Who is available as 6th-7th pick

[ParniValjak]

How was Parsons a longshot? He was sitting right there when we used our second round pick on Honeycutt. You can say he might have been gone, but the fact is, he wasn't!

When I say longshot, it's in the context that when it comes to 2nd round, there pool is MUCH more wide open that people think. When you are picking top 10, there are about 5-6 players that you are considering at your position. When it comes to 2nd round, your options increase dramatically. I know you liked Parsons when he was coming out of college but a lot of teams overlooked him. He wasn't a "can't miss" prospect. Not that top 10 are "can't miss" prospects either but there is always a consensus of of what the top 10-12 players in each draft are.

My point is, with pick inside top 10, you have less genuine options for that pick and as such, you have less chance of stuffing up the pick than when you are picking in the 2nd round.

 

[Chupacabra]

We need to draft either Burke or McCollum. If its anyone else then we better damn well be drafting someone who can block shots.

 

[Nikolizzle]

We need to draft either Burke or McCollum. If its anyone else then we better damn well be drafting someone who can block shots.

McCollum is quite literally the worst pick we could make.

 

[Telemachus]

McCollum is quite literally the worst pick we could make.

Any particular reason why?

 

[beb0p]

Any particular reason why?

I don't like McCollum either. Reminds me too much of Randy Foye.

You're basically banking on CJ's conversion to PG. If he fails (like Foye) then you're left with an undersized jump shooter (like Foye). Risk is high and so is the reward but my gut tells me that McCollum is not a PG.

.

 

[Telemachus]

I don't like McCollum either. Reminds me too much of Randy Foye.

You're basically banking on CJ's conversion to PG. If he fails (like Foye) then you're left with an undersized jump shooter (like Foye). Risk is high and so is the reward but my gut tells me that McCollum is not a PG.

.

I haven't seen much of McCollum, but my assumption is that he would probably play guard with Tyreke (with Tyreke handling the ball the most). That would give us the good shooter next to Evans that many of us want. Don't know how well that would work, but might be interesting to try. I was just curious why the other poster felt McCollum would be the worst choice for the Kings. I can think of several other players that I feel would be much worse picks. Of course, I am still holding out hope that Oladipo or Porter somehow fall to us.

 

[Kingster]

Scott Howard Cooper said the Kings are thinking of doing something "daring" on draft day. Didn't want to go into specifics. Wanted to keep it close to the vest until the draft gets closer. Trade up? Trade down?

He also said Anthony Bennett could be the guy for the Kings (just a total guess). Is Bennett good or bad for the Kings? Mega athletic tweener, but if you have him on the board with Zeller and MCW do you take him?

 

[KingsFanGER]

Scott Howard Cooper said the Kings are thinking of doing something "daring" on draft day. Didn't want to go into specifics. Wanted to keep it close to the vest until the draft gets closer. Trade up? Trade down?

He also said Anthony Bennett could be the guy for the Kings (just a total guess). Is Bennett good or bad for the Kings? Mega athletic tweener, but if you have him on the board with Zeller and MCW do you take him?

Yes. He gives the Kings great variability in the frontcourt. You can play him as a PF vs Teams without a dominant PF and play him as a SF vs Teams without a athletic SF. The big Question is, if he can make the transition to an NBA SF like Leonard f.e. In my opinion there is a pretty good chance, that he does, if he is given some time. He can shoot the ball, is a good rebounder and has enough ball control to drive to the basket. It all comes down to his defense vs quicker players and if he is willing to put in the work to become an NBA SF.
If the Kings FO is convinced he has the right mindset, there are not many players in the draft, that can match his talent.

 

[kingsfanslc]

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=25648198&nid=304&title=jazz-bring-in-final-big-name-point-guard-carter-williams

 

[Gary]

I'm angry about Parsons because he was in our draft range with the second rounder, we did look for an SF with that pick, had people on this very board (baja, for instance) ranking Parsons more highly than Honeycutt and then completely wiffed on the pick. had we drafted a big man or guard at 35, I wouldn't say anything about it, but we were looking at small forwards and Parsons was right there.

It's common knowledge Petrie sucks when it comes to 2nd round value. IT is the anomaly. Guys like Ewing JR, Singletary, Honeycutt, ect ect ect ect, are the norm.... The list goes on forever.

 

[macadocious]

Scott Howard Cooper said the Kings are thinking of doing something "daring" on draft day. Didn't want to go into specifics. Wanted to keep it close to the vest until the draft gets closer. Trade up? Trade down?

