2007 Draft

[Andy_S]

Who do we want? Who do we not want? Who should we trade those pesky picks to? :D

[SwingMan]

Keep the damn picks for once.

Kurt's likely gone by next February & we need 'em bad:

ATL pick - Joakim Noah
CLE pick - Tiago Splitter
Our pick - Best available or possible trade fodder

Our 2nd round pick - same as our pick

[DrSublime]

with ATL pick

in no particular order

Joakim Noah
Al Horford
Brendan Wright
Julian Wright
Thaddeus Young
Yi Jianlian
Spencer Hawes
Al Thornton

would ALL be good picks, (obviously Durant and Oden but thats dreaming)

[BigLewy]

ATL-Noah or Julian Wright
CLE-McRoberts or Splitter
PHO-Acie Law or Dominnic James

2nd rounder-Sean Williams of BC

[Billyjoejimbob]

Top prospects in West Region
By CHAD FORD

ESPN Insider has talked to multiple NBA scouts and GMs over the course of the season to give you a look at the Top 5 NBA prospects they'll be watching in each NCAA region.

We've already broken down the East, South and Midwest regions.

Here's the top NBA prospects in the West Region:

1. Julian Wright, F, So., Kansas


The Good: Wright is long and athletic with great fundamentals and excellent energy. He has the ability to defend three positions and also can play three positions on the offensive end. For a player his size, he's an excellent ball-handler and passer.


The Bad: His lack of an outside shot limits what he can do on the offensive end. He's much more effective playing in the post, but lacks the strength needed to do it for long stretches in the pros. While Wright is an aggressive player, he passes up too many shots.

The Upside: Many scouts feel that after Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, Wright is the prospect with the most upside. He doesn't dominate every game, but when he does … wow. Wright seems to come up big in the biggest games. If he has a great tournament, and if he declares for the draft, he's a lock for the Top 5 and a possible Top 3 pick.

2. Josh McRoberts, F, So., Duke


The Good: On paper McRoberts is a great prospect. He's got great size, very good athleticism and a big offensive repertoire. He can score both inside and outside and he's an excellent passer. He's also an excellent rebounder.


The Bad: Despite being the most talented player on the team, McRoberts often defers to teammates. His numbers across the board have been very disappointing this season leading some scouts to wonder if McRoberts is just a workout wonder with no real game. In games, we just don't see enough of his strengths.


The Upside: Last year there was talk about McRoberts being a high lottery pick. That talk has cooled considerably to the point he's now looking like a late first-rounder. Duke's struggles this year have mirrored McRoberts'. If he can have a breakout game or two and lead the Dukies to the Sweet 16, a lot of his previous fans will get back on the bandwagon.

3. Brandon Rush, SG, So., Darrell Arthur, PF, Fr., Mario Chalmers, PG, So., and Sherron Collins, PG, Fr., Kansas


The Good: Rush is one of the most talented swingmen in the country with a great combination of size, athleticism and skill. Rush is a smooth player with excellent range on his 3-point jumper. He's also an excellent defender. Arthur is an athletic big man who shocked NBA scouts with his production early in the season. He's long, aggressive in the paint, has decent range on his jump shot and is active on the boards. Chalmers is the heart and soul of the team's offense. He can play the one and the two, is an excellent perimeter shooter and is fearless with the game on the line. Collins has been equally impressive as an athletic slasher who uses his lethal combination of strength and speed to get to the basket at will.


The Bad: Rush is unselfish to a fault. He refuses to dominate the way his talent suggests he should. Arthur is still inexperienced and seems to have fallen out of favor with Bill Self. Chalmers is a bit of a tweener and lacks explosive athleticism. Collins is still a little on the wild side and scouts are concerned that he'll have weight issues in the future.


The Upside: After Julian Wright, no one on the team has more talent than Rush. If he decides to dominate in the tournament and leads KU to a championship, his stock will soar to the mid-first round. As it stands right now, he's on the first-round bubble. Arthur would get drafted in the mid-first round based on potential. But everyone in the NBA agrees he needs another year, with or without a great tournament. Chalmers could get the same bump Acie Law has gotten this year if he shows great leadership in the tournament. He doesn't wow you in any one area, but the intangibles are there. Collins needs another full year running the show in Kansas before he enters the draft. But if he declares early, he'll be a late-first to early-second-round pick.

4. Darren Collison, PG, So., Arron Afflalo, SG, Jr., and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF, So., UCLA


The Good: Collison is one of the fastest point guards in the draft. He's also proven to be a dead-eye from behind the arc. His leadership qualities are also key. Afflalo has one of the best mid-range jumpers in college basketball and can be a lockdown defender. He reminds me of Raja Bell. Mbah a Moute is an awesome athlete who plays with excellent energy at both ends of the floor.


The Bad: Collison is yet another undersized point guard who probably needs another year of experience running a team. Afflalo is undersized for his position and lacks the elite athleticism that NBA scouts look for in a two guard. Mbah a Moute actually has regressed offensively this year. He can't create his shot off the dribble and sometimes struggles to hit open jump shots.


The Upside: Collison quietly has turned into one of the top point guard prospects in the draft. He's mentioned in the same category as the other elite point guards in the draft, but he will have to lead UCLA deep into the tournament to be a lock as a first-round pick. Afflalo generally is considered a safe second-round pick. He'd have to have a ridiculous tournament to work his way into the first round. Ditto for Mbah a Moute.

5. Aaron Gray, C, Sr., Pittsburgh


The Good: Gray is a legit 7-footer, and he has the girth (he weighs in at 270) to handle the middle full-time. He's a good rebounder, especially on the offensive boards. Excellent hands. Good lower body strength helps him hold position in the paint. Nice baby hook. Good perimeter shooter.


The Bad: He's not very athletic and borders on the lumbering side. Still lacks experience. Is never dominant despite his size and talent.


The Upside: Georgetown's Roy Hibbert destroyed him in the Big East finals, raising serious questions about how he'll fare against elite NBA talent (Rafael Araujo anyone?). He's never been considered more than a bubble first-round pick by scouts and lately it's been looking more and more like he's a second-rounder. He's going to need a big tournament to turn around the momentum.

SLEEPER: Zabian Dowdell, PG, Sr., Virginia Tech


The Good: Dowdell is a great transition guard who loves to push the tempo. He possesses an excellent NBA body, strength and size for his position. The lefty turned a somewhat shaky jumper into a reliable offensive weapon his senior year. Good, physical defender.


The Bad: He's a bit of a tweener. More of a scorer than a point guard at this point of his career. He's not particularly quick or explosive.


The Upside: Scouts love the leadership he's shown this year. A great tournament run that proves he has what it takes to lead a team could do wonders for his stock. Right now he stands as a borderline second-round pick.

Others to watch: Gerald Henderson, SG, Fr., Duke; Matt Bouldin, PG, Fr., Gonzaga; Micah Downs, SF, So., Gonzaga; Josh Shipp, SG, So., UCLA; D.J. White, PF, Jr., Indiana; Sasha Kaun, C, Jr., Kansas; Derrick Jasper, PG, Fr., Kentucky; Curtis Sumpter, SF, Sr., Villanova;

[Billyjoejimbob]

Top 5 prospects in East Region
By CHAD FORD

It's March Madness, baby! It's the big stage for some of college basketball's best players to show off their games. NBA scouts and general managers will be out in force over the next few weeks scouting everyone in the Big Dance.

A great March can really help a player's stock. Last year, Florida's Joakim Noah, LSU's Tyrus Thomas and Bradley's Patrick O'Bryant saw their stock skyrocket after impressive performances in the tournament.


In 2005, UNC's Sean May rose from a late first rounder to a lottery pick with an amazing performance for the Tar Heels while Illinois' Deron Williams surpassed Chris Paul on many talent evaluators' boards as the top point guard in the draft with his stellar play in the Tournament.

In 2004, UConn's Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, Duke's Luol Deng, Stanford's Josh Childress, Arizona's Andre Iguodala and BYU's Rafael Araujo all rode strong performances into the lottery.

In previous years, Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony, Marquette's Dwyane Wade, Maryland's Chris Wilcox, Arizona's Richard Jefferson, Florida's Mike Miller, Wally Szczerbiak of Miami (Ohio) and Connecticut's Richard Hamilton helped their draft position significantly in March.

Who will take advantage of the national stage to supercharge their draft stock?

ESPN Insider has talked to multiple NBA scouts and GMs over the course of the season to give you a look at the top 5 NBA prospects they'll be watching in each NCAA region.

