Do you think there will be anyone like New Jersey or Washington be willing to move back a little for our 1st, Sura, and a future 2nd? I am looking at one of the following: Josh McRoberts - Duke Jason Smith - Colorado St. Tiago Splitter - Brazil They all are athletic guys, run the floor well, and fight for the tough rebounds which would fill a needed spot on our team. I would love to have a chance at any of them. I don't think they'll be at #26. We could also look at adding a second round pick for Big Baby or Nick Fazekas from Nevada. What do you guys think?
I forgot to include the BC toker Sean Williams. Would you take a flyer on him as a second round pick?
I've heard that we're looking to get a second rounder on the cheap... but then I hear alot of things that don't exactly pan out. Personally I think the key to moving up is to find a salary in there that a team would be happy to dump for having to move from their first round pick spot down to #26. Phoenix looking to unload Marcus Banks is a prime example of that ... but unfortunately the Suns are at #24 (and at #29). I'm no expert on draft pick value since it's not as "set" year to year like the NFL seems to be, but if you wanted an extra pick, I would bet you could get one of the Suns' picks in a Sura-Banks swap. Don't know though. I haven't researched it, but that's what I was thinking about today -- look at picks 12-23 and see what salary baggage those teams need to unload, if any. Moving up is never easy though.
i think sean williams will be the only one who drops into the 20's with the amount of guards/forwards in this draft that are rated as mid 1st rounders, the bigmen will go alot sooner. smith, mcroberts, and splitter should all go in the same area, maybe even consecutively to Wash, NJ, and GS. really depends on what philly and charlotte do with their early 1st rounders that determines which bigmen will drop. im guessing they both pick bigmen early and go for guards with their later picks. we have a pretty good shot at sean williams who's stock is rising due to the lack of bigmen in the draft and FA. if philly and charlotte go big early, and Wash, NJ, and GS go for smith, mcroberts, and splitter, then williams should drop to 26 because the lakers and heat are pretty both need help in the backcourt moreso than the frontcourt. the 76ers and charlotte will already have chosen PF/C with their early picks. NY will look for outside shooters since they have curry, frye, and lee. suns may look to pick a euro to stash and save capspace, but i think theyre the ones looking hardest at williams because they may trade marion, and a williams/amare tandem will be the most athletic twintowers ever. i think if there is any notion of the suns taking williams, we have to trade with NY and possibly include luther in the deal to leapfrog over the suns.
ah yes, the banks/sura trade idea...ive been contemplating that for awhile, but i think the rockets have bigger plans for sura's contract. it does make alot of sense though.
Smith will be gone by 20. Some are saying he may Sneak to no. 10 to Sacramento. What needs to happen is for the SF and guards to go earlier than Yi, Hawes, Thorton, Noah, & Wright in the top 10 (like Green, Conley, & Brewer). If that happens, then everyone else will move back some hopefully. McRoberts, Splitter, & Williams all have a chance of staying up to maybe 22-24. Its harder now that Devon Hardin went back to college. Of those most likely to fall I think it will be Splitter because while the buyout is available, few teams will want to pay it (Though I doubt Alexander will want to pay it either.) or Williams because few teams want to take the risk on him. McRoberts has the skills to impress in workouts, which is what he is doing right now, so his stock has improved again.
The deal that you proposed wouldn't be of any use to NJ or Washington since it's actually costing them more money than just keeping their own pick. There is a slight salary savings for moving from the late teens to #26, but Sura has a $1M guarentee which would more than offset the savings of moving down. Basically, they're moving down for just a future 2nd rounder and not saving any money. To make it worth their while, you'll have to do as Clutch suggests and take on some salary in exchange for Sura's contract.
My prediction is he goes before the early twenties are up. Devon Hardin was meant to be a top 20 pick but he's going back to school.
Yea, I agree. I think he's owed a little over 20 million in 4 years. I was thinking of trading Luther Head to N.Y. or Miami for their 23rd or 20th, respectively. N.Y. wants a "shooter" and Miami needs guard help with range. Head fills either roll having been in the top 10 in three point accuracy last year.
I remember some team (PHX?) sold their 1st round pick for $3 million cash last season. Wonder if such a thing is possible this season. I think Banks, at something like $16 or 20 millin remaining is too steep a price to pay, given that he'll handcuff salary flexibility for years.
I really see us dealing this pick as we are contenders as long as Tracy's back holds up.Who knows how long that will be?I want to see a young player,but a veteran of the NBA too.
I've actually read that the Knicks want to dump Frye for a pick and he could be had for Sura's expiring deal plus the #26. But some reports also have Thomas trying to deal his pick, too. They are a team that holds a lot of cards because of the excess salaries and the desire to make a splash somehow, especially in the draft.
I don't see Zekelite doing anything until all his hoped for splashes wash away. Sura would be a good contract for his pursuit, but Channing is better. IT desperately needs Kobe forcing the reaction to NYK, and I absolutely/positively hope Kobe stays put. JO'N is not going to MSG. But, if McHale would talk Garnett for Jefferson #5 et al, who knows? I'll hate the Knicks as long as that guy is still in charge.
Morey sounds pretty firm in his decision to look for a PF in free agency/trade market not the draft. I don't think there are any PF's who won't be chosen in the top 10 that are worth Luther or anyone else that costly.
WOOHOO! An aelliot siting! I was wondering about you the other day when some salary cap issues were being discussed and you were nowhere to be found. I'm glad to see you're still around.
I haven't looked at the PF in the draft, but we definately need to make a move for a PF. This is critical, I would move up if that was the best thing or explore a trade for a young PF. We need a tough athletic rebounder who has potential. The reason SA, Dallas and Phoenix are where they are is player evaluation... Tony Parker, Gino, Harris, Josh Howard, Diaw, Barbosa etc. They either had draft day steals or got a good player on the cheap in a trade. It's on Morey. Either we get better and younger or we don't get any closer to winning more than reg. season games. I think we need a couple of PF. Utah did the same thing, they had a high pick which they scored a very good point guard and then went after Boozer. it is all about talent. We've got Yao and Tracy.... Mike James was a good add, now we need some better 2 guards and a PF also. I think it might be a consideration to move down for a couple of #2 picks if we can't move up. We need better players any way we can get them. I would package Head in a heartbeat if we got real value.
Luther Head is a proven commodity. Trading him for the chance to take Sean Williams - who could be a great fit, or could be the next EG or Stro - is a bad idea. Unless you are absolutely in love with someone you know won't last till your pick, I see no reason why give up Head to move up 4 or 5 picks. I don't know much about Jason Smith, but I've heard he is impressing in workouts and you got to love how he improved every year steadily in college. And he shot almost 58% from the field this past year. He had a monster 27 point, 22 rebound game just before their season ended. He might be someone I'd trade Luther for to move up.
