Who are the four prospects???

[DWCP2]

Post your guesses here....

My guess, two positions, two prospects....

PG's Ty Lawson and Eric Maynor -- most experience of the PG's outside of the top ten. Maynor though has the better basketball IQ of the two.

PF's DeJuan Blair and Tyler Hansborough -- best PF's available.

Only one guy Bird thinks isn't going to make this list. I'm thinking it's either Lawson, who could go as high as the Raptors at no.9 or no. 10 or Blair at either no. 11 or no. 12.

Thoughts???

[cdash]

I honestly have no clue. This entire draft just has me frazzled. I can't get a grip on anything. So many conflicting reports, bogus rumors, and fluidity in draft stock has made this a crap shoot. If I had to guess who the four are, I'd probably say Lawson, Blair, Henderson, and Maynor. The only one I'm fairly certain on is Lawson. You could easily make a case for Hansbrough there as well.

[SuperReggie31]

The prospects are: Lawson, Hansborough, Maynor and Teague.

You can watch the pre-draft conference from today here

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700038986

[freeman]

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5700038986

anybody knows where we could get the transcript of Larry's pre-draft briefing?

On the link above, at 3:30 - 4:12

"there'll be 4 guys that will be there at 13. 3 out of 4 will be there, i can guarantee you that..
there are at least 3 or 4 guys that we've been watching, and we brought them in, and scouted (them). Well, I've been to New Jersey, i've been to Minnesota, i've been to Chicago..."

Here's a partial list of guys Larry and company brought in for workouts, just to cut the long list short.

Jeff Adrien
Sam Young
Ahmad Nivins
Taj Gibson
DeMarre Carroll
Chase Budinger
James Johnson
BJ Mullens
Toney Douglas
Jrue Holiday
Tywon Lawson
DeJuan Blair
Nando de Colo
Eric Maynor
Brandon Jennings
Tyler Hansbrough
Gerald Henderson

He said we need a point guard, a wing, and a big man.

After watching the whole video and analyzing Bird's answers, movements, facial expressions, etc. I have somewhat like formulated a studied guess (well, yeah it's still a guess).
It is obvious that Larry wants to deal with things like picking up the option on Daniels, re-signing Jack and the other guys, etc. after the draft. And everything depends on whether he ends up satisfied or not with his picks on June 25.
My guess is that Larry could be looking at not re-signinig Jack and not bringing Daniels back IF he would get his target PG (which would be better than Jack) and target wingman (would be better than Daniels) in the draft, Plus, drafting a PF in case we couldn't get anyone in the free agent market. That would be a good, money-saving strategy. But what are we gonna do with the money we'll be saving?
Another guess is that, when a good pg slips to us at 13, Larry might be thinking of re-signing Jack and trading TJ for a draft pick (to get a wing player or a big man) and maybe an expiring contract.
Jack would be cheaper than TJ. And the possible pg's at 13 are really short like Flynn, Lawson, Jennings.. If we are to get a true pg, then Larry might be looking at playing Jack at the 2 occasionally. Plus, TJ's got some decent trade value, teams looking for a veteran PG could be inquiring about Ford.
But, i don't think we'll do better next season with 3 rookies on board playing major roles, that smells more like of a setback than progress.
Long-term plan on the other hand? well, give these young guys 2-3 more years and we could have a beast of a roster. Young, fast, versatile players on fast-paced offense.. should we get mad now?

My guess on Larry's 4 targets (at 13 and lower):
Jonny Flynn
DeJuan Blair
James Johnson
Tyler Hansbrough

Seems to me that Larry's really thinking ahead, thinking of the future, but it also seems to me that he's forgetting the bridges we need to cross to get there.

[PR07]

I think it's Jennings, Lawson, Henderson, and Blair; with Jennings being the wildcard that may or may not be there.

I do not think Hansbrough is part of the 4, although Bird thinks highly of him. In part of the press conference, Bird days on Psycho T, "I like to watch him play..I like to watch him workout...hopefully he's part of the group that's there as well." (as if he's not part of the initial group he was talking about)

[greenway84]

i would say Hans is a definite. after that i would narrow the point to 2 of Lawson, Maynor, or Teague. Leaving either Blair or Henderson. I would say Henderson would be the one he think may not be there.
Hans
Blair
Maynor
Henderson

Im not happy with Hans or Blair. I want Clark, but seeing as he never mentioned his name nore did he workout for us. Im assuming not. I would be happier taking Sam Young later than Henderson early. Maynor would be fine with me.

[Grang33r]

While i understand why the media tries to look into what Larry Bird is saying, how much of it is basicially a "poker face"? For an example, in the NHL, Calgary's GM Sutter said few days before the trade deadline at the press conference after a game he was not looking to add any more defensemen. He repeated it three times and said they are as loaded as they want on defense. On deadline day, their first deal was for Jordan Leopold, a very good d-men. After deadline day, Sutter admitted he made the comments to kill the "rumors" and other teams going for Leopold stopped going so hard after him.

What i'm saying is, if Bird said they are looking for a very young, inexperienced point guard, everyone would know who they are talking about and teams 14th or lower who also have the same views, may try harder to move up.

