NBA 2009 draft: Ainge has incredible foresight...

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 5:28 pm

That is to say, when he'd included Boston's first round draft pick (as well as Minnesota's own first round pick back) to Minnesota to help acquire Garnett. Could the 2009 NBA draft be one of more question marks than certainty? I suppose one could suggest that the acquisition of Bill Walker from Washington acts as Boston's first round pick this year. But, the question remains: Did Ainge foresee a weak draft class in 2009 or is this a matter of coincidence? I'm not one to say that I know the players that will ultimately be available in this year's draft. However, there seems to be a lot of uncertainty as to which players beyond the top pick is a sure thing. It's as if sure things are becoming harder to come by these days. Gone are the drafts that are deep. I think the 1996 and 2003 drafts were the last deep drafts to produce so many eventual good/star players in the first round. I reckon the reason is an old one: Players are declaring themselves for the draft too soon. I mean, is BJ Mullens this year's Robert Swift? Not to mention, another young low end first round player isn't what a veteran team such as Boston needs when you consider Ainge's possible plans for the 2010 free agency.

Wiretap

Lottery Teams Will Trade Down Or Out Of Draft

Some NBA executives think lottery teams, including the Knicks, will look to trade down or deal for a 2010 selection if their "need" guy is not there due to the lack of overall quality beyond Blake Griffin.

BillessuR6 · Post #2 » by **BillessuR6** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 6:06 pm

Danny has to know which draft is strong and which weak. That is his job. And if I remember correctly he talked about this draft as a weak one when he traded away the pick...

Still, if teams are planning on trading out or selling picks, we might try to buy one...if the right player is there, of course. Not that we need any more young players but I think we all love the "unknown"...

SonicYouth34 · Post #3 » by **SonicYouth34** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 6:10 pm

I don't know. Some of the players like Jennings, Rubio, Griffin, Harden, Thabeet and DeRozen made it look like it was going to be at least a decent top ten with some all-stars in there. But all those players (minus Griffin, he's been a beast) sucked it up and the draft class doesn't look as promising as it used to.

I like to think DA has a crystal ball in his office, but more than likely he just thought the Big Three would give him a 20+ first round pick, which probably won't pan out like the most of them do.

Plus we have BIll Walker and Semi Erden waiting over seas, so were all set on young talent. I think if he didn't include it in the KG deal he would've traded it off this year for a couple seconds or something like that.

chakdaddy · Post #4 » by **chakdaddy** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 7:49 pm

I thought he made a brilliant move by keeping the 2008 pick, which was going to be used to get some bench help for the 2008-09 season which was to be the real title run, with '07-08 being more of a longshot...unfortunately he used that pick on another future trade chip 2 guard instead of anyone we can use...

campybatman · Post #5 » by **campybatman** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 8:19 pm

I don't think Ricky Rubio is eligible for this year's draft and Brandon Jennings isn't exactly turning heads while playing overseas. While Demar DeRozan, who was struggling initially, has Vince Carter-like talent but can turn out to be Gerald Green at the next level. And Hasheem Thabeet is still considered to be too raw of a player. Didn't he withdraw his name from last year's draft?

I don't think teams can fall back on any seniors in this draft class either. BJ Mullens should remain another year. On the other hand, he's a project big man I can imagine Ainge thinking about as being worth trading into the first round for.

BillessuR6 · Post #6 » by **BillessuR6** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 9:49 pm

Rubio is eligible...the guy is a magician, hopefully he ends up with a good team if he declares...

campybatman · Post #7 » by **campybatman** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 11:59 pm

I guess that he is... Still, I wouldn't be holding my breathe if I'm either Washington, Sacramento or the Clippers, though.

I've viewed a few mocks and none of them have Rubio listed for this year. So, the presumption is he won't enter this year unless something changes in his situation before June.

Many have believed that 18-year old phenom, Ricky Rubio, would not enter the 2009 NBA draft because of a six million Euro buyout from his current contract with DKV Joventut of the Spanish ACB league.

However, recent reports, including one from Draft Express on February 22nd, indicate that via Rubio's representatives, U.S. agent Dan Fegan, negotiations are under way to reduce Rubio's buyout to three or four million Euros.

Rubio is very likely to be a top three pick in the '09 draft which would be the most favorable conditions for a possible buyout. ESPN's Chad Ford follows up with a Feb. 27th report that there are strong indications that Rubio will be available in the upcoming draft.

http://www.truthaboutit.net/2009/03/hop ... ds-no.html

Rubio has made it clear that he would like to enter the 2009 draft, according to sources close to the situation. The 18-year-old Rubio is draft-eligible because he will turn 19 before the end of 2009.

