I agree with this. It sounds nice potentially having Demarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond. With Chuck Hayes and Jason Thompson, that's looks like a solid rotation of bigs. But it would probably get too cluttered, with Cousins and Thompson being the only bigs that can hit an outside jumper. I know Sacramento has to be pleased with Isiah, but is he really their point guard of the future? I only watched him when they played the Rockets, so I can't offer much in the prediction department. If they can get an upgrade at either guard spot, they should take it.
To be fair, you just explained right there why high school kids don't do it. Jennings failed in Europe yet has turned into a solid, productive pro. Is the logical conclusion then that Europe is a better league than the NBA? No, of course not. The logical conclusion is that going overseas to play basketball with grown men, in different cultures, away from home, for kids who probably aren't best suited to do so (depending on each kids upbringing) doesn't make any sense. I don't think Euroleague > NCAA is perfectly cut and dry. I'd argue it's a wash, when compared to the better NCAA conferences, though would accept an argument for either side. D-Mo wasn't even the MVP of his team, in a lesser league than the top Euroleague teams. That would be Jerel Blassingame, an under 6 ft guard who started his college career at Los Angeles City College before transferring to UNLV where he was "ok". Now, I have no doubt that Blassingame of today is better than Blassingame of college. This is where the grown man argument comes into play. But I also have no doubt that Blassingame, the MVP for Prokom, ahead of D-Mo, is not an NBA player, whereas 18-19 year old guards out of NCAA not only are NBA players, but are top lotto picks and potential future HOF's thrown in there. So, just pointing to the Euroleague isn't necessarily better or worse than high level NCAA. I do think D-Mo has improved, has benefited a ton from playing in Euroleague - especially as a big man, where Euroleague has more obvious advantages over the NCAA, and would likely be a higher draft pick in this year's deeper draft than he was in last year's weaker draft, when there were more questions about his passion for the game and upside. But holding him up on a pedestal as a lottery type pick, and equivalent of Thomas Robinson, or savior of the team, seems a little much. I certainly hope he turns into the next Pau Gasol. But I'd also trade his rights for the #2 pick without question, and the #5 pick (Sacramento's) with little question.
agreed. to be honest, when I read the description of the player they are looking for via draft the first name that came to mind was Kidd-Gilchrist. my guess is they are crossing their fingers that he falls in their lap
Meh, thats just the Clutchfans way. Makes for good dicussion, though. Sometimes, jtr, you are just too rowdy.
So ... are you supporting the completely asinine claim that NCAA BB is on the same or higher level than Euro Leagues? I would like to know. It matters because I will bump you up or down in my own personal opinion.
Your comparison only works if leagues in Europe have mostly college age players. But they don't. They are comprised of professionals, many of which are veterans who have played for a long time. Saying college teams have future top lottery picks doesn't make those players better. It means they have the potential to become future NBA superstars. High lottery picks routinely get their asses kicked by NBA scrubs during draft workouts. It's only after they receive NBA training and development that they achieve the skill level befitting of their draft status.
Of course not. I do feel however that he would not be a top 5 pick in this years draft. A good point was made as to him being picked 20ish in a weaker draft. Matters not the reason. The potential alone should have had him chosen higher. Of course, i hope i am wrong.
robinson was a sophmore while the the morris twins was a jr when they came out. you do realize that self is one of the best coaches in cbb right? kansas was a deep team that year.
Personally, i would not waste a top 5 pick on potential(PJIII, Drummond). Top 5 picks, imo, should be used on a surefire player(Damian Lillard).
What the hell happened to this thread? I think Sacramento is a good choice to move that pick for an established player, but is it a player the Rockets have on their roster? probably not. More than likley they view I. Thomas as their future PG after the rookie season he had. I personally dont think Lowry would draw much interest to them, especially if they read into the clash he had with McHale this season. Most teams wouldn't care too much about it, but the Kings might actually. So then there is Luis Scola. -Are there better options for Sacramento to aquire an established big man to partner up with Cousins? Probably talent wise, but it comes at a huge price. The Jazz might give up Jefferson, the Lakers with Gasol, the Knicks would love to move Amare, etc. Those are big hypotheticals, but if any team has the ability to absorb a ton of salary to take a swing at the fence at a max contract player on a bad contract its Sacramento. If they aquired Luis Scola for that pick its because the Maloofs didn't want to shell out big bucks to aquire a bad contract. I think the Rockets have a shot here, but there will be other teams really salivating at the chance to aquire a young building block and ridding themselves of a large contract in the process. I think this is the year that Sacramento swings for the fences on that type of deal.
