Official Speculation Thread (Pt. LV - NBA Draft Edition)

[dsg2021]

Pertaining to the Magic and other teams having so many prospects with a top 5 look, I bet it's because there really is some uniqueness to every team's draft board and how some of these prospects are viewed by them now and for the future.

I'm watching one game near-ish the NCAA midseason point (Baylor- KU), and I believe it was Fraschilla as a commentator who said that one NBA GM told him McLemore is a potential top pick and that there is, at this midpoint-ish, still eight players as prospects for the #1 pick.

[Rick Rolled]

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider 12m

Source tells me Magic considering moving down in draft and have "quite a few" suitors interested in trading for No. 2 pick.

[orlando1214]

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider 12m

Source tells me Magic considering moving down in draft and have "quite a few" suitors interested in trading for No. 2 pick.

While I really want McLemore or Oladipo, the most important thing is to get the best value we can out of the pick and trading down might be the way to do that depending on the deal. I just wish we knew some of the teams that are interested. I have a feeling this draft night is going to be an eventful one for us though, and that makes me very excited. I can't wait to see what Hennigan and his crew do.

[dsg2021]

I can't stomach this if we trade down and come away watching one of Oladipo, Noel, McLemore, Porter and Burke start crushing it. Total failure because they were all there for the taking through whatever what-if scenarios.

We need a strong starting 5, not a strong 10 man team. Oladipo will be two notches better than any other guard in the draft with defense and motor. McLemore will be faster and more accurate than any other guard in the draft. Don't need to get too clever all the time, the reasons Schmitz thinks is so we can save more cap space or move a Magic contract, wow, that's terrible reasoning unless you got LeBron and Wade coming over soon.

[Nyce_1]

I can't stomach this if we trade down and come away watching one of Oladipo, McLemore, Porter and Burke start crushing it. Total failure because they were all there for the taking probably.

We need a strong starting 5, not a strong 10 man team. Oladipo will be two notches better than any other guard in the draft with defense and motor. McLemore will be faster and more accurate than any other guard in the draft. Don't need to get too clever all the time, the reasons Schmitz thinks is so we can save more cap space or move a Magic contract, wow, that's terrible reasoning unless you got LeBron and Wade coming over soon.

And what if all those guys amount to nothing? Relax and see how it plays out. Henny & Co will evaluate all scenarios and do what's best for the organization. You talk like it's still Otis running the show.

[dsg2021]

I can't stomach this if we trade down and come away watching one of Oladipo, McLemore, Porter and Burke start crushing it. Total failure because they were all there for the taking probably.

We need a strong starting 5, not a strong 10 man team. Oladipo will be two notches better than any other guard in the draft with defense and motor. McLemore will be faster and more accurate than any other guard in the draft. Don't need to get too clever all the time, the reasons Schmitz thinks is so we can save more cap space or move a Magic contract, wow, that's terrible reasoning unless you got LeBron and Wade coming over soon.

And what if all those guys amount to nothing? Relax and see how it plays out. Henny & Co will evaluate all scenarios and do what's best for the organization. You talk like it's still Otis running the show.

I'd be disappointed more than anything, and move on. I find it hard to believe the Magic are saying "wow, all these top 1-5 guys will suck." And they shouldn't gamble backwards on something like this. Like if CJ McCollum is the Magic's #2 BPA after Noel or Porter/McLemore or whoever and they're taken by the Cavs or whoever at #1, then the Magic try to trade down to McCollum only to find out that two or three other teams actually had him #4-6 BPA range also and one of them goes through with it while the Magic are sitting at #8-9. It's no fun, and they had to trade someone at 2 for a deal that is already backfired or dead on the tracks.

[Def Swami]

Brian K. Schmitz ‏@MagicInsider 12m

Source tells me Magic considering moving down in draft and have "quite a few" suitors interested in trading for No. 2 pick.

While I really want McLemore or Oladipo, the most important thing is to get the best value we can out of the pick and trading down might be the way to do that depending on the deal. I just wish we knew some of the teams that are interested. I have a feeling this draft night is going to be an eventful one for us though, and that makes me very excited. I can't wait to see what Hennigan and his crew do.

