With the 3rd pick the Nets select...(poll)

[jeff1624]

I just wanted to know the general consensus of all 9 Nets fans on Realgm.

Rich/JJ feel free to lock if this is deemed unneccesary.

[vincecarter4pres]

Ah man, I'm so unsure between Favors and Cousins.
I don't know if you can go wrong with either, I think I'm going to do a sick comparison thread before the weekend and really break them both down by strengths and weaknesses.
They are honestly both elite level big men prospects though, just different types of players.

[Jersey Generals]

Look to move down/gather other assets, though I don't have a clue on who that could be. If not, then take Favors.

PS: I think there are ten of us now, so we're moving on up.

[Effigy]

I don't understand why there are more than 2 options? I'm going to vote for one of them just because.

[jeff1624]

I don't understand why there are more than 2 options? I'm going to vote for one of them just because.

Just because Favors and Cousins are the most probable choices, doesn't mean there aren't posters that would pick Johnson or Monroe.. Why limit the choices, it's not like I was charged for every option I listed.

[vincecarter4pres]

I went ahead and voted Favors.

I actually rewatched 2 GT games, a Kentucky game and a Georgetown game tonight.

I saw a lot of what would make Favors a great fit next to Brook along with a lot of what gives him so much potential and upside and I saw what would make Cousins a bad fit, but I also saw a lot I liked in general from them both, along with a lot of flaws, but these guys aren't being picked to come in and destroy the league their first year anyway.

Greg Monroe though! Whew! Dude looked fantastic. But as I watched this game, I am reminded the reason I am very skeptical on Monroe. He doesn't bring it every night. He looks flatout amazing one night, like a rich man's Pau and then the very next game he looks like a poor man's Wilcox. So friggin' inconsistent.
If he continues to improve and ever gets it together mentally though, he'll be the best big out of this draft. He does it all and his defense is really good to boot. Lateral quicks like a mug too, switching off onto guards and keeping up. The passing is just nuts and he can run the floor on the break, or lead it. He can post up. He can shoot from outside. He can face up. He operates high post, low post. It's just crazy. He does play below the rim and his suspect explosion is going to hinder him at the next level though, make no mistake about it.
He shows a lot of passion during the game though, which I like to see.

If the asset we get to move down is nice enough, I wonder if it's worth the risk? Hmm...

[Preludepunk27]

I made comments about my dislike for Favors and Cousins months ago.

But if I had to take one, I've talked myself out of Favors and talked myself into Cousins. Even though we're young, we're a half court team. Nobody can tell me otherwise. Unless we get a run-and-gun coach (none are really out there worth hiring), we're gonna be a half court team. We'll grind it out on defense, but we have the speed on the wings to take the outlet pass and fly. Cousins, with all his problems, is more ready to help out. What I just hope if we bring in a few Vets to show him the ropes and have a coach that won't let him get away with his antics.

Favors though talented, won't have a Kenyon Martin impact from the get go.

The ultimate scenario for me is that I'm seeing Patrick Patterson falling (latest mock on ESPN had him falling to like 22 or something). If we draft Cousins, we trade 27 and 31 and move up to take Patterson. He can play the 3 and 4 and is developing some pretty good consistancy that goes out to the 3pt line. Having that flexibility will add to our depth at those positions. On top of me having a man crush on the kid, I think if we draft Cousins, we may want to look into signing a teammate of his. We could keep our picks and use one on Eric Bledsoe. Yes, I kind of find it (Please Use More Appropriate Word) myself that we draft a teammate of his just so we hope it will help Cousins not turn into Zach Randolph (who I personally compare him to), but Patterson and Bledsoe actually fill needs on our team. If we like them and feel they're the best available, you get them.

I'm rambling because I haven't had my coffee. I don't want Favors or Cousins, but unless Turner falls to us, NOBODY else is worth taking at 3 or 4. I honestly don't think my mind will change on that over the next month either. As of today Cousins is my guy.

[ChampionRed]

I voted Favors. I think he's a perfect compliment next to Brook. I love Cousins talent but his motivation, work ethic, and the possibility that he will be a headcase in the pros scares me.

