Which player would teams take at number three?

[Cammo101]

Tier 1: Griffin and Rubio
Tier 2: Thabeet, Hill, and Harden
Tier 3: a ton of other players

[Krapinsky]

Tier 1: Griffin and Rubio
Tier 2: Thabeet, Hill, and Harden
Tier 3: a ton of other players

Well then that's strange that you would have teams like Knicks, Raptors, and Bobcats taking Thabeet over Harden when the Raptors and Bobcats have greater needs at SG and D'antoni would never play a player with no offensive game.

[Cammo101]

Tier 1: Griffin and Rubio
Tier 2: Thabeet, Hill, and Harden
Tier 3: a ton of other players

Well then that's strange that you would have teams like Knicks, Raptors, and Bobcats taking Thabeet over Harden when the Raptors and Bobcats have greater needs at SG and D'antoni would never play a player with no offensive game.

You think the Knicks have a bigger need at SG than C? They started Jarred freaking Jefferies at center this year. The Raptors could certainly take Harden, it depends what they plan on doing with their 2 PF's. The Bobcats need a true center in the worst way.

Even if Thabeet and Harden are even, it is so much harder to find a defensive anchor center than it is to find a guy like Harden. There is a reason teams reach on big men in every draft.

[Krapinsky]

Tier 1: Griffin and Rubio
Tier 2: Thabeet, Hill, and Harden
Tier 3: a ton of other players

Well then that's strange that you would have teams like Knicks, Raptors, and Bobcats taking Thabeet over Harden when the Raptors and Bobcats have greater needs at SG and D'antoni would never play a player with no offensive game.

You think the Knicks have a bigger need at SG than C? They started Jarred freaking Jefferies at center this year. The Raptors could certainly take Harden, it depends what they plan on doing with their 2 PF's. The Bobcats need a true center in the worst way.

Even if Thabeet and Harden are even, it is so much harder to find a defensive anchor center than it is to find a guy like Harden. There is a reason teams reach on big men in every draft.

You can't think short term when it comes to the Knicks. They are obviosuly rebuilding. The only reason Jared jeffries even played was because they wanted to try and spurn some trade interest. Currently the knicks do not have a SG or a PG that projects to be there long term. The only building blocks they have are Gallinari (PF), Chandler (SF), and Lee (PF/C if resigned). You can't ignore the fact that D'antoni's system requires every player to be an offensive threat. Thabeet makes absolutely no sense.

The Bobs "reached" for Ajincia last year, so they already have a project center. Then they have Okafor if they want to go small and will be paying Diop and Mohammed a combine $12 million plus each year over the next two years, and then Diop alone until 2012/2013 ($7M + in the final year). So now you want them to commit another roster spot, to make it four roster spots for defensive centersm (5 including Okafor)? If the draft Thabeet do they just add Diop to the bench and allow them both to rot for there for the full length of their contracts?

Assuming Felton is not resigned they will only have two back court contributors in Bell/Felton, so how exactly does taking another defensive minded center make sense?

[BigSlam]

The Bobs "reached" for Ajincia last year, so they already have a project center. Then they have Okafor if they want to go small and will be paying Diop and Mohammed a combine $12 million plus each year over the next two years, and then Diop alone until 2012/2013 ($7M + in the final year). So now you want them to commit another roster spot, to make it four roster spots for defensive centersm (5 including Okafor)? If the draft Thabeet do they just add Diop to the bench and allow them both to rot for there for the full length of their contracts?

Assuming Felton is not resigned they will only have two back court contributors in Bell/Felton, so how exactly does taking another defensive minded center make sense?

DING DING DING DING!!

We have a winner!

Thank God for Dr.Krapinsky and common sense!

[gswhoops]

Kings- Thabeet
Wizards- Thabeet
Clippers- Hill
Thunder- Thabeet
Wolves- Harden or Thabeet
Grizzlies - Hill
Warriors- Thabeet
Knicks- Thabeet
Raptors- Thabeet
Bucks - Hill
Bobcats - Thabeet

Why would the Kings (Hawes/Thompson), Wizards (Haywood) or Warriors (Biedrins/Turiaf) take Thabeet?

The Kings need a defensive big man. Hawes and Thompson are scorers, but not great defenders. Washington has no idea what to expect from Haywood, but could go with Hill. GS already has a ton of SG's and a PF of the future. That leaves Thabeet by default and they could use the defense.

We actually don't really need Thabeet's defense...the Warriors were the #1 shot blocking team in the league last year and Thabeet doesn't really bring any other skills to the table.

The Warriors' biggest needs are at PG and SF...assuming we can't trade down and pick up more picks later, I would say that Jennings is probably the pick, although Clark or Evans would certainly be possibilities. Aside from Griffin and Rubio, this draft doesn't have enough separation between tiers to justify taking a redundant player based solely on their potential, which is what we would be doing with Thabeet.

All getting the #3 pick would guarantee is that the Warriors would get they guy we were hoping to get at #7.

[Cammo101]

The fact that Charlotte is paying a crappy center and has another big man who is a project does not change the fact that they have no true centers who can actually play.

[Krapinsky]

The fact that Charlotte is paying a crappy center and has another big man who is a project does not change the fact that they have no true centers who can actually play.

So should they just keep on drafting centers with the same skill set until they finally get one that is a little bit better shot blocker and rebounder than the rest? Where do the stop? When they have 6 centers? 7 centers? 10 centers? Get real.

[Cammo101]

The fact that Charlotte is paying a crappy center and has another big man who is a project does not change the fact that they have no true centers who can actually play.

So should they just keep on drafting centers with the same skill set until they finally get one that is a little bit better shot blocker and rebounder than the rest? Where do the stop? When they have 6 centers? 7 centers? 10 centers? Get real.

It stops when you fins one who can play. First of all, Ajinca is a PF and Mohammed is a complete stiff. It is not like they are the Sonics taking lotto bigs every year.

You take the player that gives your team the best chance to win. Thabeet is that guy for a lot of these teams, regardless of what other crap centers they wasted picks on.

[Krapinsky]

The fact that Charlotte is paying a crappy center and has another big man who is a project does not change the fact that they have no true centers who can actually play.

So should they just keep on drafting centers with the same skill set until they finally get one that is a little bit better shot blocker and rebounder than the rest? Where do the stop? When they have 6 centers? 7 centers? 10 centers? Get real.

It stops when you fins one who can play. First of all, Ajinca is a PF and Mohammed is a complete stiff. It is not like they are the Sonics taking lotto bigs every year.

You take the player that gives your team the best chance to win. Thabeet is that guy for a lot of these teams, regardless of what other crap centers they wasted picks on.

Just give it up man. If there's one team in the NBA that shouldn't take Thabeet it's the Bobcats.

[gswhoops]

Anyway, here's how I would see it going down:

Kings - Jennings
Wizards - Harden or Hill
Clippers - Hill
OKC - Harden or Thabeet
Wolves - Harden or Thabeet
Grizzlies - Hill
Warriors - Jennings
Knicks - Thabeet
Raptors - Harden
Bucks - Hill
Nets - Harden
Bobcats - Harden
Pacers - Hill
Suns - Thabeet

[pillwenney]

Yeah, I'd have a really hard time seeing Petrie take Thabeet. I'm not saying I would be against it, but I would be shocked to see Geoff do that.

[dunkonu21]

Kings-Harden
Wizards- Thabeet or Hill
Clippers- Hill
Thunder- Thabeet
Wolves- Harden
Grizzlies - Hill
Warriors- Hill
Knicks-Harden
Raptors- Thabeet
Bucks - Hill
Bobcats - Thabeet