Waiters has draft promise, cancels workouts| BC talks pg 15

[Bringbackoakley]

Like others have said it seems strange that it would be PHX because he could possibly go higher in the draft.

The only reason I can see it being them is maybe he is getting a guarantee on playing time?

They have a bunch of swingmen/PGs coming off the books this year:
Grant Hill
Michael Redd
Shannon Brown
Steve Nash
Ronnie Price
Sebastian Telfair (not guaranteed contract)


Not sure if Waiters can play any point at all (don't follow college ball) but there will be a lot of minutes up for grabs in the PHX back-court next year.

[Ari_Emanuel]

I was thinking about this watching Rondo and even LeBron last night. Guys can train and train all they want, but you can teach size, length, etc. And just like Rondo has those long arms and big hands that allow him to do what he does, that's what you should look for to separate these players.

Rondo's made two plays in the last two games alone that only someone with his freakishly big hands could make:

1) One handed, off balance put back off of the glass.

2) One handed touches pass in mid air to an open spot up shooter with near pin point accuracy.

[Dr Positivity]

It being Phoenix would be weird because wouldn't Waiters want to work out to see if he could go higher than 13?

[IMAN5]

Barnes will be going to the Cavs.

[OhMyBosh]

His shooting mechanics are very inconsistent. Watch any mix of his games and each shot is a different form. Good thing they go in for him.

[bwgood77]

If Phoenix has promised Waiters, then who has promised Rivers?

One NBA assistant coach said he was surprised Austin Rivers didn’t work out at the NBA's predraft combine here Thursday. The East scout expects Rivers to be selected in the Nos. 10-20 range, but an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that Rivers has a promise late in the draft lottery.



http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--celti ... ocess.html

[JamesNaismith]

If Phoenix has promised Waiters, then who has promised Rivers?

One NBA assistant coach said he was surprised Austin Rivers didn’t work out at the NBA's predraft combine here Thursday. The East scout expects Rivers to be selected in the Nos. 10-20 range, but an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that Rivers has a promise late in the draft lottery.



http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--celti ... ocess.html

I've been saying before the NCAA season ended that Rivers is most likely to end up in PHX...I just can't see him going by them. They're losing Nash and need at least a faux franchise player to sell tickets and get media attention.

As for Waiters, I keep saying it but I think he's been promised by POR with their second.

[BirdmanPresents]

If Phoenix has promised Waiters, then who has promised Rivers?

One NBA assistant coach said he was surprised Austin Rivers didn’t work out at the NBA's predraft combine here Thursday. The East scout expects Rivers to be selected in the Nos. 10-20 range, but an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports that Rivers has a promise late in the draft lottery.



http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--celti ... ocess.html

I've been saying before the NCAA season ended that Rivers is most likely to end up in PHX...I just can't see him going by them. They're losing Nash and need at least a faux franchise player to sell tickets and get media attention.

As for Waiters, I keep saying it but I think he's been promised by POR with their second.

That was my hunch too, no way Rivers drops past Phoenix, I think they'd prefer him to Waiters. Heck I would to be honest. This whole promise thing sounds stupid, it's business, if it's not in paper it means nothing. Anything can happen, you don't get a promie till you put that teams hat on. Wish they would just worry about being the best player they can in the workouts.

[Crazy-Canuck]

BC is correct in saying that Toronto hasnt given a promise; Philly has.

[Edumacated]

BC is correct in saying that Toronto hasnt given a promise; Philly has.

I'm leaning towards this too. If the player BC wants is not available at 8, a trade with Philly will go through and Philly will use our 8th pick on Waiters. If there isn't a trade, Philly will take Waiters at 15 which explains him pulling out of workouts and interviews so teams ahead of Philly will be less likely to pick him. Waiters motivation to go along with this may be his desire to play for his hometown team making him willing to take the risk.

[princeofpalace]

BC is correct in saying that Toronto hasnt given a promise; Philly has.

I'm leaning towards this too. If the player BC wants is not available at 8, a trade with Philly will go through and Philly will use our 8th pick on Waiters. If there isn't a trade, Philly will take Waiters at 15 which explains him pulling out of workouts and interviews so teams ahead of Philly will be less likely to pick him. Waiters motivation to go along with this may be his desire to play for his hometown team making him willing to take the risk.

Phili has Evan Turner, Lou Williams and Jodi Meeks at SG. Waiters is the last thing that they need. If they trade Igoudala then they may be in the market for another SF but will more than likely look for a bigman. Waiters to the 6ers just dont make much sense.

[carl_english]

The fact that you call Waiters dumb for entering such an agreement is laughable given that you don't even realize what is going on.

If he did enter into an agreement and actually cancelled all his draft workouts and interviews I would agree that it is a dumb move. There is the possibility (mentioned above) that circumstances change and the team that gave him the promise ends up drafting somebody else and then guess what happens? No one has seen your workouts, no one has seen your interviews, and all other teams know about you is someone promised to select you and for whatever reason they didn't which will raise additional questions. That could mean a serious slide for Waiters.

