Look at your list. Half of it is 15 years old. JWill was older BTW. People don't remember that. He just acted young.
Honeycutt and Whiteside were second round picks. They do not really count.
Wallace is the guy who I think really turned things for us and made us gunshy. In fact I think Geoff has drawn exactly the wrong conclusions about his kid picks. Kevin aside, his youth picks have always been the very most talnted guys he has taken (Gerald, Reke, Cousins, even Peja if you want to go back that far, which I don't). Which is no shocker, because they are routinely the most talented guys anybody takes anymore. Those with the talent normally leave for NBA bucks as soon as they can (with Kevin we benefitted from him being a small school guy who did not get the rep until late).
Ever since that Gerald "disaster" (in the organizations mind -- great pick in the mind of other organizations) we've gone (upperclassmen in bold):
Martin
Garcia
Douby
Hawes (but wanted Noah, another upperclassman. Hawes was just who was left)
Thompson
Evans
Cousins
Fredette
Robinson
Petrie drafts for talent. To me, his draft history clearly shows that. This last two years he has, in my opinion, taken exception and drafted for the most NBA ready player. You say back to his "M.O." which to me means that you are referring to his history or pattern of drafting. But you arent willing to look "back that far." Then you discredit Hawes because he wanted Noah. Well, I'm sure he wouldve drafted durant or oden that year too, but that is not what happened.
Jason Williams, was old, yes. But you were referring to known/established players. Jason Williams was anything but that...transferred schools, was suspended, etc. If he was drafted based on the "M.O." you claim, then the choice seems as though it shouldve been Pierce.
Kevin Martin was anything but a sure thing. He may have been a senior, but he played in SoCon. He was not considered nba ready by anybody. So while he was older, I also think this pick was more based on talent than the assumption that he could come in an contribute right away, which he was not able or asked to do.
Wahad was the same way. Rode the pine at UM, transferred to SJSU where he played against inferior competition. He was an athletic talent drafted for his potential, not because he lit it up for one year.
Section 101 also makes a great point. You cant always draft young prospects in the late 20s, because the majority of them are all done.
I think Petrie's history of draft picks, trades, and signings prove that he is a GM that largely goes after talent before anything else, including fit and readiness. In fact, I sat next to him on a plane one time a few years ago. As much as he ignored me and wouldnt really talk to me, he did say that he makes decisions based on talent first, and works everything else out later, take that for what you will.