[SteveNets15]

I picked Cousins but if we could get some value back I'll trade the pick.Waiting on that comparison thread vc4p.

[demens]

I voted Favors but i want my vote back. Dont count it. I was confused my the options. 1 says Aminu (as a 3rd pick) another says trade down for proven player. There should have been a combination of the 2. Trade Down for Aminu.

[Preludepunk27]

Question?

Does anyone think we could do this with Utah:

AK47
Koufos
#9

For


#31
2011 1st (top 5 protected) or GSW's pick (or are both needed)

My only logic there is this:

I like Koufos better than Yi. They're both 7' with extended range, but Koufos is a harder worker in my opinion. Neither play defense though lol.

Moving AK for a flat out cap dump actually gives them enough cap room to go after a guy like Rudy Gay, which in my opinion is their biggest need position. They won't find a guy who can come in and play the 3 like Rudy can in the draft at #9. Seeing how Okur has worked out for them, I think Yi would fit their offense off the bench, we give them a 2nd round pick in this year's draft and at some point, they'd receive 1st from us. T

this gives us a better version of Yi off the bench, allows us to draft Cousins/Favors, Monroe/Patteson and Eric Bledsoe with our first round picks, and gives us a big expiring we can either (A) use at the deadline for a pissed off, but legit SF or wait for it to expire and have enough cap room to woo Melo next summer. That would give us the following line up in 2011:

Harris/Bledsoe
Twill/Lee
Melo/AK47 (resigned)
Cousins/Patterson
Lopez/Boone/Koufos

Does anyone think Utah would even bite at this or am I dreaming?

I think the structure for a deal is definitely there, I'm trying to figure out how we can give more without hurting their cap room for Gay. If we put CDR in the deal, I think they'd still have the cap room for Gay and CDR would be a solid 2nd unit SF for them. They can sign him long term on the cheap too.

[deviljets7]

^^^

No, especially with the NJ pick, that's just taking AK47 to swap the #9 pick for a top 10 pick in 2011.

[TheNetsFan]

Utah would have to include Koufos and/or #9 just to entice somebody to take AK's contract off their books. No way would they get anything of value back in return other than a huge trade exception.

Also, #31 is more valuable than #27, especially when it comes to foreign players.

[SpeedyG]

I'll give my vote closer to the draft lol. Honestly, I can see the merit in taking either one, but can also see a reason why not to.

[ecuhus1981]

vc4p, I'll be the first to give feedback on your comparison, as I've been interested in doing that as well.

All I can say is I hope I maintain my sanity for the 40 or so days before the draft. This talk of selecting Favors or (shame on you, Thorn) Aminu hurts my brain, and the rationale for it just inexcusable.

First and foremost, DERRICK FAVORS IS NOT A TRUE PF. No way, no how, not today, not next year, NEVER. He is an uptempo C a la Horford, but not as smart as a defender nor as skilled offensively. Obviously, his finishing ability is special, but he cannot operate efficiently outside of 6 feet. Either he or Brook will suffer because both of them belong in the low post.

DeMarcus could have a long and prosperous career at the pivot with his size and skill, but he IS a PF. He's a rare one, with the size/strength/length/speed/skill combination to literally overwhelm anyone at the position. To boot, he may have as much skill as a ball-handler and passer as any forward in the draft, Wes Johnson and Darington Hobson included. OMG, I'm on a time crunch, but I will continue this rant later...

[deviljets7]

vc4p, I'll be the first to give feedback on your comparison, as I've been interested in doing that as well.

All I can say is I hope I maintain my sanity for the 40 or so days before the draft. This talk of selecting Favors or (shame on you, Thorn) Aminu hurts my brain, and the rationale for it just inexcusable.

First and foremost, DERRICK FAVORS IS NOT A TRUE PF. No way, no how, not today, not next year, NEVER. He is an uptempo C a la Horford, but not as smart as a defender nor as skilled offensively. Obviously, his finishing ability is special, but he cannot operate efficiently outside of 6 feet. Either he or Brook will suffer because both of them belong in the low post.

