Available PF's in 08 Draft

[Fire BK]

Let's not sleep on Richard Hendrix...

Great call, philbe... I haven't seen him play, but Hendrix looks perfect for our needs. A banger.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ric ... ndrix-229/

Randolph (LSU) looks like a skinny, frail, perimeter oriented, face-up guy... Don't want anything to do with him...

Consider me all along the watchtower... I'm officially on the Hendrix bandwagon.

[Fire BK]

I am all for Ibaka

Ok. Yea. Sold. If this guy's available at 17, it's a no-brainer. Tremendous upside. He's got freakish athleticism, a diesel body, and the work ethic to become unstoppable. Ibaka is now my favorite mid-first round PF prospect. By far. But I agree with you, he will soar up the charts once GMs see him in person.

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

[bech01a1]

IMO, Hansborough and Dorsey will NOT last in the NBA. Hansborough may cut it as a bench player, but Dorsey has a HUGE fouling problem.

Agreed on Hansborough. Probably a Mark Madsen clone, but you never know. Didn't realize that about Dorsey. That's a concern. But I think whoever gets him in the second round is stealing. Larceny.



I disagree about Hansbrough. I have seen him play a ton. He will absolutely have a long NBA career. He will not be a star like his is in college, but he will be a productive NBA player for a long time.

As far as the Madsen comment. You obviously don't watch him play. Not every white guy who hustles is destined to be Madsen.

Coming from a guy who has followed Tarheel basketball for the last 20 years, Hansborough's college career has reminded me a lot of Antwan Jamison.

Both player are a similar size and have been extremely effective from day one of their college careers. Neither of them had any outside game at all early on, but steadily got better at that. By their Junior year Jamison had developed a 3 pt shot which Tyler has not done, but Tyler has gotten to the point where is you leave him from 18 ft. he is gonn knock it down.

Tyler is a little stronger than Jamison and a much better free throw shooter.

The quality of Tyler that reminds me most of Jamison is how quick he can get up on his second jump. Jamison was so good at this. He could grab a board, put it up, miss, and grab it again before most players landed from their first jump.

[Fire BK]

What about Blake Griffin from Oklahoma? Any chance he could slip to 16, 17?

Like that kid.

[Sixerscan]

If he comes out he could go top 5.

[philbe311]

Had he played all season, yI would agree. However, he missed the majority of the season and I think he would be foolish to come out this year.

[Sixerscan]

I think you're thinking of someone else...

[SouthJersey]

Ibaka will jump like Yi did last year, but he wont go as hi bc of the marketing angle. 76ers need to do what they can do get that guy on potential alone.

[STChaser]

Yeah, I've been sold on Ibaka for some time. Kid's super long and his athleticism is off the charts; reminds me a lot of Dalembert. I say if he's on the board, we've got to take a chance on him based on potential alone. However, IF we're able to get Ibaka with our pick, Stefanski NEEDS to still bring in another big body PF who can move people under the rim because Ibaka appears to be cut in the same mold as Dalembert i.e. long and thin. This team needs a banger. Maybe Evans and Jason Smith can be that guy though.

STChaser

[The Guilty Party]

I'm still on the Arthur bandwagon but Anthony Randolph could end up being the best player to come out of this draft. Of course, the reason he'll slide down into the late lottery is because of the fact that he could also be a bust.

The Sixers are in a bit of a weird spot. Here they are as the #7 seed in the playoffs and it's fanbase wants a big name PF that will come in and help right now but if they can get Randolph, he would obviously need time to develop.

Of course it's possible the Sixers do both. Move up a bit and take Randolph and then try to sign Jamison to a 2-3 year deal. Jamison helps the team win now while Randolph matures and then as Jamison fades away, Randolph comes on.

[STChaser]

TGP,
I think Sixerfans are now of the belief that we can win with youth so long as we have a few quality veteran leaders on this squad directing them and Mo at the helm. I'm sure Thad's quick acclimation (which is most likely an anomaly within the NBA) has contributed to this mindset. That being said, maybe a young team can compete so long as the players have good attitudes. That is one thing that all our young guys share; they all seem to be good characters who have good worth ethics and are willing to listen and learn.

As I mentioned before, I think Stefanski needs to target two PF's this offseason, a rookie PF with sky-high potential but who poses some risk and is hence, likely to be available at our pick, like Ibaka - or even take a chance on Tyrus Thomas if we can get him for cheap, while at the same time, targeting a household name PF like Brand, Okafor, or Josh Smith. This would satisfy both our need for speed and athleticism at the 4 (who is also young and can grow into the position) as well as our need for a more polished PF who is a low post presence and who can move bodies under the rim. You give this team these two pieces and I think we could compete deep into the playoffs for years to come.

