if it came down to...

[Wizop]

but would they take Turner's experience over Wall's potential? might they like Patterson over Cousins? personally I don't think anyone is close to Wall but any of the top names will be a major improvement.

[8305]

One can only hope that if Larry is presented with the choice of Wall vs Turner, Favors or Cousins vs Patterson or Aldrich he looks at the upside and potential factor as opposed to maturity. I would like to think that draft position has had something to do with the preference for older players the last couple of drafts. When you are drafting at spots 11 through 17 the really solid young prospects are gone and the percentage pick is the older better defined player. Shawne Williams being case and point, very talented but also high risk.

[23artest23]

I hope and pray that we do not draft Cole Aldrich (sp?). He seems a lot like a Larry guy to me.

[Grang33r]

Without a doubt, i would draft Favors from Georgia Tech. The kid is a great talent, and Chad Ford keeps saying he reminds him of Amare. GT has horrid guard play thus it has effected his stats.

As for Cousins.... well.... i forget which NBA expert said it, i wanna say it was Marc Spears of Yahoo sports who said that Cousins has top 5 pick talent but many scouts believe he will fall out of top 10 because they fear he is the "next Ron Artest". We all know what a bad apple can do for a team. Cousins is acting up now, wait til he is handed millions..... jus saying.

I like Monroe a lot, but, as someone said before me, we need a STAR next to Granger. Monroe won't be a liability and will be a very good role player i think for years to come, but he lacks the athleticism to become a star or to "take over" a game.

[8305]

Watched Baylor for the first time today and I think Epke Udoh needs to be on this list. He is a better shot blocker and all round athlete than all the guys on this list other than Favors. If the Pacers take a big guy he needs to improve the team's overall athleticism. Beyond Favors he's the only guy on the list who would do that.

He looks to me like a better fit than even Cousins for the Pacers. Better athlete and probably more capable of playing the four next to HIbbert. He's also a pretty good passer and ball handler for a big, skills that would fit what the Pacers are trying to do.

[Miller4ever]

^^I'm actually very intrigued by Udoh. The tournament gives you a glimpse of who steps up in big situations, and this guys' passing and shot-blocking really sets him apart. He's got good height (don't know about wingspan, but it doesn't look shabby) and he's got the ability to step out for jumpers. His rebounding would be great. It would be a twin towers situation with him and Hibbert, but I would like to see a depth situation where Hibbert starts next to Hansbrough, and they each get 33 minutes a game, and Udoh gets all the backup minutes with 30. That is if Hansbrough, Udoh, and to a lesser degree, Hibbert, actually pan out.

I could seriously see Udoh making an Elton Brand-like splash in NBA, or maybe even Gasol-ish.

[MUpacersSIC]

I'm starting to think Whiteside could be a good option for us as well now that we most likely are going to have the 9th or 10th pick. Why not draft a guy with huge potential since I don't see a lot more available that could help us right away. I'm really disappointed in the prospects of this draft actually.

[Gremz]

Favors for me, and it isn't even close.

[8305]

I agree that Favors is the number 1 big. But, I think a top 3 pick would be needed to get him. I see Udoh as the best of the rest and he might be attainable with the likely pick 9 or 10 the Pacers are looking at.

Way too much risk with Whiteside for my taste.

[Miller4ever]

Udoh is currently projected ~13th.

[Boneman2]

I looked at Udoh's season/career stats and the guy is a friggin' blocking/rebounding machine; capable of atleast ADavis type offense. I'd now take him over Monroe/ Patterson/ Aminu, between 7-10. He may or may not be a starter, but one thing is certain, he seems to have a lot of energetic athleticism. On display in the NCAA tourney, it is clear Udoh never got enough national recognition. The tourney always unearths gems in the rough.

[Grang33r]

I looked at Udoh's season/career stats and the guy is a friggin' blocking/rebounding machine; capable of atleast ADavis type offense. I'd now take him over Monroe/ Patterson/ Aminu, between 7-10. He may or may not be a starter, but one thing is certain, he seems to have a lot of energetic athleticism. On display in the NCAA tourney, it is clear Udoh never got enough national recognition. The tourney always unearths gems in the rough.

Not exactly a formula for success by keep drafting to add depth to the bench. If they pick top 10, they better be 100% sure this player is going to help Danny Granger win some basketball games. They've made one mistake already by separating themselves from the Wall/Turner sweepstakes, now they can't make another mistake by picking the "nice guy".

[Boneman2]

You said it yourself,

They've made one mistake already by separating themselves from the Wall/Turner sweepstakes

, and now they have seperated themselves from the Cousins/ Favors consolation. Udoh will have a Davis brother type career, with more blocks, so he is atleast worthy of consideration.

[Grang33r]

You said it yourself,

They've made one mistake already by separating themselves from the Wall/Turner sweepstakes

, and now they have seperated themselves from the Cousins/ Favors consolation. Udoh will have a Davis brother type career, with more blocks, so he is atleast worthy of consideration.

I am a Udoh fan. I like his game a lot and he has proved very well in the NCAA Tournament. However, i was responding to the comment you made that he may not become a starter. If our front office has the same feeling, they can't pick him. They need to pick a guy who they can count on to start.

I wouldn't be surprised if they draft Wes Johnson and play a very small lineup of Johnson and Granger at the forwards. They could have some crazy good scoring nights, but, would be a mismatch heaven for our opponents.