Keep it or trade it?
- Thread starter Spike
- Start date
Of course the Kings are going to trade their cap dollars. That's the only thing of value (other than other players on their roster) that they have. If the #7 pick is worth next to nothing then what are cap dollars + the #7 pick worth? How about virtually nothing more than the cap dollars themselves. This talk about packaging the #7 is all fine and good, but really the #7 is chickenfeed and real beef is going to be in the cap dollars.
I disagree. I think Leonard would start ahead of all our sf's, based on his defense/athleticism alone. He also has more upside than either Omri or Donte IMO. Apparently his jumper has improved since the end of the season.
1. Kawhi Leonard is a big-time prospect
The San Diego State forward remains a bit of an enigma to NBA scouts. He ranked as just the 56th-best high school prospect in the class of 2009 by ESPNU and didn't really come on until his senior year in high school.
As a freshman he drew raves for his athletic ability, motor and rebounding, but scouts struggled to see exactly how he fit at the next level. Last season he helped lead the Aztecs to one of the best records in college basketball and drew serious attention from scouts. But after the season, the NBA was still largely split on what his pro potential was.
While we had Leonard in the top 14 of our Big Board most of the year, a number of NBA executives were much more pessimistic about his future. They pointed to his "tweener" status and subpar perimeter shooting as concerns. A few weeks ago, one GM told me he thought Leonard was, at best, a role player at the next level.
I respectfully disagree, as do a handful of NBA execs and scouts. I was blown away by Leonard at the workouts. Not only is his physical profile impressive (huge hands, long wing span, NBA body), but also he's much more skilled than your typical high-energy forward.
Leonard has been working on his jump shot since the season ended and was stroking it from NBA 3-point range the two days I was in the gym. And he demonstrated excellent ball-handling skills for a player his size -- both are prerequisites for an NBA small forward. He also has the ability to guard the 2, 3 and 4 at the next level.
Leonard proved to be a real gym rat as well. He was the first guy in the gym and the last one to leave both days I was there. On Tuesday I arrived at 9 a.m. and left at 5:30 -- Leonard was there the whole time working on various things; he must have shot 1,000 jumpers.
I've been trying to find a good NBA comp for him all year, and I think the best may be the Blazers' Gerald Wallace. Leonard has the same type of motor and toughness and is more skilled than you think. If he keeps shooting the ball like he did Tuesday and Wednesday, I believe he could end up being a top-5 pick in the draft. We've moved him up to No. 5 on our Big Board after seeing what he brings to the table.
He may not be a superstar at the next level, but it's hard to figure how he misses as a 10-year NBA player with that work ethic, physical profile and motor.
1. Kawhi Leonard is a big-time prospect
The San Diego State forward remains a bit of an enigma to NBA scouts. He ranked as just the 56th-best high school prospect in the class of 2009 by ESPNU and didn't really come on until his senior year in high school.
As a freshman he drew raves for his athletic ability, motor and rebounding, but scouts struggled to see exactly how he fit at the next level. Last season he helped lead the Aztecs to one of the best records in college basketball and drew serious attention from scouts. But after the season, the NBA was still largely split on what his pro potential was.
While we had Leonard in the top 14 of our Big Board most of the year, a number of NBA executives were much more pessimistic about his future. They pointed to his "tweener" status and subpar perimeter shooting as concerns. A few weeks ago, one GM told me he thought Leonard was, at best, a role player at the next level.
I respectfully disagree, as do a handful of NBA execs and scouts. I was blown away by Leonard at the workouts. Not only is his physical profile impressive (huge hands, long wing span, NBA body), but also he's much more skilled than your typical high-energy forward.
Leonard has been working on his jump shot since the season ended and was stroking it from NBA 3-point range the two days I was in the gym. And he demonstrated excellent ball-handling skills for a player his size -- both are prerequisites for an NBA small forward. He also has the ability to guard the 2, 3 and 4 at the next level.
Leonard proved to be a real gym rat as well. He was the first guy in the gym and the last one to leave both days I was there. On Tuesday I arrived at 9 a.m. and left at 5:30 -- Leonard was there the whole time working on various things; he must have shot 1,000 jumpers.