East Region NBA Prospects


1. Kevin Durant, F, Fr., Texas


The Good: What can't he do? Durant is the most complete prospect to enter the draft since LeBron -- he's got the length, athleticism and drive of Kevin Garnett, combined with all of Dirk Nowitzki's offensive weapons. He possesses every NBA scouting adjective in the book. Long? Check! Athletic? Check! Deep range? Check! Great hands? Check! Sweet handle? Check! Speed? Check! Explosiveness? Check! Motor? Check! Leadership? Check! The Eye of the Tiger? Wow.


The Bad: He's a little skinny. His defense is a little flimsy. That's about it folks.


The Upside: He is, without question, the most talented player in the country. He's having, arguably, the greatest season ever by a freshman in a major Division I program. Durant's dominant performance in the Big 12, prompted one NBA GM to text me on Sunday during Durant's 37-point performance versus Kansas with this sentiment, "Durant is so good, the scouts just giggle with one another. Not a lot of poker being played here. Holy !@#$." If Durant can lead Texas deep into the tournament with this type of play, I think he'll cause more NBA executives to defect from the "Greg Oden for No. 1" camp.

2. Brandan Wright, F, Fr., North Carolina


The Good: Wright has all the physical tools to be a dominant NBA 4. He has incredible length and athleticism for the position and has excellent offensive tools in the paint. He's great running the floor and knows how to get to the rim.


The Bad: He doesn't always dominate the way his talent suggests. Does he have the drive and passion for the game to be a superstar? That lack of energy shows in his rebounding totals and his sometimes lackadaisical defensive efforts. Needs to add strength.


The Upside: Scouts often compare Wright to another UNC alum, Rasheed Wallace. Wright came up huge for North Carolina in the ACC tournament, dropping 20 points on 10-for-12 shooting against Boston College. If he has a few dominant games like that for the Tar Heels in the Tournament, he could be the No. 3 pick in the draft. Even without a huge showing in the Tournament, Wright looks like a lock for the top 6.

3. Jeff Green, SF, Jr., Georgetown


The Good: The Big East Player of the Year is a throwback player whose versatility and unselfishness are his greatest assets. Green can do anything his team needs him to. He possesses an excellent inside-outside game, has a great basketball IQ that makes him a leader on the floor, is an excellent passer and will take over a game only when he needs to. His defense and energy on both ends of the floor can be infectious.


The Bad: Is he too unselfish? At times he fades into the woodwork during games to allow his teammates to get involved. However, that trait seems to disappear when the Hoyas really need him to assert himself. Green isn't an elite athlete and can be a streak shooter from long-range.


The Upside: Green is the type of player who every NBA coach will fall in love with. He's sort of a better version of Shane Battier. He has all the intangibles scouts look for in a player, but he also has enough athletic abilities to be an impact player in the pros. If he leads Georgetown deep into the Tournament (a real possibility) he's probably a lock for the lottery.

4. Texas' D. J. Augustin and North Carolina's Tywon Lawson


The Good: Right now Augustin and Lawson are duking it out for the label of best freshman guard in the country. Both are super fast players who like to push the tempo. Augustin is a little bit more polished on the offensive end. He has a lethal jump shot with NBA 3 range. Lawson is a little more athletic and seems to have a better feel of the game right now. He may be the quickest player in the country.


The Bad: Both guys are undersized for their position in the pros. Neither would crack the 6-foot mark in official measurement, though Lawson may have a half inch on Augustin. Augustin can play out of control at times. Lawson's perimeter game is still a little suspect.


The Upside: At the beginning of the season, scouts complained that this may be one of the worst point guard crops in recent history. Not anymore. Scouts now have Augustin and Lawson (along with Texas A&M senior Acie Law) as potential lottery prospects. While both lack ideal size for the position, they excel at the breakneck style of basketball that the league is heading to and both have earned their stripes with amazing freshmen seasons. They could go head-to-head in the Sweet Sixteen. Whoever comes out victorious will likely take the top spot as the top point guard prospect in the draft.

5. Roy Hibbert, C, Jr., Georgetown


The Good: He's 7-foot-2, has excellent fundamentals on both ends of the floor and has improved greatly from season to season. He's one of the most efficient players in college basketball, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field for the season. Has turned from an average to an excellent shot-blocker this season.


The Bad: Hibbert isn't an elite athlete and still needs polish. Despite his size and huge frame, he's just a mediocre rebounder in college. He doesn't always take over the game like his talent suggests he should.


The Upside: Big men usually see their stock rise this time of year and Hibbert's strong play in the second half of the season hasn't gone unnoticed. His 18-point, 12-rebound dominant performance over Pittsburgh big man Aaron Gray in the Big East tournament finals impressed a lot of folks. He puts up two big games like that in the NCAA Tournament and the guy has a shot at the late lottery.

SLEEPER: Nick Young, SG, Jr., USC


The Good: Young is one of the smoothest, most complete shooting guards in college. He does just about everything well. He's got great athleticism, can handle the ball and has one of the most consistent midrange jump shots in the country. This season he's increased his range out past the three-point line, making him very difficult to stop when he wants to take over.


The Bad: Before this season, scouts worried about his often erratic play though it's been much less of an issue this year. He could use an extra 15 pounds of muscle.


The Upside: On talent Young is a lottery pick -- a Richard Hamilton type of player who has the potential to be a big-time scorer in the pros if he can just bring some consistency. If he has a few big games for USC he could move up the charts from a late-first-round pick into the mid first round.

Others to watch: Tyler Hansbrough, F, So., North Carolina; Wayne Ellington, SG, Fr., North Carolina; Reyshawn Terry, SF, Sr., North Carolina; Gabriel Pruitt, PG, Jr., USC; Taj Gibson, F, Fr., USC; Dominic James, PG, So., Marquette, Drew Neitzel, PG, Jr., Michigan State; Jared Dudley, SF, Sr., Boston College, Tyrese Rice, PG, So., Boston College; Derrick Byars, SF, Sr., Vanderbilt.

[Billyjoejimbob]

Top prospects in South Region
By CHAD FORD

ESPN Insider has talked to multiple NBA scouts and GMs over the course of the season to give you a look at the Top 5 NBA prospects they'll be watching in each NCAA region.

On Sunday we broke down the East region. Today we'll break down the South region. On Tuesday, we'll hit the Midwest region. And Wednesday, we'll tackle the West.

Here's the top five NBA prospects in the South Region:

1. Greg Oden, C, Fr., Ohio State


The Good: By now you might have heard of this guy Oden, the most highly touted big man to play college ball since Tim Duncan. Defensively, he's a ferocious shot blocker who changes the shot of just about anyone who enters in the lane. Offensively, his game is mostly dunking and overpowering the competition. However, since his right wrist has begun to heal, he's also shown some nice touch with a little hook shot from the right block and decent touch on his free throws. Has a great basketball IQ and the coaching staff says he's got a fantastic work ethic, too.


The Bad: He hasn't been the dominant player we all expected him to be. He's taken over a few games in the second half, but scouts expect him to take over every half of every game. While his rebounding numbers are good, he's not active after the ball the way the best rebounders are. Oden doesn't always play with much emotion or passion.

The Upside: Oden is a no-brainer as a Top-2 pick. He'll immediately be one of the two or three best centers in the NBA when he enters the league. The question really has to do with his ceiling. Will he be really good like Patrick Ewing? Or will he be incredibly special like Tim Duncan or Hakeem Olajuwon? The jury is still out on that. What is clear is that, if having a big man like Oden can propel a team filled with freshmen to the No. 1 ranking in the country, most NBA GMs are going to make the leap in thinking that he'll be able to do likewise at the pro level.

2. Brook Lopez, C, Fr., Stanford


The Good: Lopez is a skilled, athletic big man who hustles on both ends of the floor. He has a great body and uses it well. He's developing a decent low-post game, too, and has shown an array of basic moves around the basket. He's a good shooter with the ability to knock down the 18-foot jump shot.


The Bad: He's still fairly inexperienced and, at times, lacks consistency. He's not an explosive athlete and it's unclear how high his upside is. Something north of Jason Collins, but I'm not sure how much that really means.


The Upside: Combine his position with his strong play toward the end of the season (20 points or more in 5 of his last 7 games) and that explains why scouts are salivating. Stanford's very lucky to have made the tournament cut and Lopez is going to have to lead them to a win or two to really see a significant bump in his stock. Still, given his already meteoric rise, I'm not sure he needs much of a bump.

3. Acie Law, PG, Sr., Texas A&M


The Good:The dude has stones. Seriously, he's the most courageous point guard in the country. Law also does just about everything well -- he shoots well, handles the ball well, and is quick and athletic. But where he excels is his ability to take his team and put it on his back when it needs him.


