Miscellaneous Breaking Draft News

[sactownfan]

Ric Bucher: Latest talk out of Sacramento is that the Kings are no longer interested in taking Ricky Rubio, or at best are in hot debate about whether to take him or Tyreke Evans or Jonny Flynn.

A source, however, says that there's one huge missing piece in the picture: GM Geoff Petrie has stayed quiet as the debate has raged over what to do and he continues to have the biggest voice on the basketball staff.

Several league sources questioned why the Kings are debating their choice. Sacramento's climate and geography apparently remind Rubio of his Spanish home, the team desperately needs a point guard and he has the potential star appeal that the franchise historically has had a hard time attracting.

For all those reasons, several GMs and scouts believe the talk of not taking Rubio is merely a smokescreen to keep Minnesota or the Knicks or any other team interested in him from making deals to jump ahead of the Kings in order to get Rubio. So which is it? There's no knowing until Petrie speaks up. Which he hasn't yet -- but certainly must before Thursday night.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/news/story?page=09DraftBuzz-090624

 

[sactownfan]

Good new for us ! ! ! with the stick being picked at #2 and Harden gone at #3 that'd be awesome!

 

[nbrans]

Good news that the FO seems to be leaning away from drafting the guy in your avatar?

 

[sactownfan]

I'd have to believe that Petrie is gonna go with Rubio... We went to way more trouble to see him/scout him... Petrie is the one that actually was there in Europe to watch him play...

I think the FO is just trying to bluff teams out of wanting him... Other teams might think that "if the Kings dont want him then i guess there are some issues" or something like that...

 

[Vlade4GM]

Smokescreen IMO. There's just absolutely no reason to believe that they wouldn't want the guy who fits nearly all our needs at PG and would be the concensus BPA at our pick by a large margin.

 

[nbrans]

Smokescreen IMO. There's just absolutely no reason to believe that they wouldn't want the guy who fits nearly all our needs at PG and would be the concensus BPA at our pick by a large margin.

If there is truth to this, I think it has to do with the fact that Rubio isn't really a Petrie-type player. People tend to go overboard with the extent to which Petrie favors shooters, but at the very least he tends to favor well-rounded players. Shooting and scoring is a pretty glaring hole in Rubio's game.

Petrie might still pick him and this may well be a smokescreen, but I wouldn't be entirely surprised to end up with Evans/Flynn/Curry on draft night either. Those guys are the well-rounded players you would expect Petrie to gravitate towards.

 

[sactownfan]

Jason williams? a Petrie guy?

 

[Wuster]

If there is truth to this, I think it has to do with the fact that Rubio isn't really a Petrie-type player. People tend to go overboard with the extent to which Petrie favors shooters, but at the very least he tends to favor well-rounded players. Shooting and scoring is a pretty glaring hole in Rubio's game.

Petrie might still pick him and this may well be a smokescreen, but I wouldn't be entirely surprised to end up with Evans/Flynn/Curry on draft night either. Those guys are the well-rounded players you would expect Petrie to gravitate towards.

Nbrans has it right. I just hope it's Evans.

 

[nbrans]

Jason williams? a Petrie guy?

Yeah, Jason Williams shot 40% from 3 his junior year at Florida. He was known as both a shooter and passer when he came in, even if he was inconsistent shooting in the NBA.

 

[Entity]

Draftexpress is the foremost leader in the NBA Draft. they are very accuarate with the top 5 and pretty good through 10. This is the day before the draft and for the first time in over a month their mock has it in this order.

Griffin
Thabeet
Rubio
Flynn

so they think we take Flynn over Evans. Any thoughts on this?

Basically who do you like Flynn or Evans??

BTW they have us taking Maynor at #23.

 

[beb0p]

The Wolves is trying to package the #5 and #18 to move up. If the Kings want Flynn they can take the Wolves' offer and take Flynn at #5. There is certainly no way Flynn won't be there at #5. Hell, they can take the Wolves' #6 and #18 and still draft the PG from Syracuse.

