Bayless is not a top 5 pick

[S0yb3anB0y]

Guys!! Bayless is overrated because no other team in the top 6 will draft him. YES, the KNICKS wouldn't even draft him at #6. The only team that might want to draft him is the Clippers at #7. Let's not reach for the next Ben Gordon.

[Sonics3408]

Whether or not he should be a top 6 pick was not proven or even supported by your post.

What the Knicks would or would not do with the pick really does not interest me...at all (and shouldn't for anyone else).

This is just an observation, not an attack .

[BBen]

Bayless has got some really great skills and is a good passer/shooter, I would not be unhappy with him as our pick. I'm getting higher on Randolph though because I want to see a bunch of mobile 6'10 players that can dribble and pass like guards.

[HeavyP]

You're right, he hasn't been drafted yet. That being said, he's the 4th player on my board so he very well end up being a top 5 pick.

[big L]

He's a bit of a gamble, but not the biggest. My biggest gambles for the first half of the first round in this draft would look something like:

1. DeAndre Jordan
2. Brooks Lopez
3. Kevin Love
4. Anthony Randolph
5. Joe Alexander

What're yours, Soy?

[Big_Mac79]

I would add Westbrook to your list

[big L]

Interesting, Big Mac. I'm high on Westbrook, but I think he's a gamble just for that reason--a ton of interest gathering around him despite the fact that he hasn't had a big-time college career.

[Downtown]

Personally I would take Love and Alexander off your list and put Galinari and Batum on it. We are talking the first 15 spots, correct? Also, I was pretty high on Augustin but once I found out he's barely 170lbs I wonder about him. But I don't think I would consider him a gamble.

Some of the big men are definitely a gamble, depending on where they're taken. Names like Randolph, Jordan, Lopez, Speights, Koufos, Thompson, Hibbert, and McGee( a player I'm beginning to be intrigued by) all have a bit of a curiosity about how they'll fair in the NBA.

I expect some teams to follow conventional wisdom and pick these players higher than they should simply because of their size. How many will make it into the top half of the draft is a guess though.

I suppose the workouts should separate the pretenders from the contenders.

[yearsago]

Guys!! Bayless is overrated because no other team in the top 6 will draft him. YES, the KNICKS wouldn't even draft him at #6. The only team that might want to draft him is the Clippers at #7. Let's not reach for the next Ben Gordon.

THanks for your thoughts on Bayless, I am sure Presti will make a informed choice

[big L]

I forgot Batum, but Gallinari was I guy I thought about putting on. Alexander should stay on. Everyone is going crazy over his athleticism, but there's a long line of athletic freaks who get drafted way to high.

[S0yb3anB0y]

He's a bit of a gamble, but not the biggest. My biggest gambles for the first half of the first round in this draft would look something like:

1. DeAndre Jordan
2. Brooks Lopez
3. Kevin Love
4. Anthony Randolph
5. Joe Alexander

What're yours, Soy?

I really don't feel there is any big gamble in this year's draft. All the players drafted in the first round should be solid players. There is going to be at least 10 players ending up being a better player than Bayless.

[BBen]

10 players better than Bayless? I'd ask for a list if I knew I wouldn't still disagree.

[wiff]

Guys!! Bayless is overrated because no other team in the top 6 will draft him. YES, the KNICKS wouldn't even draft him at #6. The only team that might want to draft him is the Clippers at #7. Let's not reach for the next Ben Gordon.

That is one hard hitting analysis.

Despite the fact that he averaged just shy of 20pts a game with 4 dimes, and despite the fact that he has top notch athleticism, I'm going to disregard the fact that he scored 103 pts over a three game period in Pac-10 play, and simply take you word for it because you had such great logic behind why you think he isn't worth a top 5 pick.

Man if the Knicks wouldn't draft him then no way do I want the Sonics to draft him.

Then you go on to say

I really don't feel there is any big gamble in this year's draft. All the players drafted in the first round should be solid players. There is going to be at least 10 players ending up being a better player than Bayless.

So does that mean Bayless isn't a gamble? Like you said ALL the players in the first round should be solid.

I'd like to know what 10 are going to be better than Bayless.

Just out of curiousity Soy have you applied to be a scout for the Sonics? I think they could really use a guy with your common sense and knowledge.

[BBen]

Wiff, that was at the same time very harsh and extremely hilarious.

[nwsports253]

I didnt think it was too harsh. Nice post Wiff.

[S0yb3anB0y]

Wiff

I just want to point out that if we do want to draft Bayless, please trade down and draft him. Let me get that point clear.

Here is my list:
1. Rose
2. Beasley
3. Mayo
4. Love
5. Brook Lopez
6. DJ Augustin
7. Joe Alexander
8. Danilo Gallinari

and

probably better than Bayless in the long run

9. Brandon Rush
10. Marreese Speights
11. Chase Budinger
12. Robin Lopez

[sonic-ben]

Glass half empty on Blayless

other player glass half full

[HeavyP]

I can't believe how much I disagree with EVERYONE on these boards lately when it comes to the draft, I've been here 4 years and it's never been like this.

[Downtown]

Heavy P, that's why I think it's going to be both fun and a big surprise this year. I'm looking forward to draft day. In the past there hasn't been much controversy in what the Sonics were looking for even though the player selected may have been different than what we thought.

Radmanovic was a bit of a surprise but Wally Walker wasn't sure if they could retain Rashard Lewis that summer so he went with an insurance pick that could play both forward positions.. Both Collison and Ridnour covered positions that were expected, although I said for over a month before that draft that David West had the intangibles of heart and leadership that in my mind seperated him from other power forwards that year. Swift was more or less expected with them needing a center. Petro was a yawner only because no one had much in the way of expectations that year when Seattle held the #25 pick. Sene was an outragious pick reportedly coming from the urging of Bob Hill. Most of us had Ronnie Brewer pencilled in for that one. Kevin Durant was 100% expected. Green wasn't mind you.

It's all over the map this year with Presti having many different options. More than most years this draft is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in a longtime, evidenced by the way we have talked about a bunch of different names already. I for one aren't really sure who to take, other than if somehow one of Rose, Beasley, or Mayo magically drop to #4 we need to select him.

My best guess is the same as everyone else. Pointguard, center, and a perimiter defender are the three areas that need addressing the most so players that fit those needs seem more likely. But I wouldn't bet a penny on it.

[HeavyP]

I was at the sonics draft party the year we took Sene, I was the only one going nuts (pleased) with the pick. I did not want Brewer or carney and was disappointed we lost out on Gay.