Trading up in the draft

[Bricklayer]

Look, there is no way a pick switch is worth taking Brand back anyway -- to get a free extra shot a star? Sure. But not to give up your own preexisting pick in the process. That contract is horrendous -- one of those things the owners are going to go to war about next summer. Seek to protect themsevles from their own stupidity in the next CBA.

And a pick switch where we give up players in addition ot taking back Brand is completely out of the question in any case except Nocioni's, and that's only because moving Nocioni is an extra posiitve for us, not them.

And don't think that even with a straight the #2 + Brand deal that teams will be lining up around the block. The teams at or over the cap will absolutely refuse such an awful contract, and the teams who have worked to clear space this summer to go chase LeBron and friends are going to be fundamentally opposed to giving it up and sacrificing the dream. We may be one of the few teams truly positioned to do a deal like that, without giving up ANYTHING else other than our caproom. We both a) have caproom; and b) probably don't have a realistic shot at signing anybody major with it. Remember that for the other caproom teams, this trade for the #2 obviously has to take place before the free agency period. Chicago isn't going to use up its caproom on it and miss LeBron. Neither is New Jersey, Miami, New York, the Clippers etc. A deal like that is tailor made for us and relatively few other teams.

 

[SacKings7]

If we were to acquire another high pick, I think it's more likely to be Detroit's #7. Detroit's a veteran team. They'll either keep going forward with the veteran team that they have and thus could trade the pick for more help now, or they'll be looking to unload Prince or Hamilton and could possibly package the pick with them to get a better package in return. Thoughts?

 

[TheRaven]

To swap picks, I don't think Petrie would take on Brand and give up a player of Thompson's caliber. Maybe if the compensation coming from our end was slightly less, but then it becomes even more iffy for Philly. As far as taking the pick outright, I just don't think there is a workable scenario. In either case I think there is just too much risk involved for it to happen.

If we were to acquire another high pick, I think it's more likely to be Detroit's #7. Detroit's a veteran team. They'll either keep going forward with the veteran team that they have and thus could trade the pick for more help now, or they'll be looking to unload Prince or Hamilton and could possibly package the pick with them to get a better package in return. Thoughts?

That might be slightly more realistic. Detroit would love to unload Prince or Hamilton and since the pick is lower they might be more willing to deal than Philly. It would be really nice to somehow pick up an additional 1st rounder somewhere in the draft. If you pick a big at #5 then you can go after a swing guard. If you pick a guy like Johnson at #5 then there are a number of developmental bigs available throughout the 1st round.

 

[nickmcclure]

Here's a question to all you NCAA watchers (I almost exclusively watch NBA basketball.) Can Favors play the 5 at all? I really liked what I've seen of him but I realize we need a 5 like popcorn needs butter. Cousins seems like a work in progress which is fine since we're a very young team that needs to grow together but I am much more impressed with Favors athleticism.

 

[Megalodon]

Can he play it well? Probably not. he has superstar potential as a PF and I don't see him as a dominant center in the NBA ... but I don't watch college much either, so what do I know ?

 

[Chupacabra]

Here's a question to all you NCAA watchers (I almost exclusively watch NBA basketball.) Can Favors play the 5 at all? I really liked what I've seen of him but I realize we need a 5 like popcorn needs butter. Cousins seems like a work in progress which is fine since we're a very young team that needs to grow together but I am much more impressed with Favors athleticism.

Sure, if you think having a 6'9 center is acceptable. Otherwise, absolutely not. Hes a forward.

 

[Sac.1989]

this all depends on how highly a turner tyreke backcourt is rated. The rumors are gaining momentum with indiana mentioned. As brick said this scenario is seemingly tailormade for teams like us.

 

[hrdboild]

Al Horford plays center for Atlanta and they just got bounced out of the playoffs again because Horford is a power forward. Yes he can play center, but that doesn't make it a good idea. Same deal with Favors. Cousins has the size (ie a slight height advantage and hard to move body mass) to play that position but Favors does not.

 

[funkykingston]

OK, I'll try again. Philly calls up and says. We would like to unload Brands contract and you have the space to absorb it. What do you say. I answer, well, whats in it for me, because I don't really need Brand. And they say, well, how about we give you the number 2 pick in the draft and we'll take the 5th pick, Oh, and by the way, we need you to throw Casspi and Thompson in as well. And I say to them. Go take a fricking hike!

