What Position Do We Draft For?

[Ballings7]

think it would be PG. I like Gordon myself.

Gordon's not a PG, though.

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profile ... ordon.html

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Eric-Gordon-328/

Also for our PG I think we need a guy who will run the team consistently as part of his game. From the draft, or not.

And on Mayo, from what I've gathered he's more of an off-guard than a PG right now. I also have questionability if he's going to be a guy who will play a balanced offensive game, or at least be enough of a facilitator, at PG. Maybe.

Well there is very little probability that we draft ourselves into contention. We just need to stack our roster full of talent.

I meant that in a partial sense, not an overall sense. But what you have and need from your big men is typically what determines your team, and in this case, being a title contender.

Also as I referenced to, I didn't just mean the draft. I said whoever it'll be next to Hawes as his big man partner for a longer-term period of time. That could definitely come from the draft, or from a trade, or from a FA signing. Or even Shelden. My point was, regardless of who and how of the main PF, being a significant defender has to be there.

Do you agree?

Because like I said, regardless of time, you need to have enough defense and rebounding from your big men. Rather than a ceiling from those areas with your hig men, which will always limit your playoff situation. That especially relates to us, because Hawes probably isn't going to be a strong rebounder and defensive player. Thus, an increase in ability, production from those areas is required from the guy next to Hawes. This is all assuming were going to have Hawes for several years, around for awhile - which is probably so.

A team will not be a title contender if your big men don't defend and rebound well enough. You need offense too (there's that balance again), but that's not what is in discussion here.

And, stacking the roster full of talent, doesn't mean keeping a bunch of scorers around as most of the starting five, right? But moreso for assets and keeping certain players.

Mayo/Gordon have the chance to be very good players but they are still about 6'3" each, and only Mayo can be regarded as a real standout athlete, although Gordon is no slouch. Kevin is a full 6'7", not neccessarily a strong guy but very athletic. That means a lot at the NBA level. Not to mention what Kevin has done and is doing in the actual NBA.

Already alluded to and am aware of most of that.

I disagree Gordon isn't a big-time athlete, from all that I've seen and read. I don't think Kevin overall, is as athletic as Mayo/Gordon. Still good, though.

[BMiller52]

Hey VeeJay, long time no see...

Yeah, I realize my idea is more theory right now than anything else and I know our current status does not make the Kings all that attractive as destination. That's part of the reason why I want to see Theus keep coaching to win despite knowing we won't make the playoffs. That mentality can go a long way towards allaying some of the fears that might cause a "top player" to try to block a trade. It won't be easy, I will give you that.

Thing is though if we show off our younger talent and do offer them up as trade chips them getting time increases their value, and the higher our pick gets increases it's value. Yeah it might make us more attractive to said player but that doesn't matter if it's not attractive enough to the team we're dealing with. And to be honest like Denied said, we give up our best package lets say 3/4 of Artest/Hawes/Martin/Pick, do you actually see any team WANTING to come play for the Kings? That'd be our 2 best players and our 2 best young assets. There would basically be crap left. Nobody would want to play here. We wouldn't have a star left to play with like Pierce that made KG want to come to Boston. To be honest I don't even see any players that would want a trade out there.

[KingInExile]

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Thing is though if we show off our younger talent and do offer them up as trade chips them getting time increases their value, and the higher our pick gets increases it's value. Yeah it might make us more attractive to said player but that doesn't matter if it's not attractive enough to the team we're dealing with. And to be honest like Denied said, we give up our best package lets say 3/4 of Artest/Hawes/Martin/Pick, do you actually see any team WANTING to come play for the Kings? That'd be our 2 best players and our 2 best young assets. There would basically be crap left. Nobody would want to play here. We wouldn't have a star left to play with like Pierce that made KG want to come to Boston. To be honest I don't even see any players that would want a trade out there.

I never said we need to swing a deal similar to a KG deal. I'm talking more along the lines of a younger guy just reaching his prime (or about to). Not saying these guys are available, but the kinds of players I'm taking about would be guys along the line of Bosh, Jamison, David West, Okafor and even Brand (sure his injury would make it a risky move, but he's still young and capable of recovering).

[Ballings7]

I'd love Okafor..

I think he and Hawes also would complement eachother well. On both ends.

[pillwenney]

You forgot Kenny Thomas...every team should be all over him.

