http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/story?id=1389743 Stop the Yao madness. Draft the best talent. We need a small forward and this kid can be at training camp and develop his game in the preseason w/ Francis, Griffin, and Mobley. Don't pass on the next superstar for a guy that will be 5 years from being capable from being a franchise player. We can trade down to 3 and get him but if we can't make that work then, F it, draft him at one. Seriously, Yao will not be the man that will solve our problems. He will cause a media circus and mark my words, HE IS NOT WORTH IT.
PTL. There is at least one other person on this board who has some sense. Please, lord, please let Rudy be thinking the same thing.
Damn I want Caron so bad!! That article suggested that whoever passed on him in the top 10 would kick themselves in the @$$ later on. Butler a few inches from overall No. 1 By Andy Katz ESPN.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He doesn't play the point. He's not big enough to play in the middle. But, Caron Butler might be the best player in the NBA draft -- regardless of his size or the position he plays. Just ask Kelvin Sampson, who back in January, saw Butler before he blossomed into a NCAA tournament force and top-10 pick in this year's NBA draft. He was the best player on the Hartford Civic Center court when Oklahoma beat Connecticut. He was, according to Sampson, another Paul Pierce in the making -- save the 20-25 open jumpers Pierce was consistently nailing for the Celtics before Games 5 and 6 in the Eastern Conference finals. Caron Butler has the skills, if not the size, to be the overall No. 1 pick. And, like Pierce, the 6-foot-7 Butler could end up being the best player in the draft three or four seasons down the road -- a steal this year for a team anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8 in the first round. Pierce slipped to No. 10 in the 1998 draft, one spot behind another steal, Dirk Nowitzki. The No. 1 pick in 1998 was Michael Olowokandi. Enough said. "Caron is one of the few players who will step in and play right away,'' said one Eastern Conference scout. "He will have an impact because he's more physically mature and he's a little bit older." Butler is 22 and improved more from one year to the next (his freshman to his sophomore season) than, perhaps, any other player in the draft. His personal demons have been put aside, but because of his battles with the law he has ended up a more focused and driven individual. On the court, he became the prototype small forward in college basketball and should make the easy transition into the NBA. His jumper doesn't yet have the deep range needed for the NBA 3-pointer, but he can get to the glass and loves to work the offensive backboard, something that teams can't simulate in workouts over the next month. They've got to remember what he did for the Huskies in every big game on the way to their Big East championship season, and Elite Eight run in March. "He makes plays and that's what you need in the NBA," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said. "He's one of the few guys who are ready to do that. Jay Williams has a chance to do that. You've got to make plays like Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd do. He's one of those guys who wins games." Calhoun has a natural bias, but he shouldn't be discounted. Butler didn't win him over right away, but he became one of the most loyal Huskies in only two seasons in Storrs. He grew fond of the school's championship history and sought out past Huskies like Ray Allen and Donyell Marshall to ensure he was handling the baton correctly. He knew getting to the NIT wasn't good enough after his freshman season. He wouldn't rest until he made a deep run in the NCAA tournament, getting the Huskies a few minutes and possessions away from an upset of Maryland in the East Regional final. The argument against Butler passing Yao Ming or Williams, or simply being considered as the overall No. 1 pick, is that he plays a position that is all too common. Whether or not he's the best talent in the draft, he's a small forward -- and players his size can be found anywhere in the draft. Teams covet centers and points because they're convinced shooting guards, small and power forwards can be had in any year's draft. But Butler is still one of those rare players who can be a dominating presence. His skills aren't questioned, neither should be his ability to lead. Butler coveted the role as UConn's leader and didn't wilt when teams started to focus on him. He became a board man, a more astute passer and was one of those players who simply made everyone better by being on the same court. Butler has flaws, but he knows the game more so than most in this draft and isn't afraid to take the money shots. Butler won't shy away from doing all the above in the NBA for one team -- that's not picking No. 1. And that team could end up with the best player in the draft.
The only way I see us with Caron (which I would love!!!!!), is to trade down no further then #4-#5. Trust me, he will be gone! If we can walk away with a top-notch big man & caron bulter we would be set for the future. If we could trade our entire bench (minus Griffin) for Eddy Curry & #2 we would be gods. You are playing "Who wants to be a Millionaire". You just won $500,000 and Regis ask you the following question, "Tell me for $1,000,000 does Yao Ming bring more to the table then Lamar Odom, Corey Maggette, #8 (nino) & #12 (tsiks)? "You can either quit and walk away with all the players mentioned or take your best guess on Yao Ming? But remember we have special NBA rules tonight, and if you miss the question you COULD go home with nothing!
