People keep mentioning how we need to draft a player that will help us right away. I think I used to agree with that, but after some further thought, I'm not so sure that is the case.
I'll ask the simple question first, Where is the room for this rookies contributions? I see an opening for a fourth big, a starting SF, and 4th guard.
The fourth big spot right now belongs to Darnell Jackson. I'd like to upgrade that spot .. and we can do that through the draft if we want, or we can add a veteran on a short deal for some leadership and grit. But in all likelyhood, a rookie playing as the fourth big isnt going to make a huge splash in his first year.
Same goes for the fourth guard. It wouldnt kill us to add a veteran ball handler there, or a rookie if that is the way we go in the draft .. but the results are the same, whoever our fourth guard is .. the impact will be low.
The only spot where major minutes are available is the 3. But on a team desperate for some veteran leadership, I dont think it would surprise any of us if we went out and signed Prince/Ak/Battier. Then you have Donte/Omri/Garcia to backup whoever starts at small forward ..
The basic point is that we dont have a lot of minutes to give up right now. It doesnt matter if we draft a "NBA ready" guy or a project, at this point in time .. with the roster the way it is, whatever rookies we bring in will play a deep reserve role.
Udrih/Evans/Thornton/Cousins/Dalembert/Thompson. I dont see how any rookie we could draft cracks that top 6. Then you add in the veteran SF we should sign, and your talking about a rookie playing as the 8th man in your rotation .. at best.
I'll ask the simple question first, Where is the room for this rookies contributions? I see an opening for a fourth big, a starting SF, and 4th guard.
The fourth big spot right now belongs to Darnell Jackson. I'd like to upgrade that spot .. and we can do that through the draft if we want, or we can add a veteran on a short deal for some leadership and grit. But in all likelyhood, a rookie playing as the fourth big isnt going to make a huge splash in his first year.
Same goes for the fourth guard. It wouldnt kill us to add a veteran ball handler there, or a rookie if that is the way we go in the draft .. but the results are the same, whoever our fourth guard is .. the impact will be low.
The only spot where major minutes are available is the 3. But on a team desperate for some veteran leadership, I dont think it would surprise any of us if we went out and signed Prince/Ak/Battier. Then you have Donte/Omri/Garcia to backup whoever starts at small forward ..
The basic point is that we dont have a lot of minutes to give up right now. It doesnt matter if we draft a "NBA ready" guy or a project, at this point in time .. with the roster the way it is, whatever rookies we bring in will play a deep reserve role.
Udrih/Evans/Thornton/Cousins/Dalembert/Thompson. I dont see how any rookie we could draft cracks that top 6. Then you add in the veteran SF we should sign, and your talking about a rookie playing as the 8th man in your rotation .. at best.