He also said Anthony Bennett could be the guy for the Kings (just a total guess). Is Bennett good or bad for the Kings? Mega athletic tweener, but if you have him on the board with Zeller and MCW do you take him?

Well Chad Ford reported today that the Kings really like Hardaway Jr and Tony Snell. Both are mid to late round picks at highest on every board I have looked at. Some even has them as 2nd rounders.

Not sure if any of that means anything, it is Ford of course. That being said, if the Kings don't like anyone available at 7 and you can get your guy in the 20's and trade of picks and players for a lower pick and a vet would make a lot of sense. I have no insight as to what that could look like.

 

[Jerichoholic]

I heard that too and he said that he wasn't even going to include it on his next mock draft, holding onto the information for awhile which is interesting. Typically reporters like to get this stuff out as fast as they can. It makes me think that it's very real. Trading down makes more sense, but I wouldn't classify that as daring. My guess would either be a trade up or moving key players in the deal, but of course this is all speculation.

My opinion on Bennett, No! We did this last year with Thomas Robinson. No more tweeners! Front court tweeners just don't work in the NBA no matter how athletic they are and one leg injury later are out of the league.

 

[Kingster]

Draft Needs:

Cavs - C/SF
Magic - PG/SG
Wizards - SF/PF
Bobs - C/PF/SG
Suns - C/PF/SF/SG
NO - SF/PG

(Please feel free to correct above; this is my first shot).

So in looking at the above, Porter falling to the Kings would be highly unlikely; four teams need a SF that are ahead of the Kings. Three teams need a center; Len is therefore unlikely to fall to the Kings.

That leaves SG (Oladipo/McLemore), PG (Burke) and PF (Bennett/Noel) for the Kings. Does it seem reasonable that it's down to these five guys for the Kings?

Scenario 1: Assume Cavs go with Len. (Why would they take Noel when they already have a long PF?) How does the draft fall?

Scenario 2: Assume Cavs go with Porter. How does the draft fall?

 

[Singhisking]

Scott Howard Cooper said the Kings are thinking of doing something "daring" on draft day. Didn't want to go into specifics. Wanted to keep it close to the vest until the draft gets closer. Trade up? Trade down?

He also said Anthony Bennett could be the guy for the Kings (just a total guess). Is Bennett good or bad for the Kings? Mega athletic tweener, but if you have him on the board with Zeller and MCW do you take him?

I am already getting sick of the GS crumbs falling in Kingsland and praying that the "Daring" doesn't translate in to another from GS.

 

[beb0p]

I haven't seen much of McCollum, but my assumption is that he would probably play guard with Tyreke (with Tyreke handling the ball the most). That would give us the good shooter next to Evans that many of us want. Don't know how well that would work, but might be interesting to try. I was just curious why the other poster felt McCollum would be the worst choice for the Kings. I can think of several other players that I feel would be much worse picks. Of course, I am still holding out hope that Oladipo or Porter somehow fall to us.

I wouldn't make Tyreke the primary playmaker in the backcourt, we already know that strategy doesn't work. We need a facilitator that can shoot next to Tyreke; and while McCollum can shoot, it's up in the air if he is a facilitator or if he even wants to be one.

I wouldn't say CJ is the worst pick but I honestly cannot say for sure that he's an upgrade over Marcus Thornton.
.

 

[hrdboild]

Draft Needs:

Cavs - C/SF
Magic - PG/SG
Wizards - SF/PF
Bobs - C/PF/SG
Suns - C/PF/SF/SG
NO - SF/PG

(Please feel free to correct above; this is my first shot).

So in looking at the above, Porter falling to the Kings would be highly unlikely; four teams need a SF that are ahead of the Kings. Three teams need a center; Len is therefore unlikely to fall to the Kings.

That leaves SG (Oladipo/McLemore), PG (Burke) and PF (Bennett/Noel) for the Kings. Does it seem reasonable that it's down to these five guys for the Kings?

Scenario 1: Assume Cavs go with Len. (Why would they take Noel when they already have a long PF?) How does the draft fall?

Scenario 2: Assume Cavs go with Porter. How does the draft fall?

