payitforward wrote:
Sheppard said... “We are probably more focused on bigs..."
Worth looking at this statement, which does seem to make sense.
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Unless Wiseman falls through the floor, the only big being projected at 9 or earlier in this draft is Onweka Okungwu. Great if we get him. What if we don't?
The next 3 bigs in pretty much all mocks so far are (in no particular order): Precious Achiuwa, Jalen Smith & Alexei Pokusevski. Given our all-in attitude about Rui, I'm thinking there's no chance we want Achiuwa.
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This makes a trade with Boston extremely attractive. Moreover, I have no doubt whatever that Boston will move at least 1 of its 3 R1 picks, as they did last year. Hence, it seems likely they'd do a 2-for-1 with us to move up to #9
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In other words, a trade down is starting to seem like a real possibility rather than my annual dream-that-can't-come-true.
My point was, Tommy stated he wants an energetic defensive Big. There are 3 mocked in the lotto in many drafts. Precious is one of them. If WIseman, Okongwu, Vassell (fit) and Halliburton (possibly as a trade for GSW) are taken before 9, and there is no trade up, I myself would not be surprised if Tommy took Achiuwa based on what he does do well, and based on various scouts' read of his upside.
PIF's point was that would be stupid because he is surely available at 14, and we would surely be able to trade down and get the 14 and a mess of other picks as well. Nice dream except his other point is that it would be stupid for us to trade up to #2 and take the Wu, because we would be reamed by GSW if we did. Now if every team took that same attitude, nobody would trade up. But perhaps Danny Ainge is stupider than PIF and would happily take his pet trade?
For what it's worth there are players who are MOCKED lower down that I like better than Achiuwa. Xavier Tillman is one. I'm saying I would not be overconfident that XYZ player will surely be available lower down. Or that they are mix and match equivalent.
If you like a guy as a fit, then maybe you take him where he is available. If someone comes along later who likes him more and your 2b guy is available at their pick, then you can listen to offers. But either way you already have a guy you like if those offers do not materialize. THAT is how trade downs work best. Because of the volatility of any draft -- and this year the uncertainty is magnified. It's rare that teams trade picks before the draft, doing so only on the day of the selections and when they see they can still get a guy they have rated highly.