verbal8 wrote:pancakes3 wrote:CCJ, i agree.
if we can flip Wall for turner + lopez, i'd do it readily
That is the only trade down option I can see as being realistic and attractive. However I think that is more an "instant rebuild" move than what Leonsis seems to be thinking.
All the little leaks and drips of info I've uncovered the last few days seem to suggest that we are absolutely staying at #1. That we are very interested in acquiring another lottery pick, and that Leonsis has given the green light to buying however many draft picks Grunfeld would like to buy. Leonsis appears ready and willing to pay whatever freight necessary to load up a team w/few contracts and prospects (at least as of monday) with as much young talent as possible and will pay whatever it takes. Very exciting, I'd love to see us draft Wall, trade back into the lottery, use our #30 and #35 overall, and acquire another 2-3 picks. Crazy to realize that Rajon Rondo of all people, was freaking sold, for CASH! Christ. I'd love to be on the positive end of a deal like that. Just remember that the bulk of guys drafted 30-60 are absolute crap, and that the majority of the guys taken 15-30 are irrelevant throughout their careers or at best, depth, but hell, if all it costs is money, more power to Leonsis and Grunfeld, for loading up on as many of these prospects as possible.
You've hit on a lot of guys over the years CCJ, I just happen to think that the downside of Cousins is simply too high, and it is worth noting that when you offer a contrarian take, it would be cool to more heavily address the bust factor with the kid. There is no doubting he could be a superstar, the problem, i think everyone has with him, is that he could just as easily blow himself right out of the league due to the attitude concerns. We don't know if they're overblown or not, but when there's smoke, there is usually fire, and this doesnt strike me as similar to the "Sapp's a pothead, Marino's a cokehead" rumors that caused many a moronic team (including ours in one instance) to pass on the two of them. There is plenty of evidence that Cousins is a bit of an unstable, immature guy. Will he grow wiser with age, turning that mean, cranky streak into a positive thing? I tend to think that's unlikley. I think he can be a superstar, well, maybe not a superstar, but definitely an all star. But I think there's at least a 20-25% chance that his temperment and mentality render him a flat out bust, and a 20-25% that he's such a headcase that he ends up playing with 5-8 teams, never sticking with any for long cause none can stand him. Maybe its not fair to argue that, but the evidence suggest both of those scenario's are highly possible, if not quite probable.
Wall? We already know, at worst, he's probably gonna be a borderline all star guard. Mentality? That's one of the other good things. Whispers three years ago that he needed to grow up, that he was a bit of a show boat, me guy, not a great teammate necessary, definitely not a leader. Since then all evidence suggests that he worked on those issues and was a fantastic teammate at Kentucky, as a Freshmen with the world at his feet no less, still was a great teammate, and not a monster ego guy. So there's evidence that he addresses character concerns with genuine work and effort and humility.
Even better. He's heard the talk about his jump shot, long range shooting, and other issues. What has he been doing? Being a gym rat.
The evidence on Wall is that he already has superstar athleticism, and the instinctive talent that can't be taught. The things that can be taught? He's working on, to improve himself. The other issues he's had? Evidence suggests that instead of being arrogant, self-important and refusing to grow up, he actually worked to address those (unlike the rumors with Cousins). He has what can't be taught, he's shown he's teachable, and he's a hard worker and a team guy AND he's an alien in terms of athleticism. What's not to love.
Even better? It's becoming a point guard's league, and we now have a genuine passing, playmaking, and potentially scoring point guard in Wall at our fingertips. Lastly, we actually already have size, and athleticism at the 4 and 5 slots. We don't have a playmaking point guard (unless we were to resign Livingstone and he's always sounded lukewarm, big mistake by management in not trying to lock him up after the first 10 day contract expired). Wall makes sense, there are few knocks on him to speak of, other than shooting, which is something he's already working on, rather than being satisfied with. Cousins? There are a lot more concerns.
The weird tragedy here is if we had the 2 slot, it would be much easier. Evan Turner, period. Addresses a need, and invests into the lineup a genuine leader w/a peerless work ethic. I'd never take Cousins over Turner. NEVER.
I understand the allure of Cousins over Wall though, as both are gamble's in their own way, in a way that Turner isn't. You get a lower ceiling with Turner but far more certainty, but in the end, at 1, it's got to be Wall. I can see us kicking ourselves 2-3 years later thinking we could have gotten a truly great player, but instead got a very good one, but I'll take that risk for the boom value of Wall, over the bust possibilities of Cousins. But I respect your opinion CCJ. It's very possible Cousins blows up as big as your predicting, I just think the risk, in that risk/reward pick is far too high. I would, however, seriously offer a trade up package if we slipped past #4, and it might be possible.