Chad Ford Chat

[IndieRuso420]

Rubio won't be a huge project at all. Did you watch the Olympics last year? The kid is a stud. He will be fine. Jennings is more of a project imo.

At this point in time, I have little to no faith with out of nation prospects. If they haven't been playing NCAA basketball, it either takes them a few years or they never make it.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

It's pretty hard to have impressive numbers by our standards while playing in Europe. The way the game is played is completely different; more team play, shorter game, etc. It's hard to be impressed by the lower stats without first taking into consideration other factors, like in Jennings' case, his age and unfamiliarity with the international scene. It is good to hear that he's living with his mother though. Shows where his priorities are while he's over there.

I'm very intrigued by what Jennings can do in the NBA. We just need to make sure his head is on straight. Danny, Rush and Hibbert are the perfect type of characters to guide Jennings through his rookie year.

[cdash]

I'm not saying there wouldn't be a learning curve, but I think he is better prepared than a lot of guys just because he has been playing at an elite level in Europe for so many years, and he played a key role for Spain in the Olympics.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

At this point in time, I have little to no faith with out of nation prospects. If they haven't been playing NCAA basketball, it either takes them a few years or they never make it.

I disagree. You could argue that international players are more prepared to face the talent in this league rather than NCAA players, unless the player stays in college for all 4 years but you rarely see that now since most come out after 1 or 2 years. Rubio has been playing against grown men and he's 17. I don't think any NCAA players can say they played a key role in the Gold Medal game against Team USA in the Olympics at the age of 17.

Rubio's not a project. It's just unfortunate he's out of our reach.

[IndieRuso420]

Well, not that Bird wouldn't pick a young player, but I learn towards what he has done lately in drafting NCAA experienced players. Walsh had the tendency to gamble, and Bird pretty much tried it once with Shawne and it blew up (& technically that might not even be a full blown Bird pick).

So many out of nation prospects are just picked so high, and rarely produce. This year its Galinarri, the year before Yi, Sene, Fran, Darko, Koralev. A couple of thee guys could still work out, but like I said it just seems like for the majority of these guy it takes two years of NBA ball for them to start be a positive influence and some of them never even make it at all.

Rubio may be different because of his experience against top competition and performing so well at a young age, but nowadays I'm just never sold on these foreign guys.

EDIT: At least with Thabeet, the guys has starting experience and three years of NCAA performance to backup his prospects when you compare to some of the foreign guys.

[bballpacen]

We need to avoid Thabeet like the plague... He fits no need, and would be a poor signal to Hibbert after finishing strong to end the year... There in no way that you will be able to play them both at the same time... We are not talking bout Duncan and Robinson here... Even if he is TBPA, he is not a good fit for us... Which you have to take into consideration, not ignore...

[Gremz]

1.Griffin
2.Rubio
3.Monroe
4.Hill
5.Jennings
6.Brackins
7.DeRozan
8.Evans

1,2 and 3 are obviously due to lucking out in the lottery.
4 & 5 should probably be gone, but here's hoping they slide.
6 is probably what we will end up getting.
7 & 8 are in relation to whether Dunleavy is still useful or not.

The rest I really don't care about.

[laydo]

1.Griffin
2.Rubio
3.Monroe
4.Hill
5.Jennings
6.Brackins
7.DeRozan
8.Evans

1,2 and 3 are obviously due to lucking out in the lottery.
4 & 5 should probably be gone, but here's hoping they slide.
6 is probably what we will end up getting.
7 & 8 are in relation to whether Dunleavy is still useful or not.

The rest I really don't care about.

Brackins sure got a lot of potential, and he could play well both inside low post or outside shooting. However, I don't think he's going to be the kind of guy the Pacers need, a nasty guy in the paint. I like D. Blair and P. Patterson even thought these two are undersized. I think their body language and hustling could really cheer up the audience. Since they may not be in the lottery, I think it not bad for the Pacers to trade another late 1st round pick, like we drafted Hibbert last year.

Considering the health of Dunleavy and Marquis, I don't think we should use #12 to pick DeRozan or Evans. It's like we pick Shawne Williams one year after we pick Danny. Instead, I think the Pacers could sign either Kareem Rush or Fred Jones back, because both of them are solid veterans and can shoot the 3pt and play well defense.

[Gremz]

Hmmmm, forgot Holiday. Add him to the list.