closg00 wrote:If you have the chance to draft a young Nash or Kidd, I think you have to go for it w/o blinking. Ricky would only be 22 when Gil turns 30. I would only be upset if we select Thabeet if Blake, Harden, Rubio, and Hill were already gone.
If we're picking 5th, I think you have to take Thabeet if those 4 are gone. Just for the value factor. Yeah we've got a plethora of bigs, but other than Haywood, none have shown they can be a defensive anchor. Plus, with our financial situation, who's to say Haywood will still be Wizard after next season.
If we're going to get a coach that focuses on defense, Thabeet would be a nice player to build around. Imagine Haywood and Thabeet splitting time at the 5...that's guaranteed paint protection for 48 minutes every night. No more reason to "protect the paint" with guards sagging into the lane leaving 3-point shooters wide open every night....even though a competent coach would probably ditch that strategy anyway.
Being in the same division as Orlando, we're going to be seeing a lot of Dwight Howard for a long time. There's only a handful of players that can handle him one-on-one....it would be nice to have 2 that could do it.
I know everyone is afraid of where that leaves McGee. Well, maybe he can play the 4 like his mommy wants him to. If I draft Thabeet I'm looking to deal Blatche + whatever for a 2 guard. Thabeet at the 5 with McGee at the 4 would make for an interesting future.
And even if Thabeet isn't in our plans, you draft him to trade him because he's the best value. And there's always a market for young bigs who are pretty much a lock to be defensive anchors in the NBA. After all, defense wins championships.