But it's not that easy. Rubio has a complicated, multimillion-dollar contract buyout with his Spanish team, DKV Joventut Barcelona. NBA teams are allowed to contribute a maximum of $500,000 to buy out the contract of a foreign player. That means if Rubio seeks to leave Joventut, he could be forced to use most of the money from his first NBA contract to pay for the buyout.

"It's going to be very tricky," a Western Conference general manager said. "My understanding [has been] that he is not going to be in [the '09] draft."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/w ... index.html

Zin5 · Post #8 » by **Zin5** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 12:57 am

Just about everyone had the foresight. I don't think anyone was predicting this would be a strong draft or nearly as deep as 2008's (it was being speculated back in 2007). TBH, two years ago none of us knew Blake Griffin would still be in it and someone like Thabeet would still be in school, let alone a breakout from Jordan Hill and James Harden. The 2009 draft has slightly strengthened from our perception back around the KG trade, but probably dropped since 2008 (guys like Mullens and Derozan showing less than expected).

Who-rod · Post #9 » by **Who-rod** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 5:04 am

I like Thabeet... not to be a star, but as a Diop type player at worst, and a Dikembe light at best. Not what a bad lottery team wants, but something a good team could find useful in 10-15 minutes per game.

Banks2Pierce · Post #10 » by **Banks2Pierce** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 1:34 pm

The good thing is that teams will be selling picks and Danny will likely swoop in there and get one of his steals... He's great at finding them. And you know he's putting as much time into this draft as he did in every other one of them.

billfromBoston · Post #11 » by **billfromBoston** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 3:30 pm

If Ainge wants to acquire someone he'll get the chance....don't see a must have rookie for where this team is at - though I think Gabe Pruitt's slot as PG/SG is certainly up for grabs from another prospect...the team has:

C-Perk/Davis
PF-Powe/Davis
SF- Walker/Giddens
SG-TA/Giddens
PG-Rondo/Pruitt

I look at that and it seems the biggest opening is Pruitt's slot. Assuming TA is not long for this team, Giddens is the top SG prospect, with Pruitt backing up the 1/2...Wyc said the team was making an offer to both Powe and Davis, so lets assume the market won't bring either the top-end figure their production may garner, thus bringing them back. Davis' ability to play both the 5 and 4 make it possible to give both he and Powe significant minutes in a 3 big rotation with a situational C brought in for spot minutes.

The team is pretty well stocked with "youth" so I don't know if there is a "gotta have it" player in this draft worth taking up a roster spot. Again, Pruitt looks the most expendable, so if Ainge likes himself a Jeff Teague or even a Terrence Williams, (if he can project to the 1 at all) then he may do something.

I wouldn't count on it.

Look for a quality 2nd round pick - i'd like Josh Hytvelt from Gonzaga - he's going to drop like a stone because of the mushrooms incident, but he is long, mobile, and can hit out to 18 feet - perfect role playing F/C in the Mikke Moore role - 5th big. Though this position may be filled via FA acquisition.

humblebum · Post #12 » by **humblebum** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 4:05 pm

I've always like Heytvelt or however the heck you spell it from Gonzaga as well.

campybatman · Post #13 » by **campybatman** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 6:21 pm

I hope Ainge doesn't give up on Giddens. I would dislike it if Giddens matured into a good player. Remember when Sacramento gave up on Gerald Wallace and he grew into a fine player with Charlotte. It's all about getting an opportunity in the NBA if you aren't already a star.

If Ainge targets a team in the lower half of the first round. It'll be for a center or power forward. Depends... Erden I'd read was under an one-year contract with Turkey last year. So, he might be on Boston's roster next season.

GuyClinch · Post #14 » by **GuyClinch** » Sun Apr 5, 2009 9:06 pm

Obviously since Giddens has had zero burn we can't toss him aside as a fan. But the fact that he hasn't got time or produced at his age is troublesome. A betting man would bet against him, IMHO.

In baseball the big metric is not just what a guy hits in the minor leagues - its a what age he does it. A kid rocking AAA at 18 is a prospect. A guy at 29 is a AAAA player. Giddens at 23 should have been able to step in a take all of TA's minutes - and perhaps had become the swingman off the bench..

its just not looking good for Giddens right now. that being said i liked what i have seen in his like 10 minutes of NBA PT..