The who should we draft thread?

[eyejayem]

Is anyone as shocked as me as to the reports of Javele Mcgee and Roy Hibbert and the drastic improvements that a lot of people are commending?

If you missed it Hibbert lost 15 pounds and is said to look athletic(a word never associated with the player) at his last workout.

Mcgee had converted 10 pounds he lost into 10 pounds of muscle gained and had a personal workout that wowed a couple scouts. If you hadnt noticed at a couple mocks he has jumped back into the lottery.

[Smooth32]

Is it me or are the Cavs being a bit more secretive than usual? There has been almost no word from the Cavs/insiders or even others about the Cavs draft plans. heck even a couple years ago at least there was talk about the Cavs drafting Gibson eventhough the rumor was that he'd go in the first.

That's because Gilbert is running the show. With him in charge, he is very careful with things getting leaked or anything getting out of the front office that shouldn't.

As far as draft plans...

- The Cavs will pick, but not neccessarily at #19
- The Cavs do like some players in the draft
- We like OJ Mayo a lot
- We would like to acquire a 2nd pick (1st or 2nd round pick)
- We will trade our pick if the right deal comes around

Most according to W&G...

[rjgraca]

From my research on various web sites -- it appears the CAVs will not have an easy road to move up in the draft.

With all the influence that Mike Brown seems to have with the CAVs FO, don't be surprised if the CAVs select an unpopular choice like Roy Hibbert -- if they stay at 19 as Terry Pluto of the PD indicates in the following news link. Hopefully, they can trade up and get Rush.

It also means that at the end of the 2008-09 season, the Cavs have only Ilgauskas and Wallace under contract, in terms of big men. The underrated Smith will be a free agent in the summer of 2009, joining Varejao. That's why the Cavs, who have the 19th pick in this week's draft, have been looking at big men such as Georgetown's Roy Hibbert. Yes, they are considering OSU's Kosta Koufos, but Hibbert may have more appeal because he's played four years of college and is a legitimate 7-1, 270 pounds. He is has some inside post moves (especially a short hook), and he blocks shots, which will appeal to coach Mike Brown.

The Cavs don't have a second-rounder, but I look for them to trade for a lower pick. They have worked out more than 50 players and have plenty of open roster spots. A few teams have multiple second-round picks and are willing to trade. GM Danny Ferry did grab Daniel Gibson in the second round, so he might want another crack at the draft after No. 19.

My pick for No. 19, if he is available, would be Brandon Rush. I talked to former Warriors and Kings head coach Eric Musselman, who spent a few weeks with the Kansas team this season. He raved about Rush's attitude, court intelligence, leadership and shooting. "He'd be a great fit for the Cavs," said Musselman.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/0 ... row_2.html

Quick shots

n The Cavs worked out France swingman Nicolas Batum (6-8, 210) on Friday.
n The Cavs' draft party will be held at the Winking Lizard in Lakewood on Thursday. Austin Carr, Campy Russell and Fred McLeod will be on hand.

Rumor mill

n Ohio State forward/center Kosta Koufos (7-feet, 260 pounds) doesn't appear to be on the Cavs' radar at No. 19. He's worked out well for teams and has had little slippage. He probably won't be there when the Cavs pick. There's an interesting video on www.youtube.com (type in "real Kosta Koufos highlight video").

n Cavs swingman Devin Brown has left agent Derrick Powell and hired Cleveland agent Mark Termini. Brown is an unrestricted free agent. It remains to be seen if he returns to the Cavs.

n If Kansas forward Darrell Arthur (6-9, 225) drops past Sacramento at No. 12, he could be on the board when the Cavs pick at 19.

n One GM cautions that Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan (7-0, 260) is so lacking in skills he could drop out of the first round. That probably won't happen, though, because he is very athletic.


http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 1848&rfi=6

[TheOUTLAW]

The Cavs have worked out about 50 players? Heck I think I've heard of about 6.

[rjgraca]

I have not found an offical list of CAVs workouts, but I from what I have seen --- there have been far more than 6 who have worked out for the CAVs. The following are a few more news links that might be of interest:

DeVon Hardin can barely remember where he is, let alone what day it is. It's the nature of NBA pre-draft workouts.

In less than a week, Hardin – a former California center – has put himself on display for, in order, the Seattle SuperSonics, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

"This week I ran into some guys (post players) that I hadn't seen that much – Trent Plaisted (BYU), D.J. White (Indiana), Kentrell Gransberry (South Florida), Othello Hunter (Ohio State), Rob Kurz (Notre Dame), Roy Hibbert (Georgetown), Mickell Gladness (Alabama State)."