The Bad: It's the good. He does just about everything well, but what he doesn't do is anything great. He's a streaky perimeter shooter and lacks the elite athleticism or quickness NBA scouts look for in guards.


The Upside: Law's biggest attribute, leadership, will make or break him in the tournament. If he leads Texas A&M deep, I think he's got a great shot at being the first point guard taken in the draft. He doesn't blow scouts away, but I kind of like the Sam Cassell comparisons. However, if Texas A&M struggles early, he could slide behind all of the freshmen point guards with NBA potential.

4. Mike Conley, PG, Fr., Ohio State


The Good: One of the steadiest point guards in the country, Conley is a pure point who always thinks team first and has a fantastic assist-to-turnover ratio. He has a lot of cleverness to his offensive game. He's also a very good athlete with good lateral quickness and quick hands, which make him an excellent on-the-ball defender.


The Bad: He's been an inconsistent perimeter shooter and offensive player, and he lacks experience.


The Upside: He's been playing in the shadow of Oden his whole life, but if he can help lead Ohio State to a NCAA title as a freshman, a number of GMs will come calling in the mid-to- late first round.

5. Nick Fazekas, PF, Sr., Nevada


The Good: Fazekas is a lanky big man who can play both inside and out and does equal damage from both places. He's got NBA 3-point range on his jumper, and is a very skilled mid-range shooter. He's an excellent rebounder thanks to his length.


The Bad: His body is not ready for the beating it's going to take at the next level. Fazekas doesn't have the quickness to guard threes in the pros, nor the strength to guard fours. Is he the classic tweener?


The Upside: Scouts continue to be all over the board on this guy. Some see the second coming of Keith Van Horn (not a bad thing if you look at his career numbers). Others see Dan Langhi or Zarko Carbarkapa, a sweet-shooting big man who doesn't have the muscle to do anything inside. He's probably a late first rounder right now, but a big tournament would help his stock. Two years ago he stunk in the tournament and that torpedoed his stock. He was very solid last year, but Nevada lost in the first round again. He's going to need a few big games to convince his doubters.

SLEEPER: Trent Plaisted, C, So., BYU


The Good: Plaisted is an athletic big man who has earned rave reviews from scouts. He's skilled around the basket, is an explosive leaper and a decent rebounder and shot blocker.


The Bad: Had a very uneven sophomore campaign. Poor free-throw shooter. Needs to hit the boards more.


The Upside: As a freshman, some scouts pegged him as a potential first-round pick. This season, he's dominated at times, but much of the time he's been a non-factor. He had some solid games in the Mountain West tournament that give hope, and with a couple of stellar performances (he'd have to go against Greg Oden and Ohio State in the round of 32), Plaisted could resurrect his stock.

Others to watch: Daequan Cook, SG, Fr., Ohio State, Chris Lofton, PG, Jr., Tennessee; Joseph Jones, PF, Jr., Texas A&M; Sean Singletary, PG, Jr., Virginia; J. R. Reynolds, SG, Sr., Virginia; Marcelus Kemp, SG, Jr., Nevada; Lawrence Hill, PF, So., Stanford; Robin Lopez, C, Fr., Stanford; Earl Clark, SG, Fr.,Louisville; Derrick Caracter, PF, Fr., Louisville; Chris Douglas-Roberts, SG, So., Memphis; Robert Dozier, F, So., Memphis

[Billyjoejimbob]

Prospects in Midwest Region
By CHAD FORD

ESPN Insider has talked to multiple NBA scouts and GMs over the course of the season to give you a look at the top five NBA prospects they'll be watching in each NCAA region.

We've already broken down the East and South regions. Today we'll break down the Midwest Region. On Wednesday, we'll wrap it up with the West.

Here's the top NBA prospects in the Midwest Region:


1. Joakim Noah, PF/C, Jr., and Al Horford, PF, Jr., Florida


The Good: The two stars from last year's title run continue to deliver the goods that made NBA teams fall in love with them in the first place. Noah still plays with a reckless abandon on the court. He's an athletic 6-foot-11 big man who thrives in the open court. He's also a terrific leader and an underrated passer. Horford possesses a rare combination of NBA strength, athleticism and basketball IQ. He's the smartest bruiser you'll ever come across. He's become a serious rebounding and scoring threat in the low post, has developed a little 15-foot jump shot and can even handle the ball in a pinch.


The Bad: Living up to expectations isn't easy and neither guy blew scouts out of the water this year with their development. Statistically, Noah dipped from where he was peaking at the end of last season. He hasn't really improved his offensive game and scouts are beginning to worry about his lack of a jumper. Horford has been more consistent, but scouts still haven't seen him take over a game the way he's capable of doing.

The Upside: Last year many scouts thought Noah would be the No. 1 pick in the draft if he declared. This year, he's not going higher than three and probably won't slip past eight. Noah is more of a fit player, but put him on a veteran up-tempo team like the Suns and … wow. Horford has quietly worked his way into consideration for a mid-lottery pick and it's no longer inconceivable that he gets drafted ahead of Noah. A big tournament run and both guys may be gone by the top five. If the Gators flounder … then both may lose some of their luster.

2. Thaddeus Young, F, Fr., and Javaris Crittenton, PG, Fr., Georgia Tech


The Good: Young, on paper, is one of the most exciting prospects out there. He's got the size, athleticism and skills NBA scouts drool over. He's an elite athlete, has a long wingspan that makes him play like a 7-foot small forward and he's quietly developed a consistent jump shot to go alongside his athletic slashing game. Crittenton has great size for a point guard, amazing composure on the court, good athleticism and a much improved jump shot. Many "big" point guards are really just hybrid guards in disguise, but Crittenton is the real deal.


The Bad: Both players have been very inconsistent, especially at the start of the season. As freshmen they were asked to lead Georgia Tech, but it took them a while to figure it out. Young still needs to get stronger and diversify his game in the post. Crittenton struggles against quick, explosive point guards.


The Upside: After a rocky start, both Young and Crittenton have come on strong. Young had a 30-point performance in an overtime loss against Wake Forest in the ACC tournament and Crittenton absolutely destroyed Boston College a few weeks ago. If they can put together a strong run here, the mid-lottery isn't out of the question for Young and the late lottery to middle first round for Crittenton. If they stumble, they may just stay in school and try it again next year.

3. Chase Budinger, SG, Fr., and Marcus Williams, SF, So., Arizona


The Good: Budinger is a volleyball-spiking two guard with elite explosiveness and a killer jump shot. He's also incredibly poised for a freshman and can take over a game with his talent. Williams is a smooth small forward with an excellent midrange game, ballhandling abilities and great size for the position.


The Bad: Budinger isn't a great defender and after getting off to a hot start, he's cooled a little in the second half. Williams struggled to turn the team over to Budinger, leading to some internal power struggles that sometimes found their way onto the court. While he's a smooth player, he isn't a knockout athlete or long-range shooter.


The Upside: Arizona, for all of its potential NBA talent, has been a big disappointment this season. Williams needs to have a big tournament to keep his stock in the same place as it was last year (middle first round). If he and the Wildcats struggle, he could slip into the late first round. Budinger's stock is more secure. Almost every scout Insider spoke with had him as a late lottery pick. But a huge game or two could push him a rung or two higher up the ladder. A series of bad games may convince him to stay in school another year.

4. Corey Brewer, SG, Jr., and Taurean Green, G, Jr., Florida


The Good: Brewer has the length and athleticism to be an elite player at his position. He already can be a lockdown defender using his long arms to terrorize the passing lane. While he doesn't look for his shot often, he can be a very efficient offensive player. Green is a big-time scorer and perhaps the most important offensive weapon on the Gators. He's a fearless 3-point shooter.


The Bad: Brewer can be maddeningly inconsistent. For all of his talent, he can disappear on both ends of the floor for long stretches. Green is the size of a point guard, but really has more of a 2-guard's game.


The Upside: Florida's frontcourt may have NBA scouts falling head over heels, but its backcourt is the heart and soul of the team. When Brewer and Green get going, the Gators are tough to beat. Another big tournament for Brewer and he should join Noah and Horford in the lottery. Green needs a big tournament to get a first-round nod.

5. Alando Tucker, F, Sr., Wisconsin


The Good: Tucker has great strength and athleticism. He's a tough, fearless competitor who has slowly transformed his game from a low-post oriented 4 to a small forward. He's a winner who gives his team constant energy on both ends of the floor.


The Bad: He's an undersized 3 and definitely an undersized 4. While his jump shot has made great strides this year, it's not up to par with most of the top NBA shooting guards in the country.


