General (Non-Wiz) Draft Discussion

[DCZards]

Tell EJ he might want to make insist the Kings re-sign Diogu, DCZ.

Nah, EJ and Sactown won't need Diogu. They'll have Blake G.

[nate33]

If the Wizards rade down and end up with Blair and Calathes, I'd be just as happy as if they got Griffin, doc.

Guys who defend, guys who rebound, guys who make plays for others. Both will start at some point in their careers, but who'll definiely contribute a lot.

Blair will help with second chance points. Calathes IMO could be another Alvin Williams at his best (Kev mentioned him) or Bob Sura.

I love Blair's motor and toughness, but undersized inside players like him usually have problems at the next level. I think of other undersized guys like Craig Smith from BC or Ike Diougu out of Ariz. State...both of whom were beasts in the low-post in college but can hardly get off the bench in the NBA.

I also can't see Blair defending some of the bigs he'll face at the PF/C position. Yeah, he handled Thabeet, but 'beet has an extremely limited offensive game.

I expect Blair to be better than both Smith and Diougu--at least on the boards---but I don't think DeJuan is worth a top 10-12 pick.

DCZards, it's really eerie to me you'd mention Diogu. I was thinking about posting about Diogu...

Diogu's career per-36 averages are 17.7 points, 8.9 rebounds. For his career he's shot .501 FG and .804 FT. His career PER is 16.1. (Finished with PER over 20 last season and PER of 17 the season before.). In the last two games of the season, he put up 32 and 11 followed by 28 and 13.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... uik01.html

Like you, DCZards, I expect Blair to be better than Diogu on the boards. Way better. But I don't think he's like Diogu. Diogu's a much better scorer. I'd argue you could put Diogu in at Jamison's spot and the Wizards wouldn't miss a beat. I'd say Diogu's just what Portland needs behind Aldridge. But they traded him away.

Tell EJ he might want to insist the Kings re-sign Diogu, DCZ.

The guy I expect Blair to be like is Kevin Love on the boards. Defensively, he'll be better than Love. I think Blair will be a cross between Love, Millsap, and Big Baby Davis. Blair has great hands. He has a motor and both great anticipation and hands for steals like Millsap. He bats a lot of balls to himself in order to rebound, similar to Love. Like Davis and Love, Blair doesn't go vertical to rebound, he goes horizontal. Like Davis, Blair will score on up and unders.

Craig Smith with twice the rebounding, might fit Blair.

When a guy has been around for as long as Diogu has been around while posting a good PER, but can't get minutes on a bad team, you have to assume that there is something very wrong with his game that doesn't show up in the stats.

His on/off differential on the woeful Kings was -5.9
His on/off differential on Portland was -36.6
His on/off differential in Indiana was -10.4
His on/off differential in Golden State was -6.4

[Ji]

If the Wizards trade down and end up with Blair and Calathes, I'd be just as happy as if they got Griffin, doc.

Guys who defend, guys who rebound, guys who make plays for others. Both will start at some point in their careers, but who'll definiely contribute a lot.

Blair will help with second chance points. Calathes IMO could be another Alvin Williams at his best (Kev mentioned him) or Bob Sura.

so you would trade Griffin for Blair and Calathes. I dont think even Wes would do that

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If the Wizards trade down and end up with Blair and Calathes, I'd be just as happy as if they got Griffin, doc.

Guys who defend, guys who rebound, guys who make plays for others. Both will start at some point in their careers, but who'll definiely contribute a lot.

Blair will help with second chance points. Calathes IMO could be another Alvin Williams at his best (Kev mentioned him) or Bob Sura.

so you would trade Griffin for Blair and Calathes. I dont think even Wes would do that

Ji, you're the guy that's the brunt of jokes around here. Not me.

I said if they trade down--which they would never do if they got the #1 pick.

Infer from that they would trade away pick 2-4 for something like a salary dump plus later pick(s) in order to get something better. They could trade away Thabeet/Stevenson/Songaila and end up getting Blair plus cap relief and another pick. Thus they could get Blair, Calathes, and have money to resign Haywood.

If the Wizards don't end up with Griffin, but do end up trading down and ending up with Blair and Calathes I'll be just as happy.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

DCZards, it's really eerie to me you'd mention Diogu. I was thinking about posting about Diogu...

Diogu's career per-36 averages are 17.7 points, 8.9 rebounds. For his career he's shot .501 FG and .804 FT. His career PER is 16.1. (Finished with PER over 20 last season and PER of 17 the season before.). In the last two games of the season, he put up 32 and 11 followed by 28 and 13.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... uik01.html

Like you, DCZards, I expect Blair to be better than Diogu on the boards. Way better. But I don't think he's like Diogu. Diogu's a much better scorer. I'd argue you could put Diogu in at Jamison's spot and the Wizards wouldn't miss a beat. I'd say Diogu's just what Portland needs behind Aldridge. But they traded him away.

