what will be left at #15 and what to do?

ttacoma park legend: Who to pick at 38?

I don't know if any of these guys declared or not, but they could be possibilities, since people seem to be high on Euro 3s this year....

Boris Diaw
Birthdate: 1982
NBA Position: SG/SF
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 201
Hometown:
Euro Team: Pau Orthez

NBA Comparison Bruce Bowen (athletic version)

Strengths: Great athlete. Not a shooter but a scorer, if he cared about his stats he could increase his scoring average. His biggest strength is his strong defensive-oriented-game, as he often is in charge of the main opposing scorer, whether they play the 1, 2, or 3 positon. His footwork, athlecism, elevation, and quick hands help him to lock down opponents. Incredible feel for the game. Shooting is his only weakness but otherwise he does it all. Very good defensive player, thats easily his best attribute. Had a very solid season for Pau this year, being a consistant contributor. Wiry athletic, a Kirilenko-type of frame. Great offensive and defensive abilities. Has quickness, nice wing-span. His penetration skills are awesome, as he has superb foot speed and body control allowing him to use his above average athlecism to score. Offensively his strength is his ability to read the defensive play and to penetrate or find an open man.

Weaknesses: No real shooting touch. Many confuse his lack of emotion for lack of intensity. He often smiles during games, which doesn't mean he doesn't care, he enjoys to play. His lack of passion has drawn comparisons to fellow Frenchman Jerome Moiso (Hornets): but this assesment is false. Boris has a real commitment to the game. His game is still developing, especially shooting, but his fundamentals are very good.

Notes: A leader: captain of the France Champs with the Under-21. in clubs National Team acquired experience both with the young and A team. His impact on the game goes beyond his stats. Nonchalant demeanor should not be confused for lack of motivation. He is very committed to being a good player.

Mickael Pietrus
Birthdate: 1982
NBA Position: SG/SF
Ht: 6-6
Wt: 200
Hometown: Paris, France
Team: Pau Orthez

Excellent athlete with good leaping ability, and can excel at both ends of the floor. Has a brother Florent who's a year older but not quite the athlete. The Pietrus brothers broke on to the European scene last year. Both have talent. Both are amazing athletes, especially for European standards, and combine that athleticism with great strength. Mickael is the more skilled of the two, as he is good slasher and decent shooter, while Florent is more of a post player who is very dangerous on offensive boards. Both are great defenders and rebounders and both play a style of outrunning, outjumping, and overpowering their opponent. Both have NBA potential. Their athleticism and strength alone could be enough to get them drafted, but they will have to develop other parts of the game as well, to someday become well rounded players.

 

Diaw sounds really good, but I believe he is projected to go earlier than the 53 (?) pick. I really think that we go after Yarbrough with our second rounder. The guy is kind of like TMo in the fact that scouts have soured on him after initially being on his sack. The guy is a freak athlete who at the very least could compete for the 12th man. I would really like to see us bring him in for camp. The guy I really like for the Rox is Grizzard though. He can play the 1-3 at 6'8''. I wonder, would the Rox think of actually trading down from 15 in order to get a player like Grizzard or Diaw plus another 2nd rounder? That would allow them the chance to grab a 2nd tier prospect at the 3 and a non-guaranteed contract post/point.

 

You hit it right on the head here these smaller players have to prove that they can play to have any trade value and may not get any time on the Rockets. The big guys like Haslip, Ely, Stoudamire(who I am not personally very high on) have value in their size alone. So I think the issue is if you have a choice beteen redundant players and you are going to gamble, take the big guy.

 

Since we're stuck with Glen Rice; and we hope he'll stay healthy; and we probably can't carry three power forwards who want to start; and since we need a solid small forward who won't command mega-bucks (EG, Steve, and Yao being our three max contracts, now and later); and Mo + #15 prob'ly won't get us 'Shard...

