Phoenix won tiebreaker for the #24 pick, so now we're picking at #25. http://www.nba.com/news/draftorderties_080418.html
I know. But, dude.....(breaking out in song).....to dream the impossible dream, to reach for the impossible stars, to.....
Right now the sleeper of the draft is Mario Chalmers- the point guard from Kansas. That kid is a lock down defender. He can shoot. His problems have been turnovers; he is definately a project PG but coming out of high school he was one of the highest rated PGs. He has the handles and he is quick and strong. If he can settle down some on his decision making and get good coaching he will be up there with Mayo and Rose. Chalmers is the best one on one defender in the draft IMO. I think he would be a real nice pick up at 25. BTW- did you see him take apart the Memphis guards during the championship game? (Edit- did he declare?)
I think who 'discovered' them is irrelevant. Morey didn't have to pick them. He did, and that is to his credit. I understand that, but it's clear that Morey had Landry ranked higher than at least three of those guys (Wasn't Williams already off the board?). This is true regardless of whether or not the decision was based on statistical analysis, advice from a trusted scout, a combination of the two, or because some little old gypsy fortune teller told him to do it. I don't feel like I have to wait. Landry was a second round steal. If you pick somebody in the 2nd round who contributes to the team, even if it's for a limited number of games per season, then you have done an excellent job. Again, Brooks was the 25th pick in the draft and he contributes. I don't expect him to ever be a starter. I think that with a 25th pick, if you grab a player who can stick in the league as a solid back up, again, you are to be applauded. Well, assuming there wasn't a considerably better player picked afterwards. In this case, it doesn't seem there was. Hell, some years you're lucky to get a starter with a top five pick. It seems like your expectations are a little bit on the unreasonable side considering where we're picking. In my mind, a contributor is all you can ask for in the late 1st round. And in the 2nd round, a contributor is something to jump up and down about. Most of those guys just don't stick.
Jayhawks' Chalmers to gauge NBA interest, won't enter draft Associated Press Updated: April 23, 2008, 6:17 PM ET * Comment * Email * Print LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Miracle Mario wants to see where he stands in the NBA. Kansas star Mario Chalmers declared himself eligible for the NBA draft on Wednesday, deciding to not sign with an agent to leave open the possibility of a return to the national champion Jayhawks. The junior guard says he'll come out only if it looks like he'll be picked in the first round of the June 26 draft. If not -- he's currently projected to go between pick Nos. 25-35 -- Chalmers will return to Kansas, the team he helped win its third national championship with one of the biggest shots in NCAA tournament history. Ford: Who's In, Who's Out Underclassmen will transform the 2008 NBA draft. Chad Ford takes a look at who's going, who's staying and who's on the fence. Story "I looked at the pros and cons of all three options and I don't think hiring an agent right now would be the best fit for me right now personally just because I'm not projected that high in the draft," Chalmers said. "It's just great that I have the opportunity to come back if I can and the opportunity to go if I can. I think it's a win-win situation." Rangy and athletic, Chalmers was one of the leaders in Kansas' run to its first national championship in 20 years, teaming with Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins to form one of the nation's best backcourts. A superb on-the-ball defender, Chalmers led the Jayhawks with 97 steals and was just as good on the offensive end, tying Darrell Arthur for second in scoring with 12.8 points. He also had a knack for hitting big shots, none bigger than his last-second 3-pointer that sent the national championship game into overtime. The key question, as far as the NBA draft goes, is whether Chalmers can play point guard. Because of the Jayhawks' bevy of talented guards, Chalmers spent most of his three years in Lawrence at shooting guard, allowing Robinson and Collins to handle the point. Though he led the Jayhawks in assists at 4.3 per game, he hasn't played point guard since high school, a concern for some NBA teams, particularly because he lacks the size at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds to play shooting guard at the next level. But Kansas coach Bill Self believes it won't be an issue once Chalmers starts to prove himself during pre-draft workouts. "I think he's a first-round player," Self said. "I think it's a deep draft, it's guard-heavy, but the bottom line is I believe he's as good as anybody out there. Next year's draft probably isn't as strong on paper and that's something I think he should consider, but he's earned the right to investigate." Chalmers delivered one of the most memorable shots in NCAA tournament history during the national championship game on April 7. Provided a sliver of hope after Memphis missed four of five free throws, Kansas raced the ball up the floor with 10.8 seconds, trailing by three points. Collins got the ball to Chalmers, who launched a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. The shot hit nothing but net with 2.1 seconds left and Kansas rode the momentum into overtime, beating Memphis 75-68. The tendency after such a career-defining moment might be to ride the wave of momentum and see how far it might carry him into the next level. Instead, Chalmers took his time to weigh every option, talking it over with his family and Self before deciding the best route was to leave open the possibility of returning to Kansas. "That shot is a one-in-a-million chance," Chalmers said. "I'll probably never again have a chance to shoot that shot on that big of a stage. That was a good shot and it brought us a national championship, but I think it's just time to move on from that." If he does come back, Chalmers will likely find himself playing on a drastically different team. Robinson, forward Darnell Jackson and center Sasha Kaun were seniors this past season and Rush declared for the draft for the second straight year, ending his college eligibility. Arthur declared without hiring an agent, but there's a strong possibility he could be gone, too. Collins and center Cole Aldrich are the only returning players who played significant minutes during Kansas' national title run. Self doesn't see a problem. "Coaching Mario after he's made the shot I don't think will be any more difficult than coaching Mario before he made the shot," Self said. "If anything, once you get that taste in your mouth, the more you taste it the more you want it. I think that would be a great opportunity to lead a bunch of young guys who don't know any better, help mold the team the way he wants it molded." Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3363838
I think the kid has the skills and the mental makeup to be a star in the NBA, great defender, quick and a good shooter. After working out for teams I don't know if he will last to the 25 pick but that is who I would want the Rockets to go for.
While I'm sick of undersized players on the Rockets myself, don't you find it a bit strange that you're scoffing at the idea of drafting another undersized SG while simultaneously championing the drafting of another undersized PG? At least if Chalmers can make the transition to PG he'd no longer be undersized. The only way DJ Augustine can avoid being undersized is if he transitions to ballboy.
There is a BIG difference between a PG and SG.....and a guy like Augustine who completely understands the game and gets the ball to the right people at the right time are very hard and unusual to come by... DJ is going to be a fine NBA player. DD
Player of the Year Hansbrough to return to UNC North Carolina announced today that junior big man Tyler Hansbrough will return to school next season while sophomores Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will declare for the NBA draft, but will not hire an agent. The 6-foot-9 Hansbrough averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season and was the National Player of the Year. Lawson averaged 12.7 points and 5.2 assists this past season while Ellington averaged 16.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. North Carolina went 36-3 a year ago and lost to Kansas in the national semifinals. With all three back in the fold, the Tar Heels would be the prohibitive favorite to win the national championship next season. Underclassmen have until Sunday to declare for the June 26 draft and the deadline to withdraw is June 16.
I doubt we would have drafted Hansbrough anyways, unless they fail to sign Landry or something (which after last nights performance you know he's going to get a paycheck from the Rockets).
Rush would be awesome....he could be like Battier with a WHOLE lot more offense. But I do have some concerns about injuries though. Although Chase Budinger is slipping........for right now....he'll shoot back up once he does the individual workouts
