1st rd pick general discussion #2 overall (Poll Added)

[James Gatz]

BUT...if we were to trade #2 and Tyrus to Portland for the #6 and one of their 2nd rounders, that frees up even more cap space to go after free agents or restricted FA's. No one expects the Cats to go on a spending spree, but Cho did say they will utilize every method to improve. Buying the right young players is certainly a good way to get better quicker. Frankly I think that deal is excellent.

A better deal? Send them Tyrus and DJA for 6 & 11 and a 2nd.

You can't do S/T on draft night. So that deal couldn't work. Not saying I wouldn't take given the offer.

[fatlever]

Is it wrong for me to want us to sign OJ Mayo? Haha

Only if you want to give him Joe Johnson money.

No thanks but I still think he can improve

he definitely needs a change of scenery. i wonder what type of contract he will get? no way he gets more than afflalo, right?

[fatlever]

random draft talk BS. heard dick vitale on the radio yesterday. he said Thor should be the #2 pick. also liked beal and MKG. said drummond "scares" him.

[fatlever]

Here is one trade idea being floated between Portland fans. #2 and Tyrus Thomas (unloading a horrible contract saving $26+ million) traded for starting SG Wesley Mathews and #11. There is a good chance one or more of these bigs will be available @ #11: Zeller, Leonard, Sullinger, Henson, and Moultrie.

You improve at SG, pick up big, and dump a bad contract for #2.

dumping tyrus is not worth the #2 pick.

[dmutombo321]

I'd be disappointed going back 4 spots just to offload a contract, but I wouldn't be surprised if the FO did it.

Seconded. I dont like moving back all the way to 6 just to dump Tyrus, however I could tolerate #4. Apparently Toronto has strong feelings for Barnes and Beal. They're sitting at 8.

If we were going to attempt to dump Tyrus' contract to move down, I would prefer we attempt to do so with Cleveland at 4 as previously rumored (since cleveland will need to add salary to make min payroll)

This only becomes feasible if Cleveland falls in love with Beal, Drummond or MKG and believe they will be gone by 4 or if Barnes, who they already like, improves his stock in workouts and is expected to be gone before 4.

If so, and we could offload Tyrus and move down to 4 and 24, I'd be game. Doing so with Portland at 6 isnt quite as appealing since at 4 we would still be guaranteed one of Robinson, Beal, MKG, Barnes.

Assuming Barnes or someone else Toronto covets is still on the board at 4, flip that pick to them for James Johnson and their #8 and Diops final 7 mil.

Then take the BPA at 8, 24, 31. At 8, guys like Sullinger, Lamb, Leonard, Lilliard should all be there. And its possible someone like Drummond could even slip. Target Royce white at 24 or package the 31 with the 24 to move into the teens if White's stock improves.

Use some of the $ cleared from moving Tyrus and Diop to pitch a $5-$6 mil offer to Dragic. Extended a $2-$3 mil per year offer to Terrence Williams.

S/T DJ to salvage any value we can, even if for a future late first. consider signing a vet like Jamison for mentoring purposes if he will consent to a cheap deal.

Dragic / Kemba /Twill
Hendo / Twill / Reggie
James Johnson / Royce White / Twill
Biz / Jamison / White
Leonard / Mullens (or vice versa if Mullens adds strength this summer)

Next summer, re-sign Johnson, add another lotto pick and throw Big $ at Harden to upgrade the 2 spot. Then they're a 45-50 min team with the potential to advance a round or two and then make a big jump after they gel the following year.

[dmutombo321]

Here is one trade idea being floated between Portland fans. #2 and Tyrus Thomas (unloading a horrible contract saving $26+ million) traded for starting SG Wesley Mathews and #11. There is a good chance one or more of these bigs will be available @ #11: Zeller, Leonard, Sullinger, Henson, and Moultrie.

You improve at SG, pick up big, and dump a bad contract for #2.

dumping tyrus is not worth the #2 pick.

I would have considered the Portland deal had Matthews not regressed and been so injury plagued last year.

[Kembastockton]

random draft talk BS. heard dick vitale on the radio yesterday. he said Thor should be the #2 pick. also liked beal and MKG. said drummond "scares" him.

There you have it! Is there anyone here arrogant enough to challenge the basketball mind of Dick Vitale?

[captaincrunk]

I think I'd buy season tickets all the way out here in Indiana if they drafted Drummond and White somehow.

[Rich4114]

random draft talk BS. heard dick vitale on the radio yesterday. he said Thor should be the #2 pick. also liked beal and MKG. said drummond "scares" him.

There you have it! Is there anyone here arrogant enough to challenge the basketball mind of Dick Vitale?

Vitale always goes for the big college names. Just look at what he's said historically. He loved our 2005 draft because of Felton and May winning the NCAA Title. I take what he says with a grain of salt in terms of talent to NBA.

