How weak is this years drafT?
- Thread starter Aenadin
- Start date
=LarryLegend=
Starter
I think it is stronger than advertised.
If Blake Griffin declares last season, I hestitate to put him in the top ten of the 2008 Draft. This year, he's the prohibitive favorite to be taken Number One overall. Take that for whatever you think it's worth.
bigbadred00
Starter
Blake got better this year. Potential wise obviously not much has changed. After he didn't declare it was basically stated from Day 1 of the CBB season that he would likely be the #1 overall pick.
I think this draft is weak with respect to star talent but good with respect to the next level talent. Last year you had Rose, Beasley, Lopez, Love, on top of many others who have contributed quickly. This year you have Griffin, Rubio then a fall to me, but I think there is good depth at PG which the Kings have a great need in.
Oskor
Bench
People keep saying that. But is that based on his 08 or 09 stats. If he were in last years draft with his current stats where would he have fallen? I'm not saying anybody is wrong, just trying to get some perspective.
One and Done
Bench
Maybe he's a superstar in waiting, but I don't see it. And I'm unhappy about the proposition of drafting a player who can only play a position where we already have a quality young talent, if the guy we're looking to draft doesn't end up being a star. I personally would much rather trade down than sacrifice Thompson to Griffin, whom I don't feel is a can't-miss player.
As for the draft itself, it feels like the Tim Duncan draft of '97, where it was just Duncan and Van Horn... except that Griffin feels more like Van Horn, and there is no Duncan.
PurpleHaze
All-Star
Thabeet declared a few days ago. Rubio still has the matter of his existing contract in Europe and has not declared as yet.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Hallama
Starter
Are we talking basketball or volleyball?
Man, how awesome would both Griffin and Thabeet be at volleyball? Thabeet as a blocker, and Griffin as a striker.
Chris Paul as a setter and the team is Gold.
Drafts aren't just weak or strong, they're easy to grasp or hard to figure out. Just to grab a year at random: 1996 - the top several picks are fine, then several losers get picked (Samaki Walker, Lorenzen Wright, Potapenko), then Kobe, Peja and Steve Nash go in the mid-teens, Jermaine O'Neal at 17 and ZI at 20. Ben Wallace goes undrafted. The year when Kenyon Martin went #1, Przybilla went at 9, Turkoglu at 16, Magloire at 19, and Michael Redd at 43. When Kwame Brown went #1, there was still Tyson Chandler at 2, Pau Gasol at 3, Joe Johnson at 10, Troy Murphy at 14, Zach Randolph at 19, Brendan Haywood at 20, Gerald Wallace at 25, Sam Dalembert at 26, Tony Parker at 28, Gilbert Arenas at 31, Mehmet Okur at 38 (5 later than Will Solomon 
), Bobby Simmons at 42, and Carlos Arroyo, Mo Evans, Charlie Bell and Jamario Moon went undrafted.
This year's draft isn't good, and it is hard to figure out. We definitely can pick an All Star and a couple of very solid starters. But it will be very hard to do, and luck will play a major role.
And that's what we're really worrying about, eh? Geoff CAN get us everything we need in this draft, but he probably won't. It's just too unclear.
So I don't think it will be a terrible draft, but we won't know who the right picks were for at least 4 or 5 years.
), Bobby Simmons at 42, and Carlos Arroyo, Mo Evans, Charlie Bell and Jamario Moon went undrafted.This year's draft isn't good, and it is hard to figure out. We definitely can pick an All Star and a couple of very solid starters. But it will be very hard to do, and luck will play a major role.
And that's what we're really worrying about, eh? Geoff CAN get us everything we need in this draft, but he probably won't. It's just too unclear.
So I don't think it will be a terrible draft, but we won't know who the right picks were for at least 4 or 5 years.
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CruzDude
Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
Firstly, Rubio is only going to enter draft formally if he can be guaranteed #1 or #2 as those are the only slots that would pay enough (with the $500k max Euro buyout allowed by NBA) to enable him to enter this year and take home some reasonable salary. His team owner is on record as saying a better buyout is possible after this coming year.
So Griffin at #1 but do the Kings really want another body where is JT and Ike? Tough decision but a major trade makes sense for a really good starting PG plus a 5-12 draft slot.
The rest of the draft is quite full of decent second tier players as a number have said in this thread and others. But none of those seem to be the impact player the Kings need. So if Kings get 2, 3 or 4, their bargaining power drops big time to trade for a good PG and a lower draft slot in the 15-25 range.