The factor that should not be discounted is that circumstances for teams and players are always changing. You never really know when a star player is going to demand a trade or when a team may decide to move in a direction that doesn't involve a high-profile player. Petrie has been good in the past working deals in this type of scenario (see Webber for Richmond, Bibby for J-Will, Miller for Pollard and change, Artest for Peja). What this team needs is another Webber for Richmond type of deal. Is there one out there at this moment in time? Maybe not. But that doesn't mean that one won't be out there in a couple of months or sometime next season. Petrie needs to keep an eye out for those opportunities and act on them when they arise.

The biggest thing we disagree about is the importance of the draft. I think the draft is good for complimentary players, but it is too much of a crap shoot for finding an anchor/franchise player. For every diamond that comes out of the draft, there are dozens of lumps of coal. Both are made out of the same atoms, but they are certainly not interchangeable. With the rare exception of the no-brainer top picks, you never really know what you will get in the draft. And this draft class really doesn't have a "no-brainer" (Duncan, Oden, KG, LBJ) pick.

I'd say that's pretty much an exaggeration--especially when you have a GM that knows what he's doing. The draft definitely isn't a sure thing, but it still has been more proven than anything to be the best way to acquire a franchise player. Sure trading is more of a sure thing in the sense that you know what you're getting, but you also don't really know if/when a deal will ever come. You're relying on other teams to help build your franchise. It's true that the draft also relies on outside sources as far as one's position goes, but at least it's much harder for a given player to block the pick, or for a team to keep a pick from happening because of strategy, or something like that. And really, you're pick can't fall that far from where you wanted it to be.

[VeeJay24]

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Already alluded to and am aware of most of that.

I disagree Gordon isn't a big-time athlete, from all that I've seen and read. I don't think Kevin overall, is as athletic as Mayo/Gordon. Still good, though.

Sure, he is essentially a 2 and that works for him in college. In the NBA; however, his best position will be at the point guard position. It's similar to Billups when he came out. Pitino screw up and didn't know how use him get a 2 guard to complement him. Detroit has with Hamilton. More recently Wade was similar. When he entered he came in and played PG, sure he played a lot of times at the 2 but he was a PG.

He has to work on his ballhandling and court vision but his skills now are a perfect match for Martin plus he would be what the Kings have never had....someone who can score when the shot clock is running out or at the end of games.

Hey KIE, It's great to be seen I miss you guys and I am all for your theory. If Bosh becomes available the Kings should be first in line. I doubt if that happens though. I think the way to go is Josh Smith a FA. Also, Dallas needs to be watched. If they fail to win a championship, I think they will most definitely dismantled. Maybe Artest will be of interest to them and if Artest wants to get paid he will have to cooperate. Artest for Howard works for me.

Those 3 additions (Smith, Howard & Gordon) alone improves the Kings prospects.

[UKF]

Damn KIE, I didn't know Garnett was going to be available again this year I am all for your theory, I just don't think the Kings are in a position to pull anything like that off. I can see that star blocking a trade to the Kings.

As far as the draft is concern, it depends on where the Kings actually pick. I would have to think it would be PG. I like Gordon myself.

LIE, I tell you what I do think could happen. With things going the way they are in Dallas, there is no doubt that there will be changes. Do you think a Artest sign & trade netting the Kings Howard would be possible? Also, Josh Smith will be a FA correct? Gordon, Rose or Mayo may fit perfect with a starting lineup of Martin, Howard, Smith & Hawes or Miller.

I dont think we have a shot at getting any of those guys, though Id love to have them. We would have to get very lucky in the lottery, or finish off the season with no more wins...

[PaKwAn]

Just get Darrell Arthur and having him with Hawes and Beno running the pick and roll/pop would be a nice advantage to us,he is athletic can run and can hit jump shots.....And he mans our power forward position where we are weak at...

[UKF]

Now I will make a thread asking which PG's or PF's you guys would like us to get.

[Ballings7]

Sure, he is essentially a 2 and that works for him in college. In the NBA; however, his best position will be at the point guard position. It's similar to Billups when he came out. Pitino screw up and didn't know how use him get a 2 guard to complement him. Detroit has with Hamilton. More recently Wade was similar. When he entered he came in and played PG, sure he played a lot of times at the 2 but he was a PG.

He has to work on his ballhandling and court vision but his skills now are a perfect match for Martin plus he would be what the Kings have never....someone who can score when the shot clock is running out or at the end of games.

Too much of a question primarily, and a specificity, about Gordon at the PG spot. Just would have to see.

If he doesn't develop his PG skill enough, I could only see it work with the right player with him. That situation isn't with us.

So until then, like you said, I disagree about Gordon as a PG.