This is a really smart way of looking at this. I've been formulating those scenarios myself and basically came to the same conclusion -- Len and Porter seem like they'll almost certainly be picked before us. It's tough to know which of the rumors are complete fabrication, but I've seen Bennett linked to Washington, Charlotte, Phoenix, and New Orleans. No one is really talking about Noel other than saying he's still the consensus #1 pick (just not a great fit for the Cavs) but his injury history is worrisome. Burke got a lot of buzz early on but it's since died down. Orlando at 2 is a little high for him and if New Orleans wants him they're keeping quiet about it. Everyone says Oladipo is rising and McLemore is slipping but is that a smoke-screen? As you pointed out, both guys are strictly SGs and three teams above us are set at that position, though you can always count on at least one team making a completely unexpected talent grab. So right now if I had to guess I would cross McLemore and Bennett off your list and predict we'll end up with Oladipo, Burke, or Noel.

Taking it a bit further, Washington is the key for us -- if Cleveland goes Len I expect they take Porter or Bennett. If Cleveland takes Porter it'll probably be Bennett or Noel. After that I'm fairly certain New Orleans wouldn't take Noel since they already have Davis. I'm also worried that Jordan likes to take defensive roleplayers. They've been linked to Bennett and McLemore because everyone assumes they'll take a scorer but I could easily see them instead taking Oladipo. And Phoenix has so many needs they're just going to take whoever they have highest on their board. The tough choice is whether to take more of a sure-thing with Oladipo and Burke or riskier picks like Noel, McLemore, Len, or Bennett. Considering everything I've read I'd say that a lot still has to break right for us to get Oladipo or Noel, and Burke is the most likely to fall.

 

[Kingster]

This is a really smart way of looking at this. I've been formulating those scenarios myself and basically came to the same conclusion -- Len and Porter seem like they'll almost certainly be picked before us. It's tough to know which of the rumors are complete fabrication, but I've seen Bennett linked to Washington, Charlotte, Phoenix, and New Orleans. No one is really talking about Noel other than saying he's still the consensus #1 pick (just not a great fit for the Cavs) but his injury history is worrisome. Burke got a lot of buzz early on but it's since died down. Orlando at 2 is a little high for him and if New Orleans wants him they're keeping quiet about it. Everyone says Oladipo is rising and McLemore is slipping but is that a smoke-screen? As you pointed out, both guys are strictly SGs and three teams above us are set at that position, though you can always count on at least one team making a completely unexpected talent grab. So right now if I had to guess I would cross McLemore and Bennett off your list and predict we'll end up with Oladipo, Burke, or Noel.

Taking it a bit further, Washington is the key for us -- if Cleveland goes Len I expect they take Porter or Bennett. If Cleveland takes Porter it'll probably be Bennett or Noel. After that I'm fairly certain New Orleans wouldn't take Noel since they already have Davis. I'm also worried that Jordan likes to take defensive roleplayers. They've been linked to Bennett and McLemore because everyone assumes they'll take a scorer but I could easily see them instead taking Oladipo. And Phoenix has so many needs they're just going to take whoever they have highest on their board. The tough choice is whether to take more of a sure-thing with Oladipo and Burke or riskier picks like Noel, McLemore, Len, or Bennett. Considering everything I've read I'd say that a lot still has to break right for us to get Oladipo or Noel, and Burke is the most likely to fall.

If New Orleans thinks that Bennett can be a three instead of a four, they probably take him if he's still there. If not, they may take Burke and leave the Kings with Bennett. Also, it's not out of the question that either Oladipo or McLemore happens to be on the table. The more I think about it, if Burke is the last guy standing I think the Kings are involved in a trade of some kind. It's doubtful that Burke is better than IT, at least not in his rookie year. He would be another redundant piece, and my gut tells me this management isn't in to accumulating redundant pieces.

 

[Nikolizzle]

Any particular reason why?

Well for starters, he's a combo guard, and we have 4 of those already; and they're better than him at what he does.

He might be worth a look if his passing were any good, but it's not. He's not equipped to run an NBA team's offense, and he's too small to guard most shooting guards.

His main advantage is that he can shoot from the outside. His defense is okay, I suppose, but not great.

Add that all up, and you've got Jimmer all over again, and we've already got Jimmer.

MCW is a much better choice, and it's much easier to teach someone to shoot than it is to teach someone to be a taller, better defender.

 

[bajaden]

When I say longshot, it's in the context that when it comes to 2nd round, there pool is MUCH more wide open that people think. When you are picking top 10, there are about 5-6 players that you are considering at your position. When it comes to 2nd round, your options increase dramatically. I know you liked Parsons when he was coming out of college but a lot of teams overlooked him. He wasn't a "can't miss" prospect. Not that top 10 are "can't miss" prospects either but there is always a consensus of of what the top 10-12 players in each draft are.

