I thought Miles was definitely a better player at the same age and much more ready for the NBA than Randolph. But Darius never improved his game much; maybe his attitude is the problem. You could be right. There's no denying Randolph's potential. But when I look at his game I see many flaws that will take years to correct. His body first of all, needs to be corrected, it won't happen overnight. His shot will take a few yrs to get it to where you can trust him to shoot beyond 12 ft. His game will need a few yrs and a lot of coaching to refine his rawness. I always thought that if a player has to improve on more than two major areas after he gets in the league, he'll most likely be overwhelmed. But Randolph could be the exception. I won't have a problem if we draft him, just hoping we at least do him a favor and sent him to the NBDL for at least a year.
Kings Select in the 2008 NBA DRAFT??
- Thread starter =LarryLegend=
- Start date
Robin Lopez
I think he's the guy. He is very complementary to Hawes - he's very good defensively, but still working on his offensive game. Some think he could eventually be better than his brother. He's not slow like Hibbert. He can play the power forward on the defensive end and play center on the offensive end, another nice complement to Hawes. The talk around the league is that teams want to move up in the teens to get this guy. Well, Petrie is sitting on the cusp of the teens.
I've seen him play several times. He plays with GREAT passion. He really wants to win, and plays like a warrior. (He reminds me of Francisco in this regard). I think that gives him a huge edge over a lot of the other bigs on the board. The fact that he's residing in the Bay Area is another plus. Like other 7 footers, he'll take a while to develop, but I'd be surprised if he didn't have a great work ethic. Also, if you get into Stanford, even as a BB player, you have to have some brains. That's a plus as well. Pick the obvious. Pick Robin Lopez.
I think he's the guy. He is very complementary to Hawes - he's very good defensively, but still working on his offensive game. Some think he could eventually be better than his brother. He's not slow like Hibbert. He can play the power forward on the defensive end and play center on the offensive end, another nice complement to Hawes. The talk around the league is that teams want to move up in the teens to get this guy. Well, Petrie is sitting on the cusp of the teens.
I've seen him play several times. He plays with GREAT passion. He really wants to win, and plays like a warrior. (He reminds me of Francisco in this regard). I think that gives him a huge edge over a lot of the other bigs on the board. The fact that he's residing in the Bay Area is another plus. Like other 7 footers, he'll take a while to develop, but I'd be surprised if he didn't have a great work ethic. Also, if you get into Stanford, even as a BB player, you have to have some brains. That's a plus as well. Pick the obvious. Pick Robin Lopez.
I don't think so. Occasionally the Lopezes would get a bit too emotional and start doing stupid things and Johnson would have to sit them, but that's about it in terms of mental issues. On the court they really compete and get into it and don't make too many stupid plays.
My only concern about Robin is that he's not actually that great of a rebounder if you look at the numbers. Some of that is probably both guys canceling each other out, but that's one concern. The other concern is that he's not a great man defender. He was abused by physical guys like Jon Brockman because he tried to rely on his height, but Brockman was crafty and tough enough to give him fits. There's going to be an adjustment period in the NBA.
I think the Lopezes are more athletic than people give them credit for, and if they were coming out of a different school they'd probably have more hype. Robin was really coming along offensively at the end of the season, and they can already hit the 15 footer and put the ball on the floor. I'd be happy to have either of them.
I'm not big on Robin Lopez. Don't know why, just don't see much from him. Maybe a better version of Varejao if he reaches his potential, which may be a great pick depending on what you're looking for out of this draft.
Still unsure who I want this time around. Westbrook would be my pick, but he's going to be gone. I'd love Batum (whose heart tests came back 100% fine), but it doesn't seem likely with all our wing players. Speights, Arthur, Thompson, Jordan, McGee and Augustin I'd be fine with (in no particular order). On the fence with Hibbert. He's big and skilled, but never really dominated. Average college rebounder. Limited upside but could be an important piece. I wouldn't hate the pick, but at 12 he'd never be my first choice.
It's going to be a far more exciting draft than last year. Last year, by the time our pick came round, everyone knew who we were going to pick. This year, it could be anyone. I have a feeling no matter who we pick their will be alot of angry people. Having 2 second rounders also makes it more exciting.
Still unsure who I want this time around. Westbrook would be my pick, but he's going to be gone. I'd love Batum (whose heart tests came back 100% fine), but it doesn't seem likely with all our wing players. Speights, Arthur, Thompson, Jordan, McGee and Augustin I'd be fine with (in no particular order). On the fence with Hibbert. He's big and skilled, but never really dominated. Average college rebounder. Limited upside but could be an important piece. I wouldn't hate the pick, but at 12 he'd never be my first choice.
It's going to be a far more exciting draft than last year. Last year, by the time our pick came round, everyone knew who we were going to pick. This year, it could be anyone. I have a feeling no matter who we pick their will be alot of angry people. Having 2 second rounders also makes it more exciting.
Garcia has fewer and fewer mental lapses with experience. Also, his mental lapses occur much more frequently when he plays out of position. Lopez, like a lot of young 7 footers, is going to mature late compared to an off-guard or a small forward. I would think his first year would be rough because he'll get himself into foul trouble. But if you want a guy to build around, I think by Year 3 he'll really start showing something. I also think that as his body fills out and he gets stronger he'll handle the Brockman's of the world fairly easily. I really like the idea of two 7 footers with the passion of Hawes and Lopez on the floor at the same time. I think they'd be fantastic in about 3 years.
