Let's play the elimination game...

[nbrans]

While Brooks is a candidate at this point, Voison is talking out of her behind saying he's the top choice at this point. That's factually incorrect.

And you know because.........

 

[Kevin's Good Feet]

5. Seattle - Yi Jianlian - Yi should fit in well at PF and give them some more scoring punch, he also wouldn't push out of their center prospects they have drafted lately.

I don't know why people say this. The Sonics already have Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Saer Sene, Nick Collison, and Chris Wilcox. Someone is getting pushed out even if they don't draft another big man.

 

[nbrans]

I don't know why people say this. The Sonics already have Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Saer Sene, Nick Collison, and Chris Wilcox. Someone is getting pushed out even if they don't draft another big man.

I agree, the Sonics need help on the wings, especially if Rashard Lewis leaves in free agency. I think Corey Brewer makes the most sense for them since he's both a talented SF and can play defense, which they badly need.

 

[Gary]

Yah, I was not taking into account the free agent market either. So that I am sure will have a lot o do with who picks what. If a couple teams move away from the needs because of FA market than Ican see a top 4 PF drop to the Kings.

If not than I can't see a reason why we would get a top 4.

 

[Smills91]

And you know because.........

Eze

 

[Kingster]

First, I'm not against the hiring of Scott Brooks. He does have experience, he does relate well with players and management, he's young enough to stick around for a while AND he's a very hard working coach. I think he'd likely keep Jason Hamm around because Hamm is a working fool with the kids.

I don't see those things as complete passivity and lack of vision. Every long-term successful head coach has had to start their successes somewhere. I think Brooks could do the job. I'd much rather have him than some of the other recently available choices.

Bottom line for me is that I think Petrie will be able to present the alternatives and make the final decision. And I still believe that's a good thing.

If Petrie hires Brooks, he might as well just say, "whatever........, he's as good as most I guess, what the heck, could be worse, why not?" Brooks would be the low budget option for the Maloofs, that's for sure. To me, it would be very uninspiring. It would send the message that we are not serious, that we're basically a training ground for a coach, rather than a destination for a head coach

 

[Kingster]

I don't know why people say this. The Sonics already have Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Saer Sene, Nick Collison, and Chris Wilcox. Someone is getting pushed out even if they don't draft another big man.

Maybe the only thing good about this draft is the fact that the Sonics pick ahead of us. They have been terrible in the draft and in personnel decisions. So, practically speaking, maybe our #10 is actually #9.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'd be ok with Hawes as long as we don't pick him over Jianlian, Wright, or Conley. Actually I think he's underrated so far, I predict his stock will go up quite a bit in the pre-draft camp.

 

[Kingster]

I May Be Getting More Optimistic....

What do the teams ahead of us need?

Lets say the draft is pretty much what it's supposed to be, and the teams pick based on needs.

Picks 1 and 2 will be Oden and Durant. This is for sure....
Lets just say it's Memphis and Boston.

The otehr teams ahead of us are Milwaukee, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, Minnesota, Charlotte, and Chicago.

Below I will list each team ahead of us, and what they are most needing.

Milwaukee needs a PF: Jianlian, Noah, Horford, Wright
Phoenix needs a PF: Jianlian, Noah, Horford, Wright
Seattle needs a C/PF: Jianlian, Noah, Horford, Wright, Hibbert
Portland needs a SF: Green, Brewer, Wright, Young
Minnesota needs a PG/C: Hibbert, Law, Conley
Charlotte needs a C: Hibbert, Jianlian, Noah, Horford, Wright
Chicago needs a PF: Jianlian, Noah, Horford, Wright


OK Basically checking out the most glaring needs of each team we can come to the conclusion that Milwaukee is going to pick a PF. Phoenix is going to pick a PF. Seattle may pick Hibbert if they feel that Wilcox is their PF of the future. Portland will be the first team to pick a SF (outside of Durant). Minnesota will pick Hibbert, and if Hbbert isn;t there than they might trade down. If the trading down doesnt work than they will pick the best available PF. Charlotte wants Hibbert, but will probally end up taking a PF because Hibbert might not be available. Chicago needs a PF as well to replace PJ Brown.

This will leave 0 pf available for Sac (top 4 PF imo is what I mean)... We will probally end up taking best available again which will be a 6'8 205lbs SF...

I will update this thread when the official order comes out, but I can't see a top 4 PF fall to us.

My mock draft;
1. Memphis - Oden
2. Boston - Durant
3. Milwaukee - Horford
4. Phoenix - Wright
5. Seattle - Jianlian
6. Portland - Brewer
7. Minnesota - Hibbert (might draft Noah, than trade down to a team that drafts Law/Conley)
8. Charlotte - Noah (Hibbert if Minnesota takes Noah)
9. Chicago - Conley??? only SF/PG left and don't need either one really... Trade?
10. Sacramento - Let's hope Sacramento isn't at this spot.

