Kings Select in the 2008 NBA DRAFT??
- Thread starter =LarryLegend=
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Well not contend yet, but at least improve.... If we sit a guy on the bench for three years than what makes you think he will start instantly contributing if we had a contender?
I know what you are saying about putting him in the d-league, but who should we have to? PF is our weakest position so why not have him learn by playing with the best rather than putting him in the d-league? If the #12 pick isn't picked to contribute right away (even if it's a Hawes type role for the first year or two) than why pick him? If he's already d-league material before we draft him then why draft him? You don't make a lottery pick and say to yourself "let's put him in the d-league for a couple years". You play the guy, or at least give him a chance to play.
I am curious... Being realistic with the players we have a chance to draft (that could slide to #12) who would you take?
1. Augustin
2. Love
3. Thompson (predicted late 1st round so we might be able to trade down)
4. Collison
2 PGs, and 2 PFs. Even if we re-sign Beno, and Augustin is available it would be dumb not to take him (even if Love's available). He's a talent you don't pass on.
Doesn't the Nets have two picks? I know they are looking for a big so why not trade out pick, and Miller for their two picks, and an expiring? They are pretty screwed with Jefferson, and Carter... They are signed for a long time, so they can put together a core of Jefferson, Carter, Harris, Miller, and our pick they can get a PF in there.
I have UCLA losing to Texas in the final 4(and it's a repeat of what happened earlier this season so you can't say it's insane).
Duke isn't going to advance. I had them losing to Arizona but AZ lost to WVU tonight. But come on man, Duke is pathetic. They almost just lost to Belmont. I expected way more out of them(despite being a Duke hater).
I want Augustin on the Kings. Any of you guys think Russel Westbrook will declare?
Well his PT will be determined by his development, I have no idea if that means he'll be a 15mpg bench player for the first three years of his career. I'm sure it will be a steady progression to contribution if there is one.
Look, I'm not saying put him in the D league for 2 years, I'm saying put him in the D league early on when he wouldn't be getting significant playing time. It would be a way to ease him in playing against competition more closer to NCAA. If he can get playing time up here, great I'm all for getting him NBA PT, I just know what happens with these kinds of players. You're vastly overrating a late lotto pick, especially in this year's draft which is not overwhelming.
Of those 4, I would definitely pick Augustin. Right now; Batum, Randolph, Augustin, and Arthur is my list.
Pretty much all I know about what the nets want to do is cut salary so they can go after James in '10, Miller doesn't interfere with that, but I don't think they're thinking about contending right now really and trading draft picks and expirings is probably not a good idea for them so I doubt it. Also, they're largely an up tempo team, so I doubt they'd be that attracted to Miller. This is just my speculation through various stuff I've heard about them though.
Look, I'm not saying put him in the D league for 2 years, I'm saying put him in the D league early on when he wouldn't be getting significant playing time. It would be a way to ease him in playing against competition more closer to NCAA. If he can get playing time up here, great I'm all for getting him NBA PT, I just know what happens with these kinds of players. You're vastly overrating a late lotto pick, especially in this year's draft which is not overwhelming.
Of those 4, I would definitely pick Augustin. Right now; Batum, Randolph, Augustin, and Arthur is my list.
Pretty much all I know about what the nets want to do is cut salary so they can go after James in '10, Miller doesn't interfere with that, but I don't think they're thinking about contending right now really and trading draft picks and expirings is probably not a good idea for them so I doubt it. Also, they're largely an up tempo team, so I doubt they'd be that attracted to Miller. This is just my speculation through various stuff I've heard about them though.
With the way we continue to play and the moves we make, we will not be in a position to draft Rubio next year. He will be one of the best PGs in the NBA for years to come. He will be going top 5, possibly top 3. Meanwhile, we will be working our way towards that 12th spot again.
I'd love to get another 1st rounder this year and get Ty Lawson. Think he's going to be a very good player. With our own pick take somebody like Randolph, or definitely Batum if he's there (unlikely).
I'd love to get another 1st rounder this year and get Ty Lawson. Think he's going to be a very good player. With our own pick take somebody like Randolph, or definitely Batum if he's there (unlikely).
Thabeet will likely be there when we pick. While I do like him, I don't think he'd be my no.1 choice considering who's likely to be there at our pick. Players like Randolph, Batum (probably won't be there), Donte Greene and McGhee are just some of the players I would like ahead of him. Probably Augustin too. Still, I'd be happy with Thabeet. But he looks so lost on offense it's kind of scary. And he's not a great defender, although he has the potential to be a great one considering his length, height and athleticism along with the fact that he's still raw and learning.
