Turiaf. Simien is good but he is too short for his post up game to work in the NBA. And the post up is his bread and butter. His defense and board work is average at best. Turiaf has active feet and is taller, quicker. Turiaf hands down. I hope he slips to us.
Not that they mean a flip, but the mock drafts I've seen don't have Turiaf very high. He sounds like a good fit, but I'm concerned with his ability to stay on the court. It sounds like he has a lot of trouble picking up fouls. I'd probably be okay with any of Simien, Diogu, and Turiaf. Angelo Gigli's kind of intriguing to me as well.
Rumors are flying today that Marvin Williams and Sean May are entering the draft. Let's hope so, because it will just push more good players down. We may even have a shot at May. Not the ideal Van Gundy power forward but he sure has a winner's attitude and low post skills reminiscent of Barkley. Sure would be nice to own a pick at the top of the 2nd round and pick up a good player for a little bit of nothing. This draft is setting up as the motherload with all the kids coming out fearing the age 20 limitation coming. I think there is going to be a great opportunity to pick up quality, experienced, ready to contribute talent at the bottom of the 1st round and the 2nd round while a lot of GMs are spinning the roulette wheel on all the high schoolers. Turiaf is the second or 3rd best PF in this draft in my opinion right behind Bogut and right up there with Frye. I think guys like Splitter and Taft are vastly overrated and wasted picks. I would highly doubt that Turiaf lasts to our pick. He's probably being talked down so some GM has the opportunity to pick him up. This is probably the deepest draft we are going to see for a long time, 3 years worth in one.
NBAdraft.net, Draftcity.com, Hoopshype Rockets with pick #23. Mock draft positioning: Channing Frye 14, 30, 21 Wayne Simien 24, 32, 27 Ronny Turiaf 31 ,31 ,30 Sean May 18, 20, XX
I just like Turiaf b/c he's big and can still run the court... I know he'll have problems with guys like Nowitzki but he can also make Dirk play D next season also... I know its early but thats what I like a physical big man that can bang and when Yao leaves, you still have a big man(We all know Deke will only be around for another year or so)... Ike Diogu is only 6'7 guys but I won't sell him short b/c he's physical. Just like Turiaf...
Turiaf is not the sharpest tool in the shed according to most of his scouting reports. He picks up fouls like mad (just watch the numerous Gonzaga tourney losses he has been a part of, he always has 3-4 fouls in the first half). Also, he's not going to be the guy to make the extra pass, or the smart play on D, just pure athleticism and hustle. I think he'd be a good pick where he's currently projected to go, only because he'd be a non-stiff big man, which it never hurts to have. But using our first pick would reaching a little.
That report is bologna. He is a very diligent worker. He may be at a slight disability because he has had to come to a new country and learn the language but to imply he is dumb is a huge exaggeration. And he plays very good defense with his feet and has a nack for blocking shots. Van Gundy will help him tremendously on the defensive end. And his hustle is a Van Gundy trademark. He will be a steal in the 20's if he is still there. I think people are intentionally talking him down so they can pick him up.
I read an ITW in a french newspaper a few weeks back. The guy doesn't seems stupid by any means, and most of all he knows his limits!(doesn't want to be the next KG, but doesn't want to be a solid role player and feed of the stars of the team, those are his words) Catched also the end of a report(?) a show did on him, where they followed him for a day. No punk a** attitude there either. he was giving food for the poor for a local association and reprimended his team mates that were passing by that they didn't do the same. All in all seemed like a nice guy that doesn't think too much of himself. ALA
nbadraft.net doesn't put up mock drafts based on who they think a team will pick, they rank the players and then list down the teams in their drafting order. It just happens that they have Warrick ranked at the same spot that our draft slot. That being said, I think he would be a good pickup. The pfs in the league are morphing into a shorter quicker position (marion, ak-47 etc). Even if HW isn't the answer at pf, he would still add much needed depth and athleticism at the forward spots.
http://www.hoopshype.com/workouts.htm These workouts lead me to believe we are drafting a PF with our #1 pick.
I actually like Warrick. His athleticism and explosiveness could really help us out. I think he also has the most upside out of Simien and Turiaf. I think all 3 of those guys could help us out. But I would like to see what a defensive minded JVG could do for Warrick. He is a Camby-mold and JVG did wonders w/ Camby.
I agree with all your sub-points. In some ways, I think Warrick has many of the qualities we both like and dislike in Donyell Marshall. If we pick him up though, I think we have to be sure he can be effective at PF. I don't like the idea of drafting a guy who can't shoot the 3 to play major minutes at SF, even off the bench.
NBAdraft.net, Draftcity.com, Hoopshype, Collegehoopsnet, ***********. Rockets with pick #24. Mock draft positioning: Channing Frye 15, 30, 24, 21, 16 (Average 21.2) Wayne Simien 25, 32, 23, 16, 24 (Average 24.0) Ronny Turiaf 31 ,31, 27, 27, 31+ (Average 29.4) Sean May 17, 20, 21, 23, 4 (Average 17.0) Hakim Warrick 24, 22, 17, 18, 18 (Average 19.8) Shelden Williams (not declared) XX, 21, 13, XX, 19 (Average 17.7) # May 14, NBA Draft Early Entry Deadline # June 7-10, NBA Pre-Draft Camp # June 21, NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline # June 28, NBA Draft
Agreed. Warrick would have to play PF in the NBA, other than dunks, he doesn't have much of an offensive game. I really like his athleticism though, it would be between him and Simien. I think Warrick has more potential than Simien and we can't forget that Simien has had injury problems.
Can someone clarify to me whether we have a second round pick this year? I'm confused because I thought we traded it away for Mike James, but then received New York's for the MoT deal. Does anyone know for sure if we have a second round pick this year?
2005 draft: New York receives Houston's 2nd Round Pick (Jeff Van Gundy) LA Lakers receives New York's 2nd Round Pick (via Atlanta, via Charlotte, Kareem Rush) That NY pick for Mo T must be in the future.
