Official Draft Thread Part 2

[tcorbin]

If Ferry is planning to max out the team's cap with super star players, i can see him using both draft pick on international players so that he doesn't have to pay them this year. let them stay over seas for a year or two, and then bring them over. it could be a good move, because rookies never contribute on a championship team.

The problem there is that, once the pick is exercised, then you have the cap hold in your pursuit of FAs so you're not really saving any money when it matters.

Not true actually. Chad Ford addressed this the other day. If both the team and the player send letters to the league stating that the player will not be signed this season, then the cap hold can be removed immediately. I wouldn't mind doing this for Dario Saric or (if they believe in him) Giannis Adekutondo (sp?). As both seem to have greater upside than many of the players available.

Correct, from what i understand that is how it works with international players. That is what the Bulls did with Nikola Mirotic and the Spurs did with Tiago Splitter, to save on cap room. theatlfan is wrong.

[Years80HAWKS]

Selecting two international players this year would be a perfect situation when trying to conform a super-elite roster. Also because both Nogueira and Saric would benefit greatly from staying overseas (in my case, "here" in Europe) and get some more experience, improve their abilities... Nogueira needs to bulk up a little, while getting a better midrange shoot. Saric, a 6-10 forward who lacks footspeed, is strong enough to be a PF, and has a really good handling ability, as he is a late grower.

With Jenkins, Scott, Ivan, Zaza, Stevenson andmaybe Mack as a third PG, I believe we would have enough role players to surround the stars we could be posibly singing.

Paul-Harris-Mack
Jenkins-Williams
Smith-Korver-SF
Horford-Scott
Howard-Zaza-Ivan

[theatlfan]

After being away for the WE, our draft has gone downhill a bit. Saric pulls out; Adams looks to be holding onto the early teens ranking even with his Combine luster starting to fade. Ugh.

If Ferry is planning to max out the team's cap with super star players, i can see him using both draft pick on international players so that he doesn't have to pay them this year. let them stay over seas for a year or two, and then bring them over. it could be a good move, because rookies never contribute on a championship team.

The problem there is that, once the pick is exercised, then you have the cap hold in your pursuit of FAs so you're not really saving any money when it matters.

Not true actually. Chad Ford addressed this the other day. If both the team and the player send letters to the league stating that the player will not be signed this season, then the cap hold can be removed immediately. I wouldn't mind doing this for Dario Saric or (if they believe in him) Giannis Adekutondo (sp?). As both seem to have greater upside than many of the players available.

Thanks for the heads up, but from the ways things are going we won't be getting any International wings.

- Saric is reportedly pulling out of the draft. I can't say this surprises me - he always said if he didn't get a promise in the lotto then he'd pull out. The logistics say that he was never going to come to ATL, at least not in this draft. Teams apparently liked him, but he was 2nd or 3rd on their boards of players they were hoping to fall to them. This is actually a big blow to us since it means that one more player that could have slid to us will be off the board when we pick.
- Karasev has a promise and it looks like CLE @ 19. Maybe we could turn the tables on CLE like they did in going after Waiters late in the draft process last year, but we should wait for the smoke before we should see this as even a remote possibility.
- Schroeder has a promise as well. My guess is that it's either UTH or BOS although I could see MIL as well.
- Giannis supposedly has had a promise in the late 1st for awhile, but of all the guys I've seen or read about, his boom/bust ratio is the highest by far, even more so than Goodwin. Talented player, but many years away - really hope we avoid this guy.

We could pick up an International Big though. Gobert is always on the list - who knows where he'll go. Nogueira is apparently impressing in the EuroCamp this week. He was the best prospect for this draft there and did nothing to dispel that in Treviso. Still not sure about either of those 2, but as of today, it's looking like these are the guys who'll be in our range from the International C market.

[tcorbin]

I can understand the financial reasons for taking two international players and i'm okay with it, but the more and more i look at the other prospect, at this point, it might be too much to look pass Reggie Bullock with the 18th pick.

Reggie Bullock looks like a rich man's Kyle Korver or rich man's Danny Green. Bullock is a better athlete and defender than Korver, and a better shooter than Green. in the right system, Bullock could even be more effective then what Danny Green is doing right now with the Spurs because of his Ray Allen type of shot and release.

Right now i have Kentavious and Bullock tied for #1 for SG/SF, and everybody else below them.

[Marcus50]

Steve Adams working out in Atlanta

[Jamaaliver]

Steve Adams working out in Atlanta

That's great news. If we make it out of this draft with Adams, Dieng or Olynyk & we can sign a solid Center in Free Agency I believe we'll be set in the froncourt.

Though, I still hope we bring back Zaza as well.

[niffoc4]

Steve Adams working out in Atlanta

That's great news. If we make it out of this draft with Adams, Dieng or Olynyk & we can sign a solid Center in Free Agency I believe we'll be set in the froncourt.

Though, I still hope we bring back Zaza as well.

Yeah, to me Adams is in the top tier with Len and Noel. I think we would need to trade up at this point to get him though.

As with many of us on here, I'd like to see us come out of the draft with a center and a wing player.

[Marcus50]

Steve Adams working out in Atlanta

That's great news. If we make it out of this draft with Adams, Dieng or Olynyk & we can sign a solid Center in Free Agency I believe we'll be set in the froncourt.

Though, I still hope we bring back Zaza as well.

Yeah, to me Adams is in the top tier with Len and Noel. I think we would need to trade up at this point to get him though.

