http://ian1080.blogspot.com/2006/06/breaking-news.html Ian Furness: "I have just learned that Tyrus Thomas WILL NOT be coming to Portland for a workout with the Blazers tomorrow. More details to come, but the indication is that he was promised something by Toronto, Chicago or Charlotte, and thus decided he didn't need to come here for a workout." I believe Chicago made the promise. 1. I think its Aldridge... 2. Tyrus Thomas 3. I think Rudy Gay 4. Maybe Morrison 5. Shelden Williams I think that's how the top 5 will go out. 6-7 however, is very hard to guess. 6. Brandon Roy? Never know what the T-Wolves are thinking. 7. Marcus Williams?
I don't believe any of these promises. That's 3 players now who supposedly got promises: Thomas, Shelden and Redick. I don't believe even 1 team would make a promise. Three lotto teams making promises from which they have nothing to gain? I don't think so.
I agree, it just doesn't make sense. There's no logic behind it. In each of these instances, the team has allegedly made a promise resulting in the player canceling workouts with teams at a LOWER draft position. What do they stand to gain here by this? The only thing you can gain by strategically canceling workouts is in the opposite occurrence - canceling workouts with teams at a higher draft position if you want to land on a specific team (ie: canceling workouts with chicago, toronto, portland etc. if you want to go to minnesota). The opposite makes absolute no sense. However, with the spirit of the thread, I'm starting to get a feeling that Bargnani will be available at #8. I would take Aldridge, Roy, or Gay. Morrison I would take and trade. Tyrus Thomas I wouldn't even touch. Bargnani I'm not sure what I would do.
I'm not sure the draft is shaping up just yet, since we don't know what impact Bargnani will have (will he work out for teams before the draft?)... but that top 5 is how I have my top 5 since Saturday, and I think Deuce had it the same way before that as well: http://www.clutchfans.net/nbadraft/mockdraft/?fuseaction=mockdraft&xMockID=2738 I do think it will change though... I think this is the first draft I can remember where there was so much uncertainty in who would go where in the top 5 this late in the game. The draft is a week from Wednesday. And Juan - teams do make promises, or more "assurances". I'm not convinced on the Shelden one yet, but it seems to have some legs. The Redick one was pure speculation, before people knew he was pulling out because of his back problems.
Personally I would get on the phone with Golden State (9), Seattle (10) or Orlando (11) and see who they will give for Bargnani. That pick has to go up in value if he's there at 8. Someone will pull the trigger on a nice trade I would think ... but depends on how far you would have to drop and lose out on a Brewer, Carney, etc. I tend to think Bargnani is going to have some game, but then I thought the same of Nachbar. Truth is no one knows... from what little we know of him though, I would think you draft him.
If O'Bryant is really rising and is there at #8, with GS supposedly a suitor at #9, isn't the scenario the same? Call call call ... listen listen listen ?!!
Oh, I definitely draft him, the question is do I keep him? Tyrus Thomas is the only one of the top 7 I wouldn't even bother with. That guy has bust written all over him. Bargnani is like dessert. Brewer is the main course. You need Brewer right now to fill in all those holes, but if a sweet shooting Dirkesque 7 footer falls into your lap, even if you don't NEED him, do you keep him? I don't know enough about the guy but Gasol and Dirk have worked out well and Milicic looked real good late last year.
Clutch - You have been a notable absentee from that long Redick thread. What's your take on him and whether he is a fit for the Rox and will the Rox draft him?
It would be nice if Roy slips to the Celtics. I wonder if they'd swap 1st round picks (7 for 8) for our 2nd round pick. If Roy slips that far, I'd hate to see him go just ahead of us.
Hasn't Barganani masde some noise about only playing for Toronto? Would he be hard to sign? (I don't know why Toronto, maybe he doesn't like the US or maybe just to insure the #1 contract)
That came out right before the lottery, but his agent/managment team backed away from those comments saying it was all a misunderstanding yadda, yadda, yadda. And if the Raptors end up passing on him, I bet he'll get over them pretty quickly.
Good gosh, does Chad Ford stare at himself in the mirror all day or what? I took a look and according to his archive, he posted that article on June 15th and that mock on June 12th. We were all talking about Atlanta's possible promise to Shelden at #5 on <a href="showthread.php?t=113704">June 11th</a>, courtesy of David Aldridge's article. As first reported by Chad Ford, one of the top 6 players is guaranteed to slip out of the top five.
I think when he says first reported he means thats what he was originally reporting... not actually the first person to report it.
I'd take Bargnani at 8 and try to swing a deal for the sonics 10 and pick brewer there. Even at the cost of next year's #1. I know next years draft is deeper, I'm still trading for Brewer expecting that the Rockets pick next year will be in the 20's. Brewer and Bargnani would potentially fill two long term holes and give us flexibility next year (with Brewer). I'd put it on the line for Mike James and see if we could get him in here too. rafer/brewer *sura, if back james/brewer/head tmac/rybo rayban/swift/bargnani yao/swift/hayes but most have you have forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know.
