Draft Thread

[The_Jamal]

Oh get a hold of your emotions, I don't think Brick is saying that. Robinson is a good pick, but there's no question that he doesn't fit as well as say MKG would. The point Brick is trying to make is that we still have holes that we absolutely need to fill, because as good as a player and addition Robinson is, he doesn't fill them. We've added good value to our team, but our team is only as strong as our weakest link, and so we've got to address those issues too.

Absolutely! I agree! By no means am I thinking "T-rob, Title time!"

But he's certainly a great step towards that direction. We just created the best young bigs duo in the NBA. Bar none. Depending on if we keep JT or not, our rebounding should be in the top 5 next season. Finally, this team is moving forward. Hopefully, Petrie makes a few key moves and finds us more defensive role players and big off the bench we can bring in to be that paint presence with T-Rob/Cousins

 

[dmj]

Teams that are constantly at the bottom of NBA need to acquire talent. Not roleplayers, talent. You acquire prospects, see who makes it to the next level and then work out the details. Robinson has just as much of a chance of being an elite player, perhaps more, as anyone on this roster. Besides, it isn't like we have an elite power forward (or elite anything for that matter) making Robinson redundant.

 

[Gilles]

he didn't make a comparison. He simply mentioned a team, a title winner no less, that debunks the misguided theory that was presented. you only think it's stupid because it proves the theory wrong. someone else mentioned the first Chicago Bulls title team, which is another decent example. and, while they didn't win the title, someone also pointed out our 2001/02 Kings. they were one shot away from the finals yet had no elite shotblocking presence.

shotblocking is nice, but you dont have to have it to be a contender. in fact, shotblocking is usually overrated because if you don't rebound the block, does it really matter? second chance points kill ...

fg% against >> shot blocking

if shot blocking helps you achieve low FG% against, more power to you. but on it's own merit, it's overrated.

Well, your examples mean Thomas and Thornton should go out the door.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Absolutely love the pick of T-Rob! He's got the post/rebounding of a Brian Grant to go along with a little C-Webb passing...he's got ALOT of heart and desire!

 

[mac]

Absolutely! I agree! By no means am I thinking "T-rob, Title time!"

But he's certainly a great step towards that direction. We just created the best young bigs duo in the NBA. Bar none. Depending on if we keep JT or not, our rebounding should be in the top 5 next season. Finally, this team is moving forward. Hopefully, Petrie makes a few key moves and finds us more defensive role players and big off the bench we can bring in to be that paint presence with T-Rob/Cousins

Yup, it all comes down to how we address those weak areas in the rest of the offseason. I'm glad that we got TRob, but personally I feel that with the exact same team as last year + our #5 pick, we'd win more games with MKG and maybe Barnes than we would with Robinson, because SF is a really really big hole of ours. That said, if we make the right moves and address our weak areas it is more than possible that our team will be better off as a whole than if we had drafted a shotblocker or SF instead of Robinson.

 

[Heuge]

Absolutely love the pick of T-Rob! He's got the post/rebounding of a Brian Grant to go along with a little C-Webb passing...he's got ALOT of heart and desire!

Passing is said to be one of his weaknesses.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Absolutely! I agree! By no means am I thinking "T-rob, Title time!"

But he's certainly a great step towards that direction. We just created the best young bigs duo in the NBA. Bar none. Depending on if we keep JT or not, our rebounding should be in the top 5 next season. Finally, this team is moving forward. Hopefully, Petrie makes a few key moves and finds us more defensive role players and big off the bench we can bring in to be that paint presence with T-Rob/Cousins

If Drummond reaches his potential, you may have to re-think that best young bigs duo tag. Not saying it will happen, but if it does, Detroit can look forward to a lot of success...

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Well, your examples mean Thomas and Thornton should go out the door.

I didn't provide any examples. I merely clarified and supported what was already said.

 

[Bricklayer]

Brick...

As somebody who has read this forum for a very, very long time at a religious rate, I've noticed something lately. Your analysis is really beginning to slip.

Not a fan of T-Rob? Wow. This guy will be the same that D-Cuz was in his draft: the second best talent that ended up falling to pick 5. He has an unrelenting motor and is going to be the type of leader and worker this team needs to succeed.

It is almost like saying "Why would we trade for Dwight Howard? We already have Cuz. I'd rather have Dorrell Wright, he is a SF that fits some of our needs."