We either try to move up for Jared Jeffries who we can groom over the next couple years, or we draft Nochbar (and wait out his contract) or Chris Jefferies (good defense) and worry about the PF situation (Kenny) at a later date.

 

Back to Live's scenario for a second.

On June 11, ESPN.com's Chad Ford writes: "Another rumor flying around Chicago last weekend had the Suns trying to work out an elaborate three-team trade that would eventually land them Heat power forward Brian Grant. The deal has since been printed in several forms but the principals involved included Grant to the Suns, Anfernee Hardaway and the Heat's No. 10 pick to the Blazers and Damon Stoudamire, Zach Randolph and the Blazers' No. 21 pick to the Heat."

Whether this is true or not, Phoenix is clearly weak on the front line. They have plenty of scorer types, but nobody to do the dirty work. They're not rebuilding, so absent a blockbuster deal like above, they're looking for role players with experience, like KT, and KT is cheap labor.

Maybe I'm looking at this with Rocket Red colored glasses but Butler for KT and No. 15 would be something that Phoenix would have to consider.

I think Phoe would be the best fit for a trade involving KT. And I'd do it. War Butler and Ming. No risk, no reward.

 

Live- Now, we just have to get Butler to be there at 9, which is not a certainty at all.

I think Phoenix had some interest in Kelvin Cato as well. Maybe something like Cato/KT/#15 for #9/Outlaw/Voskuhl. Outlaw's contract is pretty equal to Cato's, except it has one less year left.Cato is a center, and Outlaw is more of a PF. Voskuhl/Collier both have one year left and could function as 3rd stringers behind Yao and a veteran (Willis or Scot Williams)...

Yao/Vet/Voskuhl/Collier
Griffin/Taylor/Outlaw
Butler/Rice/Morris
Mobley/(Torres or Simon)
Francis/Moochie/#38 pick

That's a talented team. Francis and Butler could also play some backup 2.

Phoenix has-
Cato/Tsakalidis
Thomas/Gugliotta/Ford
Marion/John Wallace
J. Johnson/Hardaway/Milt Palacio
Marbury/R. Brown
+#15 and #22
They'd be able to go BPA at 15, and get a guy like Haislip, Nachbar, Ely, Welsch or Frank Williams.

Everything would hinge on Butler being at #9, which is not probable...then again, Griffin shouldn't have been there at #7.

 

I actually think that Butler at 9 will happen. GS will pass on dunleavy b/c he doesn't want to play there and they will take Tsika, which lets them move Jamison back to PF. Memphis is delighted and good things happen when you have Jerry West, so they snatch up Dunleavy. Vandeweigh wants to make a splash in Denver, so they take an explosive scorer like Wagner, rather than a "solid" guy like Butler. Cleveland and NY both go big and have no need for a SF. Gooden and Wilcox are both good enough where the GM's there won't be criticized for passing on Butler. The Clips have Odom and Miles, so no need for a SF.

Question: have recent drafts been this exciting and fluid? I haven't paid as much attention because we weren't picking this high.

Last year, I remember thinking we were screwed because of the lack of depth and the number of No. 1's that would command guaranteed contracts. Jefferson and Collier looked pretty good for NJ in the playoffs, but I'll still take Griffin any day.

 

NIKE,

I like the idea of this trade, but, as you mention, Butler's availability at #9 is a slim hope. Still, there's plenty of talent around at #9...Jared J., maybe (MAYBE) Nickoloz T., Q-Woods.

And going along with this hypothetical trade, I'd hide and watch; if Phoenix actually manages to obtain Brian Grant, I wouldn't want to "help" out their frontcourt (Cato being a serviceable center).

 

Rileydog: I actually think that Butler at 9 will happen. [...] Question: have recent drafts been this exciting and fluid? I haven't paid as much attention because we weren't picking this high.

