"Eight names"

Fire BK · Post #1 » by **Fire BK** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:26 pm

Is this the most unpredictable draft ever or what? Stefanski is on record saying there are "probably eight names on the board." Presumably, the Sixers are going BBA (Best Big Available). If so, would anyone dispute this group as comprising the 8 reasonable candidates?

1. Speights
2. DeAndre
2. Arthur
3. Koufos
4. Ajinca
5. A. Randolph
6. J. Thompson
7. JJ Hickson
8. JaVale McGee

Of these 8... who do you like? Who do you dislike? Personally, I'd be happy with Speights or Jordan... Arthur would be cool, too... Otherwise, I hope Stefanski stays away from Koufos (bad fit next to Sammy), and Anthony Randolph looks like an ill-fitting SF who will snap in half. I don't want McGee either, for the same reasons.

I dig Jason Thompson, and I think the Sixers do, too. Not a banger, but nice talent for a big man. Ajinca's stock is soaring and looks intriguing. Hickson doesn't do much for me, but I have nothing against him.

Meanwhile, if Roy Hibbert cracks this top 8, then who drops out? If the top 3 are gone, who would you want?

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #2 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:37 pm

I hope Koufos....Hickson...Arthur and Speights are there at 16. If so, I'd see if anyone wants to trade up to our spot, as I'm comfortable with any of these players. Actually I think I'd even throw Thompson into that mix. So I'd be willing to trade down as far as 20 or so. Or if we pick and someone likes our player and ends up with one of the others I'd move it.

Chocolate or Thunder? · Post #3 » by **Chocolate or Thunder?** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:52 pm

I really hope Koufos is the guy.

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #4 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:54 pm

Man me too

LongLiveHinkie · Post #5 » by **LongLiveHinkie** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:04 am

Arthur #1 Speights #2 Koufos or McGee #3.

Not really into Jordan, Randolph. If we get Ajinca I'll jump off the Ben Franklin.

SendEm · Post #6 » by **SendEm** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:04 am

A few weeks ago I was higher on McGee but now I don't like him and Koufos.

51X3RF4N · Post #7 » by **51X3RF4N** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:09 am

I hope only 1 is there when we draft, or all of them and we trade down. I don't want to leave it up to Ed to pick one. If he choses wrong, nobody will let him live it down. That's too much pressure.

I'd rather have only 1 guy left and we are stuck with him. Or I'd rather see 4-6 of em there and we trade down 5 spots and dump off WG's contract to free up more room.

Post #8 » by **dbodner** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:13 am

My top 8:
Arthur
Speights
Ajinca
Hickson
Randolph
Koufos
McGee
Thompson

In that order.

Fire BK · Post #9 » by **Fire BK** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:45 am

dbodner wrote:My top 8:
Arthur
Speights
Ajinca
Hickson
Randolph
Koufos
McGee
Thompson

In that order.

I can dig those rankings... Not sold on Ajinca, though... Every so often I remember that JJ Hickson is 19 yrs old and I get giddy about his potential as a future PF.

Hey JohnnyBroad and C or T, aren't you guys a little concerned about Koufos defensively? The boy can shoot with range, he's athletic and long... but his defense looks like it could be marshmallowy soft on the next level.

I really hope it's one of the top 3 (Speights, Arthur or DeAndre)... Otherwise, I completely agree on trading down and dumping Willie Green.

Johnny Broad-Street · Post #10 » by **Johnny Broad-Street** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:48 am

It concerns me for sure, but I'm way impressed with his skill, and I like his knowledge of where to be and when, and that covers a fair amount of defensive softness. Position is huge at his size.

DeAndre seems like a great potential pick...but I kind of hope somebody else takes the chance.

Fire BK · Post #11 » by **Fire BK** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:00 am

Johnny Broad-Street wrote:It concerns me for sure, but I'm way impressed with his skill, and I like his knowledge of where to be and when, and that covers a fair amount of defensive softness. Position is huge at his size.

DeAndre seems like a great potential pick...but I kind of hope somebody else takes the chance.