I wouldn't mind Ty Lawson. And i wouldn't mind Eric Maynor. BUT, to say those are our "guys" on our list instead of trying to get an Evans, who we were so in love with, or Holiday or Jennings, just seems silly to me.

I think Bird wouldn't mind either Lawson or Maynor, but i think he will try to get someone else and hope one of the others drops. He didn't hint on it and all the attention from the media now is us taking one of the 4 guys.... i freaking can not stand Handsbrough (sorry dgrange) and hopefully the Nets select him at #11.

[greenway84]

well bird seems to be a straight shooter. see the tinsley situation. though it hurt trade possibilities he openly said he wont play tinsley.

[Grang33r]

BTW, can't find the link, but about a month ago (or a bit more) Jim O'Brien was quoted saying the Pacers will target a young player, someone they can develop, someone not experienced a lot of playing time..... anyone remember that? I'm trying to find a link. He also said they will draft a very athletic guy. Seems like their theory according to JOB about 4-5 weeks ago very much differs from Larry Bird of yesterday. Unless like i said above, Bird is just playing a very good "poker face".

[greenway84]

im pretty sure and i could be wonrg, but obie was saying that was his wish list. but bird did mention he isnt trying to draft for obie this time around. which by the way i would assume obie goes to the FO, but who comes in next offseason?

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Everything is a smoke screen. Anyone remember last year when Bird kept talking about how good Arthur was - then he passed him up for Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert, who we really didn't hear anything our of the ordinary from.

I'm hoping this is the case when it comes to the 5th pick, Ford says we are after it, but Bird said we can't afford it financially - what that means is beyond me, but maybe hes throwing a smoke sheild up there as well.

This draft is confusing.

[Gremz]

Jennings, Blair, Clark and Lawson. Just a guess though.

[DC2]

I hope it's

Jennings
Henderson
Hansbrough
Johnson

But I think it's

Lawson
Hansbrough
Blair
Maynor

[chatard5]

Yeah, with 3 probably available I agree with most of you with Lawson, MAYNOR, and Hansbrough. I don't think it's Holiday or Jennings. I also don't think it's Blair. It shouldn't be Flynn since we have TJ. Maybe it is a stretch and is Jordan Hill? Idk.

[laydo]

I think they are....


Jrue Holiday -- potential, defensive, physical advantage, and who is possibly gone by #13

Eric Maynor -- experience, do the right thing at the right time

Ty Lawson -- winning player

Tyler Hansbrough -- winning player, younger version of Jeff Foster?

Why not Jennings, Flynn and Teague? -- they tend to hold the ball most of the time, simmilar to T.J. Ford

[Indydave]

My guess as to who the "4" are would include-- Tyler Hansborough, Eric Maynor, Gerald Henderson, and James Johnson. Out of these 4, Johnson is the least likely to be picked IMO, I think Bird really wants one of the other 3 players I mentioned.

[Wizop]

But, i don't think we'll do better next season with 3 rookies on board playing major roles, that smells more like of a setback than progress. ... Seems to me that Larry's really thinking ahead, thinking of the future, but it also seems to me that he's forgetting the bridges we need to cross to get there.

we don't define progress the same way. I really don't think we have to make the playoffs next year to be able to say we've made progress. my goal is longer term and I'll see it as progress if we find a player who shows the ability to become a starter on a 50 win team.

[cdash]

Everything is a smoke screen. Anyone remember last year when Bird kept talking about how good Arthur was - then he passed him up for Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert, who we really didn't hear anything our of the ordinary from.

I'm hoping this is the case when it comes to the 5th pick, Ford says we are after it, but Bird said we can't afford it financially - what that means is beyond me, but maybe hes throwing a smoke sheild up there as well.

This draft is confusing.

See, I have a different perspective. I thought it was pretty clear that we liked Rush and Hibbert with our two picks. Numerous people called it in our mock drafts, and Chad Ford even had it pegged to a certain extent. Last year, this close to the draft, I think we had a pretty good idea who we were taking. I never thought we would take Arthur.

[Grang33r]

I don't know about that CDash. I don't remember seeing too many people saying Brandon Rush last year. Although i did see a few say Hibbert. But, as DGrange said, many said Darrell Arthur. I wouldn't have mind Arthur at all to be honest. After Arthur dropped and dropped, both this forum and PD had so many fans in an uproar over not trying to trade for him or him not being included in that Rush/Bayless deal. For all the "positive" as Arthur supposedly had with Indiana, it wasn't enough. Bird had more then a few chances to grabbing him and just didn't want him.

[mizzoupacers]

If you read the Star story carefully, the "four" is pretty ambiguous--it's more like four + whoever might happen to fall to us that we weren't really expecting.

I think Bird will take Jennings if he is available, but if Jennings is gone he'll pick either Maynor or Lawson (I have no idea which one). I'm assuming that Henderson will be off the board...if he's available, I think he could be the guy instead of one of the pgs. The next most likely possibility, IMO, is Hansbrough.

I'd be enthusiastic about getting Jennings, just based on what little we know about him. But quietly, I'd really enjoy seeing us pick Maynor. I like smart pgs who know how to run a team. I think Maynor has a chance to be that sort of NBA player.