From sportstalk.com: Celtics, Rockets Duking It Out for Gasol. . . With the draft now just two weeks away the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets are making a major push to get into the top six picks in the 2001 NBA Draft. A league source told sportsTALK late last night that both teams are in the hunt for F.C. Barcelona forward Pau Gasol. The Rockets and the Celtics are among several suitors that covet 7'1" forward from Barcelona despite the fact that he has yet to work out for an NBA team. Both the Rockets and the Celtics have offered the Vancouver Grizzlies multiple first round picks to move up to number six, the source told sportsTALK. The Celtics have offered their 10th and 11th picks while the Rockets are offering their 13th and 18th picks. The Grizzlies like Gasol as well, but prefer Michigan State guard Jason Richardson. The Grizzlies are afraid that if they trade down they'll lose their chance to draft Richardson. The Nets (7th) and the Cavs (8th) also have eyes for Richardson. Boston has the inside track with the Grizzlies right now and Houston is also talking with the New Jersey Nets about sending their 13th and 18th picks to the Nets in return for the Nets 7th pick. According to the same league source, the Rockets also like Charlotte forward Rodney White and will pursue him if they cannot land Gasol. If the Rockets cannot move their picks they likely still land a foreign prospect. Expect them to take Yugoslavian forward Vladimir Radmanovic with their 18th pick if trade talks fall through. One interesting bit I noticed here. The offers are supposedly picks 13 and 18 for a higher pick... but no mention of pick 23. Could this go back to Ken Johnson and Doc's "Tale of Two Ken's?" Don't know, but it sure could, and makes some sense. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!
I wonder the same thing, but who is the other Ken (besides Johnson)? ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils.
------------------ "Bada Bing!" [This message has been edited by Space Ghost (edited June 12, 2001).]
I wonder the same thing, but who is the other Ken (besides Johnson)? Probably Kenny Thomas. He's not one of the pieces that is definitely here for the long haul, and he might could be that "role player we don't want to lose" (as rockbox speculated) that is key to moving up in the draft for Battier. ------------------ "Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!
Unless this whole business about trying to trade up is a smoke-screen to force other teams to make moves that benefit the Rox. Notice how we "covet" all these small forwards? How do these rumors get out there? Who leaks them? I mean, it might be true, this talk of moving up, but I was interpreting Doc's comments about Kens as saying Ken Johnson at #18, and the perfect marriage as Terrence Morris at #23. #13? Dunno. ------------------
Rox, Remember the obvious part of Doc's posts. I want Morris as much as anyone, but he doesn't fall imho under the category of something obvious. Not everyone wants him here, there are other options, and he may even go second round. Believe me, I like Morris a lot, but I don't think that's what he's aiming at when he says obvious. What's obvious is the Rockets desire for two players: Battier and Webber. Doc's posts and what he says the Rockets want make me think Battier in this instance. Tale of two Ken's... of course I'm just dreamcasting here, but could the Rockets be preparing to send Kenny Thomas (and possibly Cato) along with 2 of their picks for Chicago's #4 pick or Atlanta's #3 to draft Battier? And then use the final remaining pick (18 or 23) on Ken Johnson? If we could come out of this draft with Battier, Ken Johnson, and Cato gone I'd be dancing in the streets... ------------------ "Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!
The Rockets have been trying to trade up for a long time now... I just don't think there's any way they will have 3 first round picks on draft day (even if that means, as a last resort, dealing away #18 or #23 for basically nothing) I like this line: The Celtics have offered their 10th and 11th picks while the Rockets are offering their 13th and 18th picks Gee, 10 and 11 or 13 and 18. Let me think... ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Thanks, Clutch. If #13 and #18 don't do it, maybe a small added incentive? Like the Detroit obligation? Would that get us the #7 or above? ------------------
Clutch, I was wondering when someone would run across that. One of the first things I noticed when I read that was that sentence, and then further down where it says "Boston appears to have the inside track with the Grizzlies." Sportstalk with the big scoop there... In addition, Clutch, have you heard anything about this offer from the Celtics to the Grizzlies? I've read that they like Gasol, but picks 10 and 11 for 6 sounds a little too much, especially in a deep draft such as this one, and also for a team that needs depth and scoring from somewhere other than Walker and Pierce. It just seems a little odd that they'd give this much for just 4 spots, unless they think Gasol will be a superstar or something... ------------------ "Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more!