Who impressed you?

"I thought Roy Hibbert was pretty good. He's just so freakin' big. He's hard to stop when he gets close to the basket. He reminded me of the Lopezes (against whom Hardin faced off in the Pac-10 while the twins were at Stanford). Othello is athletic as usual. It was good to see him again. We were cool in Orlando (they were teammates at the pre-draft camp), but it wasn't like that in the workout. We went at each other."

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/con ... CID=819859

Two nationally recognized draft experts with Ohio ties - NBA consultant and scout Chris Ekstrand, who lives in Perrysburg, and Alliance native Chris Monter, longtime publisher of the Monter Draft News and http://www.collegebasketballnews.com - have some advice: Bigger is better.

"There are going to be no answers for them at point guard at 19," Ekstrand said. "At 19, you don't have the luxury of saying, 'We want X or Y.' I know it's a cliche but the truth is there are going to be some bigs around for them. If Ohio State's Kosta Koufos is taken, that means somebody else is available - Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan or Florida's Marreese Speights or N.C. State's J.J. Hickson. Maybe Georgetown's Roy Hibbert.

"That's the value pick. Figure out who you like the best among that group of bigs, none of whom are ready to come in and make a big impact right away. But you take them and then you have another big for your rotation. That's probably the best value for them at that point."

Said Monter: "There's a lot of size, players 6-8, 6-9 or better. There's a decent group of guys who could be centers in the NBA. That doesn't often happen. If you want to get some size, I think there's some size available, although some of the players they were hoping would be there - like Koufos - might not be available. But there will be some decent options - Robin Lopez, Speights, Nevada's JaVale McGee."

Ekstrand and Monter agree it's a fairly deep draft. Monter predicts the record of eight first-year players drafted, set last year, will be broken. He thinks 10 freshmen could be drafted and sees at least one scenario where the first five picks could be freshmen. Ekstrand is certain there will be a number of trades, which will make things harder on the Cavs.

"When you're at 19, you're reacting," Ekstrand said. "There are so many things that are going to happen. There's going to be plenty of movement above them. They're going to have to wait for the dust to clear."


On the move:

The Cavs are exploring ways to move up in the draft and/or obtain a second-round pick, and they're not alone in looking for a deal. Several teams have made it known they'd be willing to trade their picks, including Charlotte at No. 9, New Jersey at Nos. 10 and 21 and Portland at No. 13.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindeal ... xml&coll=2

The Yahoo link has some player background and their stats.

Yahoo's NBA Draft 'Overall Top 20 Players'

* 1 Derrick Rose G 6-4 195 Memphis
* 2 Michael Beasley F 6-9 235 Kansas St.
* 3 Jerryd Bayless G 6-3 193 Arizona
* 4 O.J. Mayo G 6-5 215 USC
* 5 Brook Lopez F 7-0 240 Stanford
* 6 Kevin Love C 6-10 250 UCLA
7 Danilo Gallinari F 6-9 209
* 8 Eric Gordon G 6-4 215 Indiana
* 9 Russell Westbrook G 6-3 180 UCLA
* 10 D.J. Augustin G 5-11 175 Texas
* 11 Joe Alexander F 6-8 225 West Virginia
* 12 Anthony Randolph F 6-10 205 LSU
* 13 Kosta Koufos C 7-0 265 Ohio St.
* 14 Brandon Rush G 6-6 210 Kansas
* 15 Donte Greene F 6-9 225 Syracuse
* 16 Marreese Speights C 6-10 250 Florida
* 17 DeAndre Jordan C 7-0 240 Texas A&M
* 18 Darrell Arthur F 6-9 230 Kansas
19 Nicolas Batum F 6-8 214
* 20 Robin Lopez C 7-0 245 Stanford

http://sports.yahoo.com/s/nbadraft;_ylt ... 7yV4Y5nYcB

[tarheelsncavs]

In my opinion Batum would be too much of a risk.....he canceled a workout in Toronto due to heart issues....thats something that you just dont want to guarantee money to....young big man....whoever is left when the smoke clears....I would actually rather trade up to get Rush (if thats their man) and trade someone to another team for a 2nd rounder and draft a young big there that can relieve some minutes for the old men of the team.....I do believe that a true PG is needed but I dont think its as possible as some of the other deals.

[Whammer]

I am liking Alexis Ajinica..he is a shot blocker who can run the florr and also isn't that bad of a passer....but I am not sure if he is ready to make the jump just right yet maybe a year still over in France or some NBDL time..so that might keep Ferry away..

