Mock Draft Kings #2 lists
- Thread starter PurpleHaze
- Start date
I don't think we'll ever see a LeBron or Duncan type single player anticipated in the draft again given the way the game is played these days but I do think Ayton and Doncic are the most anticipated 1-2 since Oden-Durant.
Doncic has special talents that if they translate to the NBA could make him the best player to come into the league in the last 5 seasons though.
Doncic has special talents that if they translate to the NBA could make him the best player to come into the league in the last 5 seasons though.
I disagree with both of your assumptions here. There will always be another great prospect, it just takes a very rare blend of size and skills. I agree that there wouldn't be the crazy hype for a traditional big like Duncan but if a young LeBron was in college people would be going crazy.
Also not in agreeance about this year's #1 and #2 being so hyped. Doesn't even seem like a forgone conclusion those guys will be the first two picks. I think what's so exciting about this draft is there are six legit guys up top.
Also not in agreeance about this year's #1 and #2 being so hyped. Doesn't even seem like a forgone conclusion those guys will be the first two picks. I think what's so exciting about this draft is there are six legit guys up top.
All true, but it doesn't mean that the team was built around Webber. That year was also last year when Vlade and DC were productive. Next year Vlade finally showed his age and got injured (playing for Lakers), DC was traded and injured. Anyway, all that is not too relevant. What is important is that they built team to execute Princeton offense, and with Brad Miller instead of Webber it worked like a charm. Sure, Brad is slow compared to healthy Webber, so defense suffered.
As much as the Kings apparently like Michael Porter Jr (and I can certainly see why), I find it hard to believe that they would overlook Ayton. IMHO, he is a franchise level talent.
But I would not be surprised if Kings drafted Michael Porter Jr. at #2 especially if they genuinely believe that they struck gold with Harry Giles.
But I would not be surprised if Kings drafted Michael Porter Jr. at #2 especially if they genuinely believe that they struck gold with Harry Giles.
I am not convinced on Young being irresistible for Orlando. Their front office has changed. Their main man comes from the Bucks and if you look at Bucks' drafting history in his time there, they prefer length and athleticism. Even last year, they drafted Isaac. Young might fit on paper but its obvious to me that they are using the Bucks' drafting blueprint. If Michael Porter Junior is there at their pick, I would not be surprised if the pick him. Bamba is also a VERY good change to be picked up by Orlando.
Hard for me to believe both Suns and Kings , pass on Ayton
But if Suns really plan on getting Clint, maybe suns do pick Luka
I dont think Kings pass on Luka for Porter
but if Luka is gone Kings might get Porter, we have no SF and 5 bigs
But personally, screw Fit, get Ayton as BPA and use Skal and all that cap Space to get a
Top of the line SF(Dont know Who or how)
But if Suns really plan on getting Clint, maybe suns do pick Luka
I dont think Kings pass on Luka for Porter
but if Luka is gone Kings might get Porter, we have no SF and 5 bigs
But personally, screw Fit, get Ayton as BPA and use Skal and all that cap Space to get a
Top of the line SF(Dont know Who or how)
It would surprise me if the Kings picked Porter at #2. Last year Divac picked Giles, an injured player with a good reputation and very little college experience, but it was with the 20th pick. This would be the #2 pick for a guy with virtually zero college ball and a back injury. Divac would have to have balls of titanium to make that pick. If he makes that pick, I sure hope it's because he thinks Porter is the second coming, not because Porter happens to play the small forward position. If he passes for bpa to draft for positional need, the chance of a good outcome dwindles.
What purpose does it serve for the Kings' staff to be talking to the media about Porter? Any ideas? The only thing I can come up with is that they don't want to let Phoenix know how interested in "X" player (Ayton? Doncic? Whomever?) so they are putting forth Porter's name. Or maybe they know of a team that is just dying to get Porter and they think they can up his trade value and then trade down? But is Porter a guy that is rising up the board of those in the top tier of the draft? Unless this is a situation in which they just have to blab to the press, I don't see where they are going with this just yet.
What purpose does it serve for the Kings' staff to be talking to the media about Porter? Any ideas? The only thing I can come up with is that they don't want to let Phoenix know how interested in "X" player (Ayton? Doncic? Whomever?) so they are putting forth Porter's name. Or maybe they know of a team that is just dying to get Porter and they think they can up his trade value and then trade down? But is Porter a guy that is rising up the board of those in the top tier of the draft? Unless this is a situation in which they just have to blab to the press, I don't see where they are going with this just yet.
Some of the older people on this board 
who are the historians might want to validate or refute my on this, but if my early childhood memory serves, it was the offense that was built around the personnel, not vice versa.
who are the historians might want to validate or refute my on this, but if my early childhood memory serves, it was the offense that was built around the personnel, not vice versa.
I don't know the history of how Vlade ended up signing with the Kings though and I would be curious if anyone here knows more. Was it because we drafted Peja? Was it because Geoff and Rick wanted a big man who could pass out of the high post? Was it just a happy accident that we ended up with the ideal passing frontcourt or were those guys deliberately targeted for their passing skills?