I'm like you, I only get into the draft if we have good position or if I know a player well. So I was paying attention in 1998, when Paul Pierce slipped to 10, which is when we picked Dickerson and two people whose names deserve no mention. Pierce is the inspiration and hope of us all, I think, in this draft, thinking that some great prospect will slide down to us at 15 behind some stiff with more hype but less game. At least this year we can't completely fumble it, since we have the #1. In 98 we had three top 18 picks and only managed to come up with one NBA talent.

But 1998 also shows you how hard it evaluate talent. If you had it to do over, would you pick Tractor Traylor over Nazr Mohammed? Bryce Drew over Cuttino Mobley? Mircad Turkcan over Rashard Lewis?

I just hope in four years we're not saying, "How could Rudy have picked Bostjan Nachbar for crying out loud, when Ned Snertz was available?"

 

Desert- Yeah, Voskuhl is just a throw-in body who is a local guy, and can compete with Collier for garbage minutes (see my sig.).

Butler thinks he'll go top 6

``If I'm still around at No. 6, I think they'll definitely take me,'' said Butler, who said that the players did various drills and played two-on-two games during the workout. ``That's the feeling I got.''

Butler said that of the five workouts he has had with NBA teams, Thursday was in his ``top two,'' along with one he had for Houston. While stopping shy of saying the Cavs definitely would take Butler if he's available at No. 6, Lucas did laud his showing.

``I think he had a very good workout,'' Lucas said. ``He shot very well and he handled the ball very well.''

It also mentioned that Q Woods has been falling because he admitted to smoking mar1juana in high school. Interesting.

We know Ming and J-Will go 1-2. Dunleavy will go 3 or 4. The question is, who else goes top 4? Dunleavy and the Warriors have bad vibes going-does GS think Wagner could play PG? Would they take the risk on Tsika? Gooden? I think Denver would take either Tsika or Wagner, which leaves one of Gooden/Tsika/Wagner, Butler, Woods and Wilcox as possible choices at #6. NY would take either Wilcox or Gooden, Clippers likely would go with Borchardt or Hilario, and then you're at 9. Tough call. I guess Butler could slip to 9 even though I think he'd be #2 on the Rockets board behind Ming.

Do not underestimate trades, though. Last year, I don't think Atlanta takes Gasol at #3 for themselves-they would take Curry or Griffin if they didn't already have the SAR trade worked out. If that happens, I don't think Krumbs trades Brand for Chandler if Curry isn't on the board at 4. Then, Griffin isn't on the board at 7 for us to move up. Teams usually trade up with a specific player in mind, regardless of who else is on the board-a guy that could happen with is Amare Stoudemire, teams without high enough picks seem interested in him, and only scout him-therefore, even if Nene Hilario is on the board, and considered by most better than Stoudemire, the team would pass on Hilario and draft Stoudemire. At some point, a player slips into a range where a team hasn't really scouted him, because he was supposed to be gone 5 picks ago...and then pass on him because of a phobia that other teams know something about his personal history they don't.

 

Nike,

Dunleavy will not go #3 to the Warriors. It's one of his implied conditions for entering the draft, though obviously, he won't admit as much publicly. So assuming he stays in the draft, he's a lock to go to Memphis, imo.

Click here for the Dunleavy's anti-Warriors stance.

I still think the top 4 will go:

Houston- Yao
Chicago-Williams
Golden State- Gooden
Memphis- Dunleavy

I can't see Golden State going for Wagner. Do they really want to risk having another sg to pg experiment blow up in their face like it did with Hughes?

I wouldn't make too much out of Butler's Cavs workout, since they haven't really seen the player I think they'd opt for, which is Wilcox.

The more I look at this draft, the more realistic I think it is that he'll be there at 9.

PS- On a side note, and I can't find the link now, but Drew Gooden mentioned in his little draft diary that Jerry West told him if he's there at #4, they're taking him....just something to think about.

 

I don't think GS takes Gooden b/c Jamison was most effective as a PF. St Jean can justify taking Tsika over Dunleavy b/c of upside potential, but not so much with Gooden.