My guess is such a trade will never happen because GP wants Rubio.

 

[Bricklayer]

The Wolves is trying to package the #5 and #18 to move up. If the Kings want Flynn they can take the Wolves' offer and take Flynn at #5. There is certainly no way Flynn won't be there at #5. Hell, they can take the Wolves' #6 and #18 and still draft the PG from Syracuse.

My guess is such a trade will never happen because GP wants Rubio.

But are the Wolves trying to package #5 and #18 to move up to #4? Or are they trying to get into that meaty #2 position?

 

[allrightythen]

Draftexpress is the foremost leader in the NBA Draft. they are very accuarate with the top 5 and pretty good through 10. This is the day before the draft and for the first time in over a month their mock has it in this order.

Griffin
Thabeet
Rubio
Flynn

so they think we take Flynn over Evans. Any thoughts on this?

Basically who do you like Flynn or Evans??

BTW they have us taking Maynor at #23.

I like Evans with his upside, but I have doubts about his position so I'd prefer to take another PG (like Maynor) at #23.

 

[Nighthawk1]

Draftexpress is the foremost leader in the NBA Draft. they are very accuarate with the top 5 and pretty good through 10. This is the day before the draft and for the first time in over a month their mock has it in this order.

Griffin
Thabeet
Rubio
Flynn

so they think we take Flynn over Evans. Any thoughts on this?

Basically who do you like Flynn or Evans??

BTW they have us taking Maynor at #23.

I prefer Evans, but I don't think anyone would be upset with one or the other really...

 

[beb0p]

Draftexpress is the foremost leader in the NBA Draft. they are very accuarate with the top 5 and pretty good through 10. This is the day before the draft and for the first time in over a month their mock has it in this order.

Griffin
Thabeet
Rubio
Flynn

so they think we take Flynn over Evans. Any thoughts on this?

Basically who do you like Flynn or Evans??

BTW they have us taking Maynor at #23.

DX has gotten a GP pick wrong every year. Like last year they had us drafting Anthony Randolph.

Imo, the reason DX is spot on because some agents and teams let Givony in on the info, not because of some incredible foresight on his part. But we all know GP will never talk to him, so he always get our pick wrong. This year is no exception.

 

[beb0p]

But are the Wolves trying to package #5 and #18 to move up to #4? Or are they trying to get into that meaty #2 position?

Report on DX is they're trying to move into #3 and turned downed. If the Wolves is after Rubio as reported then the #4 vs the #5 makes a huge difference, imo.

 

[Bricklayer]

DX has gotten a GP pick wrong every year. Like last year they had us drafting Anthony Randolph.

Imo, the reason DX is spot on because some agents and teams let Givony in on the info, not because of some incredible foresight on his part. But we all know GP will never talk to him, so he always get our pick wrong. This year is no exception.

Well the bigger reason is just that we have been picking late where accuracy necessarily begins to fade. Higher picks are easier to call. Except of course maybe for this year where its a crapshoot.

 

[gunks]

Lordy I'm torn...

I think I'd be happy with either Flynn or Evans.

Flynn is a true pg, a natural leader, good athlete, undersized but strong. Evans isnt really a PG, but could be an amazing SG. He could possibly make Martin expendable (which is a good thing IMO).

I'm friggin excited.

 

[Bricklayer]

Report on DX is they're trying to move into #3 and turned downed. If the Wolves is after Rubio as reported then the #4 vs the #5 makes a huge difference, imo.

Well, if they were turned down at #3 then its reasonable to expect that that offer might be there for us when go to pick #4 tommorow if they have somebody they really want who is still available -- we could basically pick for them, take the #18 as reward, and still get our guy. Be a good situation to be in -- we know who our guy is. Minny has to tell us who their guy is if we are going to draft him for them, so if its not our guy, we could take the deal and run with no consequences.