We draft a potential franchise player and you complain because he isn't a SF? Get a grip.

1st: T-Rob is the perfect sort of player to inspire fanboyism of all kinds. He jumps high! He hustles! He scowls! Woot!
2nd: No he is not as talented as Cousins. Not remotely. VERY few are.
3rd: BUT, if we were a Charlotte Bobcats board, I might very well have been advocating for us to draft him. Stop. Ponder that. Consider the implications.

Thomas Robinson is highly unlikely to be god's gift as somebody around here put it without a shred of irony. He is not special in the way Cousins is special where everything just comes easy and he can do things that nobody else his size should ever be able to do. But he COULD be a good NBA PF. He absolutely could. Once he measured out at about average PF size, and with his athletcism his potential future got a lot clearer. He should be able to continue rebounding -- that trait typically translates between levels. His aggressiveness and competitiveness will all be good as long as it does not turn on us in frustration or inspire a reaction from Cuz. He was screwing around at the combine showing he could shoot threes. Typically a disastrous development, and maybe even moreso with Smart, but at elast showing his faceup jumper should be solid for creating space.

But that said, one great advanatge I am repeatedly made aware of is the simple fact that I have been around for so long. I have a great depth of NBA history stashed away. And in this particualr case I know what great frontlines lok like, and I know what the wingmen of great centers look like (and hint, there are no modern 20pt/20pt frontlines, TRob at anything above about 15ppg is dimming Cousins' star). And I fully understand, as some refuse to do, the implications of Cousins not being Mourning, Ewing, Hakeem or Howard defensively. That responsibility, that tremendous responsibility for anchoring the defense, is going to fall to others. TRob is not going to be that other. So here is what you get: potentially a very good player, potentially even an upper echelon PF, although we have to see -- he was older than other guys in college. Doing what he did at 21 is not as impressive as Davis doing what he did as a frosh. BUT, its not a great fit for us. And it does little to solve any of the problems that absolutely hamstrung us last year.

This pick btw gets better if we somehow acquire a defensive roleplaying SF and major rim protector as our 3rd big. But that's the problem. We didn't, and the 5th pick was the biggest asset we had for this entire offseason. Now we still have the same major holes, and no likely way to patch them without trading out core chunks.

Cousins dictates this team. its folly to say oh DeMarcus will jsut have to go work on his defense. Of course he will. But he is simply not a natural shotblocker, and asking a non-natural shotblocker who has led the entire NBA in fouls the last two season to step it up and try to block more shots is just moronic. We needed to get that pressure off him so he could stay on the floor. We did not do so with this pick.

 

[DesertFox]

Chuck Hayes and some 2nd round picks probably won't be enough for Terrence Jones. That would be nice though.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Wow, great picks by Boston. Both Sullinger and Melo couldn't really compliment eachother any better. Definitely great value and promising due for the future. Cover eachothers weaknesses nicely.

 

[JMelho]

Lol what is with David Stern.

 

[Kingster]

Absolutely this. He's got as much athleticism as anyone in this draft, his motor is unbelieveable. He's a fantastic man and team defender and he's going to be able to step in and be a #3 option type on offense.

Man, this is really amazing. IT-Reke-T-Rob-Cousins core is absolutey a step in the right direction

He's got the character, the talent and the motor. Can't wait to see this guy play next year. I think he can be a disruptor on defense if used properly. And, he FINISHES! He will be the best finisher on the Kings, no doubt. I can see IT throwing him lobs for dunks, not only on fast breaks, but in the half court. This team has a lot of physicallity. They need to resign Thompson and then they just need a 3. Last, but not least, they need to get serious about playing D. Then they're ready for the playoffs.

 

[Dime Dropper]

1st: T-Rob is the perfect sort of player to inspire fanboyism of all kinds. He jumps high! He hustles! He scowls! Woot!
2nd: No he is not as talented as Cousins. Not remotely. VERY few are.
3rd: BUT, if we were a Charlotte Bobcats board, I might very well have been advocating for us to draft him. Stop. Ponder that. Consider the implications.

Thomas Robinson is highly unlikely to be god's gift as somebody around here put it without a shred of irony. He is not special in the way Cousins is special where everything just comes easy and he can do things that nobody else his size should ever be able to do. But he COULD be a good NBA PF. He absolutely could. Once he measured out at about average PF size, and with his athletcism his potential future got a lot clearer. He should be able to continue rebounding -- that trait typically translates between levels. His aggressiveness and competitiveness will all be good as long as it does not turn on us in frustration or inspire a reaction from Cuz. He was screwing around at the combine showing he could shoot threes. Typically a disastrous development, and maybe even moreso with Smart, but at elast showing his faceup jumper should be solid for creating space.

