Official 2008 Draft Night Thread...the future is now.

[Ballings7]

Getting Thompson would be really nice

[BMiller52]

Just heard on ESPN from Katz that this kid Jason Thompson is rising. He says that he could be a possibility for the Kings.

I did some research on this kid and he impresses me has nice touch out to 15 ft., he's quick, go handles and can block shots. He's still a senior but has upside. Every mock I check has him at the end of the first and early second. If Petrie wants him I would have to think that he would trade down and pick up another pick.

Anybody know if the Kings have worked him out?

Link? I think the trading down idea is good. I would like to pick up an extra player(young PG or pick or something).

[KingInExile]

Just heard on ESPN from Katz that this kid Jason Thompson is rising. He says that he could be a possibility for the Kings.

I did some research on this kid and he impresses me has nice touch out to 15 ft., he's quick, go handles and can block shots. He's still a senior but has upside. Every mock I check has him at the end of the first and early second. If Petrie wants him I would have to think that he would trade down and pick up another pick.

Anybody know if the Kings have worked him out?

Link? I think the trading down idea is good. I would like to pick up an extra player(young PG or pick or something).

There's probably no link, but I have seen several references to this from other sources, so I believe Katz likely did make the comment. The concern I have is more with Katz's credibility than VeeJay's.

[VeeJay24]

Guys, I know that Petrie is ecstatic but also torn. I know this because I am.

There are PGs in this draft that can really boost the Kings but they would have to go up and get them. There are also some athletic big men who would really look good beside Hawes who he Kings could get picking right where they are or moving down.

I would like to come out of the draft with both myself. My goal would be to move up in the top 7 but keeping my #12. Me, myself I love Gordon. I know most of you will think and say he's a 2, but I think he can play the 1 and be a more explosive and athletic Billups. Petrie did with Douby. Well, Gordon has a lot more tools than Douby. I like Bayless also, but I think Gordon is a little more reasonable since you would realistically have to go up to #4 to get Bayless and I don't know if we have anything to offer the Sonics. The Clippers and Knicks are more realistic. Keeping the #12 then allows the Kings to get that big man too. Many are Arthur and Speights fans but I don't think those 2 are what the Kings need. Arhur is smallish and Speights not athletic enough. The guys I like Thompson, Jordan, McGee can be had a little lower in the 1st. Which offers the possibility of moving down some and picking up a veteran SF or something.

I came up with a 3 way deal involving the Kings/Clipps/Bulls

The KIngs would send out Artest/Salmons/future 1st rd pick (lottery protected)
coming in Tim/Knight/Livingston (S & T)/Thornton/Clippers' #7

The Clippers send out Brand/Thomas/Knight/Livingston/Thornton/#7
coming in Artest/Hinrich/Hughes

The Bulls send out Hinrich/Hughes
coming in Brand/Salmons

I think it's good for everyone the Clippers have been rumored to want trade anyway because they want veterans. I think Dunleavy has to win now. Brand doesn't want to be there but they can't get full value because of injuries same for Livingston. Hinrich, Hughes and Artest is a good catch they would just have to work on the frontcourt.

The Bulls need to move one of Hinrich & Gordon or the both since they plan on picking Rose. Getting Brand back gives them a veteran big man to score which they don't have. Brand will also help with leadership for first time coach Vinnie Del Negro.

The Kings need to face it they are rebuilding and this trade would pretty much do it. All would be left to do is sprinkle some veteran leadership on the roster. A Gordon/Martin backcourt is phenomenal. Thornton can play SF and you add the big with #12. You get a roster like

PG- Gordon/Knight or Udrih or Livingston
SG- Martin/Garcia
SF- Thornton/ trade, FA or 2nd rd draft
PF- Thompson, McGee, Arthur, Speights or Jordan/Moore/Reef/Thomas
C- Hawes/Miller

The Kings still have moves they can make like moving Reef/Thomas/Miller/Livingston

[sacstar16]

That deal is beyond terrible for the Clippers. They give up their franchise big in Brand, Thornton, Livingston, and the #7 to get back Artest and Hinrich. They also take Hughes, who has negative value. The Bulls get way too much. They give up Hinrich, who had an off year and Hughes, with the negative value, and somehow get back Brand and Salmons. I think you're undervaluing Brand a lot.

[VeeJay24]

That deal is beyond terrible for the Clippers. They give up their franchise big in Brand, Thornton, Livingston, and the #7 to get back Artest and Hinrich. They also take Hughes, who has negative value. The Bulls get way too much. They give up Hinrich, who had an off year and Hughes, with the negative value, and somehow get back Brand and Salmons. I think you're undervaluing Brand a lot.