Tell EJ he might want to insist the Kings re-sign Diogu, DCZ.

The guy I expect Blair to be like is Kevin Love on the boards. Defensively, he'll be better than Love. I think Blair will be a cross between Love, Millsap, and Big Baby Davis. Blair has great hands. He has a motor and both great anticipation and hands for steals like Millsap. He bats a lot of balls to himself in order to rebound, similar to Love. Like Davis and Love, Blair doesn't go vertical to rebound, he goes horizontal. Like Davis, Blair will score on up and unders.

Craig Smith with twice the rebounding, might fit Blair.

When a guy has been around for as long as Diogu has been around while posting a good PER, but can't get minutes on a bad team, you have to assume that there is something very wrong with his game that doesn't show up in the stats.

His on/off differential on the woeful Kings was -5.9
His on/off differential on Portland was -36.6
His on/off differential in Indiana was -10.4
His on/off differential in Golden State was -6.4

It's really bad when you have no come back at all.

[Severn Hoos]

If the Wizards rade down and end up with Blair and Calathes, I'd be just as happy as if they got Griffin, doc.

Guys who defend, guys who rebound, guys who make plays for others. Both will start at some point in their careers, but who'll definiely contribute a lot.

Blair will help with second chance points. Calathes IMO could be another Alvin Williams at his best (Kev mentioned him) or Bob Sura.

I love Blair's motor and toughness, but undersized inside players like him usually have problems at the next level. I think of other undersized guys like Craig Smith from BC or Ike Diougu out of Ariz. State...both of whom were beasts in the low-post in college but can hardly get off the bench in the NBA.

I also can't see Blair defending some of the bigs he'll face at the PF/C position. Yeah, he handled Thabeet, but 'beet has an extremely limited offensive game.

I expect Blair to be better than both Smith and Diougu--at least on the boards---but I don't think DeJuan is worth a top 10-12 pick.

See, I think most of the "disappointment" around undersized inside players stems from their draft position. Diogu never should have been a top 10 pick in the first place, but it's his draft position that makes him a disappointment. But on the other hand, late picks like Maxiell, Millsap, Gomes (who went 1 spot behind Blatche), Powe, Big Baby, and several others have far exceeded their respective draft slots. And I wouldn't be too hard on Craig Smith just yet - career averages of 9 points, 5 rebounds, and over 55% FG shooting in under 20 MPG is not too shabby for a 2nd round pick.

I don't know that Blair is a top 10-12 pick either, but he'll be a great value in the 20s or below. I'd be very happy to have him on the Wiz (unless we get Griffin, naturally). Can't get enough of those undersized PFs!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If the Wizards rade down and end up with Blair and Calathes, I'd be just as happy as if they got Griffin, doc.

Guys who defend, guys who rebound, guys who make plays for others. Both will start at some point in their careers, but who'll definiely contribute a lot.

Blair will help with second chance points. Calathes IMO could be another Alvin Williams at his best (Kev mentioned him) or Bob Sura.

I love Blair's motor and toughness, but undersized inside players like him usually have problems at the next level. I think of other undersized guys like Craig Smith from BC or Ike Diougu out of Ariz. State...both of whom were beasts in the low-post in college but can hardly get off the bench in the NBA.

I also can't see Blair defending some of the bigs he'll face at the PF/C position. Yeah, he handled Thabeet, but 'beet has an extremely limited offensive game.

I expect Blair to be better than both Smith and Diougu--at least on the boards---but I don't think DeJuan is worth a top 10-12 pick.

See, I think most of the "disappointment" around undersized inside players stems from their draft position. Diogu never should have been a top 10 pick in the first place, but it's his draft position that makes him a disappointment. But on the other hand, late picks like Maxiell, Millsap, Gomes (who went 1 spot behind Blatche), Powe, Big Baby, and several others have far exceeded their respective draft slots. And I wouldn't be too hard on Craig Smith just yet - career averages of 9 points, 5 rebounds, and over 55% FG shooting in under 20 MPG is not too shabby for a 2nd round pick.

I don't know that Blair is a top 10-12 pick either, but he'll be a great value in the 20s or below. I'd be very happy to have him on the Wiz (unless we get Griffin, naturally). Can't get enough of those undersized PFs!

Sev, Blair's worth a top 10 pick.

I would put huge money on that. As convinced as I was that Millsap would be good, I'm more convinced about Blair.

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?q ... ar=2008/09

When you lead the NCAAs in Win Score/40, ahead of Griffin, Thabeet, Patterson, Nivins, Hansbrough, Curry, James Jones etc. it's for a reason. Blair also led the nation in PER. Was third in EFF/40, and was second to John Bryant in Reb/40. Griffin was third, and nobody else was statistically close as a rebounder.

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?s ... ar=2008/09

Blair also finished in the NCAA top-25 in Points/40 and Points/Possession. He'll have a lot more trouble scoring in the NBA, but I'm thinking he'll score even better than what I think he will.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/DeJ ... 049/stats/

Severn, by the time next season rolls around it will be clear that Blair is worth top-5 consideration. Mark my words. Pace adjusted 23 points and 18 rebounds per 40, and folks are doubting him? I think the math isn't lying!