But that said, one great advanatge I am repeatedly made aware of is the simple fact that I have been around for so long. I have a great depth of NBA history stashed away. And in this particualr case I know what great frontlines lok like, and I know what the wingmen of great centers look like (and hint, there are no modern 20pt/20pt frontlines, TRob at anything above about 15ppg is dimming Cousins' star). And I fully understand, as some refuse to do, the implications of Cousins not being Mourning, Ewing, Hakeem or Howard defensively. That responsibility, that tremendous responsibility for anchoring the defense, is going to fall to others. TRob is not going to be that other. So here is what you get: potentially a very good player, potentially even an upper echelon PF, although we have to see -- he was older than other guys in college. Doing what he did at 21 is not as impressive as Davis doing what he did as a frosh. BUT, its not a great fit for us. And it does little to solve any of the problems that absolutely hamstrung us last year.

This pick btw gets better if we somehow acquire a defensive roleplaying SF and major rim protector as our 3rd big. But that's the problem. We didn't, and the 5th pick was the biggest asset we had for this entire offseason. Now we still have the same major holes, and no likely way to patch them without trading out core chunks.

Cousins dictates this team. its folly to say oh DeMarcus will jsut have to go work on his defense. Of course he will. But he is simply not a natural shotblocker, and asking a non-natural shotblocker who has led the entire NBA in fouls the last two season to step it up and try to block more shots is just moronic. We needed to get that pressure off him so he could stay on the floor. We did not do so with this pick.

Bravo, sir, bravo.

I'm still a fan of the pick, but I can't disagree with anything you said. We need to make moves.

 

[Dime Dropper]

By the way, I think the Rockets did extremely well with Lamb, Jones and White. They just got three very good pieces for the future.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

If Drummond reaches his potential, you may have to re-think that best young bigs duo tag. Not saying it will happen, but if it does, Detroit can look forward to a lot of success...

I agree. Detroit's front line could be one of the best in 3 or 4 short years and we could be regretting not taking a flyer on a kid with out-of-this-world potential who very easily could have been a HS senior this year.

Not complaining about taking Robinson, just acknowledging the possibility that Drummond may be the dominant player from this draft class in a few years.

 

[xyrin]

Brick... you have some weird fascination with blocks. Some of the best teams in the league were near the bottom in blocks per team. Some of the worst were near the top. Blocks can be exciting, sure, but there is much more to defense than the number of blocks your team can put up...

I'd rather have to look for a defensive SF (Hint: roleplayer) than a potential franchise PF. One is MUCH easier to get than the other.

 

[Bricklayer]

shotblocking is nice, but you dont have to have it to be a contender. in fact, shotblocking is usually overrated because if you don't rebound the block, does it really matter? second chance points kill ...

And again, peopel just don't get it. They use that dumb line, straihgt from Jerry Reynolds' book, wihtout understanding that shotblocking is NOT about shotblocking. Follow?

Shotblocking is about intimidation. Flat out. Its great if you block a shot. But a shotblocker doesn't just block a shot. He blocks a shot. He intimidates 2 oithers forcing guys to alter their shots, three other times guys who would have driven the lane pullup instead. Because that shotblocker is back there, each and every one of his perimeter guys can play a step closer to his man on the perimeter, and thus be better defenders knowing that if they get beat, they are covered. The actual act of blocking an occasional shot is just the tip of the iceberg. But like the captain of the Titanic, most people have no idea how to account for the bulk of the effect hidden under the waters.

 

[Dime Dropper]

You're all completely missing the point of Brick's posts. It's already been explained pretty clearly.

 

[Gilles]

Hoiberg, who played for McHale in Minnesota, probably recomended White to Houston.

 

[Uncia03]

By the way, I think the Rockets did extremely well with Lamb, Jones and White. They just got three very good pieces for the future.

Yep, I agree.

I love Lamb with the 12th pick, I'm a big fan of Royce White, and T.Jones at the 18th slot is an absolute steal.

All very solid picks...it will be interesting to see if they keep them all, or look to swing them in a deal.

 

[Gilles]

Wow, Mavericks take Jared Cunningham at #24.

