2009 nba draft

[sonic-ben]

Thunder
#1 Griffen 6-10 PF .... down low force
#2 James Hardin 6-4 SG... solid player.. reminds me of Ricky Pierce
#3 Thabeet 7-3 Defensive center .... Mutombo

San Antonio #1 Josh Heytvelt 6-11 shoots the three very well ... defends reminds me of the Big smoothe... aka Sam Perkins

would be a mismatch factor....

2nd round pick ... Possibles Pendergraph 6-9 PF, lester hudson 6-3 pg/sg

[theokie]

I think the Thunder are probably gonna take a big no matter what. If they can't get Griffin, i think they will take Thabeet

[bmw42690]

The problem with drafting Griffin is we would have to many guys that are 6'9". Green, Durant, Smith, Collison, Wilcox all are about the same height and none of them are centers in my book. I imagine Smith and Wilcox won't be with the team next year. Griffin is a great player but I would rather have a true center (like Thabeet) or get a SG (which I think is a more pressing need). They desperately need another guy that can stroke the 3. Like I said, I'm not against Griffin but I think we have a big hole in the middle and at the 2 and I would like to see those filled.

[theokie]

Three reasons why they would take Griffin.

1. Hes a local guy. Fans would be pissed if they didn't go with him.
2. Your always supposed to draft a big guy over a small guy.
3. He is the best player in the draft.

They problem at the 2 can be looked at elsewhere, or take a SG in next years draft. Durant can always play the 2 and Green the 3 at times during games. Griffin would start at Center but obviously he could play the 4 as well as the 5.

[london sonic]

Take the best avaliable player depending where we pick.Even though OKC look like there gonna have the worst record and best chance of getting the first pick the lottery has proven anyone can get it.Worst record is guaranteed any pick in top four so a top 3 pick looks likely Griffin,Harden and Thabeet would all improve our squad and thats the order I would pick in if players avaliable.If Rubio declares which is unlikely but could happen that would confuse things a bit do we take him when Westbrook appears to be developing nicely at the point.

[sonic-ben]

best player....

[theokie]

They wouldn't take Rubio. Not even at 4

[Downtown]

Here's a bit of a history lesson for those of you yhat didn't follow the team much when it was in Seattle.

The year one of Rashard Lewis' contracts expired he dropped hints that he would opt out and wanted a bigger deal. Management drafted Vlad Radmanovic as insurance. Lewis stayed and Radmanovic never did find a steady spot on the team. Pick wasted because of need.

Then they decide to draft both Luke Ridnour and Nick Collison because of need. Rumor has it both Miami and Toronto were interested in trading down from their #4 and #5 spots in return for both of Seattle's picks, #10 and #12, but wanted Brent Barry thrown in. GM Rick Sund held firm because of need. Anyone think Dwayne Wade would have looked nice on the Sonics? How about Chris Bosh?

So in order to change the culture of having poor centers for years, going back to Vin Baker, to Calvin Booth, and then Jerome James, the Sonics decide because of need they would go with Robert Swift instead of Al Jefferson, who was the consensus favorite. Wrong choice again.

So when Swift gets hurt they figure that need has to be fed yet again so Johan Petro is drafted, which wasn't so bad because it was down at #24.

When neither Swift or Petro shows a thing they once again stubbornly select Sene when just about every one of us Seattle fans had Ronnie Brewer pencilled in.

So the moral of the story is be careful about passing over the best player available to fill a need. If they end up #1 then great, Blake Griffin it is. But I would caution worrying so much about crossing really good players off the list because they aren't as important to the position.

Luckily your team can use a shooting guard(Harden), power forward(Griffin) and depending on how Kristic holds up possibly a center. I think this draft is one where unless a really bad lotto draw hits you another special player will be there to add to the great young core of Durant, Green, and Westbrook. I don't think OKC can lose.

I think the real challenge is going to be how Presti brings in a couple of tough experienced playoff proven players to get the young group some leadership, character, and mental toughness. That is going to be more worthy of discussion than who they draft.

[sonic-ben]

ditto ... downtown ... ditto

[ljp24]

Really hope we don't take Blake. He's going to be great players, but Blake often depends on his overwhelming size to get his rebounds, which will not work when he's going against West PFs. I'd be satisfied with James or Thabeet. Our no.1 prioity should be a dependable big.

[theokie]

Hes really not that overhwelmingly big. Hes only 6' 10, hes just really really athletic.

[sonic-ben]

but Blake often depends on his overwhelming size to get his rebounds,.

I agree I hate bigs that use there size to dominant

I perfer 7fter that act like a 5-6 guard

[BadWolf]

^^there's plenty of that on this roster