Minnesota wants Oladipo for sure. I'd guess Charlotte and Phoenix are in the hunt for Oladipo as well.

[Def Swami]

I can't stomach this if we trade down and come away watching one of Oladipo, McLemore, Porter and Burke start crushing it. Total failure because they were all there for the taking probably.

We need a strong starting 5, not a strong 10 man team. Oladipo will be two notches better than any other guard in the draft with defense and motor. McLemore will be faster and more accurate than any other guard in the draft. Don't need to get too clever all the time, the reasons Schmitz thinks is so we can save more cap space or move a Magic contract, wow, that's terrible reasoning unless you got LeBron and Wade coming over soon.

And what if all those guys amount to nothing? Relax and see how it plays out. Henny & Co will evaluate all scenarios and do what's best for the organization. You talk like it's still Otis running the show.

I'd be disappointed more than anything, and move on. I find it hard to believe the Magic are saying "wow, all these top 1-5 guys will suck." And they shouldn't gamble backwards on something like this. Like if CJ McCollum is the Magic's #2 BPA after Noel or Porter/McLemore or whoever and they're taken by the Cavs or whoever at #1, then the Magic try to trade down to McCollum only to find out that two or three other teams actually had him #4-6 BPA range also and one of them goes through with it while the Magic are sitting at #8-9. It's no fun, and they had to trade someone at 2 for a deal that is already backfired or dead on the tracks.

I'm sure if our front officer were dead set on a guy and moving down to draft him, they'd only make that move with the assurance that they could get him. Which is why you see so many deals happen on draft night as the night goes on.

But if the Magic don't find a deal to trade down that they like, I could see them taking a guy with the #2 that was projected to go later in the draft (ex. Trey Burke, CJ McCollum, Michael Carter-Williams). I've been keeping the 2008 draft in mind during this draft season. Russell Westbrook was projected to go 9-11 that year and OKC took their chances on him at #4. Our team, the Thunder, and the Spurs handle the draft process in a unique way and Hennigan is always preaching how his team believes in their "process." If they project a player ranked in the 9-11 range to be the BPA, I don't think they'll be afraid to go against the grain and select him higher than expected.

[OrlChamps2030]

McCollum and Burke are the only guys worth trading down for IMO.. And both may be gone by 8

[doct3r dr3]

honestly, consensus top 3 pick ben mclemore's numbers don't look all that different from those of e'twaun moore and doron lamb in college:

ben mclemore (age 19): 15.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg | 1.0 spg | .495 fg%, .870 ft%, .420 3p%, 2.0 3pm

doron lamb (age 20): 13.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg | 0.5 spg | .474 fg%, .826 ft%, .466 3p%, 1.9 3pm

e'twaun moore (age 21): 18.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.2 apg | 1.2 spg | .447 fg%, .709 ft%, . 400 3p%, 2.1 3pm


this draft is gonna suck

[Howard Cosell]

As a Twolves fan I posted this post in the Twolves thread ealier this morning:

So how do we outbid the other suitors for Orlando's pick?


Williams (5.0Mil) + Sved (3.2Mil) + 1st Round - 9th Overall pick + 1st round - 26th Overall pick??????????

for...

Orlando's 1st Round - 2nd Pick Overall - and ?????

Orlando has to give us some salary back and it would have to be an asset. I don't think Orlando would entertain the idea of Afflalo or Davis...would they?......maybe a non-guaranteed contract of Harrington's ?

For the trade to be legal Orlando only options on assets coming back to the Twolves is either Affalalo-Davis-Harrington.

So what asset is Orlando looking to move in trading down? I suppose it would depend on what you are getting back. i thought I would post this trade suggestion in this thread because I percieve you all are going to receive plenty of bids/suggestions here on realgm and you all might want to compare the bids. As I have said earlier I believe it will be difficult for the Twolves to outbid PHX-DET-SAC for the 2nd pick overall.

[UCFJayBird]

Don't forget if the Magic have a few teams saying, "We want to trade up to #2 to get Oladipo" they can say "We'll draft Oladipo, and if the guy we want is available when you pick we'll make the trade with you".

They don't HAVE to make the trade before finding out their guy is available at the pick another team is offering.

