Who to draft if we didn't have the chance at Griffin or Rubio?

[KF8]

There has been a lot of talk about getting either Griffin or Rubio, but there is a large chance that we may not even have the chance at those players if the ping pong balls didn't go our way. Assuming that we ended up getting the 3rd or 4th pick with Rubio either gone or not entering the draft and Griffin gone, who would you pick then and why?

 

[kingsnation]

Thabeet. End of discussion. (For me anyways, )

 

[Emma]

Thabeet.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Thabeet or Jennings as of this moment.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

I have a feeling Kings will get the 3rd pick and pick Brandon Jennings.

 

[upinsmoke]

If I was in the war room I would trade down and pull the trigger on Ty lawson or Brandon Jennings.

 

[Bricklayer]

I am also of the Thabeet and Jennings camp as the two next unique talents after Rubio/Griffin. There may be solid tweener guards after that, may be solid PF that might even one day be 15 and 8 or something, but as far as guys with a gift who can really impact some area of the game in the unique fashion, Rubio/Griffin/Thabeet/Jennings seem to have the most potential. Actually if that is the criteria I would even drop Griffin out, but he just may flat out be better than anybody else, so my theory is its best player, then 3 talents who could become impact guys.

But to be fair, Rubio and Jennings remain known to me mostly just from mixtapes, so there is some level of speculation involved.

 

[KF8]

After Griffin and Rubio, there seems to be such a large talent drop off. Everyone else after that seems to be on an even playing field. I think we'll either have to go with something we need in Thabeet or take a flyer on someone with high potential and hope he turns out to be a star.

 

[6th]

I also think that Thabeet and Jennings will go next in the draft. I would take either one of them. They each could help the Kings, or any team, when they develop their NBA game. And the good news is that all 4 players are not far off of NBA games. Some even closer than others.

 

[AriesMar27]

like everyone else, id have to go with thabeet or jennings....

 

[nbrans]

Well, I have a list of guys I'd want before Rubio, and they include Thabeet, Teague, Brackins, and possibly Jennings, but I haven't seen him play.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Thabeet or Curry

 

[BMiller52]

Thabeet or Lawson.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Probably 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet over little combo guard Stephen Curry.

Heck, I'd probably just as soon take Stephen Curry's brother Seth who was nations leading Div 1 Freshman scorer this season at Liberty. Seth Curry is two years younger, still growing at 6'3 180 lbs. and looks a bit taller and sturdier even now than his bro. Facially, they could be mistaken for twins but Seth could grow into a much tougher physical specimen than 'lil Stephen - but with very similar, potentially superior over-all basketball skills. Today Seth announced he would be leaving Liberty and transfer to Duke. He will be redshirted sitting out next season - but with Coach K as mentor I expect to hear a lot of big things from "the other Curry" in due time.

 

[HighTopKicks]

I'd consider trading the pick for Minni's first 2 picks, depending on where their first pick falls. With 2 picks between #8 and #18 we'd have a chance of getting Clark or Brackins, and Teague or Lawson. And, we'd still have the Houston pick & our 2nd rounder.

 

[6th]

I'd consider trading the pick for Minni's first 2 picks, depending on where their first pick falls. With 2 picks between #8 and #18 we'd have a chance of getting Clark or Brackins, and Teague or Lawson. And, we'd still have the Houston pick & our 2nd rounder.

This draft isn't good enough to pick 2 between 8 and 18. We need to get an impact player. Nothing else will help. We are already getting another 1st round pick with Houston's pick. And then, we need to talk a decent FA into coming here. Hey, let's have Vlade do that. It worked out well for him.

 

[HighTopKicks]

This draft isn't good enough to pick 2 between 8 and 18. We need to get an impact player. Nothing else will help. We are already getting another 1st round pick with Houston's pick. And then, we need to talk a decent FA into coming here. Hey, let's have Vlade do that. It worked out well for him.

How many impact players do you think are in this draft. By my count they're 2, and based on this premise of the thread their already gone. And, are you sure that guys like Lawson, Maynor, & Teague aren't going to be good PG in this league.

If we can't get a superstar, the next best thing is to stock up on good players. Every teams needs role players and bench players. We need a big and a pg, so why not get them here.

 

[Dime Dropper]

If Rubio and Griffin are gone, I'd gladly take Thabeet.

 

[Kingster]

First, thank for the topic. This question is much more significant than who would we take if we had the #1 pick. We have a 75% chance of not getting the first pick if we have the worst record in the league.

Teague, Evans (if he comes out), Clark.

Everybody seems to forget: a gambit is something you should NOT take.
I'm not too worried though (just a litte) about Petrie taking the gambit. I don't believe he's going to take a guy to get shot blocking when he'll be sacrificing tremendously at the offensive end. If the guy was a stellar rebounder, (which he's not) then maybe he would give it a shot. Thabeet is the most anti-Petrie player on the planet.

 

[Chamberneazy]

James Harden if he leaves early.

