Official 2008 Draft Night Thread...the future is now.

[deNIEd]

^^

If Westbrook is gone, and Alexander truly does do good with workouts and Petrie likes him, I wouldn't mind the drafting at all.

It allows us to move Artest/Salmons to get a late 1st, take a player like McGee or Speights or Ibaka and see if we can develop them or not.

Aim to be in a position to draft a Jennings/Rubio next year.

Maximize our salary freedom to sign a missing PF and our team is set.


[edit]
Suppose, R. Westbrook and J. Alexander are both on the boards, and Portland wants Westbrook.

Would you guys support a Westbrook for Alexander and #33 or #36?

[SacKingZZZ]

The Alexander pick also makes me possibly want to do the often mentioned, somewhat interesting, and pretty realistic Ron Artest for TJ Ford deal.

I think a Ford/Martin/Garcia/Alexander/Hawes lineup would be very fun to watch and run the heck out of teams. In the half court give the ball to Spencer in the high or low post and run motion. Maybe if we get Gist, Dorsey, or Hardin in the 2nd plug them in at C and really run the crap out of teams! That would be so fun to watch.

I don't know, I really like Alexander more than Westbrook if I had to choose. Obviously Westbrook fills more of a need but Alexander would be so fun to watch and is one of the rare true combos like I have mentioned before. An AK-47/Shawn Marion type doens't come around too often. This draft has 3 or more Alexander being the most legit.

[BMiller52]

Give me Westbrook.

[KF10]

Give me Westbrook.

[BMiller52]

http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/997482.html

Amick says we worked out Hibbert vs Nathan Jawai, Demarcus Nelson, and George Hill. We'll also possibly have a DJ Augustin vs Mike Tayler workout supposedly.

[Ballings7]

I'd be surprised and quite mixed if we did Artest for Ford. And I definitely don't like Ford as anything more than a short-term option. I'd prefer other options in dealing with the PG spot.

I'd be pleased with just about anybody that we pick... just not Love or Gallinari (who I do know some about) - value aside, it's the good possibility of them staying around long-term. Neither of which should be falling to us, anyway.

But yeah, there are a handful of good prospects for us, all are different. To choose one, though, it would be Arthur. Westbrook/Alexander/Jordan/Speights are the rest (no order, really) in my top group.

Joe Alexander actually doesn't have 3PT range yet, just 18 ft and in shooting range so far. He can shoot the ball mid-range in multiple ways (including various isolations), and has post-scoring ability. Of course will be a factor with dunks and hustle-points, and also has shown to be a decent passer. He showed off his overall game very well in WVU's elimination game in the tournament. Which is the game that sold me on him. Obviously there'll be some form of NBA adjustment with what he can do, but it's there for him, along with the serious room for expansion he has.

[deNIEd]

Well, if Westbrook and Alexander are both on the board, I'm positive Portland would try to make a push for Westbrook since they don't really need Alexander at all.

#12 for #13 & #36

And then move Artest or Salmons for #17 or something similar (a pick ranging from 15-23)

#13 - J. Alexander
#17 - J. McGee/M. Speights/D. Arthur
#36 - B. Walker
#42 - S. Ibaka
#43 - PG/SG/SF

The reality is, Petrie I think will be very active in moving both Artest and Miller. Artest he has been trying to move, Miller reportedly was attempted to move for expirings at the deadline. If Petrie believes he can, and successfully moves both players, our team will be a bottom 5 team next year. Without Artest and Miller? Yeah, our team won't be all that great.

If that is the case, we have an extremely good and realistic shot at one of Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, or Brandon Jennings. Add the fact that one of Speights/McGee/Arthur, or Ibaka and possibly Hendrix could turn out promising and the team's future looks extremely bright.

I think, currently, the only true positions we have filled are SG and C. Garcia is much better as a 6th man, the Bobby Jackson role.

[BMiller52]

Well, if Westbrook and Alexander are both on the board, I'm positive Portland would try to make a push for Westbrook since they don't really need Alexander at all.