Maybe, I think you are undervaluing Artest and Hinrich to a certain extent. All of the Bulls had a bad year not just Hinrich. It was a team thing besides Hinrich had a year, Brand didn't even play. Don't even know if the Clippers want much to do with Livingston who had a devastating knee injury. Thornton is nice but it would only be his 2nd season. The Clippers want vets and Dunleavy needs to win now. Anyway, what if the Bulls throw in Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah for the Clippers?

[longfellow44]

So I saw that we worked out kosta Koufos. I go to Ohio state and can tell you that the guys is very very talented and athletic. He needed to play another year of college ball before entering the draft and thats why his stock has been rather low. If he waited until next year he would have been a top 10 pick is my best guess. However I think he could be a good compliement to Hawes. Do you guys think it's possible that Petrie picks him at 12. He is deffinately a Petrie type pick but not sure if petrie would pick another guy tall white post player.

[Ballings7]

Koufos just isn't much of a fit for this team, let alone next to Hawes maybe for the long-term.

----------

WVU/UConn 3/13

- Alexander played more on the wings here because of the presence of Thabeet. Didn't matter much.
- Alexander hit a whole assortment of jumpshots... off the dribble, out of the post (high and mid), off the turn-around, spot-up.
- Alexander made a huge two-handed dunk to put the exclamation point on the game... recieved an outlet with a man coming to him, drove him to the basket with a few dribbles diagonally, and put it down high and hard. Quite impressive.
- Scored 34 pts.
- Showed good awareness and reaction getting a big offensive rebound during a come back attempt by UConn.
- Definitely liked Thabeet's defense, patrolling the basket, and blocking shots on and off the ball.

[sacstar16]

The Clippers want vets and Dunleavy needs to win now. Anyway, what if the Bulls throw in Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah for the Clippers?

Throwing in Noah would make it a lot closer for the Clipps. Basically, it would be Brand/Thornton/#7/Livingston for Artest/Hinrich/Noah/Hughes. They get solid veteran pieces in Artest and Hinrich, a nice young player in Noah, and the overpaid mostly useless Hughes. However, they are still not in a position to win the championship IMO with their core of Hinrich/Artest/Kaman/Noah/Maggette (if he' still with them). I still think they would say no. I do like Brand and Thornton a lot though- maybe I'm overvaluing .

[RoyalCourtJestr]

I'm worried about Randolph... I'm normally crazy for "potential" but he really worries me. Have we worked him out?

Everyone saying Anthony can be a PF - I doubt it. He's as much a PF as Durrant or Alexander are... not strong enough, and really not a NBA PF. Yeah he can block shots and he's crazy athletic and stuff, but he doesn't (as doesn't Alexander, IMO) fit the needs of this team (Yeah, I'm a need guy, sue me.) He doesn't fit the PF need, he's not an interior defender or scorer, ect. If you want a crazy athletic PF who can DEFEND, Arthur fits our NEEDS.

[VeeJay24]

I'm worried about Randolph... I'm normally crazy for "potential" but he really worries me. Have we worked him out?

Everyone saying Anthony can be a PF - I doubt it. He's as much a PF as Durrant or Alexander are... not strong enough, and really not a NBA PF. Yeah he can block shots and he's crazy athletic and stuff, but he doesn't (as doesn't Alexander, IMO) fit the needs of this team (Yeah, I'm a need guy, sue me.) He doesn't fit the PF need, he's not an interior defender or scorer, ect. If you want a crazy athletic PF who can DEFEND, Arthur fits our NEEDS.

Yeah but you still have to think about chemistry. What I mean by that....is you have to find someone to offset Hawes' lack of athleticism. Sorta like Webber & Divac. Arthur doesn't have the physical attributes. That's just my opinion. You're not alone though. You will not know until years down the road if Randolph can put on the weight to play PF but remember Artest can opt out and even if he doesn't he will be a FA next year. So, drafting a tweener SF wouldn't be bad.

[Ballings7]

I don't know if Arthur is going to be our long-term starting PF, but if he turns out that way, okay, we'll see - but regardless, Arthur would certainly be a key piece to our PF/C group with his game, and significantly improving areas where we've been and are weak.

I'll happily take that at #12 in this draft, and being a quality pick. As, were just probably not going to get a star player, or the typical anchoring big man defender in this draft.

[KF10]

All hands points to Arthur at this point IMO but I have a feeling that Petrie will pick an UNEXPECTED player. I don't know but I have a feeling. Like a player that shouldn't be picked that high. But knowing our situation, Arthur would be ideal.

[Ballings7]

-Other players rumored to be invited to the Green Room (outside of the obvious suspects--Rose, Beasley, Mayo, etc) are Joe Alexander, DeAndre Jordan, Darrell Arthur, Donte Greene, Brandon Rush and Anthony Randolph. The top rated prospects we either have not heard back from or are not invited include JaVale McGee, Kosta Koufos, Marreese Speights and Alexis Ajinca.

Interesting.

