Marlo Stanfield wrote:FluLikeSymptoms wrote:Marlo Stanfield wrote:HOLY F**K! We were talking about Beal and I completely forgot about him. I was like, why does it seem like there are less guys than usual...
1) Davis
2) T-Rob, or Drummond if MJ picks
3) MKG
4) Barnes
5) Beal
6) Drummond
7) PJIII
8) Waiters or Lamb
No Lillard? WTF! J/k, this draft is tough to call.
Number #2 is really the key to everything for me, because I still say there is no chance Charlotte takes any of MKG, Drummond or T-Rob. Either they trade it or reach for a shooter/scorer IMO.
You think Charlotte will take Beal or someone else? Anything is possible with MJ. I think Portland is another spot to watch for. If they take Lillard that allows another one of those big time guys to drop, then if GState goes with PJIII like I think they will yet another guy drops.
2) I think that MJ might reluctantly take Beal, yes. Bismack is their best young player and I'm not sure he's even got thumbs. They need a skill player up front, not Drummond, who is not worth the risk to them, or T-Rob who would also leave them short. Even Mullens is a better fit. If anybody sees through the MKG-Pippen comp, it's MJ. He's going to be a nice complimentary player, a transition player and defender, but there's no reason to think you couldn't pass on him for Beal if you need scoring and your franchise is on the ropes.
I doubt that MJ wants to trade right out, he's got youth but it's bench youth other than Biz. Pick swaps are tough and I don't think #2 is going to get them the scoring talent they need via trade, and if they really liked somebody up top we would know about it. They haven't even bothered to "love" somebody there as a smokescreen.
3) Washington is interesting. They might skip the bigs, too. Booker is awesome, I like him better than T-Rob, Vesely is a PF, Seraphim came on last year. They've got Nene and also that idiot Blatche, who, along with memories of McGee, might scare them off the Drummond's uncertainty though at least he's a cool guy. Maybe they go with MKG because he can keep up with Wall but again, nobody on that team can shoot and defense doesn't look to be a long-term problem. Beal and Barnes are better fits here, too.
4) Cleveland is a tough one, particularly if Beal and Barnes are gone as in the picture I've painted (by numbers). They don't need T-Rob, either, but I don't think they could pass on MKG or Drummond here. They were rumored, pre-combine, to like Lamb better than Barnes or Beal and were prepared to trade down for him with Portland, but who knows. I would say Drummond in this scenario. They passed on the higher upside last year and surely regret it. Also, Alonzo Gee is a good young player who can do a lot at 2/3 including shoot from range and defend.
5) Sacramento must be looking for a stretch big with some athleticism probably to guard 4s and help. But they'd have to take MKG if he were on the board, here. Henson really improved his range this past year, though, and I would not be surprised to see him end up shooting 3s in the NBA. Could be a great match with Cousins. PJ3 could also be in the mix.
6) Portland is another team who doesn't need T-Rob. Lillard is a reasonable pick here if they don't move up for Drummond. But they may like Leonard, also reasonable IMO.
7) GSW takes T-Rob.
We choose from Lamb, PJ3, Marshall or Harkless. I think Waiters and Rivers are bench scorers with low defensive ceilings.
So, for me, in a draft unfortunately based on need, for lack of special, trade-the-incumbent players:
2) Beal
3) Barnes
4) Drummond
5) MKG
6) Lillard
7) T-Rob
8) Lambo