DeMarcus could have a long and prosperous career at the pivot with his size and skill, but he IS a PF. He's a rare one, with the size/strength/length/speed/skill combination to literally overwhelm anyone at the position. To boot, he may have as much skill as a ball-handler and passer as any forward in the draft, Wes Johnson and Darington Hobson included. OMG, I'm on a time crunch, but I will continue this rant later...

Of course, most people believe Horford is a PF stuck at center due to Josh Smith.

[demens]

First and foremost, DERRICK FAVORS IS NOT A TRUE PF. No way, no how, not today, not next year, NEVER. He is an uptempo C a la Horford.

You made pretty good point overall so i'm not questioning credibility here, but those comments are pretty ridiculous.

[vincecarter4pres]

Cousins and Favors both had pretty good hidden passing ability.

[ecuhus1981]

Of course, most people believe Horford is a PF stuck at center due to Josh Smith.

That's where the "skilled offensively" part comes into play. Personally, I don't think Al is an All-Star at PF, but he certainly has the skill to play there.

Derrick doesn't have the ball-handling, passing, dribble-drive or shooting skill to operate away from the basket for extended periods of time, and that's why I feel he'll be stuck as an undersized C. His progression leads me to believe his absolute ceiling is as a shorter (in height and length) version of Dwight, who isn't an ideal type of frontcourt partner to Brook. He is a genetic lottery winner, no doubt; but he is far from a sure thing, especially with our core.

People see what they want to see in Favors. Thorn has said he's really encouraged that Derrick seemed to progress every week in college. I say he dominated undersized frontcourts in the early, middle and late parts of the season, and conspicuously disappeared against NBA prospect bigmen. Look up his box scores if you want proof. Hewitt and the rest of his teammates weren't extremely adept at feeding him, but they were at least willing to seek him out. He didn't want to be more than he was, and I think it foretells his future in the NBA, as an under-skilled, athletically gifted 4th option a la Chris Wilcox (who incidentally has always worked better as a C).

Meanwhile, DeMarcus Cousins produced more consistently efficiently, and stepped up his effort against legit bigs. He clearly could have put up even bigger numbers in a larger role on a different team; his per-40 pace-adjusted stats are simply bonkers. BUT, despite the largely legitimate character knocks on him, DeMarcus was always willing to play inside of his role at Kentucky, and more than ready to step up for his team when they needed more from him.

Bottom line, both prospects have warts. I just have more faith that DC is the right guy. IMO, he stands a better chance of keeping his weight and attitude in check, than Favors does in adding face-up skills to his game. Amar'e is the case study in a physical specimen uptempo C adding PF repertoire to his game, and I think most Nets fans agree that even he wouldn't be a very good fit next to Lopez.

All that said, taking Favors doesn't make me nearly as nauseous as the thought of picking Aminu 3rd... If Thorn has such a big mancrush on skilled 3/4's all of a sudden, why not buy Julian Wright for a TPE?

[orecchio14]

I'm not a fan of the decision to draft somebody because of a need/fit argument.

I think it is important we take the best player available, regardless of fit. Cousins is that player. Worry about whether or not he can play with Brooke later.

Favors is one of those guys scouts fall in love with because of build/athletisism. I think every college basketball fan on this board can attest to the fact that Cousins was very skilled/dominant in college last year. As for Favors? Can anyone really point out the truely impressive performance from a Georgia Tech game that made you say WOW!! THIS GUYS GONNA BE A PLAYER!!

Tell me you guys cant see this scenario now:

While Cousins is on his way to 16 and 9 and a ROY trophy, Favors (the pre-draft camp workout warrior) can't get any PT for New Jersey while we all scratch our collective heads wondering why this guy can't get on the floor.

I think Cousins is the pick here. I dont know why I get the feeling Favors has COLOSIAL BUST written all over him. Really other than his dimensions and body fat percentage, I do not see why he is even projected to go this high. He had decent rebounding numbers in college...but based on size and athletisism alone I think he shouldve been more productive.