DRAFT THREAD part II: Come Together.... Right Now....

[yehyeh82]

I'm really hoping that they can make a play for RFA WIlson Chandler. WIth Denver getting zJ Hamilton they may be more willing to make a deal. He seems like the perfect kind of player to add to this team, a proven Kawhi Leonard.

[Quackenboss]

You're of course right Quack, because they chose Klay over those guys.

But I'd like to point out that one of the best talent evaluating organization in the World (San Antonio Spurs) were willing to trade a known proven commodity for Kawhi.

I would have taken Singleton over a jump shooter based on size, athleticism, the ability to guard 3 positions. Singleton knows his bread is buttered with his D, but he also knows that to be really good he needs a 3 point shot...which he is working feverishly on.

I hope our front office is right, because i actually root for the Warriors over my own thoughts on the draft.

Yeah, that worries me too, especially considering how much Popovich loves George Hill.

[MightyReds2020]

These lotto guys going to crap teams is alot different than a guy like Leonard who gets to go play a clear cut role next to guys that know what they r doing.

+1. Leonard has a far better chance being successful on the Spurs then he would have here. I think he would not of played much here. We probably would have brought him in for key defensive possessions only. People don't understand until we can establish a defensive mindset as a team, individual defenders will not succeed here. It is yet to be seen if Mark Jackson could break the Nellie curse. At this point Klay gives us a better chance to win. Klay fits into what this team is not what it wants to be and I don't think our ownership is willing to rebuild. On the bright side, we got our third (and fourth) large guard.

I'll response to this post given that it's similar to another post where you replied to my questions.

And if you can re-read what you just post, tell me if this is exactly what you meant: We should not take a defensive-minded player until the coaching staff can implement their defensive vision to a bunch of offensive-minded players.

Now go ahead and read that again, does it make sense? Isn't acquiring defensive-minded players one of the best ways to get your message across about the focus on defense? What am I missing here? You would rather wait until we have a legitimate post defender before even trying to improve the backcourt on that end as well.

While, wake me up when that happen.

[Mylie10]

What bugged me about Riley's comments on Klay's D or lack of it was Riley trying to sell me (the fans) that even though they are constantly telling us what we want to hear...That we're gonna improve our defense...They still go out and select a true offensive player....Then he tries to tell us that Klay will be a good team defender.....What!

Why hasn't Riley and co. been pushing team defense all along if that's what he's meant by getting better defensive players....Don't tell me it's raining while i'm getting sun burnt.

Tell me what he is and why you drafted him (klay)....don't sugar coat it and tell me "we think he can be a good team defender blah blah blah".

[Onus]

You're of course right Quack, because they chose Klay over those guys.

But I'd like to point out that one of the best talent evaluating organization in the World (San Antonio Spurs) were willing to trade a known proven commodity for Kawhi.

I would have taken Singleton over a jump shooter based on size, athleticism, the ability to guard 3 positions. Singleton knows his bread is buttered with his D, but he also knows that to be really good he needs a 3 point shot...which he is working feverishly on.

I hope our front office is right, because i actually root for the Warriors over my own thoughts on the draft.

Yeah, that worries me too, especially considering how much Popovich loves George Hill.

Yea but he's never really like Tony Parker ?

[JimmyTD3]

What's with all of the Singleton hype? I think fans are clamoring for good defense so much that we really overvalue players who can play it. OK, he can D up. Great. What else can he do? Nothing. He has bad handles, a bad shot, and a bad all-around offensive game. If you think about it, there are only a handful of players (if that) in the NBA who are only around for their defense. Best best case is Mbah a Moute, but I doubt this guy does anything in the league.

As for Klay Thompson...meh. Anthony Morrow at best. aka he'll play backup SG/SF (around 20-25mpg) with no defense, and will likely get 10/3/1 type numbers with good shooting percentages. Again...Anthony Morrow at best. Yawn.

Not too hyped about this draft in general, nothing exciting. I'm waiting for FA to get rolling

[turk3d]

There's a reason that Singleton (picked 18th) and Leonard (15th) got bypassed by quite a few GMs (not just Warriors). Add to that Thompson had Logo's recommendation and I don't think you can be too upset with the pick. Look at Jimmer (all offense) and he got picked 10th (I would have been pretty upset if he fell to us and we chose him). Time to get behind this new FO and give them a chance.

I'm sure they are planning to make more moves. And as an aside, who would have more trade value, Thompsonor those other two guys mentioned if they do decide to use him in a possible trade down the road, not to mention the value he would have if we did eventually trade Monta or Curry? Very solid move all around. And some in this discussion seem to be ignoring the fact that we nabbed Jenkins who most like is a better defender than all 3 of them (Curry, Klay and perhaps even Monta).

So not only did we improve our defense more than likely with the acquisition of Jenkins but we may have even improved our offense as well in addition to strengthening our bench. Both Thompson and Jenkins seem as though they may be players who can have an immediate impact for us. Not sure if we could have gotten that from either Leonard or even Singleton (who I really liked). And as pointed out, I think going to the Spurs was an ideal spot for him and he may do quite will over there but unlikely would have done as well with us.

[Mylie10]

I'm not rooting against any of our picks....I'm hoping they all do well.

I'm just stating my opinion on the draft....as well as what's wrong with the Warriors.

[KevinMcreynolds]

I don't understand why you guys are saying he can't create his own shot...you know...since he can.

Well he was a 6'7" guard in the NCAA. He could create his own shot because at that size in the NCAA he can shoot over the top of pretty much anyone guarding him. The bar is going to get raised at the NBA level and he will have to be able to make a few things happen putting the ball on the floor to create NBA space for that jumper.