I highly highly doubt that Gordon would fall to us. Too many teams would like him before us like the nets, pacers, clippers, and maybe bucks and cats.
Gordon's value would be so high that even though we already have a SG of the future, it would be difficult to pass on him. However, don't take realgm as any authority on the draft.
Gordon's value would be so high that even though we already have a SG of the future, it would be difficult to pass on him. However, don't take realgm as any authority on the draft.
heard of a rumor today about toronto sending Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, another player to satisfy salary cap needs and, perhaps, Toronto's 17th pick in the draft for O'Neal. if this goes through, i dont think indiana will need to draft a pg and might let augustin/westbrook slip to us if they are still on the board.
draft express is reporting Jordan worked out for us last minute and that he was very impressive. A big athletic 7 footer who rebounds and blocks shots would make me really happy playing next to Hawes.
also it really annoys me that portland who's roster is plush with young talent is able to buy another first rounder in a deep draft while we sit on our hands again.
also it really annoys me that portland who's roster is plush with young talent is able to buy another first rounder in a deep draft while we sit on our hands again.
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I'd be very happy with Jordan. He's a high-risk high-reward guy, but he's loaded with potential. He's got lots of talent, attitude and work ethic are the only concerns I'd have although with good coaching that shouldn't be a problem.
If he impressed GP, we might just take him. But everything about him suggests he's not GPs type of pick - Raw, athletic, few years away from developing etc., Geoff usually picks skilled guys who don't take long to come in and play.
The more I think about it, the more I'd like to have him. He could be dominant, or he could be a career bencher. But at 12, it's worth the risk.
And yes, I agree that it's hugely frustrating to see the Blazers just buy another pick and us do nothing. Massively frustrating.
Geoff Petrie is waiting to see what intriguing prospect drops to him, and one surely will. It could be LSU’s Randolph, or perhaps even Alexander. Nevertheless, the Kings have shown an intense late interest in Rider’s Thompson, who would complete an improbable rise if he goes in the late lottery. League executives love the seriousness of purpose with Thompson, a 6-11 forward with terrific offensive skill.
Thompson is a bit of a dark horse, but Randolph probably becomes the pick and someday could be considered the steal of the draft.
I have said for awhile I liked Jason Thompson.....He is def a petrie pick....would shake up the draft.
Thompson is a bit of a dark horse, but Randolph probably becomes the pick and someday could be considered the steal of the draft.
I have said for awhile I liked Jason Thompson.....He is def a petrie pick....would shake up the draft.
Andy Katz is saying that the Blazers are making the #13 available and are looking to move out of the first round. Makes sense, since they have so many players on their roster already and might want to stockpile some guys overseas.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3460172&name=katz_andy
It would be great to make a play for the #13 to have two lotto picks. Not sure what it would take.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3460172&name=katz_andy
It would be great to make a play for the #13 to have two lotto picks. Not sure what it would take.
Agreed about Petrie. I just wonder what would do it for Portland, though. If they already have too many players now, then maybe we could send them next year's #1 for their #1 this year. That way, they just defer the pick and don't put somebody on their roster. Or, we send them our two #2s and whatever and they send them to the developmental league? Does anybody have any more insight on this?
Rumor has it that they are dangling the #13 and Jarrett Jack for a young SF who can come in and play right away. Salmons could be a nice fit for them if he plays like he does with us as a starter but more likely as you said it would have to be Garcia.
Garcia is a great 6th man and maybe a potential starter for us when Artest moves on but it may be worth it, it's a deep draft and we do need a PG...although I've never been super impressed with Jack.
Garcia is a great 6th man and maybe a potential starter for us when Artest moves on but it may be worth it, it's a deep draft and we do need a PG...although I've never been super impressed with Jack.
I'm also a bit wary of Jack and don't know if he's a long term solution, but on a good team he would be a decent backup PG -- he defends well and can give some scoring punch. If Portland would agree to that you're essentially getting a backup PG for a backup SF and you also have the #13. I think you'd have to pull the trigger on that deal.
I think the Blazers is thinking in terms of a starting calibre SF, someone like Mike Miller, not Francisco Garcia. They need shooters to take advantage of the inside presence of Oden and Aldridge; so Salmons is a bad fit. The Fish is not a good shooter and he needs the ball in his hands to be effective, and there's no way they take the ball away from Brandon Roy and gives it to Salmons.
But the bigger picture is that the Blazers don't like anyone at #13. I heard people say this is a deep draft and I'm scratching my head. This is so not a deep draft, it's a draft with equal talent from top to bottom, but the talent is pretty thin past the #5 pick imo. That player picked with #13 may not even be as good as the talent we give up.
But the bigger picture is that the Blazers don't like anyone at #13. I heard people say this is a deep draft and I'm scratching my head. This is so not a deep draft, it's a draft with equal talent from top to bottom, but the talent is pretty thin past the #5 pick imo. That player picked with #13 may not even be as good as the talent we give up.