Grade the Pacers' Draft!

[Gremz]

I guess it's quite tough looking back in hindsight. IF we were to know that DeJuan would fall so low, we could have been prepared to make a move early into the 2nd Round and perhaps end up with a Holiday/Blair combo.

However, considering the facts as they were at the time, and Hansbrough's IQ and attitude, it's not quite as bleak as first imagined. My main concern was leaving Patrick Mills on the board and taking AJ Price instead (yeah, I'm an Aussie homer).

C

[chatard5]

I like taking Hansbrough, I just think it was early. I think this writer took what I said and used it. Getting really good role players and tough guys (like Hansbrough would be great off the bench for the Spurs). We just need another star to go with Granger. A PF or PG.

[fienX420]

Historically, if you can get a rotation role-player at 13, that is good. I think Hansbrough will be at least that. And despite the jokes about his low ceiling - there's no basis for them. He has a plenty high ceiling. What was David Lee's ceiling, etc., etc.? Anybody can break out and become a star. And based on Hansbrough's past performance, his chances are a whole lot better than a lot of others'.

Also, props on getting a player with a real nickname... I hate the initials trend - J.O., K.G., CP3, etc. Psycho - now that's a real nickname.

My grade was based on the 2nd round pick and Bird's general drafting philosophy. Price has a lot of red flags - aneurysm, torn ACL, stolen laptops . And if your going to draft a senior, at least get one that's graduating. Come on. I think Bird is starting a trend of just going with a 4 year guy from a big program. It's not a sound strategy. It doesn't show adequate ingenuity and research.

[FreeRon]

I agree with fien's first two paragraphs. Hansborough was a star in college, and even though I know exactly why everyone thinks his game won't translate, I can see him being a pretty good role player for us. Grading a draft on what a team does with the 52nd pick, however, is kind of silly to me for this reason:

2008: Darnell Jackson
2007: Taurean Green
2006: Guillermo Diaz
2005: Axel Hervelle
2004: Romain Sato
2003: Remon van de Hare
2002: Rasual Butler
2001: Andre Hutson
2000: Ernest Brown
1999: Roberto Bergerson

Those are the last 10 #52 picks. Out of all of those, Rasual Butler is the only one that made a reasonable contribution to his team. Last year was the only year he's come close to being a regular starter. I'm not saying the pick is useless and it should be forfeited, just that you are very unlikely to come away with a contributor that low so you really shouldn't be judged for picking someone who will give little to nothing to your team.

[Boneman2]

^^ Agreed about late second round picks... Formality really. Damon Bailey anyone.

Hansbrough had been growing on me leading up to the draft. I coveted Flynn or Jennings, not Jrue so much. When they were gone it really didn't matter to me, but I do think Larry took BPA. Maybe Tyler doesn't have freakish athleticism, but he makes up for it in a lot of other areas. Everyone is scared of the next "great white failure", but thats not always the case. Tyler has a real good chance to be the exception.

I'll give Larry a B.

[Miller4ever]

Anybody expecting a star at #13?

Interesting that there are a few Pacers on this list (Dale Davis, Jalen Rose...Marcus Haislip).

Now, there have been a few stars here, but look at the recent trend. AFROTOP, Julian Wright, Thabo Sefalosha, Sean May, Sebastian Telfair. Sure we may have gotten a better potential player in the draft, but I do think that we have a player better than Sean May and Sebastian Telfair. I was upset by the pick, but shot trajectory can be taught; obnoxious hustle can't. I'm going to give Bird a "B" here, because he did better than other GM's with the #13 pick, especially in a weak draft.

Plus, our PF rotation now has T-Murda, and Psycho T. Anybody else as psyched as I am about this?

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

If we had lost that meaningless last game of the season against the Bucks does that mean we could have had the 10th pick and Brandon Jennings?

I remember a similar situation happening two drafts ago with Chicago and Derrick Rose.

Man, we're really shooting ourselves in the foot.

[8305]

At this point the only thing you can grade the draft on is its entertainment value. Last year would be an A. Two first round picks and a trade down. Lots to talk about and it held your attention. This year with one first rounder and number 52 not near as exciting so it gets a C.

I'm warming to the Hansbrough pick. I think he will be a player in the league and I'm also optomistic Tyler will improve more than most people think. Whatever you take at 52 your happy if he is good enough to make the team.

[rhcpjf4]

I dont really care about Hansbrough, he is an upgrade over Foster, McRoberts, Rasho and Baston. We should just keep him, Murphy, and Hibbert and get rid of the rest for some athletic bigs. AJ is a good pick, just bc he committed a big mistake at age 18 doesnt mean he hasnt grown up. Look past that, he is 22 now and is pretty damn good. I am surprised he went so low.

[cdash]

I dont really care about Hansbrough, he is an upgrade over Foster, McRoberts, Rasho and Baston. We should just keep him, Murphy, and Hibbert and get rid of the rest for some athletic bigs. AJ is a good pick, just bc he committed a big mistake at age 18 doesnt mean he hasnt grown up. Look past that, he is 22 now and is pretty damn good. I am surprised he went so low.

He's not an upgrade over Foster. Not yet.

The problem with Price isn't his mistake at 18. It's the fact that he isn't very good.

[rhcpjf4]

Idk, he is already better offensivley than Foster and is a big time hustler. They're close.

But AJ is good, the things he did this year, not completely healed, is remarkable. You don't just put a team on your back and make the final four and not be any good. He played like an NBA point guard this year, just wait.

[cdash]

They aren't close, not yet. Hansbrough hasn't shown he can do it in the NBA yet. You can say that about any rookie, but I still think Foster is a better player. I think Hansbrough has a pretty solid chance to be better in the not-so-distant-future, but for now, Foster is better.

I'm not buying AJ Price doing anything remarkable. Sorry. I watched a lot of UConn games, and he never really struck me as the type of guy that would be anything in the NBA.