I don't think Phoenix cares all that much about what we're going to do. They're going to do what's best for them. If we are trying to look other teams off on either Ayton or Doncic it would be because we're worried about someone else trading up to get their guy. If Atlanta is absolutely dying to draft Doncic for instance to the point they're willing to trade multiple picks and Denis Schroeder for #1 maybe we convince them we want Porter and Phoenix tells them they're taking Ayton so they don't trade up and then we pick Doncic at #2 anyway. More likely I think the front office is just kicking the tires on a lot of players right now and Porter is one of the players under consideration.
Some of the older people on this board who are the historians might want to validate or refute my on this, but if my early childhood memory serves, it was the offense that was built around the personnel, not vice versa.
who are the historians might want to validate or refute my on this, but if my early childhood memory serves, it was the offense that was built around the personnel, not vice versa.
Last edited:
I don't think it was an accident that all those players came together at the same time, including Webber, who was known to be a very good passing big man. And actually, I don't think that J. Will's game was a poor fit for the Princeton offense. J. Will was an outstanding passer. I think the problem Adelman had with him was that he was a bit too much of a loose canon at times, and he wasn't nearly as good at playing off the ball as Bibby turned out to be.
As to Vlade signing with us, I think it had to do with the fact that number one, it was the first time under Petrie that the Kings had money under the cap, and that they offered Vlade more than anyone else. Plus, there wasn't that much interest in Vlade who seemed to have his best years behind him, and, he wanted to return to the west coast. I think Petrie wanted him because he was the perfect fit for the Princeton offense as he was considered one of the best passing big men in the NBA at the time.
As to Vlade signing with us, I think it had to do with the fact that number one, it was the first time under Petrie that the Kings had money under the cap, and that they offered Vlade more than anyone else. Plus, there wasn't that much interest in Vlade who seemed to have his best years behind him, and, he wanted to return to the west coast. I think Petrie wanted him because he was the perfect fit for the Princeton offense as he was considered one of the best passing big men in the NBA at the time.
IF there is any strategy to it at all (and I'm not in a position to say one way or the other) the goal is to show interest in all of the top prospects if you want to increase the potential trade value of the #2 pick. That's not to say you'd definitely trade it, but if teams have no idea which way the Kings will go and fall in love with a guy they think will be there at #3 or #4 or #5 etc it puts doubt in their mind that they can still get their guy without the Kings nabbing him first.
If this really is part of the strategy (and not just somebody leaking info) then you'd likely hear in the next couple weeks that the Kings love Bamba and Bagley and Jackson Jr and Doncic as well.
If this really is part of the strategy (and not just somebody leaking info) then you'd likely hear in the next couple weeks that the Kings love Bamba and Bagley and Jackson Jr and Doncic as well.
Petrie always said that he looked for offensively skilled players - guys who could shoot, handle, pass, score on different levels, play team defense etc.
Vlade was exactly his type of center and when he was a free agent (remember Vlade almost retired rather than report to Charlotte so I think he was looking to get back to California) the Kings had the money.
Vlade was exactly his type of center and when he was a free agent (remember Vlade almost retired rather than report to Charlotte so I think he was looking to get back to California) the Kings had the money.
I was following Vlade at the time. He was traded for Kobe to Sharlote Hornets. When his contract expired he signed for Kings because he got the offer he coudn't resist and maybe because it was close to L.A. I can only guess what was motivation for Geoff Petrie. As a Hornet Divac already showed his passing skills alongside being full package that includes scoring, rebounding and even shotblocking. My guess is that he saw opportunity to acquire both CWeb and Vlade as cornerstones for motion offense.
That would be tough to prove in any way given how much changed between the 1997-1998 season and the 1999 lockout shortened season.
Adelman came in as coach but the team also brought in Jason Williams, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, Jon Barry, Scot Pollard and Vernon Maxwell. The only significant players on the roster from the previous season were Corliss, Funderburke and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.
If anything I'd say Adelman brought his offensive concepts, borrowed more heavily from the Princeton offense from Coachie and adapted to having two great passing bigs and an electric and unpredictable PG. Keep in mind that the Kings never really ran a pure Princeton offense. The high/low post sets and action at the elbow (that most teams have borrowed now) was always part of Adelman's scheme.
Clearly Adelman adjusted the offense based on his personnel. When Big Nasty was starting I don't think I ever saw he and Webber or Vlade run the two man game but it became a staple after Peja was the starting SF.
Adelman came in as coach but the team also brought in Jason Williams, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, Jon Barry, Scot Pollard and Vernon Maxwell. The only significant players on the roster from the previous season were Corliss, Funderburke and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.
If anything I'd say Adelman brought his offensive concepts, borrowed more heavily from the Princeton offense from Coachie and adapted to having two great passing bigs and an electric and unpredictable PG. Keep in mind that the Kings never really ran a pure Princeton offense. The high/low post sets and action at the elbow (that most teams have borrowed now) was always part of Adelman's scheme.
Clearly Adelman adjusted the offense based on his personnel. When Big Nasty was starting I don't think I ever saw he and Webber or Vlade run the two man game but it became a staple after Peja was the starting SF.
Last edited: