and with the #1 pick in the 2009 NBA draft the Kings select...

[Kingster]

True, but its a better comparison than Salmons

Curry is a shooter. He's not a good enough playmaker, not good enough defender, not good enough rebounder to justify an NBA existence. He just shoots, which is enough to justify an NBA existence. But if you're a smaller player in the NBA and you can only shoot, you're not worth a top tier pick. His college coach lets him dominate the ball because Curry is the only "player" on the team. In the NBA, he won't be able to, won't be allowed to, do that. In my opinion, because of his average quickness he will never be a great playmaker. Just doesn't have it in him. He does have good vision, but that's not enough in the NBA. I think Curry is the opposite of a late bloomer. He doesn't have the athletic ability to get a lot better in the NBA. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But that's my impression of him.

 

[SacKings7]

Curry is a shooter. He's not a good enough playmaker, not good enough defender, not good enough rebounder to justify an NBA existence. He just shoots, which is enough to justify an NBA existence. But if you're a smaller player in the NBA and you can only shoot, you're not worth a top tier pick. His college coach lets him dominate the ball because Curry is the only "player" on the team. In the NBA, he won't be able to, won't be allowed to, do that. In my opinion, because of his average quickness he will never be a great playmaker. Just doesn't have it in him. He does have good vision, but that's not enough in the NBA. I think Curry is the opposite of a late bloomer. He doesn't have the athletic ability to get a lot better in the NBA. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But that's my impression of him.

I agree with u completely, I just didn't like your Salmons comparison. How about the second coming of J.J. Redick?

 

[=LarryLegend=]

Patty Mills! this dude is a beast.

 

[Kingster]

Curry is a shooter. He's not a good enough playmaker, not good enough defender, not good enough rebounder to justify an NBA existence. He just shoots, which is enough to justify an NBA existence. But if you're a smaller player in the NBA and you can only shoot, you're not worth a top tier pick. His college coach lets him dominate the ball because Curry is the only "player" on the team. In the NBA, he won't be able to, won't be allowed to, do that. In my opinion, because of his average quickness he will never be a great playmaker. Just doesn't have it in him. He does have good vision, but that's not enough in the NBA. I think Curry is the opposite of a late bloomer. He doesn't have the athletic ability to get a lot better in the NBA. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But that's my impression of him.[/QUOTE

I agree with u completely, I just didn't like your Salmons comparison. How about the second coming of J.J. Redick?

Yes, that could definitely fit.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Nope, the Reddick comparison doesn't fit at all. They can both shoot, that's where the comparisons end. Curry is much faster, and while he doesn't have amazing speed, he is deceptively quick and is as good as they come moving without the ball. He causes havok running around screens and he has excellent change of pace and direction.

Apart from that he is a good ball handler, can create his own shot (won't be great at this at the next level but neither was a certain unathletic shooter named Reggie Miller), and is a very capable passer. Add that to the fact that he is cold blooded and money in the clutch and he is a far better prospect than Reddick ever was.

If just shooting justifies Reddick going at 14 or whatever it was, Curry could certainly go higher justifiably.

He will be no superstar, but he could be a very good player. I like him and I have no reason to be biased.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

If just shooting justifies Reddick going at 14 or whatever it was, Curry could certainly go higher justifiably.

I think he went 10th.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Redick went 11th.

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

Curry is not like Reddick. He has shown a propensity to play PG with his ballhandling ability and decent court vision. He's not exactly a bullet on the court, but he's deceptively quick. And besides he's got a dangerous jumpshot that could possibly open up some driving lanes.

I repeat, he's not a top 5 guy. But I would take him anywhere from 8th on up.

 

[SacKings7]

Curry is not like Reddick. He has shown a propensity to play PG with his ballhandling ability and decent court vision. He's not exactly a bullet on the court, but he's deceptively quick. And besides he's got a dangerous jumpshot that could possibly open up some driving lanes.

I repeat, he's not a top 5 guy. But I would take him anywhere from 8th on up.

Maybe not so much, but I think their stories will be the same. Undersized shooter who was a star in college only to have marginal success in the NBA

 

[Vlade4GM]

Curry is a gunner, we need him as much as we needed Bayless, which was not so much. I'll take Rubio, Jennings or Holiday.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I honestly think that if we dont get rubio, we're screwed.

Im sick of pure scoring point guards.. I dont want a gilbert arenas running my team, I want a smart point guard with a good handle and at least above average on defense (see rajon rondo with a jumper) ... rubio doesnt have rondo's speed, but 6'4 is decent size for a point man and I just get the feeling that if we get someone other than him it will be a wasted draft... we have promising young talent at every other position , Rubio is the only way to go.

 

[bajaden]

Watched the UConn game the other day. I'm really trying to like Thabeet, and there's no doubt that he's improved on offense. But he's still doing little things that drive me nuts. Such as receiving a pass under the basket and then dropping his hands down to his waist before going up to the basket. Wa LA, the ball is now going down to the other end of the court.

He still lets much smaller men block him out for a rebound, or block him from position under the basket. He sometimes lets guys half his size push him around under the basket. All these thing are correctable, but their also red flags to me. Anyway, its a long season, so I'll withhold judgement for another day.

 

[bajaden]

I also took in the Arizona/Gonzaga game. Jordan Hill continues to impress me with being aggressive on both ends of the floor. His defense is improving and he's turning into a very good shot blocker, basicly shutting down Gonzaga's big center. One thing I don't get, is why they don't have Budinger shooting the ball more. The guy's a terrific outside shooter.

For Gonzaga, Heytvelt didn't have a very good game. He's been a pretty dominate player against slower and less athletic bigs, but this game was a good preview of what his problems might be in the NBA. Pargo just doesn't impress me. He appears to have all the tools, but doesn't impact the game the way I would expect a top Pt. guard to do. By the same token, I was impressed with A.J. Price on UConn. Its really his first year at the helm, but he played pretty well. Granted it was against poor competition.

The most impressive player on the Gonzaga team, and could be a lottery pick if he keeps playing at this level, is Austin Daye. He's a terrific outside shooter with a silky smooth stroke. He's very athletic and quick to the basket with the ability to finish in a variety of ways. He does have a tendency to gamble and overplay on defense, but you can see the potential there to be a very good defensive player. Think of a 6'10" Doug Christie with a better outside shot.

I don't know what he weighs, but its not enough. He might be pushing 200 pounds, if that. But if he can put on a little more muscle weight and continues to improve he could develop into a nightmare matchup in the NBA.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

to me this draft is poop.

Jrue and Jennings are WAY over hyped, and should stay for another year.

The only guy in the draft the kings NEED to draft is....



Mills

I think he is be a great point for our future.


p.s. i still like Earl Clark also...even though we are sf heavy.

 

[Spike]

For Gonzaga, Heytvelt didn't have a very good game. He's been a pretty dominate player against slower and less athletic bigs, but this game was a good preview of what his problems might be in the NBA.

Wasn't Heytvelt the shroomer?

Should a pure PG not be available when we pick, while I'm not ready right now to take on the Thabeet Gambit, I may be convinced by year's end if he continues to improve.
Curry isn't what we need, unless KMart is no longer able to play. Then I wager that "The Gambit" should extend to Curry, with the assumption that Beno will run the team in the hopes that a PG is acquired in 2010 via draft or trade.

 

[bajaden]

to me this draft is poop.

Jrue and Jennings are WAY over hyped, and should stay for another year.

The only guy in the draft the kings NEED to draft is....



Mills

I think he is be a great point for our future.


p.s. i still like Earl Clark also...even though we are sf heavy.

There are going to be some very good players available in this draft. They just might not fill a position of immediate need.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

to me this draft is poop.

Jrue and Jennings are WAY over hyped, and should stay for another year.

.

People say that almost every year. It is basically code for, there is not a no brainer #1 pick. And it's true, there is no Shaq, Duncan, or Lebron in this years draft.

Just looking at recent history, people said the same thing in 2006. And the #1 pick was a bust in Bargnani. However, the same draft has already given us Lamarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, and Rudy Gay as the potential stars along with a host of good role players.

In 2007, the draft was supposed to be terrible after the top 2; however, Horford, Hawes, Wright, Thadeus Young, Stuckey, Wilson Chandler and Rudy Fernandez, etc have already emerged as legitimate prospects.

2005 was also supposed to be mediocre. Heck the #1 pick that year was Andrew Bogut. However, after that we got Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Raymond Felton, Danny Granger, Nate Rob, Cisco, David Lee, etc. That draft also had Bynum and Louie Williams, but I didn't include them because they were high schoolers and players like them will not be eligible in this year's draft.

In fact the only truly terrible draft in the last 20 years was 2000, where the best player was a second round pick (Michael Redd) and the second best player was either Hedo, Kenyon Martin or Mo Pete and there were a ton of players who were out of the league in less than 5 years.

Point being, it is way too early to write off this draft. There is a lot of potential talent out there and certain players will elevate their status greatly during the college and various FIBA seasons. The only thing we can definitively say is that there is no slam dunk, franchise player for whatever team gets the #1 pick. There might be some actual talent evaluation required for all the lottery teams.

 

[beb0p]

why couldn't he declare, get drafted.. stay a year in europe for seasoning then decide to come over? IE, peja stojakovic or rudy fernandez

It's a possibility. Although usually this is a route used by players who are about to become too old for the draft. Rubio still has time and it's less of a probability that he declares and stay in Europe; since no one knows what the team that drafts him will be like when he decides to come over. He could be coming to a team that doesn't need him anymore. I'm guessing that someone with his talent and star power wouldn't want to put himself in an unknown situation like that.

 

[Kingster]

People say that almost every year. It is basically code for, there is not a no brainer #1 pick. And it's true, there is no Shaq, Duncan, or Lebron in this years draft.

Just looking at recent history, people said the same thing in 2006. And the #1 pick was a bust in Bargnani. However, the same draft has already given us Lamarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, and Rudy Gay as the potential stars along with a host of good role players.

In 2007, the draft was supposed to be terrible after the top 2; however, Horford, Hawes, Wright, Thadeus Young, Stuckey, Wilson Chandler and Rudy Fernandez, etc have already emerged as legitimate prospects.

2005 was also supposed to be mediocre. Heck the #1 pick that year was Andrew Bogut. However, after that we got Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Raymond Felton, Danny Granger, Nate Rob, Cisco, David Lee, etc. That draft also had Bynum and Louie Williams, but I didn't include them because they were high schoolers and players like them will not be eligible in this year's draft.

In fact the only truly terrible draft in the last 20 years was 2000, where the best player was a second round pick (Michael Redd) and the second best player was either Hedo, Kenyon Martin or Mo Pete and there were a ton of players who were out of the league in less than 5 years.

Point being, it is way too early to write off this draft. There is a lot of potential talent out there and certain players will elevate their status greatly during the college and various FIBA seasons. The only thing we can definitively say is that there is no slam dunk, franchise player for whatever team gets the #1 pick. There might be some actual talent evaluation required for all the lottery teams.

The 2007 draft was supposed to be the best draft in a decade. We'll see about this draft. So far I haven't seen any Roy's, Horford's, Gay's, William's or Paul's. When you do, please let me know.

 

[Dime Dropper]

So far I haven't seen any Roy's, Horford's, Gay's, William's or Paul's. When you do, please let me know.

Let me guess, you knew they were going to be this good before the draft?

 

[Sptsjunkie]

The 2007 draft was supposed to be the best draft in a decade. We'll see about this draft. So far I haven't seen any Roy's, Horford's, Gay's, William's or Paul's. When you do, please let me know.

Not this early in the season it wasn't. Everyone was already talking about Durant and Oden (as I mentioned), but at this point in the college seasons it was supposed to be slim pickings after that. Noah probably had the 3rd most buzz surrounding him.

Look at the next few picks.

• Horford's buzz grew over the course of the college season as people started to realize his game translated best to the pros on Florida's team.
• Conley was an afterthought this early in the year, but his stock rose as he continued to excel, especially in the Tournament.
• Jeff Green's stock rose tremendously throughout the season and torunament, as Georgetown outperformed expectations
• A lot of the players doing well now were not on early season radars, including Rodney Stuckey and Rudy F (to a degree)
• In fact, the more hearelded early season players - Noah and Acie Law - saw their stock plummet leading up to the draft and are low impact players right now

 

[Hansel]

Rubio is the answer.
I watched him a lot of times during last years. He has personality (outstanding personality for his age... he wants the ball, talks to referees, he flops, there's no chance that fear can keep him from taking decisions... especially in crunch time), he's smart, his ball-handling is amazing and pass the ball is his first option. He's a born leader.
He's just a reliably shot from outside away to be the best point guard in Europe... and he's only 18.

 

[nbrans]

Rubio is the answer.
I watched him a lot of times during last years. He has personality (outstanding personality for his age... he wants the ball, talks to referees, he flops, there's no chance that fear can keep him from taking decisions... especially in crunch time), he's smart, his ball-handling is amazing and pass the ball is his first option. He's a born leader.
He's just a reliably shot from outside away to be the best point guard in Europe... and he's only 18.

Greeeeeeat.

But honestly, in my mind he lacks two things: a jump shot (which he would need to rebuild from scratch) and NBA athleticism. I know people around here think he's athletic enough. I don't see it.

 

[fnordius]

Not this early in the season it wasn't.

I'd also add that both of the last couple of drafts have suffered from players pulling out at the last minute, because of too much competition. Last year's draft might have benefited from it as much as it lost, but the 2007 draft had no such compensation. This year's draft is better because of the prior crowding, since people like Thabeet (who held off before) are finally going to be available.

*knocks on wood*

But that did result in a bit of excess hype for '07, since not everyone that was expected actually entered that draft.

 

[Kingster]

Not this early in the season it wasn't. Everyone was already talking about Durant and Oden (as I mentioned), but at this point in the college seasons it was supposed to be slim pickings after that. Noah probably had the 3rd most buzz surrounding him.


Look at the next few picks.

• Horford's buzz grew over the course of the college season as people started to realize his game translated best to the pros on Florida's team.
• Conley was an afterthought this early in the year, but his stock rose as he continued to excel, especially in the Tournament.
• Jeff Green's stock rose tremendously throughout the season and torunament, as Georgetown outperformed expectations
• A lot of the players doing well now were not on early season radars, including Rodney Stuckey and Rudy F (to a degree)
• In fact, the more hearelded early season players - Noah and Acie Law - saw their stock plummet leading up to the draft and are low impact players right now

I'm hoping you're right and there are about four or five guys that are not on the radar screen now that will be come draft time. I'm certainly not banking on the Kings picking as high as fourth, that's for darn sure. Who on this board doesn't think that one way or another, by Martin coming back, by management making a move, by Natt making a good impression, by some darn "unlucky" thing that we'll be picking this high when all is said and done? It wouldn't surprise me if we end up picking 10th, but I'll be the first to admit my bias is because I've been sooo dissapointed by the knuckle-headed moves of this organization coming down the stretch the past couple of years.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'm hoping Greg Monroe will decide to declare, he'd be a perfect fit at the 4 for us.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I'm hoping Greg Monroe will decide to declare, he'd be a perfect fit at the 4 for us.

great....and no point guard......yeah

 

[beb0p]

Not this early in the season it wasn't. Everyone was already talking about Durant and Oden (as I mentioned), but at this point in the college seasons it was supposed to be slim pickings after that. Noah probably had the 3rd most buzz surrounding him.

The way I remember it, outside of Oden and Durrant, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Yi Jianlian, Brandan Wright, Tad Young, Hawes, Julian Wright, Acie Law, and the Florida's big three. It was also the first year that we saw the result of the age 19 limit kicked in, so we know there are going to be some kickass freshmen in the draft. Many people knew the draft was deep, the only question was how deep.

But this draft is very different. I struggle to even name the top five guys. I think it's because many freshmen are not playing up to their potential and those that are playing well haven't shown they're NBA ready. If you take all the freshmen out of the 2007 draft, it'll reflect the 2009 draft.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

The way I remember it, outside of Oden and Durrant, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Yi Jianlian, Brandan Wright, Tad Young, Hawes, Julian Wright, Acie Law, and the Florida's big three. It was also the first year that we saw the result of the age 19 limit kicked in, so we know there are going to be some kickass freshmen in the draft. Many people knew the draft was deep, the only question was how deep.

But this draft is very different. I struggle to even name the top five guys. I think it's because many freshmen are not playing up to their potential and those that are playing well haven't shown they're NBA ready. If you take all the freshmen out of the 2007 draft, it'll reflect the 2009 draft.

I think you are partially right here. There was some more buzz around 2007 than I gave credit for. I think ironically though, it was players like Noah, Lawson, Law etc. who slipped. Early buzz doesn't mean much in a lot of cases. Yi's buzz actually started right around this part of the year.

I think the greater point is that a lot of drafts are still very unpredictable at this point in the season. This time last year, Derrick Rose wasn't even a lock for a top 5 pick, now he looks like a potential franchise player. A lot of fresham improve as seasons go on. The Tournament tends to magnify players' strengths, weaknesses, composure, etc.

I'll go back to my original point which is that the only thing I think we know about this year's draft is that there is no sure fire Superstar for whoever gets the first pick. With that said, there are enough high upside frosh/soph and foreign talent (Griffin, Holiday, Rubio, Jennings, Harden, etc.) that as the NCAA and FIBA seasons go on, we will see some top tier players emerge. Again, the only really bad draft of the last 20 years was 2000 and I don't think there's any reason to believe this class will replicate that one.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

[/list] I'm hoping you're right and there are about four or five guys that are not on the radar screen now that will be come draft time. I'm certainly not banking on the Kings picking as high as fourth, that's for darn sure. Who on this board doesn't think that one way or another, by Martin coming back, by management making a move, by Natt making a good impression, by some darn "unlucky" thing that we'll be picking this high when all is said and done? It wouldn't surprise me if we end up picking 10th, but I'll be the first to admit my bias is because I've been sooo dissapointed by the knuckle-headed moves of this organization coming down the stretch the past couple of years.

I think some players will emerge and a couple of them are probably already on the radar screen. Jennings is still adjusting to Europe, so as he adjusts he could see his stock rise significantly. Holiday is in a very controlled UCLA system that takes awhile for guards in particular to adjust to. Rubio just got back from a broken hand, so he could still have a spectacular season and justify a top pick. James Harden could continue to excel. BJ Mullens could put together a strong second half and tourney. And as you mentioned a couple of players lower on the radar will likely emerge too.

As for our position, I have a hard time seeing us being the 10th worst team. I think we may improve a bit, but as long as we continue to play the youth, we shouldn't finish better than 6th or maybe 7th. If you look at the teams around us in the standings, the Warriors will get better with Ellis, the Bobcats are playing better and are playing veterans to win, and the Clippers have been looking a lot better and will pass us barring massive injuries.