The Upside: Scouts fight about Tucker more than almost any prospect in the draft. A handful think he's a better version of Desmond Mason or Ruben Patterson and he will find an important niche on an NBA roster. The majority see him as a tweener, a marginal rotational player who may be valuable for his combination of athleticism, toughness and defense. We rarely see such disagreement over a player who's had such a great senior season. He'll need a big, big tournament to help form a consensus.

SLEEPERS

1. Trey Johnson, G, Sr., Jackson State


The Good: Johnson is a prolific scorer who can score from just about anywhere on the floor. He's a triple-threat type player who can slash to the basket, nail the 3 and even play backup point. He plays very physical, has NBA strength and, most importantly, is very polished and poised.

The Bad: How good is he? He's a big fish in a small pond at the moment. Johnson does everything for his team which sometimes leads to bad shots.

The Upside: Johnson is the biggest sleeper in the draft. He's a fantastic athlete (he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals) and has put up remarkable numbers for a guy who's only played hoops for three years. If he can put up a big game against Florida in the opening round, he could boost his stock more than anyone in the tournament. Right now he's a bubble first rounder, but he does have the talent to be a mid-first-round pick.

2. D.J. Strawberry, G, Sr., Maryland


The Good: Strawberry is an athletic combo guard with great size and length for the position. He can play point and does an excellent job running the team. He's an absolute nightmare for opposing guards on the defensive end of the ball.


The Bad: Still a bit of a tweener. He's improved his jump shot greatly over the years, but it's still not particularly consistent yet.


The Upside: Strawberry's stellar play in February saved Maryland's season and caught the attention of a number of scouts who've been watching him because he's the son of former baseball player Darryl Strawberry. If he can lead Maryland to a few wins in the tournament, he's got a shot at sneaking his way into the late first round, early second round.

Others to watch: Stephen Curry, G, Fr., Davidson; Jawann McClellan, G, Jr., Arizona; Ivan Radenovic, F, Sr., Arizona; Mustafa Shakur, PG, Sr., Arizona; Carl Landry, PF, Sr., Purdue; Ekene Ibekwe, PF, Sr., Maryland; Greivis Vasquez, G, Fr., Maryland; Aaron Brooks, PG, Sr., Oregon; Malik Hairston, SG, Jr., Oregon; Bryce Taylor, G, Jr., Oregon; Russell Carter, SG, Sr., Notre Dame.

[Double_A_Ron]

Here's what I would like to see, I think.. :D

ATL Pick: This all depends on where this falls. If it is 5 or 6, I say we take Noah, Horford or Wright. If it is in the 8 or 9 range, I wouldn't be opposed to drafting a point guard if one comes out. I say this because they are hard to come by and our system relies very heavily on them. I'm a big fan of Augustin and Conley Jr.

Cleveland Pick: If we take a big with the first pick, there are a number os solid two guards that could be available like Marcus Williams, Rudy Fernandez and Trey Johnson. If we go small with the first pick, Splitter or Hill would be great here.

Our Pick: I honestly don't see us even using this but if we do, just take the best player available.

[Squeege63]

I would rather have Horford than Noah. We need the back to the basket guy who can grab boards, play D and take over for KT when he is gone.

My buddy is trying to convince me that if the pick falls lower than 5 that we should take Acie Law. Law's points and assists are very comparable to what Nash did when he is in college. I'd love to have Law but I am not sure that he is worth ATL pick, but I don't think that he will be available by the Cleveland pick.

I wouldn't mind seeing us use our pick to dump Banks on someone. maybe do a sign and trade with Denver for Steve Blake.

[Double_A_Ron]

I like Law's game but he is more of a shoot first guard and we really need someone who can dictate tempo and create for others as well as score. Lawson, Collison, Augustin and Conley all fit into this mold.

[pickle]

i secretly hope we get the chinese kid yi jianlian if we don't get noah. i want to use all 3 picks, maybe leave one overseas...

[In2ition]

First, I think that we go after Noah, and hope he falls to us with the ATL pick. If not, giving up a combination of the other two and/or next years isn't to bad.
Then if we have the two others left, trade up for Thornton or Splitter. If Splitter was to drop to us at the Cleveland pick, then look to get Conley with our pick. Leave Splitter in Spain, and bring him over when his contract has a better buyout clause, when he is ready, and when KT is on his way out. Which may mean one year. I also like Stuckey as a big guard and possible replacement for Raja in the future.

So many situations that could happen make this draft quite interesting.

[In2ition]

i secretly hope we get the chinese kid yi jianlian if we don't get noah. i want to use all 3 picks, maybe leave one overseas...

I am right there with you pickle. :oops:

[OrlandoGardener]

They should draft me. I have a ton in common with Steve Nash.

Wouldn't be considered quick in NBA
Not much of a leaper
Not particularly strong
Not heavily recruited out of High School
Didn't go to school at a Div 1 powerhouse
Nobody really expects me to be a star
Can't play good man D
Willing to wear my hair long or short
White/6'3"/Skinny

Edit: I also have something in common with Thunder Dan

Fans would boo if I was drafted

[Mori_Chu]

Joakim Noah with the ATL pick. It's destiny. A distributing guard with the other pick.

We'll probably trade the third pick to dump salary, so I won't even try to guess who we could draft with it.

All I can say is, if we trade away all our draft picks again, I will be absolutely furious. As we've discussed to death, this team has pissed away too many good young players lately. We could be 11 deep and have our future secured by now if we'd just kept our picks the last three years.

[ShelC]

I dont think we will trade away all of our picks. I think we use at least one, but everything depends on who is coming out. If all these guys we're talking about come out, i think we have to use all 3 because the talent will be there. If none of the underclassmen come out or just a few come out that wont help us, then i could see us trading away a pick or even 2. We've shown that we're not gonna take someone we dont absolutely want. Hell, we've shown we wont keep the pick and take someone we absolutely DO want!

[Squeege63]

Anyone interested in taking Jeff Green with our pick?

[Double_A_Ron]

Green reminds me a lot of Diaw which would make him a bit redundant. I'm with you on Stuckey In2. He is very talented and if he played for a major school, he would be a late lottery to mid-first round pick. We should look at him in the 20's for sure.

[ShelC]

I dont think Green is like Boris. Hes a bit smaller, more of a wide body and more aggressive overall. Hes a RyanGomes/AlHarrington type of 3/4. Im actually a big fan of him and hibbert.

[SunsRIt]

Or Nick Fazekas?

[UO]

I'm a big fan of Fazekas for us, along with Acie Law.

I'm not sure if Nick can guard anyone on the next level--let alone his current level--but that has never deterred us from a player.

[ShelC]

If we didnt have Barbs i'd be all for Law. I like Fazekas with our pick. Hes probably a 3pt shooting 4/5 who doesnt play D, but hes going to get stronger, has shown to be a competent rebounder at the college level and can knock down the 3. If nothing else, he can take Burkes place at the end of the bench at a cheaper salary. I see absolutely no reason for signing a veteran big who isnt going to see any time over drafting a guy like Fazekas, who probably isnt going to see any time.

[Double_A_Ron]

Shel, Green handles and dictates a lot of the offense for G-Town. He's 6'8 which is Boris's height and he lacks much of a J. I think he is a lot like him and is a do it all kind of player that will be a great glue guy at the NBA level. As for Nick, the thing that will keep him off this team is his foot speed. Jason Smith is a better fit here that Nick is.

[DrSublime]

Anyone interested in taking Jeff Green with our pick?
NO

[ShelC]

I just feel like Green is more aggressive overall on offense. Hes got more of a scorer mentality to go along with his perimeter skills. Thats why i think hes more of a Gomes/Harrington type. Also, he's 6-8 235-240 where as Boris is a longer, slender 6-8, 6-9 230. The one thing i really like about Green is his consistency. His numbers thru 3 years of college are almost exactly the same, except for a minor, minor dip last year.

[UOducks4life]

Lottery pick: Noah, Horford, B. Wright, Jianlian, J. Wright

Trade 1 of the following picks with Blanks broke ass:

Cavs pick: Rush, Augustin, Hansbrough, Fernandez
Suns pick: Nick Young, Eric Maynor, Morris Almond, Marco Belinelli

[INFORMER]

I'm pissed off I missed the Vanderbilt game, but Byars apparently was tremendous:

27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 3 steals, 9-20 FG, 5-9 3P

[ShelC]

This kind of worries me:

Durant says he just wants to have a good time, earning a B-average in classes last fall, playing ball and hanging out with friends. He was hooked on a video game, "The Godfather," until it grew frustrating — "I keep losing" — and he pushed it aside for a while.