Is there going to be a Rox draft party? I was there when we selected Horry. The whole crowd wanted . . . Harold "Baby Jordan" Minor.

I'll take Rudy and CD over most brain trusts, even if they pick Bryce Drew and Turkguy (who isn't Turkoglu).

 

Tell me more about this Ned Snertz individual. How would he fit into our scheme?

Chris

 

tpl- I dunno. I think playing-wise, he makes a lot of sense for GS-a taller SF, lets AJ play PF, is an excellent shooter, passer, and ball handler, all a premium for the Ws. They may gamble that he won't pull a Francis, because he wants to maintain his cleancut image. I think as we approach the draft, if Golden State can get a high caliber PG or SF for the pick, they'll probably do it. Right now, they're doing another SG to PG experiment with Arenas, so who knows. Saint Jean has been scouting Tsika, so he could be a possibility. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't take Butler-he's not a lights out shooter, and he's on the small side for a SF, which are 2 qualities they don't need. J-Rich solidifies the SG slot so they wouldn't put him there either.

It's interesting that West would tell Gooden that...I look at Memphis and see Gasol as a PF, and Swift as a PF. I see Gooden as a PF. Wright probably should play PF. I guess West plans to go with small ball, with Gasol/Swift playing a lot of center just to get Gooden PT. Sure, they have Battier and Dickerson at the SG/SF slots. I wouldn't count out Wagner there either-local product, and with Battier and Gasol able to handle the ball out on the floor a lot, he wouldn't be required to run PG all the time.

Denver is also a wildcard...they could go for Butler, or they could go for Tsika or Wagner if one is on the board. They won't take Gooden for sure, with McDyess, Howard, and Donnell Harvey.

I think if Butler is there at 9, and Phoenix is willing to trade down, we'd have a good shot.

At 10, Riley would want Butler-but what would he be willing to pay? They have no real tradeable assets, and I doubt he'd go all out for 1 slot.

At 11, The Wizards...they'd make an interesting trading partner, and supposedly want a SF, but they want one of the taller/longer athletic SFs, like Q Woods or J. Jeffries. Butler isn't any taller than Rip Hamilton, and they still have a pretty solid SG/SF quartet of Hamilton, Jordan, Alexander, Davis, with Nesby as well. Rumors have MJ wanting a PG, and considering drafting Dickau at 11 (sounds crazy IMO). Would they give up Etan Thomas or Brendan Haywood for 2 slots? I dunno.

At 12, the Clips again. Odom, Miles, Piatkowski, Maggette, Q-Ball anyone?

At 13, the Bucks, 8 words. Ray Allen. Glen Robinson. Tim Thomas. Michael Redd.

At 14, the Pacers-they don't really have expendable PF/C, and unless they'd groom Butler as a SG, they already have Miller, Bender, Harrington, Croshere, Mercer, Artest that covering the 2 or the 3. That brings us to ourpick.

I think I'm gonna go update my mock...

 

Interesting you should mention Golden State moving the pick, because that's what I had originally expected them to do. So who's their trading partner?

Cleveland for Andre Miller.

The Cavs don't want to pay him the max, the Warriors can risk taking him on, despite his impending free agency, because of the Bay Area's proximity to Compton- his hometown.....it makes sense on a lot of levels.

The Warriors do it because he's an obvious talent who would maximize Richardson's potential, and the Cavs do it....well....the Cavs do it because they want to get a head-start on their tank job in the race for local Akron, Ohio product Lebron James.

From a talent perspective, it's not a bad trade for them either......a foundation of Gooden and either Butler or Wagner is pretty solid given the decrepit state of the eastern conference. I'd think they'd go with Wagner at 6 as a replacement for Miller, unless the Warriors included Arenas in the deal, which would likely dash our hopes of dealing for Butler, as they'd likely opt for him with their pick.

I don't understand the logic behind Gooden to Memphis either, but I guess West's credo is 'talent over fit.'

My mock changes every day........