moocow007 wrote:thebuzzardman wrote:moocow007 wrote:
It's smoke and mirrors. Let's not get carried away with the chatter. The Warriors aren't going to be picking Vassell at 2. Great organizations don't waste assets and value by talking someone at 2 that they can get at 8 by trading down and adding more assets. Don't fall for it.
Like trading with the Knicks?
Ah, well, we know that isn't happening. Other orgs make big moves for their future. The Knicks stay at 8 picking JAG players. Actually, the Knicks getting a league replacement level player at 8 would be a big step up.
Hawks, Mavs, Celtics, Utah...and others, those are teams that make draft day moves to improve their team.
On draft day, the Knick GM is usually preoccupied with whispering sweet nothings about GETTING STARZ! into Dolan's ear.
I think the Warriors will only move down if they can win the deal. I don't see them feeling pressured to trade down to get arguably someone that is better fit. Assuming Steph and Klay are back to 100% they don't necessarily need anyone in this draft that badly. They know they can pick the best player at 2 and trade him at some point.
Nor do I buy the notion that they aren't interested in Wiseman. Folks are getting carried away with the Wiseman hate (based on trying to defend one of their own...Mitchell Robinson). Wiseman out of the box is the near perfect defensive shot blocker and rim runner that they can use. Wiseman is also much more skilled than folks think offensively especially if, on a team like the Warriors, he's left alone cause folks are worried about the other guys. Wiseman averaged 20/10/3 on 80% shooting from 2 and 70% shooting from the free throw line (he averaged 9 free throw attempts a game right out the gate!) at Memphis. You don't do that I don't care how athletic you are right out the gate in the ACC unless you actually have basketball skills. Just like in HS, he was literally a man amongst boys in college as well. And that's at a time when he had just turned 19 years old as one of the youngest freshman in the country.
As far as trading down with the Knicks? Yeah I can see that but it's not going to be cheap. So folks thinking that they'll just take the 8th and the 27th or 8th and Knox, Frank or DSJr will likely be disappointed. Does that mean it's not worth it for the Knicks. No, that's not what it means. The Knicks need talent. They can either pick a clear(er) upgrade in talent at 2 (compared to 8) or they can rely on Walt Perrin and his (supposed) draft magic to leverage the 8th pick. Really depends what what Perrin and his people feel.
Good post Moocow.... and I, for one,, wouldn't be a bit surprised to see Knicks use Robinson and #8 to move up only to select Wiseman. NOT Ball.
Honestly (and I'm HUGE Mitch fan), it would make sense to develop RJ and Wiseman together. Yeah I'm drinking Melo's kool-aid. We'd still have a ton of issues to fix but if Wiseman is as good as Melo's advertised... I'm in! RJ & Wiseman can be the corner pieces back to respect