I've been trying to find a good NBA comp for him all year, and I think the best may be the Blazers' Gerald Wallace. Leonard has the same type of motor and toughness and is more skilled than you think. If he keeps shooting the ball like he did Tuesday and Wednesday, I believe he could end up being a top-5 pick in the draft. We've moved him up to No. 5 on our Big Board after seeing what he brings to the table.
He may not be a superstar at the next level, but it's hard to figure how he misses as a 10-year NBA player with that work ethic, physical profile and motor.
I might take that. But I'd rather go Casspi (and obviously massive cap room) straight up for Iguodala and keep the #7 pick.
At seven guys like Leonard, Vesely and especially Hamilton intrigue me at the SF spot. And I'd trust Petrie on a gamble pick like Biyombo. Again, this is a weak draft, but I think Petrie's acumen at talent evaluation will net the team more than trading the pick would. After all, is there anyone that would argue that the Kings could have got more value than Hedo, Gerald Wallace or KMart for the 16th, 25th and 26th picks in their respective drafts?
At seven guys like Leonard, Vesely and especially Hamilton intrigue me at the SF spot. And I'd trust Petrie on a gamble pick like Biyombo. Again, this is a weak draft, but I think Petrie's acumen at talent evaluation will net the team more than trading the pick would. After all, is there anyone that would argue that the Kings could have got more value than Hedo, Gerald Wallace or KMart for the 16th, 25th and 26th picks in their respective drafts?
I think we really got lucky in the lottery this year. Before the lottery I was sure we'd fall to #8 ^^. No, seriously, we shouldn't panic. We're getting used to losing the lottery. But if there's one thing we've learned in the last couple of years, trusting Petrie is the right thing to do. If he feels that there will be intruiging prospects available at #7, we should keep it. If not he will trade it away anyway.
Hamilton is a bit small for a SF and doesn't have great lateral quickness but I think he has enough athleticism to be a mediocre to good defender. And on the NBA level I think he will be primarily a spot up shooter so I wouldn't worry about any ball hogging proclivities.
If they are both on the board at #7 it becomes a question of whether Geoff thinks there are better odds of Hamilton becoming a decent defender or Leonard becoming a solid shooter.
Yeah, tonight was a disappointment, but I actually think Petrie will keep the pick and come away with a surprisingly good prospect one way or another. Being further down in the draft actually makes it more interesting to me. Especially since I'm fairly convinced that someone taken in the mid to late lottery will end up being better than Irving or Williams.
If they are both on the board at #7 it becomes a question of whether Geoff thinks there are better odds of Hamilton becoming a decent defender or Leonard becoming a solid shooter.
Yeah, tonight was a disappointment, but I actually think Petrie will keep the pick and come away with a surprisingly good prospect one way or another. Being further down in the draft actually makes it more interesting to me. Especially since I'm fairly convinced that someone taken in the mid to late lottery will end up being better than Irving or Williams.
I didn't say the trade made sense, or cleared more cap space than it did for us. They made a dumb trade while trying to get financial flexibility, and that's why I think the #7 +Omri could get us Iggy, because Philly doesn't make the smartest decisions.
When they made the deal, the slant they went with in Philly was an opportunity to get a look at a young center (spencer) for a year, and if they don't like him, he comes off the books and they can look elsewhere. They also got a defensive minded vet in Noc, and his declining contract, which now has 1 more year on it. I never said they succeeded in doing what they attempted to do, or that we didn't in fact do better. The deal from their end was retarded. And that is why I still think our pick and Omri could get Iggy.
When they made the deal, the slant they went with in Philly was an opportunity to get a look at a young center (spencer) for a year, and if they don't like him, he comes off the books and they can look elsewhere. They also got a defensive minded vet in Noc, and his declining contract, which now has 1 more year on it. I never said they succeeded in doing what they attempted to do, or that we didn't in fact do better. The deal from their end was retarded. And that is why I still think our pick and Omri could get Iggy.