My point is, with pick inside top 10, you have less genuine options for that pick and as such, you have less chance of stuffing up the pick than when you are picking in the 2nd round.

I certainly agree that at the time, Parsons wasn't a can't miss player. But when your picking in the second round, your not thinking can't miss! Now I know everyone on this fourm doesn't have the time to sit and watch hundreds or college basketball games. So I'm not surprised that he was mostly an unknown to the majority of those people. But NBA teams have scouting dept's, and they should have known that Parsons was a better player than Honeycutt. Someone mentioned Parsons playing PF at Florida. Well, he did fill that role at times, but he also played SF there. Anyone that watches Florida play, knows that defense is at the top of the list there! So you could easily assume that Parsons would know how to play defense. Florida plays man to man defense.

I'll admit, the first time I saw Parsons play, he just didn't look like a basketball player. Long hair, and he just looked frumpy. But as you watched him play, you realized that hiding behind all that was a very deceptively good basketball player. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw him sitting there in the second round, because to be honest, I thought someone at the bottom of the first would pick him. My excitment didn't last long!

 

[bajaden]

McCollum is quite literally the worst pick we could make.

Really! Have you seen him play?

 

[bajaden]

I don't like McCollum either. Reminds me too much of Randy Foye.

You're basically banking on CJ's conversion to PG. If he fails (like Foye) then you're left with an undersized jump shooter (like Foye). Risk is high and so is the reward but my gut tells me that McCollum is not a PG.

.

I suggest you watch the interview I posted in another thread. It might change your mind a little. Are you aware that he played PG in highschool and in AAU ball. But when arrived at Lehigh, they asked him to play SG. I've seen him make some very good passes in traffic.

 

[bajaden]

Scott Howard Cooper said the Kings are thinking of doing something "daring" on draft day. Didn't want to go into specifics. Wanted to keep it close to the vest until the draft gets closer. Trade up? Trade down?

He also said Anthony Bennett could be the guy for the Kings (just a total guess). Is Bennett good or bad for the Kings? Mega athletic tweener, but if you have him on the board with Zeller and MCW do you take him?

I'm very biased when it comes to Bennett, and I would take him over either of them. He's a very good athlete that already has a very good faceup game. Very explosive around the basket. I think he can play SF. He is only 6'7", but he has a huge wingspan and his standing reach is the same as guys that are 6'10", and is probably longer than Zellers. There are several players in this draft, that I would call safe picks. By that, I mean players that I feel very sure will be at minimun, good role players and at best, could be all stars sometime in the future. And I have Bennett on that list.

 

[funkykingston]

I'm very biased when it comes to Bennett, and I would take him over either of them. He's a very good athlete that already has a very good faceup game. Very explosive around the basket. I think he can play SF. He is only 6'7", but he has a huge wingspan and his standing reach is the same as guys that are 6'10", and is probably longer than Zellers. There are several players in this draft, that I would call safe picks. By that, I mean players that I feel very sure will be at minimun, good role players and at best, could be all stars sometime in the future. And I have Bennett on that list.

Bennett scares me. His lack of effort on D and conditioning questions (apparently asthma is partly to blame?) as well as his tweener size and question of whether he can be a full time SF make him hugely risky in my mind. But he's also got the talent to be the best player in this draft and possibly a SF somewhere between early Larry Johnson and Carmelo Anthony. We'll see.

 

[bajaden]

I am already getting sick of the GS crumbs falling in Kingsland and praying that the "Daring" doesn't translate in to another from GS.

At least your a patient man!

 

[ParniValjak]

Taking Snell at 7 would be considered as daring.

 

[bajaden]

Well for starters, he's a combo guard, and we have 4 of those already; and they're better than him at what he does.

He might be worth a look if his passing were any good, but it's not. He's not equipped to run an NBA team's offense, and he's too small to guard most shooting guards.

His main advantage is that he can shoot from the outside. His defense is okay, I suppose, but not great.

Add that all up, and you've got Jimmer all over again, and we've already got Jimmer.

MCW is a much better choice, and it's much easier to teach someone to shoot than it is to teach someone to be a taller, better defender.