IMHO if you get a top 5 pick you go potential. Drummond. I think that everyone else is a minor upgrade.
Of course. But some things to consider. First, do you Jerel Bassingame's age and experience would make him more likely to contribute in the NBA immediately next year than Beal, Lamb, Waiters, Ross, Rivers, etc.? I don't, because I just don't think he's good enough, despite being the best player/producer on his Prokom team. Second, the basis of the discussion in this case is the draft prospects of D-Mo or other Euro lottery-type guys. Which means your comparing players of similar ages. Which, to me, means that on the whole, nba and international scouts have as best a guess as anyone, much less people on this message board, of determining future NBA potential of this mostly similarly aged players. D-Mo was picked #20 in a weak draft. I already noted his stock has likely improved. But would he be a top 5 pick this year. EXTREMELY unlikely. An 8-14 pick? Potentially.
BLOCKBUSTER: Patterson Lowry Martin Mavs Future First Rounder FOR #5 Evans Garcia For Kings: I think the Kings would value Patterson's relationship and influence on Demarcus. He also has played some great games against the Kings and remains a young player with plenty of potential. Lowry is an above average starting PG and a fringe all-star and could become the emotional leader of a team that desperately needs one. They traded K-Mart because him and Tyreke could not co-exist on the court.. Well the Tyreke thing didn't work out so why not go back to K-Mart? Very least could help them make a strong playoff push and is a big expiring deal. They shed Garcia's contract which is always a must in small market teams. Mavs future first rounder is just sweetner for future flexibility with trading away a future pick to the Cavs for JJ Hickson (yikes!). May have to change that to #16. I like to think the Rockets could package those and move up to a somewhat earlier lotto and get Clutch (Morey's ) boy Dion Waiters. For Rockets: The core of mediocrity is finally broken up (Thank God). Two disgruntled players from the Adelman era are shipped off and McHale's job gets significantly easier. Tyreke seems like a classic Morey pick up. Guy with loads of talent who's stock is really low. Can the Rockets turn it around or will it be T-Will Vol.2? When you don't have superstars you got to take chances on players with talent. Let's hope it ends up better. At five the Rockets take the best player available which could be the bluechip they need in a blockbuster deal. If the player is kept you end up with a Beal, Drummond, T-Rob type that is perfect for the rebuilding effort. Garcia is not very good but could provide some depth. I believe he can play a little PG (or at least guard them) so perhaps some emergency depth. I imagine he's better than Boykins or Fortson. Whew! I should be working not explaining hypothetical trades but that was way too fun.
If your a team like the Rockets isn't the whole point getting in the top 5 to swing for the fences anyways? If the Rockets aquire the Bobcats #2 pick I would have to think that Drummond would still be considered. A team like the Bobcats probably wants someone that isn't such a high risk prospect because of their position. Say what you want about the "tanking" argument, but you can only fix your team to lose a season or two to get that guy in the draft, but after a certain amount of time GM's lose their jobs and owners have to sell their teams for peanuts because they are losing money. In other drafts, you might see Drummond got #2 all day every day. In this draft you have so many teams that really desperately need to get it right this time. Its desperation time for the Bobcats, Wizards, Kings, and Toronto to finally gets some sort of winning product on the floor. Thats why you see Drummond at #5 or #6 to begin with.
Aside from Amare, who has one of the worst contracts in the league, how would Jefferson or Gasol come at a huge price, compared to Scola... especially when you factor in production. Jefferson has 1 year left at $15 million. Scola has 3 years left, $30 million total, $10 million a year or so cap hit. Gasol has two years at $19 million each. Gasol is borderline worse. But he's much better. And 1 year shorter. Contract length is as much if not more important here, I think. If I'm Sacramento, I'd have to be smoking crack to trade the #5 for Luis Scola. The only Rockets trades that I think make sense involve taking back some combination of Garcia, Hayes and Salmons, all of whom effectively sucked last year and have 3-4 years remaining on their contracts. Or finding them a fair solution to their Tyreke problem.