We dont need Fredo on the court if you know what i mean.

[ShelC]

A group of NBA executives and scouts has descended on southern China to watch top Chinese players Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi battle it out in the China Basketball Association finals.

Top officials from the Chicago Bulls , Philadelphia 76ers , Golden State Warriors , Phoenix Suns and New Jersey Nets watched Wang's Bayi Rockets dispatch Yi's Guangdong Tigers 94-89 in Sunday night's opening game.

[In2ition]

I heard that both JC and Griff are in China to watch.

[BKinSJC]

I heard that both JC and Griff are in China to watch.

Hm. Maybe we need Jerry to get back here and kick some a$$ ... er, I mean, have a motivational discussion with some of the current team members.

[UOducks4life]

For anyone with NBATV, they are airing the Chinese League Championship at 4:30am PST Tuesday morning. I plan on tuning in to finally see this Jianlian hype in action.

[Double_A_Ron]

I have a feeling that Yi is a backup plan for Noah. I think the Suns are fantasizing about a big man that can get out on the break. Noah would bring more to the table in terms of intensity, rebounds and shot blocking. Yi has similar athleticism and brings more to the table offensively. I see us really liking Yi but we need Noah's skill set more than we need Yi's.

[BigLewy]

I wonder if a team would take both of our late 1st rounders to move up into the 15th pick area to snag Brewer. I think the team needs a solid defender with size in the worst way, like JJ a few years ago.

[Double_A_Ron]

I agree that we need a good perimeter defender and I think that Brewer or Thornton would be great in our system.

[UOducks4life]

I'm not a big Brewer fan. To me, he seems to have a low basketball IQ. I'd be more enthused over drafting Rudy Fernandez, as I see him being craftier and having more potential.

[In2ition]

Although I like Brewer as a defender, I would prefer Nicolas Batum, Al Thornton, Brandon Rush, Rodney Stuckey, and Trey Johnson over him or Rudy Fernandez.

[Double_A_Ron]

I agree about Batum In2. I think he could be a steal in the 20's if he comes out.

[blee732]

If you go to youtube and search for Yi Jianlian, you can see some of his "highlights." To be honest, he really doesn't seem that impressive despite the fact that his fans have put together clips of his "best plays."

Maybe he has a very solid mid-range game, which would be a huge plus for him. But if all he has is that weak inside game, I say pass.

[blee732]

Anybody know much about Marco Belinelli? He seems like a JJ Reddick clone based on his nbadraft.net description.

[In2ition]

I agree about Batum In2. I think he could be a steal in the 20's if he comes out.

He would be a great candidate to leave in Europe for the next 2 years. Way too skinny and weak right now, but pretty skilled and athletic otherwise.

[In2ition]

Anybody know much about Marco Belinelli? He seems like a JJ Reddick clone based on his nbadraft.net description.

I don't know about the shooting comparison, but he is 2 inches taller and more athletic. Check out the couple of 360 dunks in the game. http://youtube.com/watch?v=KyPYO0L6_6U

[OE]

Anybody know much about Marco Belinelli? He seems like a JJ Reddick clone based on his nbadraft.net description.

I don't know about the shooting comparison, but he is 2 inches taller and more athletic. Check out the couple of 360 dunks in the game. http://youtube.com/watch?v=KyPYO0L6_6U

Put that kid on the floor against Big Jake. Can you say Rocky IV?

[OE]

BTW - if the Suns think Yi can put on a few extra pounds and extend his range to the NBA 3, they won't be able to pass him up. He's top 3 in this draft on potential. Can you imagine what this team would look like with a Dirk clone next to Amare up front? We'd have to get more creative on defense, but since we'd average 55% shooting every night, it wouldn't be too big a deal.

[Nash4MVP]

Josh McRoberts just declared for the draft. Think he'd be a good fit for the team? He's 6'10" with a good passing game, but perhaps not enough aggression. I dunno, maybe we don't need him since we have Diaw already, but, guys like that don't come along everyday...

since this draft is so deep, he'll probably be around in the mid to late teens. We could potentially use our cleveland pick to get him.

[ShelC]

NO WAY TO MCROBERTS. Hes totally unathletic, got too big for his own good and wont make any real impact on the game.

[DrSublime]

McRoberts at no 24 would be a solid choice, so would Tiago Splitter, or Dominic James.

[ShelC]

U guys remember Googs after the knee injury? Imagine him trying to play on this team. We dont want McRoberts and putting him in the same sentence as Splitter is blasphemy.

[UOducks4life]

I wouldn't take McRoberts in the 2nd round. His career will peak at the NBDL all-star game.

[UO]

I agree with the McRoberts bashing. The guy is completely overrated. He's going to suck.

[UO]

. . . and I'm not impressed with Hawes as a pro prospect, either.

[jed]

I'm with you on McRoberts. He's a watsed pick waiting to happen.

BTW -- how many Dukies actually amount to something anyway? I like Elton Brand, but that's about it.

[OrlandoGardener]

Boozer.

Maggette (no star, but he does amount to something)

Hill

Laetner (oh, wait...)

[jed]

True -- Boozer is just starting to pay off this year. Hill was also truly great in his heyday.

Other than those two and Brand, though, I'm unimpressed. Especially considering that we're talking about one of the premier -- if not the top -- programs in the country. Their guys just don't translate to the pros well.

[jed]

. . . and I'm not impressed with Hawes as a pro prospect, either.

I think both Hawes and Gray are going to sucker a couple teams into blowing picks on them too -- simply because they are seven feet.

[SwingMan]

If we have a chance at Splitter with the Cleveland pick and pass him up, it's gonna come back to bite us in the ass, bigtime.

Perfect replacement for Kurt (who's likely gone by February), IMO. 6' 11", same game, quicker, more athletic and just 22 years old.

[jed]

I do like Splitter. I like Hibbert too, but that's another story.

Point it, I doubt either one will be around when we're picking in Cleveland's slot. But you're right -- if Splitter is there still, we'd be smart to grab him.

[Nash4MVP]

Okay, okay...pass on McRoberts. Having seen him play in person, I can vouch for his passing abilities, but I don't know enough about Tiago Splitter or others to rank them...

[SwingMan]

Here's a 9-minute video of Tiago Splitter. Gotta love the kid's floor game:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlrqMS7tp-A

[SwingMan]

Also, what's the consensus on Kentucky center Randolph Morris?

He just signed a 2-year deal with the Knicks:


Knicks sign Kentucky center Morris to 2-year deal
ESPN.com

The New York Knicks signed Kentucky center Randolph Morris to a two-year, $1.6 million contract Friday, an NBA source told ESPN Insider Chad Ford.

Morris declared for the 2005 NBA draft as a freshman and went undrafted. The NCAA allowed him to return to the Wildcats after serving a suspension, but NBA rules prohibit Morris from re-entering the draft, which made him an unrestricted free agent.

Morris averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game this season for the Wildcats.

Wow. Little known rule. Never heard about the NBA slamming players on the roundabout like that.

[ShelC]

Another undermotivated, underachieving big man who tried to cash in on the NBA draft only to find out he probably wasnt going in the 1st round. He'll fit right in with the knicks sitting next to Jerome James and Kelvin Cato.

Just keep bringin those winners in Zeke.

[INFORMER]

I wouldn't take McRoberts in the 2nd round. His career will peak at the NBDL all-star game.

WORD.

[UOducks4life]

Speaking of Duke bashing...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fYOgC2Qbqh4

[ShelC]

Cross Julian Wright off your list. Hes staying at Kansas, which hurts.

[Indy]

When does he actually have to declare, if he is going to? What is the deadline?

[ShelC]

I think its sometime in May.

EDIT: The early entry eligibility deadline for last year was April 28th. So im assuming it will be around that date this year. Then, i think the players have until about a week before the actual draft to pull their names out.

[Indy]

That makes sense.

As far as Julian goes, he was almost a lock for top 10, right? I think that would be a bad move to stay. It is kind of crazy to gamble away a sure thing.

[jed]

That sucks if that's the case. Julian's presence in the draft, depending on how it goes, may have ensured that we get our guy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2810182

Still, let's see what happens once the tourney is done and everyone starts whispering in his ear.

[INFORMER]

Both Julian and Brandan need to stay in school.

[ShelC]

I think Julian is definitely more ready to come out than Brandon. But i was hoping both came out since i love both. Like Jed said, the more players that pull out, the less likely it is our guy is around when we pick.

[UO]

Both Julian and Brandan need to stay in school.

I agree.