-Another player that Portland could very well take a long look at (since Alexander and Westbrook are apparently out of reach)

Hmmm, wonder what that means for Alexander? Just out of reach, or numerous picks out of reach?

-Sasha Kaun signed a 3-year contract with CSKA Moscow, as released on their their official website this weekend. Kaun may end up being the highest paid player on the Kansas Jayhawk championship team, as his salary will be similar to that of a late lottery pick next season. He has not shut the door on playing in the NBA down the road, as he has a comfortable buyout after the second year of his contract, which may even make him more attractive to a team drafting in the late second round.

That's great for Kaun. He's going to have a nice pro career.

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/

[KF10]

On nbadraft.com, they have us drafting Hibbert. I like Hibbert but it is a year too late. We have Hawes for our future center.

EDIT: And Arthur is at #24

[pillwenney]

The wiretap is saying that it sounds like Milwaukee is really into Randolph. If they pick him, I think that moves Alexander back to us.

I really, really have no clue what's going to happen right now. I think I have a pretty good idea of most of the teams before us, but I just don't have any idea where we're going to go with this.

[BMiller52]

The wiretap is saying that it sounds like Milwaukee is really into Randolph. If they pick him, I think that moves Alexander back to us.

I really, really have no clue what's going to happen right now. I think I have a pretty good idea of most of the teams before us, but I just don't have any idea where we're going to go with this.

Same here. I'm guessing Indiana takes Augustin, IDK who NJ has(maybe Alexander? Could be Gallinari tho), Charlotte is taking Westbrook it looks like(and has been reported by numerous places that he has a promise within the top 9 picks), if Milwaukee takes Randolph like you said, it looks like Gordon makes sense for LAC, NY I'm not sure, Memphis sounds like they love Kevin Love, and then we all know some combination of the top 4 is basically Rose/Beasley/Mayo/Bayless. I'm hoping Milwaukee takes Alexander though.

[UKF]

With all this talk about getting Anthony Randolph, I have looked everywhere and have not seen his name on our work-out schedule. The same goes for DeAndre Jordan. I think if we could get Jordan, we would have a chance of securing our 4 and 5 spot for the next few years. Jordan is not proven, but Spencer wasn't either, and I was the last guy that wanted Hawes. We would have the offensive player(Spencer Hawes) and the defensive athletic big(DeAndre Jordan) that this team has been waiting for since 2002 when we had Keon Clark. So I was wondering why we havent worked them out?

I expect us to draft either Joe Alexander or Darrel Arthur. I dont expect DJ Augustin or Russel Westbrook to still be there when it becomes our turn to draft. Joe Alexander I would be ok with, he is an amazing athlete that can play both sides of the ball well. Darrel Arthur I am not a big fan of. He isnt that athletic big that can play defense. I know he can rebound, but with the 12th pick we can get so much more.

So my questions are, Why havent we worked out Randolph and Jordan? Why do people want to draft Arthur?

[chriswebb86]

With all this talk about getting Anthony Randolph, I have looked everywhere and have not seen his name on our work-out schedule. The same goes for DeAndre Jordan. I think if we could get Jordan, we would have a chance of securing our 4 and 5 spot for the next few years. Jordan is not proven, but Spencer wasn't either, and I was the last guy that wanted Hawes. We would have the offensive player(Spencer Hawes) and the defensive athletic big(DeAndre Jordan) that this team has been waiting for since 2002 when we had Keon Clark. So I was wondering why we havent worked them out?

I expect us to draft either Joe Alexander or Darrel Arthur. I dont expect DJ Augustin or Russel Westbrook to still be there when it becomes our turn to draft. Joe Alexander I would be ok with, he is an amazing athlete that can play both sides of the ball well. Darrel Arthur I am not a big fan of. He isnt that athletic big that can play defense. I know he can rebound, but with the 12th pick we can get so much more.

So my questions are, Why havent we worked out Randolph and Jordan? Why do people want to draft Arthur?

I would be a very very happy person if we took Alexander. I think he may turn out to be one of the best players in the draft. While I know it was just college, he seemds to do mostly everything extremely well.

[deNIEd]

UKF I agree with you on Jordan.

Personally, I think it would be best to use either Artest or Salmons to nab a pick 13-17 range, and draft Jordan. Yes he is all potential, and very likely to become a bust, however, if he isn't a bust, he will be one of the best centers in the league. If both live up to potential, a Hawes/Jordan frontcourt, would be the best in the league, and at the risk of either Artest or Salmons, I am willing to take the gamble.

Overall, that Toronto's and Phoenix's picks are looking extremely attractive, both of which I believe could be had using Ron and Salmons. Either of those picks, one of Arthur/Speights/Jordan will be available, allowing us to take Alexander/Gallinari/Augustin/Westbrook/Lopez/Randolph using our pick.