QFT ^^^ Although Greene is listed as a SF He probably would make the jump to PF because he has the size, an will probably put on weight. He's cursed with horrible rebounding intuition. Watching him in the NIT just solidified my assumption that it would be a wasted pick if we did pick him..
Thabeet too..
Randolph blah blah blah..
Batum would be fine if we decided to get rid of Salmons, and Garcia. I was able to download a couple of LeMans games and he looked pretty good. He's one of those guys that has such a sweet stroke, and the euroleague fundamentals.
Thabeet too..
Randolph blah blah blah..
Batum would be fine if we decided to get rid of Salmons, and Garcia. I was able to download a couple of LeMans games and he looked pretty good. He's one of those guys that has such a sweet stroke, and the euroleague fundamentals.
What do you guys think of JJ Hickson? He's only 19, about 6'9'', pretty athletic, good rebounder. I remember hearing he said he'll declare. Maybe we could package our 2 seconds for a late 1st and give him a shot? To be honest I've only seen him play I think once or twice so most of this is going off stats/what I've read.
There wasn't a single moment in that SD/UConn game where I didn't want to draft Thabeet. He such a defensive force that the game is completely different when he is in there versus him being on the bench. His sheer size deters most guards, he plays solid man-D, blocks or alters a shot once every 2 minutes. During that game I watched Thabeet look solid at coming out to block shots at the 3 pt line. I watched his soft hands around the basket. I watched his surpisingly smooth stroke at the charity stripe.
Hey, it is no secret that most of you around here do not like Thabeet, especially at our pick. But I am not taking my foot off the pedal for one second. Thabeet is still has the most potential for the future and can contribute now with his size and defensive capabilities. And he has been playing basketball for what...2 years? He is improving his game constantly and if he stayed in college for one more year, he would undoubtedly make the top 5 IMO. Considering the tools he has, the rate at which he is learning, and the fact that he could slip to our pick, it just seems silly to me to pass on him. Especially with the arguments that he is raw, or looks lost offensively.
I think the worst case scenario is that Thabeet becomes a slightly better version of Desagana Diop. Diop went 8th in the first round of 2001.
Hey, it is no secret that most of you around here do not like Thabeet, especially at our pick. But I am not taking my foot off the pedal for one second. Thabeet is still has the most potential for the future and can contribute now with his size and defensive capabilities. And he has been playing basketball for what...2 years? He is improving his game constantly and if he stayed in college for one more year, he would undoubtedly make the top 5 IMO. Considering the tools he has, the rate at which he is learning, and the fact that he could slip to our pick, it just seems silly to me to pass on him. Especially with the arguments that he is raw, or looks lost offensively.
I think the worst case scenario is that Thabeet becomes a slightly better version of Desagana Diop. Diop went 8th in the first round of 2001.
If Thabeet can't play big against big teams, and he can't play big against SD, why would we get him with a lottery pick? I understand potential, but that seems like a lot to risk on a guy who's barely learning the game of basketball. Do you think he would learn much on the bench for the Kings? It would be at least 2 years before he saw any reasonable minutes. I would take a late flier on him if we picked up a second pick in the draft, but I wouldn't draft "team cornerstone" on potential.
Bawla, there are kids in highschool that know more about playing basketball than Thabeet. Petrie would never take him, and don't worry about him being available at our pick. He's falling faster than a bomb from 30 thousand feet. He needs to stay in college another two years.
My pick is Thompson. He has the athleticism and the size and the potential that everyone seems to love. He also has skills. I know he plays for a small school, but he played well against good competition when he had the chance.
If everyone wants what Thabeet brings to the table, then for pete's sake just draft De Von Hardin. He can do everything Thabeet does plus rebound. AND, he knows what he's doing on the court. All Thabeet has is a little more height.
My top four choices in order are, Augustin, Thompson, Arthur, Collison. This changes if Griffin declares, or Mayo or someone else unexpectily slides.
My final four are: UCLA, Texas, Kansas, Wash. St. With Wash. St. being my dark horse. Go Pac 10.......
My pick is Thompson. He has the athleticism and the size and the potential that everyone seems to love. He also has skills. I know he plays for a small school, but he played well against good competition when he had the chance.
If everyone wants what Thabeet brings to the table, then for pete's sake just draft De Von Hardin. He can do everything Thabeet does plus rebound. AND, he knows what he's doing on the court. All Thabeet has is a little more height.
My top four choices in order are, Augustin, Thompson, Arthur, Collison. This changes if Griffin declares, or Mayo or someone else unexpectily slides.
My final four are: UCLA, Texas, Kansas, Wash. St. With Wash. St. being my dark horse. Go Pac 10.......