 

[beb0p]

Well the bigger reason is just that we have been picking late where accuracy necessarily begins to fade. Higher picks are easier to call. Except of course maybe for this year where its a crapshoot.

Higher picks are indeed easier to call. But Givony does have a lot of connections. On NBATV last year, he said Mayo's agent called him with news that the T-Wolves were picking Love instead of Mayo hours before the draft. Then another phone call from the same agent a couple hours later with news that the Wolves had reversed course and decided on Mayo. The DX mock draft reflected this change. So this guy had an almost real time feedback on an NBA team's war room. Yes, I'm jealous. But it also shows that (and he said as much) his mock is based a lot on what other people tells him.

My take is that no one inside the Kings' org is talking to Givony. I could be wrong, but I just don't think so based on prior Kings draft. You're not refuting this point, I know, just throwing it out there. This year's draft is indeed a crapshoot and even DX said they don't think they'll be very accurate this year. So I take the Flynn pick with a grain of salt.

 

[bajaden]

Well, if they were turned down at #3 then its reasonable to expect that that offer might be there for us when go to pick #4 tommorow if they have somebody they really want who is still available -- we could basically pick for them, take the #18 as reward, and still get our guy. Be a good situation to be in -- we know who our guy is. Minny has to tell us who their guy is if we are going to draft him for them, so if its not our guy, we could take the deal and run with no consequences.

So if Evans and Rubio are both available at 4 when we pick. Would everyone be happy if we picked Rubio for Minny and then they picked Evans for us and also threw in the 18th pick. I would! But I know a lot of people have a love afair with Rubio. How bad a PR hit would it be?

 

[Gary]

Draftexpress is the foremost leader in the NBA Draft. they are very accuarate with the top 5 and pretty good through 10. This is the day before the draft and for the first time in over a month their mock has it in this order.

Griffin
Thabeet
Rubio
Flynn

so they think we take Flynn over Evans. Any thoughts on this?

Basically who do you like Flynn or Evans??

BTW they have us taking Maynor at #23.

I would take Flynn over Evans too. Flynn is vocal. Might be from playing with Greene or something, but being that he runs the PG and is vocal I wouldn't be opposed to this pick.

So Get it done Petrie.. Rubio or Flynn. One has to fall to #4.

 

[Gary]

So if Evans and Rubio are both available at 4 when we pick. Would everyone be happy if we picked Rubio for Minny and then they picked Evans for us and also threw in the 18th pick. I would! But I know a lot of people have a love afair with Rubio. How bad a PR hit would it be?

I on not sold on them turning Evans into a PG. He has never shown any real PG skills besides ball handling in college. BUT... If Evans turned into a stud SG, and we were able to use K-Mart to get a veteran then I am all for it. (instead of trading him for more young players who we have to develop only to trade them)

 

[Entity]

So if Evans and Rubio are both available at 4 when we pick. Would everyone be happy if we picked Rubio for Minny and then they picked Evans for us and also threw in the 18th pick. I would! But I know a lot of people have a love afair with Rubio. How bad a PR hit would it be?

i'd be happy with it. i think taking evans and maynor is a smart move. if we got the 18th we could really take a chance on somebody with #23 like taj gibson.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Im starting to get a little upset with how things are turning out - assuming all this talk is truth and not just bs were putting out there ..

My main concerns are with Evans and Flynn being our top 2 guys. I really really dont think Evans can play point, and with Martin at the two I just cant justify that pick. Why not just go for Harden if your going to pick a 2 guard ( we shouldnt be picking either ).

We have a whole at the point, a big huge gaping whole .. Beno isnt very good AND he is injury prone, If we draft a PG that is really the only spot were we can guarentee the player playing time.

My problem with Flynn is his upside - I just dont think he has much. Not a great shooter, not a great defender, not great size, not a great playmaker .. he just seems so mediocre to me. Im just totally confused by us being so high on him, at the end of the season mock drafts had him going in the late teens / early 20's and after a few workouts this guy is a top 5 pick? no thanks .. sure, say he is a great leader, but thats about all he REALLY has going for him.