#12 for #13 & #36

And then move Artest or Salmons for #17 or something similar (a pick ranging from 15-23)

#13 - J. Alexander
#17 - J. McGee/M. Speights/D. Arthur
#36 - B. Walker
#42 - S. Ibaka
#43 - PG/SG/SF

The reality is, Petrie I think will be very active in moving both Artest and Miller. Artest he has been trying to move, Miller reportedly was attempted to move for expirings at the deadline. If Petrie believes he can, and successfully moves both players, our team will be a bottom 5 team next year. Without Artest and Miller? Yeah, our team won't be all that great.

If that is the case, we have an extremely good and realistic shot at one of Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, or Brandon Jennings. Add the fact that one of Speights/McGee/Arthur, or Ibaka and possibly Hendrix could turn out promising and the team's future looks extremely bright.

I think, currently, the only true positions we have filled are SG and C. Garcia is much better as a 6th man, the Bobby Jackson role.

We can't deal Ron, you can't trade a player with an opt out option.

I really hate that deal to be honest. So we move down for a freaking 2nd round pick? Come on man that's stupid. And we need Westbrook or another PG or a PF. Not a SF. Otherwise you just set the team back in building another year because we still need a PG and PF, so that's a minimum of 2 more years in the lottery. But hey you love the lottery so why should I be surprised?

[deNIEd]

Because I view Jennings and Rubio as 100x the player Westbrook will ever be?

[BMiller52]

Because I view Jennings and Rubio as 100x the player Westbrook will ever be?

Then take a freakin PF.

[SacKingZZZ]

Glad to hear that we worked out Marcus Dove. Best defensive player in the entire draft. Can gaurd everything from a SG to a PF.

[deNIEd]

-= original quote snipped =-



Then take a freakin PF.

Because Alexander will be a much better player than Arthur, Speights, McGee?


Alexander could develop into a PF, he is certaintily strong enough.

He is 1/4 of an inch shorter than Arthur, 1 inch less standing reach, but has 8 inches higher vert. Twice as strong, and faster than Arthur.

1 inch shorter than Kevin Love. But higher vert, stronger, and faster.


If we trade Artest and Miller, we will be a bottom 5 team in terms of wins next year. (Drafting Alexander also allows us to trade Salmons who has high stock)

This team without Artest AND Miller, and even possibly Salmons, will not be better than Miami, LAC, Mil, Charlotte, Chicago.
Only teams below us will be NYK, Seattle, NYK, Memphis/Minn

Minn will likely have Mayo/Foye
Seattle will likely have Bayless
Memphis will likely have Conley/Critt/Lowry
NYK will be the only possible team in need of a PG.

If Artest and Miller are gone, one of Rubio, Evans, Jennings will be a King.

[SacKingZZZ]

-= original quote snipped =-



Then take a freakin PF.

Because Alexander will be a much better player than Arthur, Speights, McGee?


Alexander could develop into a PF, he is certaintily strong enough.

He is 1/4 of an inch shorter than Arthur, 1 inch less standing reach, but has 8 inches higher vert. Twice as strong, and faster than Arthur.

1 inch shorter than Kevin Love. But higher vert, stronger, and faster.


If we trade Artest and Miller, we will be a bottom 5 team in terms of wins next year. (Drafting Alexander also allows us to trade Salmons who has high stock)

This team without Artest AND Miller, and even possibly Salmons, will not be better than Miami, LAC, Mil, Charlotte, Chicago.
Only teams below us will be NYK, Seattle, NYK, Memphis/Minn

Minn will likely have Mayo/Foye
Seattle will likely have Bayless
Memphis will likely have Conley/Critt/Lowry
NYK will be the only possible team in need of a PG.

If Artest and Miller are gone, one of Rubio, Evans, Jennings will be a King.

But you also have to look at the way a player plays the game. I think he will definitely take up some time there but he isn't a dominant rebounder by any stretch and is strictly a perimeter player. He does get a lot of thunderous dunks but still. He will settle for that 20 foot shot time and time again. He could be another Shawn Marion type but taller, stronger, and one that can create his own shot. But he is far less of a prototype PF than any of the others. And I think it's debateable that he will automatically be better than any of those other players. Just in terms of potential McGee probably has the highest ceiling. With that said he also has the smallest chance of the bunch of reaching that potential.

And I wouldn't count out a team with Spencer, Martin, Garcia, etc as being a bottom 5 team. I think they could potentially shock the heck out of a lot of teams.