[rjgraca]

Sizing up the crop of centers for Thursday's NBA draft


'BIG SECRET' SAYS HE'S READY TO BREAK OUT

For someone whose parents both played professional basketball, Nevada center JaVale McGee remains an unfamiliar name to much of the public. And that's the way he likes it.

"I definitely think (being under the radar) is an advantage," says McGee, 20, whose quiet demeanor and mid-major college team have kept him mostly out of the nation's eye. "People underestimate me, but when they see what I have to offer, they're amazed."

Nicknamed "The Big Secret" by his mother Pam, who played and coached in the WNBA, McGee averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds a game as a sophomore last season. More important, his rare speed for a big man and a freakish 7-6½ wingspan grabbed the attention of NBA scouts.


MORE PROSPECTS: Other centers of note

McGee said he talked to his family after the season and determined that "it would be a mistake" to return to school. After all, his parents should know: McGee's father, George Montgomery, was a second-round draft pick in 1985, and Pam McGee won two national titles at Southern California (1983, 1984).

McGee's parents taught him the value of hard work from a young age, he said — a lesson he learned again his freshman year when he played just 10 minutes a game behind All-American Nick Fazekas. Sitting on the bench, the Michigan native says he never imagined being a potential lottery pick a year later. But it was from Fazekas that he learned a player can only get so far on sheer size and athleticism. Developing a high "basketball IQ" was just as important.

Since that lesson, McGee dramatically improved his ballhandling skills and extended his shooting range to NBA three-point territory. Defensively, he believes his long arms and agility will allow him to be an immediate shot-blocking presence in the NBA.

Still, most scouts view the forward/center as a project — someone who has the tools and potential to be a contributor but will need a few years to develop. Grueling workouts with his agent, former NFL player Roosevelt Barnes, have helped, but many question McGee's conditioning and think he is still raw. However, his physical attributes and flashes of playmaking skills will likely be enough to get him drafted in the mid to late first round.

McGee said he would prefer to be drafted by a team that plays an up-tempo style, but added he would be happy just being drafted in the first round. And despite being "anxious" for draft night, he claims not to pay attention to what experts say about his draft stock. After all, the most important part of the process has yet to occur. "People go by the last thing they see, so I know I have to finish strong," he says.

*****

LOPEZ TWINS SET TO GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS

Brook and Robin Lopez have played a lot of basketball in their lives.

What the identical twins haven't done much of is play basketball on different teams.

"Just some camps and stuff in high school," Brook says of their experience playing separately.

But unless a team makes an unlikely move to keep them together, Brook and Robin Lopez will become Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez after Thursday's NBA draft.


MORE PROSPECTS: Other centers of note

The 20-year olds downplay the significance of their impending separation.

"It was going to happen eventually," says Brook, who adds that he looks forward to playing against his brother in the NBA.

"Our chemistry on the court is the same that any two players develop if they play together for a while," Robin says.

The two are identical genetically, but their playing styles are noticeably different. Both are 7-feet and about 260 pounds (Robin weighs 5 to 10 pounds less), but Brook is a prototypical center with polished footwork, big-time scoring prowess and shot-blocking ability.

Robin makes his biggest impact with his defensive intensity and rebounding.

During their two years at Stanford, the duo worked in tandem to dominate the paint. Brook — who is one minute older — shouldered most of the scoring load with his more developed offensive game.

Despite testing poorly in agility tests recently, Brook is expected to be taken among the draft's first 10 picks; Robin will likely be selected within the first 20.

The discrepancy is not a source of contention between the two, and Robin is quick to point out that he is better than Brook at other things.

"Besides, who's to say he's a better basketball player?" Robin says.

Their mother, Debbie Ledford, who admits to not being the most objective analyst, says, "If anyone tries to tell me one is better, well what's better, an apple or an orange?"

Ledford, who recently retired from teaching after 33 years to help ease Brook's and Robin's transition to the NBA, has always been closely involved in her sons' lives, and the pre-draft process has been no exception.

After Stanford's loss to Texas in the Sweet 16, Brook and Robin sat down with their family to discuss their futures, ultimately deciding the time to make the leap was now.

"The twins' situation was such that with their basketball talents it was simply the right time to enter the draft," Ledford says.

"Players' draft stock tends to fall after they stay, for whatever reason. There's only a limited amount of time to play basketball; they can get their degrees any time."

But for all the talk about being different people and different players, the Lopez twins did little to establish their individuality when asked separately how they felt about fulfilling their lifelong NBA dream.

"It's surreal," they both said.