Love is a very good college player. But that doesn't mean squat for how his game translates in the NBA. He really struggles against the longer players to get his shot off underneath the basket, and in the NBA he is going to go up against that every single night. You've got to be able to finish if you are a NBA power forward. I don't think he's got the length or the jumping ability to do that. And on defense, he is going to hurt you. There's no way around it. He's good enough in college, but in the NBA, no way. He's going to hurt you. So what does he bring to the table? He's a great passer. He's a very good rebounder. He can shoot from the outside. Still, that's not enough. ESPECIALLY on the Kings. We are athletically challenged as it is. You want to add to that, pick Love. If Petrie picked him, it would be another piece that does NOT fit into the puzzle. We would all see that very soon, and before you know it, we'd be having discussions on what team we could trade him to.
UCLA is 4th in the country on defense. Love is a fine team defender. Also, he goes up against NBA prospects all the time in college..
Taj Gibson - 18-12 with 5 steals / 13-11 with 5 steals and 2 blocks / 19-10 with a steal and a block
Brook/Robin Lopez - 12-6 with a steal and a block (when Love hurt his back early int he game) / 15-7 / 17-10 with 5 assists and 2 blocks
Ryan Anderson/DeVon Hardin - 19-14 / 22-6 with 3 assists and 2 blocks / 11-7 with 4 assists and 2 blocks in 19 minutes (blowout game)
Maarty Leunen - 26-18 / 15-11 with 2 assists and 2 steals
Jordan Hill - 26-11 / 24-15 with 3 blocks
There are other games, but to say he can't play with athletic players at or taller than he is is not correct. At least at the college level. DeVon Hardin, Ryan Anderson, Brook and Robin Lopez, Jordan Hill, Taj Gibson, and Maarty Leunen are all projected to be drafted. If not this year then next year when they declare.
Now will he compete high at the NBA level? Nobody knows until he does it.. I will say this again.. Proven college players who play at a high D1 level have a lot better success rate in the NBA than projects..
Taj Gibson - 18-12 with 5 steals / 13-11 with 5 steals and 2 blocks / 19-10 with a steal and a block
Brook/Robin Lopez - 12-6 with a steal and a block (when Love hurt his back early int he game) / 15-7 / 17-10 with 5 assists and 2 blocks
Ryan Anderson/DeVon Hardin - 19-14 / 22-6 with 3 assists and 2 blocks / 11-7 with 4 assists and 2 blocks in 19 minutes (blowout game)
Maarty Leunen - 26-18 / 15-11 with 2 assists and 2 steals
Jordan Hill - 26-11 / 24-15 with 3 blocks
There are other games, but to say he can't play with athletic players at or taller than he is is not correct. At least at the college level. DeVon Hardin, Ryan Anderson, Brook and Robin Lopez, Jordan Hill, Taj Gibson, and Maarty Leunen are all projected to be drafted. If not this year then next year when they declare.
Now will he compete high at the NBA level? Nobody knows until he does it.. I will say this again.. Proven college players who play at a high D1 level have a lot better success rate in the NBA than projects..
Re: Kevin Love
Well, tonight against Texas A&M Love went for 19/11/8, the 8 being blocks. Two of those came face-up on a single possession against the 7'0" DeAndre Jordan - a tall, athletic lottery pick (whether he comes out this year or next). He also rose up high for a backside block on another big going in for a dunk on some nice help D. Altogether he played fantastic D down the stretch.
Maybe you'd like a taller, longer guy at PF. Maybe he's not the most athletic guy out there. But it sure doesn't look to me like it translates into defensive liability. People keep saying that, but over the course of the year he has become a good defensive player. If he can stuff an athletic 7-footer now, why can't that carry over to the NBA?
Well, tonight against Texas A&M Love went for 19/11/8, the 8 being blocks. Two of those came face-up on a single possession against the 7'0" DeAndre Jordan - a tall, athletic lottery pick (whether he comes out this year or next). He also rose up high for a backside block on another big going in for a dunk on some nice help D. Altogether he played fantastic D down the stretch.
Maybe you'd like a taller, longer guy at PF. Maybe he's not the most athletic guy out there. But it sure doesn't look to me like it translates into defensive liability. People keep saying that, but over the course of the year he has become a good defensive player. If he can stuff an athletic 7-footer now, why can't that carry over to the NBA?
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I have said that UCLA has the 4th ranked defense in the NCAA D1, and still nobody listens. I know his one on one defense was suspect (even though he kicked butt tonight), but I doubt after this tournament that he will be available anyway.. We might get stuck with a guy like Arthur or Thabeet. If that's the case I think we should go after a PG.. Rose, Bayless, Collison, Augustin, and Lawson are all going to be serviceable PGs at the next level..