I would be satisfied if we came out of this draft with Rubio or Curry.

Curry because I think he can play the point. As good as his season at Davidson was two years ago playing SG, he had an even better season playing the point this year, averaging more than 5 APG with no help. Blake Griffin called him the second best player in the draft. Hands down the best shooter in the draft .. good handle and a good head on his shoulders .. alot of people including myself think he can be a special player.

Rubio because of potential, and do you really want to be the team that passed up the next pistol pete? ( if thats how he turns out, of course ). Unlike Flynn, he does some things great .. he is a great passer, he is a great playmaker and he has great floor vision. Sure he has his question marks, but I dont think they are any greater than the questions that haunt the other top potential picks. Im more scared of what will happen if we dont pick him than if we do, I would probly take Curry myself ...

 

[Vlade4GM]

Higher picks are indeed easier to call. But Givony does have a lot of connections. On NBATV last year, he said Mayo's agent called him with news that the T-Wolves were picking Love instead of Mayo hours before the draft. Then another phone call from the same agent a couple hours later with news that the Wolves had reversed course and decided on Mayo. The DX mock draft reflected this change. So this guy had an almost real time feedback on an NBA team's war room. Yes, I'm jealous. But it also shows that (and he said as much) his mock is based a lot on what other people tells him.

My take is that no one inside the Kings' org is talking to Givony. I could be wrong, but I just don't think so based on prior Kings draft. You're not refuting this point, I know, just throwing it out there. This year's draft is indeed a crapshoot and even DX said they don't think they'll be very accurate this year. So I take the Flynn pick with a grain of salt.

Well, they may be talking to Givony, but that doesn't mean what they're telling him is true. Regardless, I think you're right in that Petrie is probably an exception.

 

[dbfish]

Bucher & ESPN

Ric Bucher: Latest talk out of Sacramento is that the Kings are no longer interested in taking Ricky Rubio, or at best are in hot debate about whether to take him or Tyreke Evans or Jonny Flynn.

A source, however, says that there's one huge missing piece in the picture: GM Geoff Petrie has stayed quiet as the debate has raged over what to do and he continues to have the biggest voice on the basketball staff.

Several league sources questioned why the Kings are debating their choice. Sacramento's climate and geography apparently remind Rubio of his Spanish home, the team desperately needs a point guard and he has the potential star appeal that the franchise historically has had a hard time attracting.

For all those reasons, several GMs and scouts believe the talk of not taking Rubio is merely a smokescreen to keep Minnesota or the Knicks or any other team interested in him from making deals to jump ahead of the Kings in order to get Rubio. So which is it? There's no knowing until Petrie speaks up. Which he hasn't yet -- but certainly must before Thursday night.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/news/story?page=09DraftBuzz-090624

If you don't have 1st hand knowledge, make something up.
Right out of the ESPN handbook.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Please don't use the Pistol Pete comparison, it's so ridiculously silly.

 

[gunks]

But....

...They have the same hair!


I kinda am partial to the Rubio/White chocolate comparison myself.

 

[beb0p]

So if Evans and Rubio are both available at 4 when we pick. Would everyone be happy if we picked Rubio for Minny and then they picked Evans for us and also threw in the 18th pick. I would! But I know a lot of people have a love afair with Rubio. How bad a PR hit would it be?

I'd be very happy with that deal. I don't live in Sac anymore so I don't have to worry about the riots in the streets.

DX has is alo reporting the Kings packaging #23 + #31 for #15. I hope it's true. No word on the Piston's reaction.

As for the Wolves' offer of #5 + #18 for #3, DX hasn't completely ruled it out but wrote that the deal happening doesn't look good. If it's true, it makes me wonder who the Thunder is targeting. Which player do they think will be there at #3 but won't be at #5? I'm starting to suspect OKC wants Rubio or Evans.