[k_kwan]

You know as I've been watching Florida play in this years tourney and also reading up on Horford's, Noah's, and Brewer's draft scouting reports on draft sites. What would you guys think if we ended up with one of the bigmen from our pick from atlanta and Brewer by way of our pick from Cleveland and our own?

Horford is a slightly smaller version of Amare with Horford listed at most sites at 6'9 and as we all know Amare is 6'10. We all know why Phx loves Noah and how perfect he would be for the Suns, so I dont think I need to explain that.

But adding Brewer imo would be adding almost an exact clone of Marion and probably would be his eventual replacement. Most draft sites describe Brewer as an out of this world athletic swing with springlike hops. A lockdown defender who cant really create offense for himself and needs to be set up or score from broken down plays. Doesnt that sound familiar?


I mean having Horford/Noah and Brewer come off the bench with Barbosa now that would be some serious depth.

[bjebaz]

Y'all will eat your words regarding McRoberts in the mid-20's. Coach K put him in the worst possible situation he could be in, the Shelden Williams role. And the slow, slow Duke offense without a good passing point guard doesn't help exhibit his strength on the fast break. The guy is not a post up scorer, but neither are a lot of good big men in the league.

[BigLewy]

bjebaz, even though I haven't watched too many Duke games, I do think McRoberts would be a good fit here. Especially if he can be had with the Cavs pick and players like Splitter are gone, it would sure be worth a look. Even from my limited viewing of Duke, it's obvious he has been in the wrong role in the offense. I think he would thrive in an up-tempo one such as this.

[UOducks4life]

Don't be fooled, McRoberts is soft like tissue.

[SunsFan4Life]

Guys I do not want....

Josh McSofty
Big Baby(Oliver Miller Jr?)
D.J. Augstine(shoot first PG is a no no)


A few names to keep inmind late..
Jared Dudley(Kid is so tough underneth think would add some much needed toughness to this group)

Dominc James(Still love this kids game)

Ty Lawson(Might be as quick as LB)

Al Thoronton(I see a lot of projections have him going end of lottery but don't think it would be reach for us to take him at like 6 or 7.)

[BigLewy]

What about Sean Williams of BC with the 29th pick. I know about his character issues, but with the late pick, it's low risk, potentially high reward. If he gets his head on straight, look out.

[INFORMER]

Pass.

[SunsFan4Life]

The Florida guys I'm pretty spilt on.

I'm not as big a Noah fan as everyone else. Me and 1 of my friends were just having this arugment I kept sayin there is somthing about him I dont like and he said there somthing about him he did. But I think Noah will only be successfull if u put him around 2-3 other great players. I like Hortford a lot better.

I do like Corey Brewer he is 1 of the better defenders in college would be a nice fit here...Its not dunk all these guys comeback didnt Noah say the NBA was "boring" last yr...

[bjebaz]

Don't be fooled, McRoberts is soft like tissue.

So is the 45 million dollar Boris.

[SpecialSauce]

Ouch.

[UOducks4life]

Which is a perfectly good reason not to draft another cream puff.

[ShelC]

Why attack Boris because someone disagrees with your assessment of McRoberts? Again, youre letting the fact that you go to Duke and are a fan of this guy affect your judgement.

[Billyjoejimbob]

Draft: Who's hot and not
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

The second weekend of March Madness is over and we're finally at the Final Four with four teams loaded with NBA draft prospects. Our collection of NBA scouts and executives is reporting in on who helped and hurt themselves in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

As we've stated before, most NBA talent evaluators aren't giving a good or bad performance any huge significance. For the most part, it confirms an impression one way or the other.

With that said, here's what we're hearing ... and don't forget to check out our updated Top 100 to see how players are moving up and down the draft board and our In and Out list to find out who's in and who's out of the NBA draft.


Heat Seekers


• For the second straight game Greg Oden and the Ohio State Buckeyes looked like toast. Oden was having his worst game in the tournament, plagued by foul trouble. Going into the final second of the game, he had nine points and three rebounds. Then came the block.

As the last second ticked off the clock, Oden ran and rose and rose and stretched and stretched, blocking Ramar Smith's last-second layup with the tips of his fingers. Ohio State had survived for another day and Oden had saved the season.

It may be remembered as the critical event in Oden's draft candidacy this year. Whether or not Smith's shot was going in or not is irrelevant. What amazed scouts was how someone so big could make a block like that.

For the first time all season, Oden played with a little reckless abandon. Maybe he was holding back all season, protecting his right wrist from further injury. Maybe we haven't even glimpsed what Oden is capable of doing. And maybe offensive prowess isn't everything. Maybe dominant defenders can also change the game.

On Saturday, against Memphis, Oden looked like a different player. He was aggressive, even emotional at times, and ended the game with 17 points and nine rebounds in 24 foul-plagued minutes. Just as importantly, he completely shut down Memphis bruiser Joey Dorsey.

If Oden's confidence is rising and Ohio State can take home a championship, then maybe there's hope for Jerry West (Memphis), Danny Ainge (Boston) or Michael Jordan (Charlotte) that Oden will be the team's savior next season.

Ditto for freshman point guard Mike Conley, who continues to play with the confidence of a four-year senior. He was fantastic against both Tennessee and Memphis, showing poise well beyond his years and a game as well rounded as that of any point guard in the country.

Conley has publicly stated that he's returning to Ohio State for his sophomore season. But if he can lead Ohio State all the way to a championship, he'll probably find himself as the top-rated point guard in the country and a likely lottery pick. One assistant GM this weekend called him the next Chris Paul. Maybe, he, too, will change his mind. (I'm bracing for all of the nasty e-mails from Ohio State fans … hey, don't kill the messenger.)

Ron Lewis also continues to make an amazing run with his clutch 3-point shooting. He's went from a bubble second-rounder into someone every team in the league is going to want to come in for workouts.

• How good is Georgetown's Jeff Green? Not only did he hit the buzzer beater that put Georgetown past Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16, he absolutely took over the game for Georgetown in the second half vs. North Carolina.

Green did everything: he posted up, slashed, shot the ball, rebounded, defended, calmed down his teammates and even ran the offense for stretches.

The guy is so unselfish that you never see him put up numbers that wow you. But when you watch him, you know he's capable of much, much more.

Green is this year's Brandon Roy -- a solid, all-around player who should come in and make an immediate impact in the NBA. It's hard to see him falling out of the top eight of the draft. He'd be a perfect fit in Portland, which desperately needs a small forward and will love his character.

There's lots of love left for Georgetown center Roy Hibbert. He continues to be plagued with foul trouble, but when he's out on the floor, he looks like a man among boys.

For a guy who has always carried around the "raw" label, he's looked incredibly poised in the paint. He's a good passer, has nice moves around the basket and can be a solid rebounder when he wants to be.

He's not a great athlete and he needs to continue to work on his conditioning, but Hibbert is looking more and more like a lottery lock. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sacramento and Chicago show a lot of interest. Both need size and low-post scoring.

• Florida's trio of Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer continue to captivate.

In the Sweet 16 game, it was Horford who dominated with 16 points, seven boards and four blocks.

Horford struggled to get the ball in Sunday's game against Oregon, but Noah was there with his best game of the tournament, scoring 14 points and grabbing 14 boards. Brewer was also special, slashing to the lane, drawing fouls and hounding Oregon's guards on the defensive end.

Add in the incredible sharpshooting display by Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey, and Florida looks poised to repeat for a title.

As for whether Noah or Horford will be the first Gator off the board on draft night, I still think it depends on who is picking. Brewer looks like a mid-to-late lottery pick according to scouts.

• Overall, UCLA's Arron Afflalo has been having, for the second straight year, an awful tournament.

But he erased a lot of bad memories on Saturday with a stellar performance against Kansas. Afflalo was awesome from everywhere on the floor, posting up, hitting midrange jumpers and even stroking some 3s.

Afflalo hasn't gotten much first-round love from NBA scouts because he lacks size, NBA athleticism and deep range on his jumper. One great game won't change that. Still, Afflalo's breaking the March Madness hex on his shooting touch should help open up a few more minds.

• There was a time when Oregon's Malik Hairston looked like a potential lottery pick. Injuries and the emergence of a number of other solid players at Oregon has muffled that talk considerably, but Hairston, on Friday vs. UNLV and Sunday vs. Florida, reminded a lot of scouts about why they once loved him as a prospect.

Hairston is quite an all-around player. He is strong, can take it to the basket, shoots the 3 and is awesome posting up. He's still not 100 percent healthy, but he certainly put his name firmly on the NBA radar screen again with two great weekend performances.

Oregon point guard Aaron Brooks also helped his draft stock with excellent games in the tournament. With the exception of a weak performance against UNLV, Brooks has been a dominant offensive weapon for the Ducks and dropped 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting on Sunday.