Don't see an PG's other than Rubio who appear to be able to have an impact their first year. I'm sure there are one or two surprises there at PG but I'm not smart enough to know who they are and if they would be available at #23.
So Griffin at #1 but do the Kings really want another body where is JT and Ike? Tough decision but a major trade makes sense for a really good starting PG plus a 5-12 draft slot.
The rest of the draft is quite full of decent second tier players as a number have said in this thread and others. But none of those seem to be the impact player the Kings need. So if Kings get 2, 3 or 4, their bargaining power drops big time to trade for a good PG and a lower draft slot in the 15-25 range.
Don't see an PG's other than Rubio who appear to be able to have an impact their first year. I'm sure there are one or two surprises there at PG but I'm not smart enough to know who they are and if they would be available at #23.
MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
This is kind of a weak draft unless your one of the top picks, which works out well for us.
With the college year Blake Griffin had, he would be a worthy top pick in almost any draft ... and Rubio has been projected in the top 3 of any draft since he was born.
Then the draft gets weaker in the sense that there isnt any more superstar potential talent... Im not saying there wont be any other all stars or that Griffin or Rubio are locks, but thats just how the draft seems in mid April.
The good thing for us is that we have a top pick. Then its almost like there isnt a real difference between the rest of the first round .. meaning u could grab a player with our two later picks that could easily be a better player than say the 10th pick.
With the college year Blake Griffin had, he would be a worthy top pick in almost any draft ... and Rubio has been projected in the top 3 of any draft since he was born.
Then the draft gets weaker in the sense that there isnt any more superstar potential talent... Im not saying there wont be any other all stars or that Griffin or Rubio are locks, but thats just how the draft seems in mid April.
The good thing for us is that we have a top pick. Then its almost like there isnt a real difference between the rest of the first round .. meaning u could grab a player with our two later picks that could easily be a better player than say the 10th pick.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
fnordius said:
Therein lies the problem. Not so much with management, but with the fans. We live in an instant gratification society. A drafted player is suspossed to be good right now, or he's instantly a bust. It took Steve Nash four years to find himself, or perhaps the right team. Its rare for a player to come into the league and star right away, and when it does happen, the guy is probably going to be and all star or maybe a superstar.
Most players take between 3 to 4 years to reach their potential, with an occasional pt guard of center taking a bit longer. The Warriors gave up on Parrish. Portland gave up on O'Neal. In my opinion the Kings gave up on Wallace. Had he been on this current team, they probably would have kept him, so he was partially a victim of circumstance.
Commitment to patience is critical to a rebuilding team. Knee jerk reactions will almost always get you into trouble.
The so called weak draft wouldn't affect the Kings so much if we get the 1st (Griffin) or 2nd pick (Rubio). Griffin and Rubio would probably go around 1-3 in almost any other draft anyways. After Griffin and Rubio there is a huge talent drop off or so it seems. However, if we get the 3rd or 4th pick then I could see having a weak draft class affect us tremendously.
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sidney
Starter
I think there are 4 guys at the top that have all star potential, but no clear HOF types in 2009. That's why it's considered weak IMO.
It is too bad that there is no Lebron/Wade types in this draft, but I'm glad we are in the top 4. It's strong up top (where we pick) and then there is a HUGE dropoff.
The rest of the 1st round seems like it will be a lot of MLE type guys with a few surprises sprinkled in.
It is too bad that there is no Lebron/Wade types in this draft, but I'm glad we are in the top 4. It's strong up top (where we pick) and then there is a HUGE dropoff.
The rest of the 1st round seems like it will be a lot of MLE type guys with a few surprises sprinkled in.
hammystyle
Starter
Maybe you as a scout feel that way...but I think that before he said he was staying in he was projected top 5, and most likely 3rd.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Lebron was a no brainer, but there wern't that many people that thought Wade was going to be as good as he is. Look where Kobe was drafted. Knowing what we know now, Kobe would have been the first pick in the draft. And, in fact, Kobe didn't do all that much his rookie year to prove he should have been taken higher. He really didn't start to look like the Kobe we know today until his fourth year.
So you never know. There could be a Wade or a Kobe in this draft.
HighTopKicks
Bench
Strong in PG's & SG's/SF's; Weak in PF's/C's.
Only 2 centers, 1 in the top 5 & the other Mullens in 15-20 range
Monroe out; So after Griffin & Hill you've got nobody until Blair & Brackins in the late teens.