[OrlChamps2030]

honestly, consensus top 3 pick ben mclemore's numbers don't look all that different from those of e'twaun moore and doron lamb in college:

ben mclemore (age 19): 15.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg | 1.0 spg | .495 fg%, .870 ft%, .420 3p%, 2.0 3pm

doron lamb (age 20): 13.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg | 0.5 spg | .474 fg%, .826 ft%, .466 3p%, 1.9 3pm

e'twaun moore (age 21): 18.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.2 apg | 1.2 spg | .447 fg%, .709 ft%, . 400 3p%, 2.1 3pm


this draft is gonna suck

Come on dude. That's just silly. You can't just compare college stats way too many variables not to mention ET was a senior... Gotta come with some material better than that

Jimmer & JJ had comparable stats to Ray Allen.. Joseph Forte had better stats than Trey Burke, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams etc. Adam Morrison had similar stats to Michael Jordan. Hell even McLemore's freshman yr are comparable to MJ's first 2 years. You can't just play the numbers game with college players.

[doct3r dr3]

i mean, it seems to me the only "intangible" mclemore brings is his leaping ability/athleticism. and what good is that if you only use it for high-flying fastbreak dunks?

[Howard Cosell]

Don't forget if the Magic have a few teams saying, "We want to trade up to #2 to get Oladipo" they can say "We'll draft Oladipo, and if the guy we want is available when you pick we'll make the trade with you".

They don't HAVE to make the trade before finding out their guy is available at the pick another team is offering.

True, and that is probably how it all goes down.

But what asset is Orlando willing to give back for salaries to match with PHX-DET-SAC-MIN-PORT-PHI in a trade for the 2nd pick? Whatever goodies PHX or others offer besides draft picks to Orlando will need some salary going back to the team that is trading to go up in the draft. Harrington-Davis-Afflalo would have to go...but which one?

[OrlChamps2030]

i mean, it seems to me the only "intangible" mclemore brings is his leaping ability/athleticism. and what good is that if you only use it for high-flying fastbreak dunks?

That's called athleticism not intangibles.

And I think any GM taking McLemore with a top 3 pick would be selecting him with the thought that he can expand upon his offensive arsenal beyond what he showed his freshman year. What he did show his freshman year is that he is an elite shooter that really plays well off the ball and is great at coming off of screens. He also has defensive potential.

[doct3r dr3]

i mean, it seems to me the only "intangible" mclemore brings is his leaping ability/athleticism. and what good is that if you only use it for high-flying fastbreak dunks?

That's called athleticism not intangibles.

i meant "intangible" in the sense of not being a counting stat. its really appears to be the only redeeming quality in mclemore's game outside of his 3-point shooting and free-throw shooting numbers. that's why i put it in quotes.

And I think any GM taking McLemore with a top 3 pick would be selecting him with the thought that he can expand upon his offensive arsenal beyond what he showed his freshman year. What he did show his freshman year is that he is an elite shooter that really plays well off the ball and is great at coming off of screens.

just like doron lamb and john jenkins and kim english...

[OrlChamps2030]

just like doron lamb and john jenkins and kim english...

And Ray Allen, Jason Richardson, Klay Thompson, Brad Beal, etc. Not sure what your point is. You don't think that production varies amongst off-the-ball scorers like every other type of playstyle in the NBA? Or you just don't think that off-the-ball scorers are valuable?

It seems like you don't value production as a freshman/underclassmen the same way I do (citing Lamb, English, ETwaun Moore, Jenkins, having a Nicholson sig, etc) so I think we judge prospects differently.

[Def Swami]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z32d5TwS4lk[/youtube]
LOL I bet the home team was like "Thanks a lot..." to their fans.

[AdamTheGreek]

Don't forget if the Magic have a few teams saying, "We want to trade up to #2 to get Oladipo" they can say "We'll draft Oladipo, and if the guy we want is available when you pick we'll make the trade with you".

They don't HAVE to make the trade before finding out their guy is available at the pick another team is offering.

Perfect post. That's exactly how it would go down. Worst case scenario, you end up with Oladipo.

I don't see us trading the #2 pick though.