On the flip side though if there is a promise and that team ends up drafting him then he wins. I guess it depends on what team it is and what kind of agreement they have...is it possible to get something like that in writing this far from the draft?

I don't think Kobe's agent messes around...

[OAKLEY_2]

Phili has Evan Turner, Lou Williams and Jodi Meeks at SG. Waiters is the last thing that they need. If they trade Igoudala then they may be in the market for another SF but will more than likely look for a bigman. Waiters to the 6ers just dont make much sense.

Besides Williams being as good as gone Waiters is a swing guard. Waiters projects to eclipse Meeks easily and Iggy could also be on the move.

[deeps6x]

I always lol @ people who think we have the assets to get anything worthwhile back. No one wants any of the crappy players on this roster. The only one with some intrigue to teams is Jonas. DeRozan sucks and is coming off a year where he was expected to improve but didn't. He has nothing to contribute to a good team right now, he has a one dimensional game (scoring) and he can't even do that well (very very inefficient). Bargnani is a laughing stock in the league, only a team with a dominant C like Orlando would even consider trading for him. Ed Davis is trying to prove himself he can be a rotation player in this league on a good team. These are very mediocre players. Packaging them together is like piling crap upon crap and hoping to get something good in return.

Get real. If I was a fan of any other team, I wouldn't want to touch anyone on this roster with a 10 foot pole.

He would also be a great fit in Sacramento. But would they rather have T-Robb, Drummond, or even Sullinger instead of Bargs?

I still say a Bargs for #5 trade could happen. Expand it to include Evans for DD

[hankscorpioLA]

I still say a Bargs for #5 trade could happen.

Bargnani isn't going anywhere.

That is as much of a sure thing as anything in sports.

[deeps6x]

Colangelo said were looking at the possibility of a SF slipping (Barnes) a PG (Lillard) a couple of
SGs (Ross, Lamb) and a couple of PFs (Sullinger, Jones) and will take a BPA.

Chad Ford seems skeptical of Colangelo dismissing Waiters promise. Said he was in the
gym with Colangelo and Stefanski at Waiters workout last week seems to hint at knowing
something.

As in my comment above about BC trying too hard to debunk this all, he's left himself open to anything.

1. We're not shopping the pick but not averse to a trade either.
2. We've made no promise to Waiters, but we could draft him anyway.

He has closed down absolutely nothing, and I think Ford is right to be a wee bit skeptical. The Raptors have met with Dion, seen him work out - as they have with others.

Still, if Lillard is on the board when we pick, I'd be disappointed if we didn't take him. His combination of grit, athleticism and talent is unlike anybody we have on our roster.

With Calderon still under contract, the hinting of Bayless coming back, talk of Nash
signing and Dragic, Lowry and Lins names being kicked around I can't see the Raps
going PG unless they were absolutely blown away that Lillard was the BPA and I don't
think Lillard has separated himself enough from the group at 8.

What hinting of Bayless coming back? Did I miss something? I hope he does. Then we have our 'Lillard equivalent' and can still use the #8 on some other position.

[Parataxis]

Like others have said it seems strange that it would be PHX because he could possibly go higher in the draft.

He can still go higher. Nothing is stopping a team in slots 1-12 from drafting him before PHX does. Plus, withdrawing from the combine now has all the talk of him being a surefire lotto-pick. He wasn't two weeks ago.

[S.W.A.N]

Like others have said it seems strange that it would be PHX because he could possibly go higher in the draft.

He can still go higher. Nothing is stopping a team in slots 1-12 from drafting him before PHX does. Plus, withdrawing from the combine now has all the talk of him being a surefire lotto-pick. He wasn't two weeks ago.

I think it is Suns as well. And really its a good move by his agent. Waiters now has a floor that is above the range he was being projected before. At the very worse he is lottery pick on a rebuilding team that can give him quality minutes.

[Sherlock]

Beal is a beast, his build is exactly like a Dwayne Wade.

http://p.twimg.com/Au3yA49CIAIAxgb.jpg:large

Beal's measurements. I guess I overlooked this. Look's like his size won't be an issue at all. Also, contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get "more explosive" with age/body development and training. His body is still maturing and he could stand to lose some body fat.

Pleeeease God let Beal drop to us.

Holy crap. He is a freaking beast!

6' 3.25", 201.8 lbs, 6.0% body fat

That is very D-Wade like.

Just to put it in perspective, Anthony Davis is a full 6 inches taller, but only has 20 lbs on Beal and despite that, still has a higher body fat percentage (7.9% for Davis vs. 6.0% for Beal).

I wonder if DD + the 8th would be enough to move up to the 3rd or 4th pick to take Beal. The benefit of trading DD being that you don't have to be the one to extend him and give him the big contract he almost certainly won't be able to live up to.

[Marlo Stanfield]

^Waiters is 6'4", 220 with 8% body fat, which is surprising considering Beal is a brick house and Waiters is actually 20 pounds heavier and still trim.