It's really the year of the Guards with some potential All-Stars that just need some time to evolve like Kobe.
Harden & DeRosen have potential
Big PG's like Tyreke, Calathes, & Williams are guys that can score, distribute, and big enough to play SG
Speedy but small PG's like Mills, Collison, Flynn, Lawson & Jennings. Maybe too small but will reak havic on defenses
Scorering PG's like Curry, Teague, & Maynor guy with size and scoring mentality, but who also can distribute
And, lastly the exceptions to the status quo. Rubio & Holiday. I didn't put them together because they are anything alike. But, because they are so different than the others. Rubio is a little of everything that the other groups offer, but not the best of any of the groups. Not the fastest, not the biggest, not the best shooter, not the best ballhandler, but the best combination of all the skills. Holiday is the best at one thing. He's the best pure defender, the only question is can he learn to shot and penetrate. With his size he will finish well, but if he cant get to the rim, he won't break the defense down and open it up for the spot shooters.
Only 2 centers, 1 in the top 5 & the other Mullens in 15-20 range
Monroe out; So after Griffin & Hill you've got nobody until Blair & Brackins in the late teens.
It's really the year of the Guards with some potential All-Stars that just need some time to evolve like Kobe.
Harden & DeRosen have potential
Big PG's like Tyreke, Calathes, & Williams are guys that can score, distribute, and big enough to play SG
Speedy but small PG's like Mills, Collison, Flynn, Lawson & Jennings. Maybe too small but will reak havic on defenses
Scorering PG's like Curry, Teague, & Maynor guy with size and scoring mentality, but who also can distribute
And, lastly the exceptions to the status quo. Rubio & Holiday. I didn't put them together because they are anything alike. But, because they are so different than the others. Rubio is a little of everything that the other groups offer, but not the best of any of the groups. Not the fastest, not the biggest, not the best shooter, not the best ballhandler, but the best combination of all the skills. Holiday is the best at one thing. He's the best pure defender, the only question is can he learn to shot and penetrate. With his size he will finish well, but if he cant get to the rim, he won't break the defense down and open it up for the spot shooters.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Kobe's a different case though -- that's like Peja and the other Euro sleepers. Back at that time you just did not take a high schooler or Europ Top 10. Just wasn't done. So it allowed for some aberrant slippages that wouldn't have happened if the same draft were held 10 years later (add nobody knew how the guys would work out).
Wade just came out in an utterly ridiculolous draft year with 4 perennial All Stars an likely 2 HOFs in the top 5. And Darko.
I remember seeing him projected at around the 10th pick on most mock drafts last year.
Sptsjunkie
Starter
IIRC the mock drafts had him going between 3-5 last year before he pulled out. That was largely based off of potential, the same way that Chad Ford had Ed Davis going at #3 this season if he declared.
Sptsjunkie
Starter
Kobe also refused to work out for lottery teams, so any GM drafting him would have to sell his owner/fan base not only on drafting a high school swing man, but one who did not work out for them and who did not want to play there.
hammystyle
Starter
That's not what I remember.
The Roy Hibbert move -- "I Should've Declared"
Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma
With more and more scouts saying Griffin would've been the third pick in the draft, I'm not sure he made the right call. He has plenty of ways to improve his game at Oklahoma next season, but he also will be under an intense microscope and there are still worries about his knees.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ry?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftWatch-080428
I didn't say he wouldn't have been drafted, I said I would have hesitated to put him in the top ten. I mean, obviously hindsight's twenty-twenty but, knowing what I know now, I couldn't see myself taking him above Rose, Beasley, Mayo, Westbrook, Love, Gordon, Augustin, Lopez or Thompson. And probably not above Randolph, either. Someone would surely have drafted him based on what he did in college, but Adam Morrison looked great in college, too.
I reserve the right to give Griffin the benefit of the doubt, if we end up drafting him, but I'm just not sold on the guy.
Sptsjunkie
Starter
Got you, that makes more sense. Actually makes for an interesting question. I definitley do not think Griffin is another Morrison. Griffin is very athletic and fluid. It's his fluidity that I believe makes him a way better prospect than Thompson. The way Griffin can move in the air and contort himself should allow him to be a dynamic scorer in the NBA.
hammystyle
Starter
That's interesting. I'd take Griffin 3rd out of that group behind Rose, and Lopez. Mayo and Westbrook would be close though.