You don't have to answer my question about whether you've seen him play or not. Obviously you haven't! And if you have, you wern't paying attention. Just because your in love with a player that can't shoot, but is 6'6" doesn't mean you have to make up a bunch of crap about McCollum. McCollum is a good passer, and he's an excellent ballhandler. Please tell me who the 4 combo guards we have that are better shooters than McCollum? I'm not advocatiing that we draft McCollum. Personally I think the last thing we need on this team is another damm guard. But if I have to choose a guard, I have Oladipo, McLemore, Burke and McCollum all ranked ahead of Williams.

What the excitement over Williams is beyond me. And believe me I've seen him play for 2 years. He's not the next coming of Magic Johnson. He's a good passer, but he doesn't blow me away with his passing ability. Burke is just as good a playmaker, and he can shoot. Maybe Williams will develop into a decent shooter. I have no idea, and neither do you. Maybe he will be a good defender. But once again, I have no idea and neither do you. I know whether Burke can defend or not. Michigan played man to man defense I know what McCollum can do. Lehigh played man to man defense. Someone brought up that susposedly Williams destroyed Indiana in the tournament. Well, Oladipo only guarded him part of the time. And Indiana's problem wasn't Oladipo, who actually had a good game both offensively and defensively. The problem was Zeller, whose interior defense was terrible in that game. And by the way, the great Williams had one assist in that game. This is starting to be Ricky Rubio part two.

 

[bajaden]

Bennett scares me. His lack of effort on D and conditioning questions (apparently asthma is partly to blame?) as well as his tweener size and question of whether he can be a full time SF make him hugely risky in my mind. But he's also got the talent to be the best player in this draft and possibly a SF somewhere between early Larry Johnson and Carmelo Anthony. We'll see.

I appreciate your concerns, and they're justified. (That would be a great name for a TV series) What Bennett has going for him along with his athleticism, is that he's very very skilled, and skilled players are seldom busts. Athletic players without skills have the higest percentage of being busts. As for his defense. I saw him play very good defense at times, and not much other times. That tells me he's capable, but at times gets down on himself and pouts, which leads to lack of effort at the other end of the court. I'll tell you this! Michael Carter-Williams scares me far more than Bennett does. But, if for some reason we draft him, I'll be his biggest fan and hope I've been wrong about him.

 

[sdballer]

Taking Snell at 7 would be considered as daring.

Yes, daring and fairly stupid.

 

[AaronPDX]

Lots of "experts" out there today saying Bennett, Shabazz and Burke. With Dallas apparently actively shopping their No. 13 pick, I hope D'Allesandro is inquiring. Some good mid round and later talent to be had in this draft. I'd be happy with Bennett or Burke and MCW at 13 myself. This is going to be an interesting draft for sure, I see a lot of movement to come.

 

[ParniValjak]

I appreciate your concerns, and they're justified. (That would be a great name for a TV series) What Bennett has going for him along with his athleticism, is that he's very very skilled, and skilled players are seldom busts. Athletic players without skills have the higest percentage of being busts. As for his defense. I saw him play very good defense at times, and not much other times. That tells me he's capable, but at times gets down on himself and pouts, which leads to lack of effort at the other end of the court. I'll tell you this! Michael Carter-Williams scares me far more than Bennett does. But, if for some reason we draft him, I'll be his biggest fan and hope I've been wrong about him.

Mate, I value you opinion highly on these draft kids coming through and I have one question that keeps bugging me with Bennett. Can he genuinely play as a full time SF in the NBA?

That is one question that I think a lot of teams are asking. He won't be able to be a genuine, full time PF in the NBA because the length will trouble him. I am sure offensively, he could play a fair bit at SF as he can use his size to post up smaller players and his long range shooting is a genuine threat BUT can he guard athletic SFs in the NBA?

I know no one can stop LeBron but some players can make him earn it. Can Bennett (in time) be the player that could guard the likes of LeBron, Carmelo, Pierce (he is close to retiring), Gallinari, etc? That is one key question I have here.

One thing that Bennett has going for him that the likes of T-Rob, Williams etc did not have going for them is his skill level and face up game. That will translate but in the NBA, you can only play position that you can guard and at 6'8" or there about, he will not be able to guard the games best PFs on a regular basis and the question then becomes, is he a SF at the next level or is he a tweener that is without position!

There have been plenty of tweeners that have gone on to have a productive NBA careers (eg Jamison) but none of them have gone on to be the sort of players that you always want on your team because they have a defined position. There is no doubt the kid has the skills but can he play as a full time SF in the NBA? If he can, with that size and length and the skill level, he could be one of the better SFs in the league. If he can't, he will struggle to be a good player in the league.