But I also have nothing against a great catch and shoot player. I think that skill is vastly undervalued by NBA fans. Hitting shots that teamwork and the system create for you is a pretty vital component to encouraging good team play and sharing the ball. No one will keep passing to guys who don't make shots.

I just hope he can play some D.

All I see in his highlights is him getting into the lane and using his body well. Quick first step too. Goes both left and right too. Plus he has a neck unlike Reggie

[Twinkie defense]

Twink,
Klay was as much a reach as those 2 were....Are you Larry Riley? Because it would make sense based on some of your posting.

Since I last checked defense was the OTHER part of what counts in the NBA, and both of those guys are probably better offensive players, then Klay is defensively.

They are both bigger, stronger, rebound the ball better, to go along with their defensive prowess. Both will be working on their offense and may carve out a nice niche there, but Klay may or may not ever be a defender, because they (defenders) tend to be born (mindset) versus taught.

I'd much rather have strengthened our toughness, rebounding, and defense with either of those two versus adding another spot up shooter to go with our vast array of spot up shooters.

Well the great thing is we'll have plenty of opportunity to measure Klay against Kawi, Singleton, and others... I will point out though that when we drafted Curry there was a lot of the same sort of comment - there's not many guys we would go back and pick over Steph though.

I don't think Klay a one-skill guy, and if you pick a one-skill guy like Singleton at that spot he really has to be dominant in that skill, not just solid.

[bay2hk]

The spurs were targeting Thompson. they only got Leonard because pacers needed a shooter but Thompson was off the board. spurs also tried to move up last year's draft to pick udoh

[Twinkie defense]

A lot of other teams passed on Singleton too, so it's not just the Warriors FO who thought he was a reach at #11. And I wouldn't put to much stock in what San Antonio did - they seemed to be looking for whoever the best guy they could get for George Hill, who was obviously on the block... maybe they would have been even more eager to make that trade for Klay Thompson, if they could have.

Honestly now that I know it's Jerry West, Larry Riley, and Bob Myers making our picks instead of Chris Mullin, I don't feel any need to second-guess their choices.

[FNQ]

Twink,
Klay was as much a reach as those 2 were....Are you Larry Riley? Because it would make sense based on some of your posting.

Since I last checked defense was the OTHER part of what counts in the NBA, and both of those guys are probably better offensive players, then Klay is defensively.

Based on what I've seen - which is very limited - I disagree.

I dont think Leonard is all that hot sh*t, and I had seen him play. Was very, very surprised to hear he was desired... Singleton? A very versatile, angry defender.. but a good friend of mine who's basketball evals I trust a lot says he's exactly like DeShawn Stevenson.

I'm OK with the pick. Very unsexy but seems like a role player, and gives us flexibility to deal Monta for something other than a guard. Almost forces it, with the Jenkins pick immediately after.

[and1GS]

Kawhi will either be a bust or a big hit. Klay will either be a decent role player or a big hit. That's how I see it.

And ya I was never that impressed with kawhi in college either, he benefited from his entire team being red hot all year.

[and1GS]

Oh and drafting Klay, imo, does NOT mean Monta is on his way out. Klay is not a starter right now. He's a less talented yet bigger Steph Curry. We still need Monta, Klay's a solid 6/7th man for now though.

[Twinkie defense]

And that's not a bad thing to come away with at #11 in this draft...

[turk3d]

Not bad at all. I expect less controversy on this years picks than last years (Monroe vs Udoh was very close). I don't see it this time around, particularly if you count the Jennings and Tyler acquisitions. I think you have to give the FO at least a B overall on this years pick even if you disagree with the Klay pick. They even got their man (if you go by what they were saying before the draft) to their credit.

[The Hack]

Oh and drafting Klay, imo, does NOT mean Monta is on his way out. Klay is not a starter right now. He's a less talented yet bigger Steph Curry. We still need Monta, Klay's a solid 6/7th man for now though.

Thank you...no way do they make him the staring SG, that would be really stupid. Use him off the bench and see what he could be, then decide about Monta...if you really want to deal him

[cellomac1212]

Oh and drafting Klay, imo, does NOT mean Monta is on his way out. Klay is not a starter right now. He's a less talented yet bigger Steph Curry. We still need Monta, Klay's a solid 6/7th man for now though.

Thank you...no way do they make him the staring SG, that would be really stupid. Use him off the bench and see what he could be, then decide about Monta...if you really want to deal him

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

We got size and depth at the strength of our team making it even stronger. Can't be mad at that. This team needs depth in all positions, I have strong faith they will continue on this path as soon as the CBA is complete. We needed Klay (or somone similar). He can spell both Monta and Wright minutes (our two biggest minute guys). If we get our starting center and continue to add depth in the frontcourt, this team will be more than fine. There's still 4 months of off season moves to be made (if CBA is settled on time). One things certain, we have been in the news more than almost any other team so far, this is because they are working every day. Give them time to complete the job before you crap all over it.

[watch1958]

Their style will still include lots of the Curry/Ellis combo. Thmpson lets them change that up, giving them size, and is a decent enough passer to keep the ball moving. If they do well playing small, Jenkins can backup either Curry or Ellis without having to give up that style. Plus, Jenkins isn't any taller, but looks a good deal stronger than Curry or Ellis, so he should be able to at least play short stretches backing up Monta at SG.

Plus Thompson should be able to give some minutes at SF as well.

So if they both turn out to have NBA talent, Ws could have 1/2/3 filled & depth.

Does that slove the "big" problem? Nope. But knowing that you have solid guys at 3 positions for 48 minutes a game isn't bad. Been awhile since they could say that.