Brooks wasn't really considered much of a NBA prospect before this season, but his stellar play all year has given him a shot at the second round. He's undersized and more of a scoring guard than a point, but his improved stroke from 3-point land gives him a shot at getting drafted.

• There were lots of other highlights during the third and fourth rounds of the tourney.

North Carolina's Brandan Wright solidified his stock as a top five pick in this draft. Wright has 22 points and nine rebounds against USC and 14 points and six boards against Georgetown. More and more NBA execs believe he's the most likely player to be drafted after Oden and Kevin Durant.

Most of the Kansas players, including potential top 10 pick Julian Wright, say they are coming back to school.

The one real question mark is Brandon Rush, who has been more noncommittal. Rush has been a bubble first-rounder all year, but he stepped up his aggressiveness in the tournament and became the Jayhawks' most consistent player.

On talent, he's a late lottery pick or mid-first round pick. His stock will slide a bit because teams worry a bit about his lack of aggression on the court. I couldn't find two scouts to say the same thing about him, but he does look like a first-rounder right now.

USC's Nick Young and Gabriel Pruitt suffered a heartbreaker against North Carolina on Friday but both are in a much better place, as far as draft stock goes, because of their tournament performances.

Scouts say Young could be a late lottery pick, but more likely, a mid first-round pick -- one of the first swingmen taken if he declares.

Pruitt, who showed great quickness and the ability to guard potential lottery pick Ty Lawson, also has seen his stock rise to the point that he looks like a late first-rounder.

They might be tempted to stay because O.J. Mayo is coming aboard next season. Then again, Mayo is so talented that he might take some of the attention from Pruitt and Young if they were to stay.

Tennessee guard Chris Lofton isn't the quickest, tallest or most athletic two guard in the country. But he really knows how to put the ball in the basket.

Three of the four games he played in the tournament were stellar, and even in the one lousy one -- against Virginia -- he still managed to put up 20 points.

His long-range shooting acumen reminds some of Salim Stoudamire. Stoudamire hasn't exactly torn up the NBA, but he was an early second-round pick and he's stuck with the Hawks as a 3-point specialist.

Scouts have had Lofton on the second-round bubble all year, but his performance here has moved him up all of their draft boards considerably.

Stock Slipping

There weren't a lot of horrific performances in the Sweet 16, but a couple of players suffered a bit from so-so performances.

• Pittsburgh's Aaron Gray fizzled against Georgetown in the Big East finals and then fizzled again against UCLA in the Sweet 16. For a guy who was once considered a sure first-rounder, he's not getting any love from scouts these days. Someone will take him in the second round … but it looks like he's heading in the same direction on draft boards as Pitt's Chris Taft two years ago.

• Coming into the weekend, North Carolina's Ty Lawson was being plugged by scouts and execs as perhaps the best point guard prospect in the country. Partly due to Conley's stellar play and partly due to two dud outings versus USC and Georgetown this weekend, Lawson's stock has slipped. Not a lot. But enough.

The tournament is probably the most meaningful for point guards in terms of NBA stock. NBA scouts and execs want to see if the guard has the maturity to handle the pressure. Conley passed with flying colors. Lawson didn't.

[bjebaz]

Why attack Boris because someone disagrees with your assessment of McRoberts? Again, youre letting the fact that you go to Duke and are a fan of this guy affect your judgement.

Shel, shut up. Seriously. I wasn't talking to you. You probably hate Duke like just about everyone else, and is letting that fact affect your judgment.

Anyway, I don't think either are soft. I've been at a couple Suns games where Diaw played, and I've been at just about every home game where McRoberts played. And I've seen McRoberts dive into the stands, get into scuffles, attack the rim, and try to block what's coming at the rim, at least as much as Diaw has. If McRoberts is soft, then Diaw must be as well.

And I'm not really a fan of McRoberts, or Duke that much either. I see their weaknesses. I know that Paulus is the most overrated player in college basketball. I know that DeMarcus Nelson is about the laziest player I've ever seen play. Or that McClure has no talent whatsoever, and is only on the team because of he's 6'6" and has tremendous work ethic. Or that Zoubek is horrible at everything except for some reason, playing defense against UNC. Or that Coach K does not know how to coach an offense at all. Last year, I said Redick would suck in the NBA, and he has.

That doesn't take away from the fact that I know McRoberts will succeed in the NBA. I've seen him play a hell of a lot more than you, and I see that he is a very good ballhandler and passer for his size, that his defense and rebounding has massively improved from last year. That Duke would have been absolutely awful without him (meaning a losing record). And that he does not have a post game.

I'm just relaying my knowledge of McRoberts, which is a hell of a lot more vast than yours since I've actually seen him play in person. Al Thornton will be a terrific player as well. Am I saying that because I'm such a big fan of Florida State? No...I'm saying it because I've seen his talent in person.

You act like I'm saying something that's completely out of the question. The guy is a first rounder on just about every mock draft. And I'm saying he's a good pick in the mid-20's. That's not something crazy, a lot of people agree with me, including people who hate Duke.

Again, mind your own business.

[ShelC]

Duke-boy!

[ShelC]

And Hansbrough would kick McRoberts ass in a fight any day of the week.

[INFORMER]

Shel, shut up. Seriously. I wasn't talking to you.

Uh, bjebaz, take it easy. SERIOUSLY.

[ShelC]

Its cool Inf. Bje is just mad at me cuz i didnt think Daniel Ewing was worthy of a 1st round pick a few years back.

[SwingMan]

Hey, hey, HEY!!!!!

What's all this talk about McRoberts when we know Splitter's our guy with the Cleveland pick? ;)

[Nash4MVP]

I brought him up. I apologize.

[SwingMan]

No apologies necessary, N4MVP.

Just a bad hangover from yesterday's game, I believe. :lol:

[INFORMER]

Splitter scares me, Swing.

[SwingMan]

Scares you, INF?

Clue me in here, 'cause I can't see why a 22 year old, athletic 6' 11" version of Kurt who can run the floor would scare you - especially in seeing that Kurt's as good as gone by February.

[INFORMER]

Inconsistency. He's been up and down with his play this year, and really, for his entire career. His rebounding skills have been called into question, he's not a shot-blocker, and the fact that he has continuously pulled in and out of the draft for what seems like 3-4 years, it just sends up too many red flags. If he's there at the end of the 1st round, I won't have a huge problem with picking him. He does have the physical tools, I just have my doubts as to whether or not he can put it all togther on the NBA level.

[SwingMan]

He's just 22 years old, INF. And the Cleveland pick is currently at #24. There's questions all over the place for all youngsters.

And, I think why he's pulled out of the draft the last few times was that old "I wanna go top 10" ploy and now realizes, even after this long, he ain't going, so a guaranteed contract, even at lesser value, is still good - type of thing.

[In2ition]

Unless teams still have questions about Splitters back, buyout, and/or desire to come over he will be a lottery to late teens pick.

I would love it if he were to drop to the Cleveland pick, but the most pressing issue is the Atlanta pick and what happens there. We may need to trade all three to move up to get the guy we want, or may not even get the Atlanta pick. Of course, this is all common knowledge though, and I am "captain obvious".

[bjebaz]

And Hansbrough would kick McRoberts ass in a fight any day of the week.

That's true. So could Alton Ford.

To the Ewing comment, I'd bet most people on this board would rather have him than Banks.

Oh well. Jealous people will always hate those of us from Duke. Keep at it, Shel.

And pump my gas, while you're at it. :lol:

[UOducks4life]

I find it amusing that right now DraftExpress has the Suns drafting Noah, Aaron Gray and Marc Gasol. Three Centers. Can anyone take themselves seriously with predictions like that?

[LazarusLong]

Aaron Gray's a stiff. Plant him and watch a redwood forest sprout.

Gasol shares his brother's last name and little else.

[OE]

NBADraft.net makes predictions without reference to teams until after the lottery. Their mock ranks the players on a more objective, idealized basis.

That said - how can you guys NOT have mentioned Jeff Green by now? Corey Brewer who?

[ShelC]

To the Ewing comment, I'd bet most people on this board would rather have him than Banks.

I dont understand how 1 thing relates to the other. I'd rather have Ewing than Banks if it means getting some minutes and production. But i think EVERYONE on this board would rather have Rondo and definitely Sergio over both Banks and Ewing.

