Looking towards NBA draft prospects

[drsd]

There is not a single guy in the draft, even at #1, that would get playing time on next year's roster.

GM Smith either trades the pick or goes for a real project. Maybe a European or Chinese type.

[N4U|Redux]

I think Gransberry could be just that.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kentrell-Gransberry-1307/

I'd basically cream myself to see Gransberry come here. After all, he plays for my school.

I've seen Gransberry in person several times this year...and for playing in the best conference in college basketball, and on the worst team in that conference (lol) he does very well for himself.

He shoots over 50% from the field (same from the line though...) and is already big enough to play in the NBA. He's not horribly pretty offensively, but I do believe he leads the conference in double/doubles and in rebounding: that or he's very close in both. And, like I said, he's literally our only consistent option but remains consistent some how.

I think he'd work very well off the bench. I don't know what round he's projected to go in though, but he'll probably be a solid role player in the league. I'd take him if we have an early second rounder, he's the type of bruiser we could use off the bench.

[Cammo101]

The guys the OP listed are all 2nd rounders except Thabeet, who will be long gone by the time we pick. I do like Shan Foster as a 2nd round pick. Orlando will look to draft a SF or a big man with the first round pick, as no PG's will be there. Here are a handful of guys that would be solid fits...

Bigs:
DJ White
DeVon Hardin
Patrick Patterson
Joey Dorsey

SG:
Kyle Weaver
Brandon Rush
Bill Walker

[Cammo101]

There is not a single guy in the draft, even at #1, that would get playing time on next year's roster.

GM Smith either trades the pick or goes for a real project. Maybe a European or Chinese type.

I hope you are kidding. There are plenty of guys who would play next year on this team. Some even as far down as we are picking. DJ White and Kyle Weaver being 2 of them slotted around our pick.

[Kid50]

The guys the OP listed are all 2nd rounders except Thabeet

After doing further research I see they have Thabeet projected in the Lottery. In one mock draft they have us getting DJ Augustin in the first and Gransberry in the second. http://www.nbadraft.net/index.asp?content=mock2008My thing is this with the draft: Get somebody who can play either here or in the D-League so we can use them if we need to call them up for at least in trades. Who do we have assigned to the D-League? Why isnt JJ down there?

[zuppafly]

There is not a single guy in the draft, even at #1, that would get playing time on next year's roster.

GM Smith either trades the pick or goes for a real project. Maybe a European or Chinese type.

L O L

[MJallday59]

- DJ White???

[drsd]

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I hope you are kidding. There are plenty of guys who would play next year on this team. Some even as far down as we are picking. DJ White and Kyle Weaver being 2 of them slotted around our pick.

White is an undersized PF who would take five years to get to an Outlaw-upside level. As a rookie, White would absolutely be a practice squad guy. Augustine is more useful, as a horrific example!

Weaver is a combo guard that would be buried on the bench behind Dooling. He would not see a nano-second of playing time unless three SGs on the Magic roster went down to injury.

So, I can ding your two points and stand by my quote, "there is not a single player in the draft that would get playing time on next years roster."

[drsd]

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L O L

Let's start at the top.

Michael Beasley would NOT start over Turkoglu and Lewis. And he would be far behind on the depth chart that would include Battie, Foyle, and Cook. Beasley is maybe a 10 mpg guy, and that's very generous.

Derrick Rose would not see the light of day of the the Magic bench. Rookie PGs are horrible. HORRIBLE! THe Magic are trying to win a title next year. Only a Magic Johnson type can expect to play PG as a rookie and lead a team to a title. Rose is not Magic!

Brook Lopez in not Dwight. This is not worth extending.


So, the three best players in the draft would not see playing time next year. Draftees 4-60 would not fair better.

I stand by my quote, "there is not a single player in the draft that would get playing time on next year's roster."

[theTHIEF]

too bad we dont need a SF, this draft is rich with quality SF's...

[mhectorgato]

too bad we dont need a SF, this draft is rich with quality SF's...

Can we just waive Ra$hard?

[theTHIEF]

hmmm...

