Say we draft Blake Griffin...

[Gary]

yea i was thinking about this lastnight i really like the idea of putting him at three then trading down to get jennings

We tried that with Corliss, remember? Remember the next year when we put a legit 3pt threat in there to spread the defense? I believe to be successful in the NBA you need at least two players on the floor that can hit the 3pt shot consistently (not counting the PG). That being your SG, and SF. I think it's a bad idea to move Griffin, or JT to the 3.

Also.. Griffin is dominant in college to be their #1 threat on offense nbrans. I believe with work he could become a focal point on some NBA offense if he turns into the player he is in college dominance wise.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I think the previous poster is correct.
...
While they have avioded any shortsighted moved trading young uns for mediocre vets, I cannot see them signing off on a draft pick who won't play next year.

I think I totally misunderstood the post I was responding to, thinking it was more about the mechanics of the buyout than about the Kings having pre-assurances that Rubio would come immediately if selected.

I would normally think that if he were to enter the draft, he would come, but I suppose that given how weak this draft is, he might be able to get a higher draft slot now than next year - and so get a higher base salary to start - even though he may intend to stay in Europe one or two more years.

 

[rainmaker]

I don't see Rubio staying in europe if he knows he will be a top 3 pick. His good friend R. Fernandez said Rubio has the pontential to be the best player spain has ever produced. With all the spanish players coming over here, I doubt Rubio would stay longer than he has to in europe given that he is the top pg in the draft.

 

[Entity]

All you guys putting your faith in Blake. I got a suggestion. Don't put your money on him being anyting better than a 3rd or 4th option. If he becomes a 1st or 2nd option then you can bet that team will get another high pick the next year.

 

[bajaden]

Another thing to remember is that if Rubio were to be the number one pick in the draft, he would certainly make a lot of money off endorsements, which would help compensate for the buy out.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Another thing to remember is that if Rubio were to be the number one pick in the draft, he would certainly make a lot of money off endorsements, which would help compensate for the buy out.

I don't know if any endorsements can go towards his buyout.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I don't know if any endorsements can go towards his buyout.

Huh? Rubio would have to personally pay the buyout amount, outside of the maximum $500K the NBA allows its teams to contribute. Endorsements -> Rubio's -> personal money -> Rubio pays buyout.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think the rotation of Hawes, Griffin, and Thompson at the 4 and 5 would be fierce and acceptable.

They would give up 1422 pts a game.

I think you have to at least explore the trade down scenario, although it is a GMs nightmare in many ways, because if you trade him away and he becomes a star, you look like an idiot. If you trade JT and JT becomes a star, you look like an idiot. But they are both similar players, so one really needs to go, and whoever it is will never have more value than on draft night before they have a chance to cut into each other's minutes.

Frankly in this draft, drafting #2 might be a blessing unless the peron drafting #1 got real saavy, took their guy, and dumped Griffin back to you.

 

[Kingster]

I really think that if on draft day the Kings pick Griffin with the #1 pick in the draft that within a few minutes you would hear the Commish announce a trade in which the Kings trade the pick. I would be astonished if they kept the pick. However, I think the more likely scenario is that they pick somebody other than Griffin straight up, and then keep that pick, whoever he is.

 

[Kingster]

I don't know if any endorsements can go towards his buyout.

They may not go directly to the buyout, but how "the authorities" possibly intervene if they go indirectly? Money is pretty fungible.

 

[Bricklayer]

You can never have enough skilled bigs if they play well together. Think of Webber, Vlade, and Pollard... All three were getting enough minutes, and all three were doing their thing.

Also, there is a chance that either Hawes or Thompson wont work out in the long run so it would be good to have a fierce talent like Griffin to try to fill the void as well.

I think you really can have too many skilled bigs, if that primary "skill" is offensive. Its why Pollard was the ideal complement to Webb and Vlade. Skill, skill, thrash. There are only so many shots, so many interior opportunities to go around. After that you need to seek balance and make sure that the dirty work categories are taken care of. Its why Scola plays alongside Yao, Haslem was next to Shaq, Varejao and Big Ben are next to Big Z, Perkins next to KG etc. etc.

 

[Entity]

Don't forget Keon. he was also considered a nice addition.

 

[Bricklayer]

Don't forget Keon. he was also considered a nice addition.

Yes he was.

And both worked better as part of our rotation than when we had Songaila.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I think you really can have too many skilled bigs, if that primary "skill" is offensive. Its why Pollard was the ideal complement to Webb and Vlade. Skill, skill, thrash. There are only so many shots, so many interior opportunities to go around. After that you need to seek balance and make sure that the dirty work categories are taken care of. Its why Scola plays alongside Yao, Haslem was next to Shaq, Varejao and Big Ben are next to Big Z, Perkins next to KG etc. etc.

I agree with you over the long term. In the short term, BPA still rules. If there is no one else available at Griffin's talent level, you take him, and if all 3 bigs work out you can trade one. Offensively skilled bigs tend to be easy to trade. Pollard, Perkins, Haslem, Varejao and other dirty work players are drafted lower and easier to acquire.

Now if the Gambit keeps playing at his current level, then this becomes an interesting debate.

 

[SacTownKid]

I agree with you over the long term. In the short term, BPA still rules. If there is no one else available at Griffin's talent level, you take him, and if all 3 bigs work out you can trade one. Offensively skilled bigs tend to be easy to trade. Pollard, Perkins, Haslem, Varejao and other dirty work players are drafted lower and easier to acquire.

Now if the Gambit keeps playing at his current level, then this becomes an interesting debate.

Precisely. Hell, the D-league is chalk full of them.

 

[Packt]

Dream Scenario: Draft Griffin with the 1st pick. Trade Thompson or Hawes or Greene plus a future 1st rounder for Thabeet. Have Griffin and Thabeet be the frontline of the future. Paired with Martin I believe this can be a very good team if everyone pans out. Find a PG with Houstons pick or somewhere else. Even Beno should be adequate for the first few years.

In our situation, I don't believe we'll ever get out of it just playing it safe. Players are being wasted and/or exposed in losing situations. Even teams that were able to stockpile picks took big gambles to become competitive.


However if we can acquire Amare, I'd figure out how to get the most out of our pick with the intent of drafting Thabeet. Then look into trading for Hinrich. Hinrich, Martin, Amare, Thabeet should be a good team going forward.

 

[fnordius]

Having heard that OKC would love to get Griffin, I'm leaning towards something like: trade the rights to Griffin to OKC for the rights to Thabeet plus next year's first rounder, which is surely going to be a significantly later pick than this year's (also likely to be in a deeper draft).

But I'm doubtful whether OKC would go for it, and it's so unGeofflike that there's little point in discussing it.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

Thompson can avg 18-20pts and 10rebs i think, then again i wanted the Kings to draft him last year and he is my 2nd favorite king.

If we get 1 you take Griffin. (Griffin and Collison draft would be VERY good draft for us.) but I think we will get 2nd-3rd pick.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

Hinrich

eeeww, not a fan.