 

[sidney]

IMO, our 3 biggest needs are

* interior defensive anchor
* PG that runs our team and makes the sum talent greater than the parts
* clutch shooter / create his own shot guy

Rubio fills one role, Thabeet fills another, Griffin really doesn't fill any of those roles that well but would be a big infusion of talent. Maybe Teague develops into being the PG and create your own shot guy.

I'd be most excited about Thabeet if not Rubio. Hope we don't get lower than the 3 spot.

Don't like what I've seen of Jennings so far

 

[rainmaker]

IMO, our 3 biggest needs are

* interior defensive anchor
* PG that runs our team and makes the sum talent greater than the parts
* clutch shooter / create his own shot guy

Rubio fills one role, Thabeet fills another, Griffin really doesn't fill any of those roles that well but would be a big infusion of talent. Maybe Teague develops into being the PG and create your own shot guy.

I'd be most excited about Thabeet if not Rubio. Hope we don't get lower than the 3 spot.

Don't like what I've seen of Jennings so far

I would love to have Griffin if we didn't already have JT. I think JT will be a very good pf in this league, and therefor already fills an important need at pf. I love Griffin, and think he will be great, but he doesn't fill the greatest needs on this team.

We really do need someone to guard the hoop and intimidate in the lane, and Thabeet should do that. We also need a pg, because Beno is absolutely terrible. Rubio would do that. But when it comes down to it, I will be happy if we get any of the 3, they will all help this team.

 

[Henkel]

This team has one need and thats acquiring talent. Get enough young talent and the option of trading for a established star becomes a real option. Portland has built through the draft without drafting a superstar but thats rare. If a superstar isn't out there just pick up the best player available with the understanding that young talent is one of the few things you can trade for equal or greater value in the NBA. If that talent happens to overlap so be it.

 

[hammystyle]

This team has one need and thats acquiring talent. Get enough young talent and the option of trading for a established star becomes a real option. Portland has built through the draft without drafting a superstar but thats rare. If a superstar isn't out there just pick up the best player available with the understanding that young talent is one of the few things you can trade for equal or greater value in the NBA. If that talent happens to overlap so be it.

Don't know your definition of a superstar but Brandon Roy became one of the 10 best players in the league this year.

 

[Henkel]

Roy is a very good player and a guy who can lead a team far into the playoffs but he is not a superstar to me. I think the title of superstar is reserved for a guy who is truly dominate. Guys like Wade, Bron, and Duncan make you title contender, a guy like Roy doesn't do that. I suppose the difference to me is the amount of talent you need to put around a player to win it all.

Portland drafted a very good player in Roy but thats not the exceptional thing. All the consecutive successful drafts they have had is what makes Portland so talented and so hard to emulate. Portland draft for need and besides the sf position, which they still did alright with, they created a very talented and balanced team. Thats hard to do, maybe the Kings should give that a shot but i think the better idea is to stockpile talent with the idea of consolidating it for established players to play with your remaining young talent in a few years.

 

[RiffRaff]

I dont like Rubio.


I still think we need a dominant post game. Hawes will not be that Center..he will be great trade bait in the future though.. I am all for taking a chance on Thabeet but rite now we dont need to take chances.

If no Griffin, I say Jordan Hill at 6'10'' 235 hes long and athletic 18 and 11 player in college is good enough.

If not Jordan Hill then Thabeet.

My draft order would go like this...in this order

Griffin
Hill
Thabeet
Derozan
Then Rubio because we will get one of my top 4..

anyways.....we need Griffin or Jordan Hill on our roster, hopefully we can get 2 of my top 4 with the rockets 1st round pick

 

[RiffRaff]

Roy is a very good player and a guy who can lead a team far into the playoffs but he is not a superstar to me.

Bandon Roy??????? is one of the top 10 best SKILLED players in the NBA..which means SUPERSTAR.

Lebron
Kobe
Peirce
Garnett
Dwight
Roy
Wade
CP3
Duncan
Arenas

 

[SacKings7]

Roy is a very good player and a guy who can lead a team far into the playoffs but he is not a superstar to me.

Bandon Roy??????? is one of the top 10 best SKILLED players in the NBA..which means SUPERSTAR.

Lebron
Kobe
Peirce
Garnett
Dwight
Roy
Wade
CP3
Duncan
Arenas

Nowitzki??? Yao??? They should be there instead of Arenas and either Pierce or Roy. I'm gonna say Roy for the time being. Deron Williams and Bosh deserve consideration as well

 

[Henkel]

I explained my definition of a superstar, clearly you have your own.

 

[RiffRaff]

Roy is very young... they are most definently in the playoffs BECAUSE of him... and with strong post players like Aldridge pryzbilla and Oden theres no reason why they cant make it to the western conference finals.... this will be the 1st year u can really see what Roy can do in the playoffs as far as leading his team to the Finals... wont but they will go passed 1st, MAYBE 2nd round...definently a superstar...

Kevin Durant is by far a superstar.. but his team is not even mentioned for championship talk... Blazers have a percentage of winning...