Koufos has serious skills, no doubt. Lottery talent.

It appears you may get your wish on DeAndre, as DE reports he's moved up enough slots to go higher.

I have this weird feeling it's just gonna be Speights.

sixerswillrule · Post #12 » by **sixerswillrule** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:05 am

We need a big man with size because who knows if we'll be able to land one in FA. Arthur seems to be too undersized, only 6'8.5" in shoes and 215 pounds. My top choices are Jordan and Speights, followed by Hickson, Koufos, and Thompson.

Howardmgm3 · Post #13 » by **Howardmgm3** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:14 am

Ajinca is my choice....
Skilled athletic true 7 footers do not grow on trees...

STChaser · Post #14 » by **STChaser** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:51 am

Speights
Jordan
Hibbert (if we trade down and pick up two picks)
Hendrix (if we trade dow and pick up two picks)

Fire BK · Post #15 » by **Fire BK** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:56 am

Howardmgm3 wrote:Ajinca is my choice....
Skilled athletic true 7 footers do not grow on trees...

Alexis Ajinca, 7-1, 225, France: Athletic and smooth for his size. He is still inexperienced, but his unheard-of 7-8 wingspan has scouts drooling about his defensive potential. He has a good spot-up jumper and hook shot; he will need to add bulk and gain experience before he can be a contributor on an NBA team.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketba ... view_N.htm

That's downright insane. I could see the Sixers taking Ajinca more and more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1bHmIX ... re=related

Post #16 » by **The Guilty Party** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:00 am

Here's a real shock.... my top preference of that list is Darrell Arthur. I think I've only been on that bandwagon for 9 months, so why get off of it now??

51X3RF4N · Post #17 » by **51X3RF4N** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:03 am

I liked Arthur back towards the end of the season when I finally got to see him more often in the national games on TV. Not sure he'd be the best possible pick in terms of offensively, but he is skilled nontheless.

I really think if we take Arthur, we should think about putting more offense on the court other than Iggy, Thad, Daly, Miller, Arthur. IMO that is too little offensive talent. It would be tough to score on us though.

I'm also a fan of going out and getting Arthur or some other defensive PF, and follow it up with trading back into the first for Koufos to pair up with him.

Daly can still start, but at least there would be another option in terms of offense/defense combo of big men.

Post #18 » by **dbodner** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:12 am

sixerfan, I'd be curious in your assessment of Arthur's game. From that post it seems you've assessed him as a weak offensive player who's strengths are defensive. He moves his feet well defensively, but bulk is a concern, his inability to stay out of foul trouble is a MAJOR concern, and his defensive rebounding technique stands to have a ton of improvement. If I draft Arthur it's more for the offensive skill he's displayed and the offensive talent he has (combined with athleticism) than it is as a defensive player.

PhilasFinest · Post #19 » by **PhilasFinest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:13 am

This should makefor a very exciting thursday night i must say...
last year i had my sights set on 1 player,Thaddeus Young and luckily it came true. Julian Wright was the only other option that would not have made my night miserable.
I can happily say that this year...there are a handfull of players i wouldnt mind seeing selected.

My Wishful top 8 List:
1.Arthur...i used to want Speights but now i want Arthur.Hell never be an all-star but he does so many things well and knows how to play on a TEAM...something i appreciate in a basketball player.plus his skillset fits in with our uptempo play.
2.Speights
3.Kofous
4.Jordan
5.Ajinca
6.Hickson
7.Greene
8.Hendrix

LongLiveHinkie · Post #20 » by **LongLiveHinkie** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:19 am

Ajinca would be a huge mistake. Everyone in the media loves to hype up these "unheralded" euro big men that will blossom into the next big thing. Then everyone on forums all over hops on the bandwagon acting like they saw them play and know they have all this potential.

Just like Sene for the Sonics. He sucked then and he sucks now.

Give me someone who can play. I'm sick of hearing about these guys with raw physical skills that have shown no evidence they can play the game at an NBA level.