and with the #1 pick in the 2009 NBA draft the Kings select...
- Thread starter RiffRaff
- Start date
I don't know who will come out of course, but I imagine most players will. Anytime there is a perceived "weak" draft everyone tends to come out because they can get drafted higher and guarentee themselves more money. The difference between being drafted 6 versus 11 adds up fast over a 3-4 year deal.
Besides, as I outlined in a previous post, this lottery actually has teams that I think people should want to play for. They almost all have hope.
Besides, as I outlined in a previous post, this lottery actually has teams that I think people should want to play for. They almost all have hope.
I agree. There is a big difference between not being an amazing athelete and being a bad athelete. The latter is a kiss of death in the NBA (see Morrison, Adam), the former is not (see Roy, Brandon). I think because everyone wants the next Kobe, Jordan, LeBron superduperstar (who are also super atheletes) there is a tendency to overlook these types of players.
ugh.. why couldn't the Kings suck last year or the year before? 
the magoofs thought we could still contend with patchwork bull**** here and there. remember "defense" wins championships model.. we almost brought in the first WNBA to NBA coach. we could have been the laughing stock of the league. LMAO
at least we're on the right track. we just need to get rid of aging players and hope for the best. in 2010, we should have some capspace to play with. we might be able to absorb a good player on a bad team who is looking for solely capspace.
Catching up with Ohio St./Michigan St. on my DVR, and BJ Mullens is actually getting minutes! He reminds me a lot of JeVale McGee and Jason Smith. He looks like a legit 7'0" and has really long arms. He's a bouncy athlete and can run the floor, although I don't think he's quite as explosive a leaper as he's been sold. Offensively he's got a pretty decent jump hook and turnaround jumper, and he shoots outside jump shots but didn't really make any.
He's very weak physically though, and just seems awkward at times. He also tires very easily. He's still very raw and threw up a lot of junk (airballs, bad shots) on his way to 16 points. He doesn't seem to be a particularly special rebounder or shotblocker.
Definitely a decent prospect, although I'd prefer to see him play against some decent bigs before drawing too many conclusions -- Michigan St. is small team, and a lot of what Mullens was able to do was a result of taking advantage of smaller players. I also think he badly needs at least another year in school.
Adjusting my top 5:
1. Hasheem Thabeet
2. Blake Griffin
3. Darren Collison
4. Greg Monroe
5. B.J. Mullens
He's very weak physically though, and just seems awkward at times. He also tires very easily. He's still very raw and threw up a lot of junk (airballs, bad shots) on his way to 16 points. He doesn't seem to be a particularly special rebounder or shotblocker.
Definitely a decent prospect, although I'd prefer to see him play against some decent bigs before drawing too many conclusions -- Michigan St. is small team, and a lot of what Mullens was able to do was a result of taking advantage of smaller players. I also think he badly needs at least another year in school.
Adjusting my top 5:
1. Hasheem Thabeet
2. Blake Griffin
3. Darren Collison
4. Greg Monroe
5. B.J. Mullens
Last edited:
Well, my list is a need list for the Kings rather than overall ratings, so I'm basically limiting things to bigs and point guards. And I just think that Collison is extremely, extremely underrated. He's Brevin Knight/TJ Ford with a jump shot! There aren't many guys who come out of college with his level of quickness, passing, defense, and shooting ability. People are overlooking him because he's a senior and has had great teammates (and he's not a great driveer/finisher), but I think he has serious potential. And if you look at guys who have been overlooked in the draft, they almost always either came out of a small school (Kevin Martin) or came from a good program with more heralded teammates (Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Gilbert Arenas).
I've only seen Jrue Holiday play a couple of times and he didn't look overly impressive to me. I don't think Rubio has the athleticism or shooting ability. Haven't seen Jennings, but his Euro stats are worrisome. I think Ty Lawson is too short and too much like Ray Felton. Mills doesn't seem like a true point. Stephen Curry doesn't have the athleticism. I'll take Collison. Best of all, we may be able to get him with Houston's pick, although I think his stock will rise by the time the draft rolls around.
I've only seen Jrue Holiday play a couple of times and he didn't look overly impressive to me. I don't think Rubio has the athleticism or shooting ability. Haven't seen Jennings, but his Euro stats are worrisome. I think Ty Lawson is too short and too much like Ray Felton. Mills doesn't seem like a true point. Stephen Curry doesn't have the athleticism. I'll take Collison. Best of all, we may be able to get him with Houston's pick, although I think his stock will rise by the time the draft rolls around.
He might, but I'd rather not base a pick on faith, particularly a point guard. Holiday needs another year in school at least. He's an inconsistent shooter, I don't know if he has the ballhandling skills, and he hasn't burst onto the scene like Westbrook did. If he improves a lot as the season goes on I might change my mind, but I'm skeptical right now.
Ditto. As you probably know, Westbrook last year played better at pg than Collison, despite his lack of experience at the position. He could actually get into the offense much quicker and make things happen. Collison could end up to be one of those guys who is a workout warrior because of speed and quickness tests, but put the ball in his hands and he's not that fast.
Last edited:
In transition I agree with you, because Westbrook could really fly up the floor and he's a much better finisher than Collison. Half court though, Collison can really slice and dice a defense with his passing and shooting. It's rare to find a point guard who can do that so well, and he could kill teams in the NBA on the pick and roll with his shooting and passing. I disagree about his quickness. He's very quick, and an excellent defender. He's more quick than fast, if that makes sense.
He has great ball handling skills, I think anything you'd read on him would echo that. Yeah, his shot is streaky but he has good form and potential there. Quick and pretty explosive finisher, more athletic than Collison. He's got good decision making ability and I think overlooked passing/vision as well. He has the size, length, effort, and quickness to be a very good defender as well. Goes after rebounds aggressively too. Yes, he needs more seasoning but he has the perfect makeup for our PG needs.
It's a weak weak draft when you got Collison going #3. If both he and Holiday declare you got to take Holiday before him based on potential alone. Plus like I said in the post above Holiday is sort of out of position right now. It sucks that he is because he's not learning how to be a better PG when Collison is hogging all the minutes. When I heard Collison was coming back for his Sr year I kind of got pissed because I knew he would steam Holiday's spot.
Again, I'm not saying Collison is going to go #3 in the draft. He's just #3 on my own personal wish list. And I disagree you take someone on potential alone. I'd like to see them show something first. Holiday hasn't shown much yet other than potential. Potential has a way of staying as potential and not translating into reality.
He's only reached double figures once against an opponent that's any good, including a serious stinker against Texas (which I watched, and which is probably coloring my view of him). If he turns it on vs. the Pac 10 I may be converted. He does have intriguing skills. But until he does he's all potential.
I'm not a big Collison fan but I have to say he's been playing very well. So well that there's no doubt he can be a starter in the league. Probably not an All-Star but a solid 12pt 7 assists 1.5 steals type with defense, leadership, and smart. He isn't great at anything but he can do a bit of everything and has no obvious weakness. I won't be surprised if he goes lottery. I think he is a Petrie type player and that has me worried because Petrie has a history of reaching for need when we desperately need to come out of this draft with a sure-fire All-Star.
As for Jrue Holiday, no doubt the kid has huge potential, but as of now what can he do that Smush Parker can't? Holiday is one of those kids that struck me as someone who can easily go bust if he comes out too early. He and Mullen really should stay at least another year, unless they really pick up their game.
As for Jrue Holiday, no doubt the kid has huge potential, but as of now what can he do that Smush Parker can't? Holiday is one of those kids that struck me as someone who can easily go bust if he comes out too early. He and Mullen really should stay at least another year, unless they really pick up their game.