[Smills91]

I'd be surprised and quite mixed if we did Artest for Ford. And I definitely don't like Ford as anything more than a short-term option. I'd prefer other options in dealing with the PG spot.

I'd be pleased with just about anybody that we pick... just not Love or Gallinari (who I do know some about) - value aside, it's the good possibility of them staying around long-term. Neither of which should be falling to us, anyway.

But yeah, there are a handful of good prospects for us, all are different. To choose one, though, it would be Arthur. Westbrook/Alexander/Jordan/Speights are the rest (no order, really) in my top group.

Joe Alexander actually doesn't have 3PT range yet, just 18 ft and in shooting range so far. He can shoot the ball mid-range in multiple ways (including various isolations), and has post-scoring ability. Of course will be a factor with dunks and hustle-points, and also has shown to be a decent passer. He showed off his overall game very well in WVU's elimination game in the tournament. Which is the game that sold me on him. Obviously there'll be some form of NBA adjustment with what he can do, but it's there for him, along with the serious room for expanion he has.

IF we ever dealt Ron to Toronto, it'd be for Calderon via sign and trade this summer and some change on top.

[chriswebb86]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8941Has a list of players we have worked out. I really think Alexander could be player we end up drafting with all the potential he has.

[deNIEd]

But you also have to look at the way a player plays the game. I think he will definitely take up some time there but he isn't a dominant rebounder by any stretch and is strictly a perimeter player. He does get a lot of thunderous dunks but still. He will settle for that 20 foot shot time and time again. He could be another Shawn Marion type but taller, stronger, and one that can create his own shot. But he is far less of a prototype PF than any of the others.

Correct.

But no one has rejected the idea of AK, Marion type of a player playing for us either. The point would be, Alexander would do fine as a PF, and even better as a SF. Having a player like Alexander, or AK/Marion/J. Smith allows a team to go after whoever is better when filling out the other forward position (either SF or PF). It's just nonsense to reject him automatically because of his college position.

And I think it's debateable that he will automatically be better than any of those other players. Just in terms of potential McGee probably has the highest ceiling. With that said he also has the smallest chance of the bunch of reaching that potential.

I have also advocated getting a 2nd 1st round pick, in order to draft McGee or Speights for the very reason of them having high potential, but also a high risk. Using our 12th pick on a player with that big of a risk just isn't smart for a team in our situation (needing as much talent as possible, opposed to a team like Portland).

However, Like I have said, of the players the King's are thinking about drafting (assuming)
Westbrook, Augustin
Speights/Arthur/McGee (Smills, Love will be gone before this point...the a few spots higher in the draft doesn't matter right?)

Westbrook and Augustin are both and will both be worse than Jennings or Rubio or Evans.
Speights is a gamble. McGee is a huge gamble. Arthur is just okay, nothing spectacular or great.

Alexander will be the best out of all of those, and will be the safest pick.

But, the drafting of Alexander will mean, Artest is traded over the summer. It also allows Petrie to trade Salmons over summer. With those two gone, Miller will also be gone if we can find expirings.

And I wouldn't count out a team with Spencer, Martin, Garcia, etc as being a bottom 5 team. I think they could potentially shock the heck out of a lot of teams.

We are talking about without, Artest, Salmons, and Miller (which is the plan, in order to be in a position to draft Rubio or Jennings).

Well, two things can happen.
A) We win. In which case, getting a Rubior or Jennings simply wouldn't matter because our team is already great. Give it a few more years, plus a FA signing and the team is set.
B) We lose. In which case we get our franchise PG, and are able to still sign a big name FA. Bright future either way.


Also, looking at the current teams worse than us (last year),
our team without those players...

Miami, Chicago, Indiana, Charlotte, LA Clippers, will all be better
Milwaukee should be better
New Jersey is a question mark
New York will likely be better if they can actually get their act together, they do have an extremely talented roster. If they actually realize that they don't like winning, then they could actually be good.

Seattle, Minnesota, Memphis, will likely be the teams below us.

However, most likely, those 3 teams will all have a PG. Bayless, Rubio, Conley, leaving the demand for Rubio, Jennings, Evans lower than it would be this year. Great for us.


Jennings/Martin/Alexander/FA/Hawes

[pillwenney]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8941Has a list of players we have worked out. I really think Alexander could be player we end up drafting with all the potential he has.

I gotta say, we might be just keeping a lot of stuff private, but if we're not, I'd sure like to see some more scheduled workouts for potential 1st round picks.

[BMiller52]

-= original quote snipped =-



I gotta say, we might be just keeping a lot of stuff private, but if we're not, I'd sure like to see some more scheduled workouts for potential 1st round picks.

I think we probably are keeping things private. But it looks like Geoff has worked out a lot more people who are not necessarily worth our pick(Brandon Rush, Bill Walker, Hibbert) but won't be there when we pick in the 2nd. If I didn't know better I'd say he's thinking about trading down and/or finding a way to get a later pick in the 1st round.

[SacKingZZZ]

But you also have to look at the way a player plays the game. I think he will definitely take up some time there but he isn't a dominant rebounder by any stretch and is strictly a perimeter player. He does get a lot of thunderous dunks but still. He will settle for that 20 foot shot time and time again. He could be another Shawn Marion type but taller, stronger, and one that can create his own shot. But he is far less of a prototype PF than any of the others.

Correct.

But no one has rejected the idea of AK, Marion type of a player playing for us either. The point would be, Alexander would do fine as a PF, and even better as a SF. Having a player like Alexander, or AK/Marion/J. Smith allows a team to go after whoever is better when filling out the other forward position (either SF or PF). It's just nonsense to reject him automatically because of his college position.

And I think it's debateable that he will automatically be better than any of those other players. Just in terms of potential McGee probably has the highest ceiling. With that said he also has the smallest chance of the bunch of reaching that potential.

I have also advocated getting a 2nd 1st round pick, in order to draft McGee or Speights for the very reason of them having high potential, but also a high risk. Using our 12th pick on a player with that big of a risk just isn't smart for a team in our situation (needing as much talent as possible, opposed to a team like Portland).

However, Like I have said, of the players the King's are thinking about drafting (assuming)
Westbrook, Augustin
Speights/Arthur/McGee (Smills, Love will be gone before this point...the a few spots higher in the draft doesn't matter right?)

Westbrook and Augustin are both and will both be worse than Jennings or Rubio or Evans.
Speights is a gamble. McGee is a huge gamble. Arthur is just okay, nothing spectacular or great.

Alexander will be the best out of all of those, and will be the safest pick.

But, the drafting of Alexander will mean, Artest is traded over the summer. It also allows Petrie to trade Salmons over summer. With those two gone, Miller will also be gone if we can find expirings.

And I wouldn't count out a team with Spencer, Martin, Garcia, etc as being a bottom 5 team. I think they could potentially shock the heck out of a lot of teams.

We are talking about without, Artest, Salmons, and Miller (which is the plan, in order to be in a position to draft Rubio or Jennings).

Well, two things can happen.
A) We win. In which case, getting a Rubior or Jennings simply wouldn't matter because our team is already great. Give it a few more years, plus a FA signing and the team is set.
B) We lose. In which case we get our franchise PG, and are able to still sign a big name FA. Bright future either way.


Also, looking at the current teams worse than us (last year),
our team without those players...

Miami, Chicago, Indiana, Charlotte, LA Clippers, will all be better
Milwaukee should be better
New Jersey is a question mark
New York will likely be better if they can actually get their act together, they do have an extremely talented roster. If they actually realize that they don't like winning, then they could actually be good.

Seattle, Minnesota, Memphis, will likely be the teams below us.

However, most likely, those 3 teams will all have a PG. Bayless, Rubio, Conley, leaving the demand for Rubio, Jennings, Evans lower than it would be this year. Great for us.


Jennings/Martin/Alexander/FA/Hawes

Totally agree. Just the time for the young players we have to develop would be a great thing.

[Smills91]

-= original quote snipped =-



I think we probably are keeping things private. But it looks like Geoff has worked out a lot more people who are not necessarily worth our pick(Brandon Rush, Bill Walker, Hibbert) but won't be there when we pick in the 2nd. If I didn't know better I'd say he's thinking about trading down and/or finding a way to get a later pick in the 1st round.

He might, but I just think he's doing his due diligence and perhaps taking someone that projects later that he feels is more worthy of #12 than some other pick.