Why in god's name would the Kings give up the equivilent of three players and take on 15 mil in salary of a player they don't even want, just to get the 2nd pick in the draft?

They wouldn't. And if you read my posts I never proposed anything along those lines. I've always been operating under the assumption that a deal would NOT involved the 5th pick, meaning that the Kings would end up with both the #2 AND #5 picks in this draft.

 

[funkykingston]

And don't think that even with a straight the #2 + Brand deal that teams will be lining up around the block. The teams at or over the cap will absolutely refuse such an awful contract, and the teams who have worked to clear space this summer to go chase LeBron and friends are going to be fundamentally oppIosed to giving it up and sacrificing the dream. We may be one of the few teams truly positioned to do a deal like that, without giving up ANYTHING else other than our caproom. We both a) have caproom; and b) probably don't have a realistic shot at signing anybody major with it. Remember that for the other caproom teams, this trade for the #2 obviously has to take place before the free agency period. Chicago isn't going to use up its caproom on it and miss LeBron. Neither is New Jersey, Miami, New York, the Clippers etc. A deal like that is tailor made for us and relatively few other teams.

As I said previously, the only way such a deal happens is if (1) Petrie thinks the player he could get at #2 (Turner, Favors or Cousins) will both be a star AND not be available at #5 and (2) that the Kings won't be able to use their caproom to sign a difference maker.

IF both of those conditions are met then I could see it. Especially since as I noted previously, Brand's deal would run out just before Evans was due his big payday.

 

[bajaden]

Here's a question to all you NCAA watchers (I almost exclusively watch NBA basketball.) Can Favors play the 5 at all? I really liked what I've seen of him but I realize we need a 5 like popcorn needs butter. Cousins seems like a work in progress which is fine since we're a very young team that needs to grow together but I am much more impressed with Favors athleticism.

Well anybody can play the 5. Some just do it better than others. Its possible he'll grow some more, but he's not the ideal height to play the 5. And you have it backwards. Favors is the work in progress, not Cousins. Cousins is a very good post player. I do think that Favors has a very bright future though. But at PF..

 

[fnordius]

Favors at the 5 would benefit from growing some more, definitely in the weight room, and another half an inch to an inch of height would be great, but not required. To put it into historical context, he's just about average size for a PF drafted in the lottery. He's below average for a C drafted in the lottery, but not impossibly small or anything. Compare...

----------------------predraft height----predraft weight
Dwight Howard------6'9.0"---------------240
E. Okafor------------6'8.75"--------------257
Nick Collison--------6'8.75"--------------255
Al Horford-----------6'8.75"--------------246
Derrick Favors------6'8.75"--------------245
Drew Gooden-------6'8.75"--------------227
Brian Grant---------6'8.5"----------------247
Amare Stoudamire-6'8.5"---------------233

Most of those guys were older than Favors when drafted, and didn't gain significant height. If Favors wants to grow like Dwight Howard, it would be to his advantage. His game's already well suited to the 5.

 

[mr. moustache]

Just curious. Why would a team give up a good player to take on a contract that Philly trying to get rid of. Yeah, you getting a good player at number 2, but you'd be giving away a good player in the process and have a ton of money added to your cap.

Because they think Evan Turner or Favors is a legitimate star in this league and the owner is willing to pour millions down the drain for it. I'm not saying the Kings can, or should do it.

I certainly don't think the #2 is available for a team to simply take Brand's contract. It is an albatross, but Turner at 3m is a bargain..

 

[mr. moustache]

Gotcha. I was assuming no pick switch. Totally different story there.

OK, I'll try again. Philly calls up and says. We would like to unload Brands contract and you have the space to absorb it. What do you say. I answer, well, whats in it for me, because I don't really need Brand. And they say, well, how about we give you the number 2 pick in the draft and we'll take the 5th pick, Oh, and by the way, we need you to throw Casspi and Thompson in as well. And I say to them. Go take a fricking hike!

Why in god's name would the Kings give up the equivilent of three players and take on 15 mil in salary of a player they don't even want, just to get the 2nd pick in the draft?

 

[nickmcclure]

Alright then I say we trade up to draft Favors, find a way to magically make him grow an inch or so and put him in at the 5