STChaser

[Skates]

Earlier this year I thought Josh Smith was our definite target, but he's having too good of a year and Atlanta is showing they will pony up the bucks, so I doubt he's going anywhere. Would have been a nice fit though.

[The Guilty Party]

As I mentioned before, I think Stefanski needs to target two PF's this offseason, a rookie PF with sky-high potential but who poses some risk and is hence, likely to be available at our pick, like Ibaka - or even take a chance on Tyrus Thomas if we can get him for cheap, while at the same time, targeting a household name PF like Brand, Okafor, or Josh Smith.

I'm on board with this but I suspect that the 3 big names you mentioned won't even be able to be had. I suspect that Brand isn't going to opt-out and as of right now, the Sixers don't have the cap space to sign Okafor or Smith to a big enough deal to scare off Charlotte or Atlanta.

In fact, I don't know that we even have enough cap space to lure a player like Jamison away from Washington since I'm sure they'll be willing to offer him a 3 year deal for $30MIL.

I still have faith in Stefanski and he has said that he's happy with the cap space that he has which tells me that he's going to try and obtain a PF with a trade. That's a great theory but I'm struggling to find an offensive-minded PF that will be available this summer.

This time last year we more or less knew Garnett was going to be available along with Zach Randolph and possibly Gasol. This summer I'm sure Randolph will be available again (who wants him?) and maybe Jermaine O'Neal (hasn't been healthy is 4 years). It's slim pickin's.

[Skates]

I just noticed the great picture on Anthony Ranolph's profile on DraftExpress. Check it out it is either randolph blocking or trying to block a dunk by Richard Hendrix of Alabama, another PF who might be available when we draft. The difference in their body type/size is amazing in this picture. It looks like Hendrix is going to snap Randolph's arm in two:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Anthony-Randolph-1069

[Fire BK]

My boy A. Ogilvy went off for 27 yestrdy for Vandy. Hope he comes out.

[Fire BK]

My revised wish-list for #16-17 pick range... Rank em!

Blake Griffin
Ibaka
Thabeet
Darrel Arthur
Love
Ogilvy
Hansbrough
Hendrix

No interest in Randolph. Overhyped. Skinny. Future face-up wing man. Not a banger.

TRADE avenue:

[Sixersftw]

the only way blake griffin is available at our pick is if he pulls a kobe/steve francis/eli manning. if he comes out he has to be 3-6 pick

[Fire BK]

the only way blake griffin is available at our pick is if he pulls a kobe/steve francis/eli manning. if he comes out he has to be 3-6 pick

True that, FTW. OK. Revised:

C: Hibbert, Thabeet

PF:

Ibaka
Darrel Arthur
Love
Ogilvy
Hendrix
DJ White
Hansbrough

Haven't seen Jason Thompson (Rider) play yet.

[Fire BK]

Updated list in lieu of 3 recent developments:

1) possible trade-up scenario into top 10
2) lopez announcements
3) final four

Current Top 5 outside Beasely IMO:

1) Brook Lopez
2) Blake Griffin
3) Kevin Love
4) Ibaka
5) D. Arthur 00

Honorable mention unranked * Joe Alexander, Robin Lopez, Hansbrough * Still haven't seen Thompson play... Rank your top 5 available PFs via draft...

[The Sixer Fixer]

Honorable mention unranked * Joe Alexander, Robin Lopez, Hansbrough * Still haven't seen Thompson play... Rank your top 5 available PFs via draft...

Joe Alexander isn't even close to being a PF. Why do you project him there? He has no PF skills or size for that spot in the NBA.

The Lopez twins are likely C's in the league due to quickness issues. Brook could maybe play some PF, but I think Robin is definetly a C.

My PF list right now is...

1 - Beasley - not ideal PF size, but has unreal skills in the post.
2 - Griffin - I fell like I started this bandwagon
3 - Love - like him more every time I seen him
4 - Speights (could project as a C too) - could be better than the 2 Gator bigs last year.
5 - Arthur - needs to learn how to maintain position in the post and become a better rebounder
6 - J. Thompson - great potential and played great vs. Beasley H2H
7 - Patrick Patterson - good post skills - tall enough for PF in the NBA?
8 - JJ Hickson - loads of potential. Should probably stay in school, but doubt he will.
9 - DJ White - effective post player. Not a lot of upside
10 - Richard Hendrix - major sleeper IMO
11 - Ibaka - not a fan of major projects who we have no idea about
12 - Hansbrough - just to put him on the list. Not a fan.

I see Beasley and Griffin way ahead of 3-12 on the list.

I have the Lopez twins, Jordan, Koufas and McGee as C's in the NBA.