Poll: who do you THINK Presti ACTUALLY takes.

[Smills91]

Not who you WANT him to take, but rather predict here who you THINK he will pick?

Top 3 obvious choices are:

James Harden

Hasheem Thabeet

RIcky Rubio

[wiff]

Rubio just to really upset you personally Smills.

[Smills91]

Rubio just to really upset you personally Smills.

It doesn't upset me. That means we're guaranteed Evans will be there. I actually like Rubio and Evans about equally. They're different players. I thinK Rubio FITS better with our line-up, but I wouldn't be surprised if Evans becomes the most outstanding player in this entire draft.

[mcmokken]

Harden, because Memphis will trade Rubio to someone.

[Smills91]

Harden, because Memphis will trade Rubio to someone.

Just curious as to where and for what this Memphis trade will consist of. I broke down the situation on the Memphis board, and I really don't see a trade that's worthy enough for the Grizz to trade down for.

thunder don't need to
Kings won't
Wizards are looking to MOVE the pick
T-Wolves would like to move up, but won't offer Love or Al(best situation for a trade IMO with multiple draft picks
Warriors don't have the assets that they'd actually part with(Randolph)
Knicks don't have the necessary assets to get the Grizz to move down to 8 unless you think Wilson Chandler is worth a darn(I don't).
After that it gets shadier and shadier for Memphis.

The Grizz are eyeing Thabeet and Evans. The ONLY way they're guaranteed one of those players is if they select them at 2 or trade with the Thunder or Kings.

Since I don't see the motivation for the Thunder to trade(they'd just as soon take the leftover of Harden or Thabeet) and the Kings no in a position to give up any of their core. I don't see a trade, nor a bidding war for #2.

That means Minnesota is only bidding against itself. #6 + what? 18? Brewer? contract swap? Sure MAYBE the grizz like those things, but then guess what happens:

Rubio goes 2
Harden or Thabeet goes 3
Evans goes 4
Harden or Thabeet rounds out the top 5.

That leaves the Grizz with some 'nice' assets, but without the IMPACT player they were desiring from this draft and a complete BOTCHING of the trade down technique.

You ONLY trade down if you can STILL get your MAIN squeeze(Thabeet/Evans in this instance) OR you land a surefire asset that helps accomplish your goals as a franchise(Kevin Love - not happenings according to Kahn, shedding salary - Memphis doesn't really NEED to or adding youth - how much youth do they really need?)

So unless the Grizz just want to save some cash and swap with the Kings or Thunder at 4 or 3, I don't see a trade in Memphis' horizon unless they settle for some cash savings.

[dre_1614]

Rubio or Harden

If you put a gun to my head, I think Presti takes Harden

[Joel Embust]

Roo-beeyo