*****

THE REST OF THE 2008 CLASS

Roy Hibbert, 7-2, 275, Georgetown: A known commodity — and that might be his biggest problem. After four productive years in college, he has a relatively low upside. He's fundamentally sound in the paint and is a good, physical defender, but he is not very agile. He will never put up huge scoring numbers. He disappointed during his senior year by not taking another leap forward and dominating the Big East.

DeAndre Jordan, 7-0, 255, Texas A&M: A freak athlete like Dwight Howard, but he is not as strong or skilled as Howard and relies almost exclusively on his athleticism on both ends of the floor. He also has a reputation for not being a hard worker and seemed to wear down as the season progresses. As a result, his stock has fallen significantly. Despite those concerns, he has the size, and his upside is enormous.

Marreese Speights, 6-10, 245, Florida: Got a chance to show what he could do this season after Joakim Noah and Al Horford vacated Florida's frontcourt. He is a big, strong and tough post player who still manages to be light on his feet. He will not get pushed around and will be able to rebound and defend against athletic power forwards and smaller centers. Some scouts question his work ethic and commitment to conditioning.

Kosta Koufos, 7-0, 265, Ohio State: Big, fluid and skilled offensively. In the post, he has well-developed footwork and moves that allow him to get easy baskets against inferior defenders. He does not have much experience and is not especially athletic or explosive. There are also concerns that he is soft, as he tends to lose confidence easily when he is pushed around by more physical players.

Ante Tomic, 7-2, 237, Croatia: Impressively skilled for his size. Like most European big men, he can shoot, dribble and pass with proficiency and can get up and down the floor. His biggest problem has been and continues to be his lack of strength, which prevents him from making an impact down low. He will likely stay in Europe at least another year to bulk up.

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.

Jason Thompson, 6-11, 250, Rider: His biggest asset is his big, strong body and his mobility. He averaged 20.4 points and 12.1 rebounds during his senior year at Rider, but he played against inferior competition and often got frustrated when facing better players. Scouts have not been overly impressed by his game at either end of the court.

DeVon Hardin, 6-11, 250, California: There's no doubt he has an NBA body, but his offensive game of power dunks is less than overwhelming. His post moves are inconsistent, and any impact he will make in the NBA will be from using his strength and quickness on defense. He's an average rebounder at best.

Nikola Pekovic, 6-11, 243, Serbia: Played very well in the Euroleague, the highest level of pro competition besides the NBA. He is a powerful player who uses his aggressiveness and strength to get easy baskets around the hoop. Scouts question his fundamentals, and general managers are not sure he will ever leave Europe for the NBA.

Omer Asik, 6-11, 230, Turkey: Has impressed in his limited workout time, displaying a strong body, good athleticism and competitiveness. His offensive game is limited by his inexperience, but given time, he has the tools to be a good player.

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

[TheOUTLAW]

The real question is who will be on the board when we pick. The middle of this draft is incredibly fluid. Some guys you see going at 12 and then see them picked at 25. There is absolutely no consistency from the mocks after the top 7-8 players.

[DariusRickyMilesDavis]

Jordan, Hardin, or Ajinca would really surprise me. Kofous probably won't be there.

IMO Speights is the pick and if he is off the board (as well as KK) then we consider trading out of the spot or taking a guard. But Outlaw is right in that there are no real locks in the teens.

[TheOUTLAW]

There are no givens with this draft. I still like Batum but his risk level has likely kicked him out of the first round (daggone shame since it'll likely end up being inconsequential). But Windhorst made the following comments that I agree with.

and losing Varejao would leave a huge hole because he is the team’s only legit backup center.
There are a number of players the Cavs like in this draft. If anything, they are looking to move up in the draft or get a second pick instead of trading out as rumors have suggested. In addition, unless there is another rock solid plan in place, it is doubtful the Cavs would only trade Varejao unless they were getting another big man in return. It is questionable whether they can get an immediately contributing big with the 19th pick

[Cigamodnalro]

You will draft Kosta, as it is written in the stars and in the sand. http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=816728

[TheOUTLAW]

Batum has been cleared by heart specialists in Cleveland (probably Cleveland Clinic). So he will resume working out. Hopefully he avoided getting a staph infection while there.

[Gordon Bombay]

You will draft Kosta, as it is written in the stars and in the sand. http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=816728

i hope not

[TheOUTLAW]

Cavs are up with Arthur and Koufos both on the board.

[bobcatsinfour]

It would be a mistake of epic proportions to not take Koufos here

[TheOUTLAW]

JJ Hickson? Are you kidding me?