I hope they don't give up those picks for "nothing" like Clutch stated may happen. Can we trade the picks for future picks? In other words, trade them to a team that wants picks this year and wants them bad, but say make them some type of range-protected pick. For example, #18 this year for a future #18-#23 or something. ------------------ "Now it is more clear that it doesn't make sense." -- HeyPeeism at its convoluted best.
DoD-Yes, and very common. The Jazz did it last year, giving one of their picks to the Nuggets. ------------------ "I think alot of people find Cato's game to be very offensive." -aelliott, comparing the offensive skills of Kelvin Cato and Michael Olowokandi
What I find totally odd is that Sportstalk didnt mention Golden State as a trading partner for Boston. I have thought for a while that the Warriors would be the ones considering the player they need out of this draft, Jamaal Tinsley, should be available at 10 or 11. Plus, one of the centers they are interested in, Chandler or Diop, could very well fall into that range if Gasol is picked at 5. It doesnt really make sense to me that Vancouver would trade their pick with a player like Jason Richardson looking to be available. New Jersey I could see doing it if they feel they can get a solid big man and SG by trading down into the middle of the first round. It wouldnt be a half bad idea for the Nets to pickup a center like Woods or Haywood on draft day along with a 2 guard like Forte or Hassell. If the Rockets are lucky enough to get into the 7 spot, I think the player they will target is Joe Johnson as opposed to Rodney White if Battier is off the board. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
It actually makes much more sense for the Grizzlies than the Warriors to trade down. From the Grizzlies side, let's examine the fact that they still have the Detroit trade hanging over them. If they were able to get the 10th and 11th picks, they could fairly easily hand one of those over to Detroit to end their deal and allow themselves to keep their pick next season while at the same time having a decent pick this season. Detroit would have to agree to it, but the 10th pick is fairly decent, especially in this draft. Now, as for why GS would trade down, I don't get it. If they need a point guard, they'll get one at 14. Tinsley and/or Cook are likely to be there and there's little difference between the two. Not to mention that if for some reason one is not there, that means a great prospect has fallen. ------------------
The Grizz are more likely to trade down because they already have their "star" players, unless they trade SAR. They need talented roleplayers to win more games. Why take a gamble on the #6 when you can diffuse your risk and still get what you need at #10 and #11? ------------------ Lacking inspiration at the moment...
The Grizz can't fulfill their obligation to Detroit this year. The deadline has passed for them to send the pick. ------------------
Not sure if it was mentioned, but the Grizz pick to Detroit can NOT be conveyed. It must be theirs. I don't think the Celts would give up 10 AND 11 for 5, 6, or 7 but I think the Rocks would give up 13 & 18 if there's a taker. ------------------ GATER
But can't detroit just say, "Yeah, sure, we'll take your 10 and call it even?" Or if nothing else, they can make a "trade" ... the 10 pick in this draft for the future obligation of a first rounder ... something like that. So it's possible, right? ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
Yes toast, that is exactly what I was referring to (hence the added part about Detroit having to agree...). Vancouver screwed up badly and will desperately try to pay off that debt before they completely lose their pants. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Hobbs (edited June 12, 2001).]
The whole point of trying to avoid Vancouver's pick was to try to get an even better pick next year or the year after that. I doubt Vancouver will have a good enough season next year to warrant a pick that's further down the line than 10, so I don't see the Pistons just taking the pick this year out of goodwill. And it makes a lot of sense for Golden State to trade down...Tinsley is much more ready to contribute than Cook, but they're not going to want to take him at #5 (same goes for Chandler), and I doubt he lasts past Boston if things stay status quo. Cook will be there at 14, but with Mookie on the outs and Cummings not a true point, they're going to want somebody that can contribute right away. ------------------ Lisa, I'd like to buy your rock...
They avoided getting the 18th pick. That is the pick they would have gotten, and it was the worst possible pick they could have gotten. If this happens, they turned the 18th pick into the 10th by using a heavily protected first rounder that could have turned into 2 second rounders. That's a good job any way you look at it. The best pick Detroit can get from Vancouver next season is the 6th pick. By doing this they would get the 10th this season guaranteed (as they could get nothing next season if Vancouver gets lucky in the lottery or tanks on purpose). Not that huge a difference when you factor in the risks. ------------------