What do you all think? I have too much time on my hands eh?

The more I ponder on these teams, the more I think they'll want to deal.

I think there is good reason to believe Chicago wants to deal this pick. They already traded for Ben Wallace. The dye is cast. They are built to do something NOW. They picked Tyrus Thomas last year and he hasn't done much this year. They are getting rolled by Detroit. Do they pick another youngin? I don't think they want to do that. They've got to go for it. They want to deal.

Seattle is a mess. Do they want to resign Lewis? Do they want to finally win with Ray Allen? Is a youngin going to help them if they do? I doubt it. So I think they are open to whatever, including trading their pick. I see them doing a King's makeover. Do they go young, do they go vet? THAT is the question. Another question is: Is one of the project centers that they drafted over the past 2 years worthwhile enough to trade for if you are the Kings? It could be that their management is sick of waiting on the come for those big guys, whereas we wouldn't - kind of like the second buyer getting a deal after the first went down the tubes on a pioneering real estate deal.

Minnesota is a good possibility for trading the pick.

Charlotte has enough youth. I can definitely see them trading for a vet. They've committed to winning NEXT year. Jordan's written the letter to the fans. A solid vet would seal the deal. A young unfinished player would not.

 

[jimbodan]

I don't know why people say this. The Sonics already have Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Saer Sene, Nick Collison, and Chris Wilcox. Someone is getting pushed out even if they don't draft another big man.

I think most teams see Yi as a PF not as a Center. Most of those guys you listed are centers and so far most of them have shown nothing to warrant significant minutes in the league. Yi is immensely more talented then all of them. Plus those players were picked by different management, the new ownership might just want to wash their hands of most of those guys.

 

[Kevin's Good Feet]

I think most teams see Yi as a PF not as a Center. Most of those guys you listed are centers and so far most of them have shown nothing to warrant significant minutes in the league. Yi is immensely more talented then all of them. Plus those players were picked by different management, the new ownership might just want to wash their hands of most of those guys.

Even if you discount the first three guys, Wilcox and Collison are still primarily PFs. Three PFs is way too much for a roster if you are also trying to bring up three centers in the process. And while the three centers may not have earned significant minutes, Wilcox and Collison have. It's a log jam no matter how you look at it. Maybe they move some guys, but that's a different story.

And it may be new management, but I doubt they'd just wash their hands of lottery-talent bigs. Especially when Robert Swift is essentially a third year player (who looked like he might be a good center before he went down with injury) and they are only one year into the Saer experiment.

I'm not saying Seattle won't pass on Yi (maybe they think he can be a Rashard replacement), but as things stand now I see no reason why they'd draft him in an effort to shore up the frontline.

 

[jimbodan]

Even if you discount the first three guys, Wilcox and Collison are still primarily PFs. Three PFs is way too much for a roster if you are also trying to bring up three centers in the process. And while the three centers may not have earned significant minutes, Wilcox and Collison have. It's a log jam no matter how you look at it. Maybe they move some guys, but that's a different story.

And it may be new management, but I doubt they'd just wash their hands of lottery-talent bigs. Especially when Robert Swift is essentially a third year player (who looked like he might be a good center before he went down with injury) and they are only one year into the Saer experiment.

I'm not saying Seattle won't pass on Yi (maybe they think he can be a Rashard replacement), but as things stand now I see no reason why they'd draft him in an effort to shore up the frontline.

Personally I don't think Collison can be anything other then a backup in the league. If I were the Sonics I'd only keep Collison, Swift, and Wilcox and then draft Yi. You are right though the Sonics are a mess right now in the front court, that's why I'd take Yi if I were them, shore it up with him and get rid of the rest of the garbage up front they have.

 

[ParniValjak]

Even if you discount the first three guys, Wilcox and Collison are still primarily PFs. Three PFs is way too much for a roster if you are also trying to bring up three centers in the process. And while the three centers may not have earned significant minutes, Wilcox and Collison have. It's a log jam no matter how you look at it. Maybe they move some guys, but that's a different story.

And it may be new management, but I doubt they'd just wash their hands of lottery-talent bigs. Especially when Robert Swift is essentially a third year player (who looked like he might be a good center before he went down with injury) and they are only one year into the Saer experiment.

I'm not saying Seattle won't pass on Yi (maybe they think he can be a Rashard replacement), but as things stand now I see no reason why they'd draft him in an effort to shore up the frontline.

Here is teh crux of it though. If they feel that one of the talls in the draft is better prospect than what they aready have, then I am pretty sure they would pick him up and trade one or two of the big man they drafted in the last couple of years.

You don't often get a change to draft a star big and regardless of how many bigs they have on their roster, if they see someone that they like more than one of the bigs on their roster, they will pick him up and trade away what they already have.

You don't go for a need picking in top 5 unless you are comfortably covered in the other positions. They won't pass up a star big for a good swingman. If they do, then they deserve to be ridiculed.