in the long run. We are not a Championship team team even with Brand so what's the point.

I think there will be some decent prospects @ 16...nobody that should come in and knock your socks off right away, but if I can get a 19-20 year old big man with potential @ 16, I'm OK with that. If I can get two of those...I'm OK with that. Those picks aren't coming in and dominating from day 1, but in years 2-3 they could be solid starters and main pieces of a solid core.

This draft like most others will not turn out to be very deep. There is no reason to make a play for another pick in the late 1st or early 2nd rd. Those guys will be roll of the dice type players who will never see court time.

At this time of the year, every draft seems like it will be deep. You hear players names all year, you read the bios and everyone sounds like they can be very good players by what you read. One guy has incredibile athleticism, the next guy is a beast in the post, the next guy can shoot the lights out, etc.. Blah Blah Blah. The reality is most guys don't translate to the NBA.

Just look at last year when we have the 3 #1's. I kept reading people on here who were begging for guys like Nick Fazekas, Glen Davis, Kopponen, Byars (how did he turn out?), Acie Law, Aaron Gray among many others. The reality is most of these guys are NBA stiffs. You probably have as good a chance to add a guy from the D league who will do more than 2nd rd picks will ever do. Of course there will be exceptions like Josh Howard, Ginobili, Parker, etc., but if they are so easy to spot, why do 25-30 other teams pass on them before they get picked? There will be one or two guys who fall into the steal category this year also, but there will be 20 guys who went ahead of them who are trash.

I can understand not wanting Brand based on some perceived injury risk or whatever, but I can't for the life of me understand this criticism about Brand being undersized.

CPops57 wrote:I can understand not wanting Brand based on some perceived injury risk or whatever, but I can't for the life of me understand this criticism about Brand being undersized.

Totally agree. It's like people look at Brand like he's some unknown 6'8" guy in the draft and they question if he's tall enough to play PF when in reality he's a veteran and has proven size has NEVER been an issue for him in the NBA. Heck, the guy played mostly C for the Bulls his rookie year. He's got unusually long arms which make up for the height when defending. He's been a top NBA PF in blocks/rebounds/pts every year.

People say Brand stinks because he's done nothing with the Clippers. Uh, so I guess KG stings since he was on some horrible T-Wolves teams? We should stay away from Okafor too since he's done nothing to help the Bobcats win games in his career (actually I do hate Okafor, but I know many here like him). Gasol stinks too since the Grizz were awful last few years (he's looked awesome in the playoffs...hum).

You can't always make things so simple. What exactly has Brand had for support in LA. An always injured Maggette and Cassell. An ancient SG in Mobley. The Clips don't win because they have horrible chemistry and a lot of guys who don't play D. Brand carried that team on his back when they won 47 games in 05-06.

I'm talking from the point that we already have mismatches against almost every team we play. Maybe if we had a real imposing center like Kaman in terms of size at strength , I don't know , I've just never been crazy about Elton Brand. I guess as Sixers we have to get somebody huh . All I'm asking is give me a breakdown of why we need Elton Brand . Convince me

If you are going to make an arguement for Brand, it's based on what he brings in the low post offense. He is a very high end PF, and a huge upgrade at the most glaring position of need on this team. Bringing him in doesn't answer every question, but for everyone who wants a legitimate low post threat on offense, then Brand gives you that option.

On the otherside, he's coming off an injury, is undersized, and is not getting any younger. Both sides have ammunition in this debate...I don't think he's coming, nor is he the savior for this franchise.