I have NEVER seen a player as underestimated as Blair.

[closg00]

I'll wager that Blair will be a lottery pick, one of the mocks has him slotted to go to NJ at 11.

I don't think we get-by the Cavs next year w/o Griffin, Blair & an upgrade at PG (barring a trade for another PF)

[pancakes3]

motion to suspend all posts for a week? it's really moot until we find out the draft order and i worry that with all these posts we're just jinxing ourselves deeper and deeper.

[mhd]

If we got Blake Griffin, should we draft Taylor Griffin with the 2nd round pick (freeing up rosters spots with an inevitable Blatche trade)? Chad Ford had some nice things to say about him.

[Ruzious]

CCJ, I'm not disagreeing but I think there has to be concern about Blair's height. Millsap measured in at 6'6.25 without shoes, so he's effectively 6'7.5 - very short but not crazy short. What if Blair measures an inch shorter - which I think might be the case. If he's under 6'7, does that change the equation? It does for me - even if he measures with a 7'2 wingspan (Millsap's was 7'1.5").

[closg00]

The Wiz will take a look at Greivis Vasquez (potential 2nd rounder obviously)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/coll ... 6652.story

[verbal8]

I don't think Grevis Vasquez has the talent to be worth the headache. I think the Wizards we be better off with a proven, but limited vet like Dixon than Vasquez. That said if he stays in the draft, but does not get drafted he might be worth a look.

[badinage]

Greivis isn't even a dominating college player. Let's just say I have a grievance with Greivis. He's a pass-first guard but he doesn't otherwise have the mentality of a Paul or Williams or Lawson. He's erratic, and talks himself out of the game, I think.

I don't want him on the second round.

I want a shooter, a guy who can get baskets, but someone who doesn't need the ball in his hand all the time (i.e., Young Nick).

Incidentally, I found this interesting -- it's a statement from Ern:

"A lot of the players that we bring in are not just for our first-round pick, but also for our second-round pick, or for free-agent-type players that we might want to take a look at down the road," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. "The thing that I get the most out of this process is being able to talk to the players and see what type of people they really are and how they handle themselves."

Sorry. I'm no prude -- but I really think that that kind of thing should be saved for in private.

[nate33]

Chad Ford: I just spent the day with him in San Francisco on Monday. All I can say is wow. The physical tools are amazing and the workout he goes through everyday is the most grueling I've ever seen. Griffin looks like he's training to be a Navy SEAL. However, what was really impressive was the basketball part with former Spurs head coach Bob Hill. He's much more skilled offensively than you think. Excellent ball handler and nice stroke with some three point range. And he's a nice, grounded kid with a very cool family. I was super impressed.

link

3-point range?

[nate33]

How legit is Dejuan Blair out of Pittsburgh? Some compare him as a shorter Kendrick Perkins with a longer wingspan.

Chad Ford: He's probably going to be a better offensive rebounder and a better scorer than Perkins. He's been working out at IMG in Florida and I'm told he's already lost a lot of weight. If he comes into draft camp in great shape, that will really boost his stock.

link

[fishercob]

Blair would be a great consolation prize in a trade down scenario if we pick 3-5. Maybe we pick up a future first.

[Benjammin]

I agree Blair would be a good consolation prize if the Wizards get 3-5 and pull off a trade down into the 7-11 area. The guys I like in that instance are Curry, Blair, Lawson, Evans, and Henderson. Drafting Blair would make a trade of Blatche more likely to get backcourt help/luxury tax relief.

[Ruzious]

Chad Ford: I just spent the day with him in San Francisco on Monday. All I can say is wow. The physical tools are amazing and the workout he goes through everyday is the most grueling I've ever seen. Griffin looks like he's training to be a Navy SEAL. However, what was really impressive was the basketball part with former Spurs head coach Bob Hill. He's much more skilled offensively than you think. Excellent ball handler and nice stroke with some three point range. And he's a nice, grounded kid with a very cool family. I was super impressed.

link

3-point range?

Temper enthusiam with the fact that it's just Chad Ford saying it. But yeah, drooling might be appropriate.

[fishercob]

Chad Ford: I just spent the day with him in San Francisco on Monday. All I can say is wow. The physical tools are amazing and the workout he goes through everyday is the most grueling I've ever seen. Griffin looks like he's training to be a Navy SEAL. However, what was really impressive was the basketball part with former Spurs head coach Bob Hill. He's much more skilled offensively than you think. Excellent ball handler and nice stroke with some three point range. And he's a nice, grounded kid with a very cool family. I was super impressed.

link

3-point range?

Temper enthusiam with the fact that it's just Chad Ford saying it. But yeah, drooling might be appropriate.

I just peed a little. How's that for appropriate?