 

[Gary]

Oh please. There's no way you know that. First he need to figure out how to grow a few inches and not get shot over so easily. Secondly, he needs to grow a few more inches so it's not a complete mismatch when he gets switched onto a SG/SF. Third, he needs to get to the point where he can at least guard the opposing PG through the game instead of having Reke move over and cover for him, or Reke play off his guy to help.

OH PLEASE... I was talking about TROB not IT..

 

[Glenn]

Really lukewarm on Robinson. I don't see how he really addresses any of the team's holes. The lane is already crowded for the Kings on offense and Robinson isn't really known for defense. Would I rather have had Barnes due to the hole at SF? Maybe. Still lukewarm on Barnes. Would rather have traded the pick for Lowry at this point.

Well, I don't agree about geting Lowry as that gives us two more guards we don't need and although a better PG would be very nice, we need a SF and a PF more. Lowry would make it fairly mandatory that we trade a guard or two, ideally. What Robinson brings that is outstanding is a never ending motor, a very good midrange shot, and he's a great rebounder. He doesn't have a great back to the basket game but we have Cousins for that. He will not clog the lane as that is not his game. My point is that although he isn't that shot blocker that is needed, no shot blocker was available unless you think we had some way of getting Davis or that Henson could be a complete defensive player because he is so dang weak.

The other teams gave their judgment on Barnes as he was not the next pick so other teams saw significant holes in his game. I don't think there was a better pick for us and I already addressed the idea of a trade for Lowry. Petrie has to get busy and straighten out this mess but as to the draft, I don't think he could have done better.

 

[Kingster]

This shotblocking thing is really going too far. It's important, we all agree on that, but it's not the most important thing or the only way to defende or win.

We were awful on D last year. Give Thibodeau this team, I'm sure we will be much much better. It's not only a metter of shotblockers, it's the team system. Reke and Williams can be good defender, so Robinson. Cousins is not great, but he is long and takes charges. IT, for his size, he's a pretty good defender. We need team defense, that's the point. TEAM DEFENSE!

Totally agree. The board has gone off the deep end on shot blocking. Instead of knowing how lucky they are in getting Robinson they are crying in their beer.

 

[Dime Dropper]

I'm actually jealous that the Rockets got T. Jones. Would have loved to have gotten him. Was one of the guys I was hoping we'd take if we traded down.

 

[Gary]

And again, peopel just don't get it. They use that dumb line, straihgt from Jerry Reynolds' book, wihtout understanding that shotblocking is NOT about shotblocking. Follow?

Shotblocking is about intimidation. Flat out. Its great if you block a shot. but A shotblcoker doesn;t just block a shot. He blocks a shot. He intimidates 2 oithers forcing guys to alter their shots, three other times guys who would have driven the lane pullup instead. Becaus that shotblocker is back there, each and every one of his perimeter guys can play a step closer to his man on the perimeter, and thus be better defenders kniwn ghtta if they get beat, they are covered. The actual act of blocking an occasional shot is just the tip of the iceberg. But like the captain of the Titanic, most people have no idea how to account for the bulk of the effect hidden under the waters.

I don't get it.. Did you want a SF or a PF? Did you seriously want Drummond?

And when it's all said and done I would rather have a guy that defends well, limits offensive rebounds, and holds his ground over a guy that blocks some shots, is iffy on defense and who can't rebound to save their life.

opp fg% and defensive rebounding is what I look for. Blocked shots are a bonus. I like to have it but it's not the end all to make a great team.

And not to mention shot blocking is a great way to get called for fouls in today's NBA (at least for a rookie). Guys like Drummond would give up more points than TROB would because of the foul calls on attempted blocks, the iffy defense and the crappy defensive rebounding.

 

[rainmaker]

OH PLEASE... I was talking about TROB not IT..

Heuge thought you were referring to IT as well, buddy.

 

[VF21]

Totally agree. The board has gone off the deep end on shot blocking. Instead of knowing how lucky they are in getting Robinson they are crying in their beer.

Not everybody has partaken of the shot-blocking kool-aid. Sometimes, though, a person just gets tired of having to defend an opinion if it doesn't agree with the most vocal posters.

 

[Gary]

Heuge thought you were referring to IT as well, buddy.

And yet you still posted that idiot remark after my post correcting who I was talking about buddy lol.. I was thinking Robinson, and didn't realize the original question was about Thomas.