As with many of us on here, I'd like to see us come out of the draft with a center and a wing player.

Atlanta would be a great spot for Steve Adams. Getting drafted too high may not be the best outcome for his game. He has great potential but needs time and good coaching. I really like his value in the 16-22 range and think Boston, Atlanta or Chicago would be great outcomes for him.

[Geaux_Hawks]

If he reached 17, then there's no way he's getting past us. I fully expect us to move up just a few spots for him if we don't have anything spinning in FA.

[parson]

One thing about Adams, Sports Illustrated says he might not be very motivated. The relevant part is here:

On paper, the Pittsburgh freshman is impressive. He's 7 feet and 254 pounds, with a wingspan of 7-5 and enormous hands (9.5 inches long, 11 inches wide).

In workouts, he is even better. Over the last few weeks Adams has showcased superior athleticism for a big man, while surprising team executives with a nice perimeter touch. He screens well, looks fluid in the pick-and-roll and runs the floor like a deer.

The problem? When the lights are on, Adams looks lost. At Pittsburgh, scouts routinely commented that the game appeared too fast for Adams, an opinion that was reiterated by team executives at the NBA combine last month. In addition, multiple executives expressed concern about Adams' laid-back disposition.

"Everyone wants a killer," an Eastern Conference executive said. "But Adams comes off like this easygoing guy who just likes to kick back and play his guitar."

Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... lens-noel/

I hate to say this because all human beings are unique but he sounds a bit like Marvin Williams. I loved Marvelous but the light never turned on with him.

Ferry has to really use his scouting superpowers here.

[parson]

It's also probably why Ferry hasn't traded up. Instead of Lin or Adams, Lucas Nogueira may end up as the best Center, yet be drafted at 18 or later.

[tcorbin]

It's also probably why Ferry hasn't traded up. Instead of Lin or Adams, Lucas Nogueira may end up as the best Center, yet be drafted at 18 or later.

i'm starting to get on the bandwagon for Lucas. he has a 9'6 standing reach and very fluid when he moves, and loves to play defense.

[parson]

^ I agree with your thoughts about him. The question won't be whether or not he wants to play defense but, considering his slight build, whether or not he CAN play defense.

Again, Ferry has some evaluatin' tuh do.

[Jamaaliver]

It's also probably why Ferry hasn't traded up. Instead of Lin or Adams, Lucas Nogueira may end up as the best Center, yet be drafted at 18 or later.

At 7'0" and 220 pounds, do you guys think he'll be strong enough to play Center? Nogueira's built more like a young Garnett with that slight frame.

[theatlfan]

Moreso than Nogueira's build, I have bigger questions about his attitude. He's been a very lackadaisical player up reportedly in both practice and games until about 1/2-way through the season when someone must have informed him that if he showed anything then he'd be a 1st round draft pick this season. He's been on the NBA radar for a few years now but has appeared completely disinterested even though he was playing professionally. Adams hasn't shown that he won't improve while getting paid - Nogueira has about 2.5 years before he had a contract run...

[tcorbin]

It's also probably why Ferry hasn't traded up. Instead of Lin or Adams, Lucas Nogueira may end up as the best Center, yet be drafted at 18 or later.

At 7'0" and 220 pounds, do you guys think he'll be strong enough to play Center? Nogueira's built more like a young Garnett with that slight frame.

Both Noah and Larry Sanders were 220lbs as rookies

[Jamaaliver]

It's also probably why Ferry hasn't traded up. Instead of Lin or Adams, Lucas Nogueira may end up as the best Center, yet be drafted at 18 or later.

At 7'0" and 220 pounds, do you guys think he'll be strong enough to play Center? Nogueira's built more like a young Garnett with that slight frame.

Both Noah and Larry Sanders were 220lbs as rookies

Fair point on Noah.

But I Still believe Sanders is too little to play Center in the East. I recall him getting bullied in the post by Horford for a game winner last season as he just wasn't strong enough.

[tcorbin]

What guy would you give up the 2 picks for to trade up?

Nerleans Noel
Ben McLemore
Otto Porter
Alex Len
Victor Oladipo
Trey Burke
Cody Zeller
Kentavious Caldwell Pope ?
Steven Adams ?

Not sure if Pope and Adams are worth 2nd pick to move up, but is their anybody i'm missing?

Shabazz Muhammad looks like he is going to be the Perry Jones of this draft.

[tcorbin]

At 7'0" and 220 pounds, do you guys think he'll be strong enough to play Center? Nogueira's built more like a young Garnett with that slight frame.

Both Noah and Larry Sanders were 220lbs as rookies

Fair point on Noah.

But I Still believe Sanders is too little to play Center in the East. I recall him getting bullied in the post by Horford for a game winner last season as he just wasn't strong enough.

Larry Sanders is still a better NBA center than Cole Aldrich, who was drafted ahead and weighs more than Sanders (same goes for Daniel Orton)

Noah and Sanders were 220lbs at age 22 coming into the draft. Nogueira is 18yr, so their might be hope.

[jagstang76]

Considering the strength (if you can call it that) in this draft is that huge group of guys who all rank as solid late-1st picks, I would try to trade my 2 2nd rd picks to move up and get one more guy from that tier. If we managed to get 3 players who could make roughly the same level of contribution next season, it would go a long way towards filling the roster with capable talent than waiting to see who falls to you late in the 2nd.