[fatlever]

chad ford draft chat just started.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/44193

first question answered was about our pick

Chris (Palo Alto)


I would think Beal should be lock at No. 2 because the Bobcats need guys who are guaranteed scorers. Why even consider MKG or Robinson...are their upsides that much better than Beal's?
Chad Ford
(1:03 PM)


I think the Bobcats are happier with Gerald Henderson than they are most of the other players on their roster. I think they feel they need a bigger upgrade at the 3 or the 4. I still believe the Bobcats most likely trade this pick for either 2 draft picks or a player and a pick. They need to get multiple players out of this and aren't in love with anyone at No. 2.

its what i have been saying all along about beal, that i think we are content with hendo and will look to address other areas first. everyone still talking trade. i think we are in for some surprises on draft night.

[fatlever]

CW (Pittsburgh)
How much do you weigh Harrison Barnes' measurables versus his inability to do anything against Ohio or Kansas without Kendall Marshall?
Chad Ford
(1:06 PM)


It's just a piece of information. Barnes did struggle to create his own shot all year. He looked a step slow and clearly needs to tighten up his handle. He has lost some weight which I think has helped his explosiveness. How NBA teams use this information in conjunction with everything else will be interesting. I wonder if this will tip the scales for the Cavs at No. 4. I'm also hearing rumblings that Barnes may be in the mix with the Bobcats at No. 2.

[-Ian-]

Sam Amick's NBA Mock Draft 2.0

#2 Thomas Robinson

I reserve the right to flip-flop on this pick all the way to the end, mainly because the Bobcats themselves will likely be doing the same thing. So it is, then, that Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist loses his Mock 1.0 spot here to the feisty and ferocious Robinson. Beyond the notion that Charlotte might trade its pick, the buzz about the Bobcats is that, despite general manager Rich Cho's considerable influence, it still comes down to which player Michael Jordan falls in love during this process. And while Kidd-Gilchrist is best known for his motor (something Jordan would surely love), the truth is Robinson has quite a motor himself while looking more like a franchise centerpiece-type player. They couldn't be any more different when it comes to bravado, either. Robinson let it be known at the combine that he thinks he should be the No. 1 pick. Kidd-Gilchrist took the aw-shucks approach while saying he simply hopes he gets picked.

God, please help this franchise!

[freakon0mics]

Yeah, I was reading the mock draft assessment but the sentence you have in bold scared me too.

[vexco]

he definitely needs a change of scenery. i wonder what type of contract he will get? no way he gets more than afflalo, right?

I'd be all for him for Afflalo money, though haha

[fatlever]

Hugh (Philly)
The buzz around Philly is that the Sixers want to add a post presence and a shooter, and will use Iguodala as a trade chip and amnesty Brand to get those two things. Do you see the sixers using #15 and Iggy to move up, or will they stay at 15 and take the BPA?
Chad Ford
(1:40 PM)


Both very possible. Iggy has been on the block the past 2 summers and hearing it again. Might be an option for a team like the Bobcats or even the Wizards ... think both teams could use multiple assets. At No. 2 -- would be interesting to see what Sixers do. Could see Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal or Andre Drummond there.

NO!

[fatlever]

Patrick (MinneSNOWta)
Any chance someone with the TWolves is smart enough to build a package around Derrick Williams to move up and grab Bradley Beal? Or are the Wolves just better hoping a guy like Ross falls to them to be a sniper alongside Rubio and Love?
Chad Ford
(1:44 PM)


I think they have to do something and I think packaging Williams to move up to No. 2 would be a pretty good move. I agree Bradley Beal would be a great get for them.

[captaincrunk]

The Wolves would be better off using Williams to get picks to trade to us with their 18 (or whatever pick they have). If they got like #5 for Williams I'd rather have that.

[captaincrunk]

Tye (Forshee)

As a GM do you draft for need or best player available?
Chad Ford (1:13 PM)

Both. You always draft best player ... but most teams draft in tiers. I'll write an article about this next week ... but for example. Anthony Davis is in Tier 1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Thomas Robinson, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes all in Tier 2. Within your tier, you draft for need. But you'd never reach outside your tier to get, for example, a Tier 3 point guard or center.

Interesting that he puts Barnes into tier 2.

[fatlever]

Tye (Forshee)

As a GM do you draft for need or best player available?
Chad Ford (1:13 PM)

Both. You always draft best player ... but most teams draft in tiers. I'll write an article about this next week ... but for example. Anthony Davis is in Tier 1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Thomas Robinson, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes all in Tier 2. Within your tier, you draft for need. But you'd never reach outside your tier to get, for example, a Tier 3 point guard or center.

Interesting that he puts Barnes into tier 2.

i almost posted this one. was going to mention this as why i don't think we will target beal, unless he separates himself from the others into a tier of his own.

[Stun704]

Tye (Forshee)

As a GM do you draft for need or best player available?
Chad Ford (1:13 PM)

Both. You always draft best player ... but most teams draft in tiers. I'll write an article about this next week ... but for example. Anthony Davis is in Tier 1. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Thomas Robinson, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes all in Tier 2. Within your tier, you draft for need. But you'd never reach outside your tier to get, for example, a Tier 3 point guard or center.

Interesting that he puts Barnes into tier 2.

i almost posted this one. was going to mention this as why i don't think we will target beal, unless he separates himself from the others into a tier of his own.

As i've said before Barnes should be on the same level as the other touted prospects we have, the only reason we're thinking its blasphemy to take him at 2 is because he plays for UNC.