[MagicFan149]

someone that i think is gonna to be a very talented pg in this leauge is nick calathes... his court vision is outta this world...and he gets to the rim with regularity... they have him projected late in the first round... though i doubt he comes out , but if he does he'll be availible about where we are picking... im telling you guys he is jason kidd in the makeing with a better shot...

[SS_MagicMark]

Scottie Reynolds would be a nice PG option if he comes out, but he probably stays at 'Nova for at least another year. David Padgett might be worth a look as a training camp invitee. I doubt anyone drafts him with his injury history, but he's got a Brad Miller-type game.

[zuppafly]

[quote="drsd"][/quote]
Rose would start right away. It's like saying a guy like Paul (no, I'm not comparing both) wouldn't start on his rookie year.
Heck, even Mayo who is dropping fast on the draft predictions would start at the SG position on this team right away.

Any PF, SG or PG with quality in this draft would have a big chance of starting right away for us.

Edit: seriously, your quote "So, the three best players in the draft would not see playing time next year." is just ludicrous.

[drsd]

someone that i think is gonna to be a very talented pg in this leauge is nick calathes... his court vision is outta this world...and he gets to the rim with regularity... they have him projected late in the first round... though i doubt he comes out , but if he does he'll be availible about where we are picking... im telling you guys he is jason kidd in the makeing with a better shot...

Well, he is a good rebounder to go along with scoring and assists. So perhaps he evolves into a triple-double type. We'll see.

But another point is marketing. The first Mega-star Greek national in the NBA will be a cash cow for the team he plays on. In Greece, basketball is a big money sport. As Calathes is a local guy, the Magic should certainly give the guy a look if he were to opt, and was available late in the first.

Also, even if he were to flop as a PG in the NBA, he would still find a roster spot as a combo wing. This guy is clearly not the next Jerryl Sasser.

[drsd]

Rose would start right away. It's like saying a guy like Paul (no, I'm not comparing both) wouldn't start on his rookie year.
Heck, even Mayo who is dropping fast on the draft predictions would start at the SG position on this team right away.

Any PF, SG or PG with quality in this draft would have a big chance of starting right away for us.

OK. So let's say you're Coach Stan-the-Man. My question is this, are you going to bench Nelson for a guy who will be VERY wild his first year? (I realize your answer will be yes, which is not particularly thoughtful given just how truly stinky-smelly bad Rookie PGs are in the NBA).

Rose would NOT start for the Magic.

As for Mayo, you think the defense at the SG slot is bad now, start a rookie as see what horrible really looks like.

[MagicFan149]

now the only down side i see to calathes is that his lateral movement is not elite, yet his first step gets him to the rim whenever he wants it seems.... he bye no means jumps out of buildings either.... he's a more than capable shooter .... and like you said the kid just finds rebounds.. and he does flirt with a trip dub almost every time out.... if he decides that the money is where its at i could see him being available late in the first round... orlando boy goes to the magic, definately a good story

[zuppafly]

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OK. So let's say you're Coach Stan-the-Man. My question is this, are you going to bench Nelson for a guy who will be VERY wild his first year? (I realize your answer will be yes, which is not particularly thoughtful given just how truly stinky-smelly bad Rookie PGs are in the NBA).

Rose would NOT start for the Magic.

As for Mayo, you think the defense at the SG slot is bad now, start a rookie as see what horrible really looks like.

If you think Nelson would start over Rose you need to revise a lot about Nelson. And to clear things out, I defend Nelson as the starting PG in this team now, because there is nobody better than him in this team to run the point. But Rose would obviously be a huge upgrade right from day 1 on the starting lineup.

[Just Plain Mark]

I like:

Courtney Lee (I'll admit bias since I'm a WKU grad): I think he's better than Evans and Bogans. He rebounds well for a guard, plays solid defense, and is smart enough to know when to defer

Brook Lopez: probably what Otis is hoping Fran will be, only downside is that he's probably going to be about average defensively

DJ White: I disagree with drsd, I think White could be a Millsap, Powe, Bass, Craig Smith type guy. The Magic have had problems with those types and could use a solid hustle guy.

James Gist: He's kind of a hybrid 3/4, but he's athletic and solid enough defensively to play the 4 in the NBA, has the ability to hit the college 3.

Brandon Rush, Shan Foster, and Gransberry would also be players I think the Magic should take a look at.