Regarding Splitter, i think his game is just better suited for the NBA. His rebounding and shotblocking numbers may seem a bit down but i tihkn that has more to do with refs calling fouls on him that wouldnt be fouls here. And his pulling out of the draft had more to do with his buyout than anything else i believe. He had a prety big buyout, so unless he was guaranteed top 5-7 the past couple of years, theres no way he wouldve been able to come over. Also, last year he suffered a pretty bad shoulder injury in the euroleague final 4 that kept him out of workouts.

And OE, unless im mistaken i think we spoke about green on the 2nd or 3rd page of this thread. And im also a real big fan of Brewer. Hes the lockdown defender type we could use. He's still raw offensively and might not be the team defender or 3 pt shooter that JR is ( ;) ), but hes a much better athlete and 1on1 defender.

[OE]

And OE, unless im mistaken i think we spoke about green on the 2nd or 3rd page of this thread.

:oops:

[sharkbite]

Gambo said several days ago that he thinks the top 4 guys the Suns like are Noah, Brandan Wright, Julian Wright, and Green. Gambo seems to think that they have some interest in Yi, but would rank the other 4 above him. IMO, the one good thing about Julian Wright possibly not entering the draft is that the Suns won’t be tempted to pick him. As far as I’m concerned, the last thing they need with the Hawks pick is another forward that’s under 6-10. For that reason, I don’t want them to pick Green either (D’Antoni would probably not even recognize Green as a SF, and would instead envision him as a PF complementing Amare at center). They would have to trade both Marion and Diaw and be getting back a starting caliber center before they could justify not taking a big with that pick. Plus, even though Julian and Green look like good prospects, I don’t think they seem like future superstars, so considering that they are merely small forwards they aren’t worth taking with such a high pick. If the Suns don’t pick a big that’s at least 6-10 with the Hawks pick then this draft will pretty much be a bust IMO (and I’d include Horford in the group that isn’t tall enough, even though he’s a solid player). I want Amare starting at his natural PF position next season, with someone taller than him starting at center. They also need a center on the bench that’s good enough to be in their playoff rotation. This small ball nonsense needs to end once and for all.

With the Hawks pick I like Brandan Wright, Noah, Spencer Hawes, Hibbert, and Yi. Brandan Wright is the only one in this bunch that is in no way a center right now, but he seems like one of those guys that could end up filling out a lot, and perhaps get taller. Noah makes a lot of sense logically, as a long defender that’s as comfortable defending the perimeter as the interior (he could conceivably guard both Dirk and Duncan), and he’s an energetic scorer inside. However, something about Noah just seems a little off, and it wouldn’t shock me if he ends up doing or saying something REALLY stupid as a pro. I’d still like him on the team though. I only saw Spencer Hawes play once, but he seemed to have good agility for a 7 footer and looks like someone that will be able to become a scorer in the NBA. He needs to get stronger, but that shouldn’t be too difficult, considering that he just turned 19. The notion of having a huge defensive center like Hibbert playing alongside Amare is very intriguing. Hibbert could give the Suns the interior defensive improvement that they need to match the level that Dampier/Diop has given the Mavs. I agree with those that have said that D’Antoni would have no interest in Hibbert, but I also think D’Antoni should be fired after this season anyway, and replaced with someone who despises small ball. I’ve seen 3 of Yi’s games and he’s made jumpers from just inside their 3-point line, and he moves very well for a guy his height (I agree with the Bargnani comparison at this point). His lateral quickness seems good defensively, but he doesn’t look strong enough to guard centers right now though.

With the Cavs pick, I like Thabeet (if he slips), Splitter, and McRoberts. Thabeet doesn’t look like he’ll be ready to contribute for up to 2 years, but considering that he might have more upside than others at this draft position, and that some of the Suns later picks aren’t even in the league anymore (like Casey Jacobsen and Vroman) I think he would be worth taking a chance on. Splitter would be a fairly safe pick and would help the team, but unless he improves (and he hasn’t improved in the last year or so) I wouldn’t expect him to be more than a solid backup. He has pretty good quickness for a 6-11 guy, but I’d estimate that his leaping ability isn’t any greater than Voskuhl’s when he played for the Suns. McRoberts would be somewhat undersized to play the 5, but he’s a good passer and might help the Suns offense more than Splitter. I’d prefer Splitter, but it seems that some of the McRoberts detractors here have been drinking Haterade. Among non big men, if Acie Law or Corie Brewer managed to slip this far then they would be good additions, but I don’t see that happening.

I wouldn’t be excited about anyone with the Suns own pick, and I don’t expect them to keep both of their later first rounders, but I do think Visser looks like someone who has a decent chance of becoming a rotation player in the NBA. I like that he plays with a high level of energy and intensity, and I think he could still score inside a bit at the NBA level. Marc Gasol is mediocre, and has none of his brother’s athleticism, but he’s big, and might be able to stick in the NBA. Aaron Gray deserves the criticism he gets, but he’s still another one that might work out as an NBA bench player. I don’t have much interest in Fazekas. I’d keep an open mind of they choose him, but I see a guy who is too weak to guard NBA centers (and many power forwards), and who doesn’t have the lateral quickness to guard forwards. I guess his shooting could earn him a spot, but I’d like him a lot better if he had the versatility to guard small forwards.

Even though I’ve hated seeing the Suns trade away their picks in recent years, I would be willing to trade the Hawks pick and filler (like KT’s expiring contract) for Darko (re-signed for up to around 50 million). Darko is one of the few true centers that can run with the Suns, and he has shooting range. I’d also be willing to offer Diaw and the other two first round picks for Darko. I don’t think Darko is a sure thing, but if he reaches his potential then he would be a really good starter for the Suns.

Lastly, I would have liked to see the Suns get Randolph Morris. He’s quick enough to guard power forwards, and looks strong enough to guard many NBA centers. He can also score inside, and seems to react quickly. The Knicks signed him for pennies, but he looks almost guaranteed to become a rotation caliber player in the NBA to me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually becomes a solid starter.

[INFORMER]

Unless he goes back to school, Brandan Wright = Stromile Swift.

And no offense, shark, but it seems size is the only criteria you have to using the draft picks. That's how you screw the draft up. That's how you get Michael Olowakandi as the top pick, and Desagana Diop as a lotto pick. Whatever the Suns do, I want them to get basketball players, not just physical specimens.

[UOducks4life]

I commend you for a thoughtful contribution, sharkbite, but I have to largely disagree.


Gambo said several days ago that he thinks the top 4 guys the Suns like are Noah, Brandan Wright, Julian Wright, and Green. Gambo seems to think that they have some interest in Yi, but would rank the other 4 above him. IMO, the one good thing about Julian Wright possibly not entering the draft is that the Suns won’t be tempted to pick him. As far as I’m concerned, the last thing they need with the Hawks pick is another forward that’s under 6-10. For that reason, I don’t want them to pick Green either (D’Antoni would probably not even recognize Green as a SF, and would instead envision him as a PF complementing Amare at center). They would have to trade both Marion and Diaw and be getting back a starting caliber center before they could justify not taking a big with that pick.

This just seems plain crazy to me. If the Suns draft a player smaller than 6'10" they'll have to trade Marion and Boris for a player over 6'10" to play Center? There are many more intangibles to decipher before judging a crop of players just on physical size. Michael Olowokandi or Kwame Brown, anyone?


Plus, even though Julian and Green look like good prospects, I don’t think they seem like future superstars, so considering that they are merely small forwards they aren’t worth taking with such a high pick.

Merely small forwards? Tell that to Rudy Gay, Marvin Williams, Loul Deng and Andre Iguodala. I'm not saying that J. Wright and Green will definitely be as good as these guys mentioned but, in general, taking an established premier college player in the lottery is a fairly safe bet, regardless of position.


If the Suns don’t pick a big that’s at least 6-10 with the Hawks pick then this draft will pretty much be a bust IMO (and I’d include Horford in the group that isn’t tall enough, even though he’s a solid player).

That is very bold to say, borderline idiotic.


I want Amare starting at his natural PF position next season, with someone taller than him starting at center. They also need a center on the bench that’s good enough to be in their playoff rotation. This small ball nonsense needs to end once and for all.

If you believe that will happen you need to stop hanging out with Ladmo and his salvia.


With the Hawks pick I like Brandan Wright, Noah, Spencer Hawes, Hibbert, and Yi. Brandan Wright is the only one in this bunch that is in no way a center right now, but he seems like one of those guys that could end up filling out a lot, and perhaps get taller. Noah makes a lot of sense logically, as a long defender that’s as comfortable defending the perimeter as the interior (he could conceivably guard both Dirk and Duncan), and he’s an energetic scorer inside. However, something about Noah just seems a little off, and it wouldn’t shock me if he ends up doing or saying something REALLY stupid as a pro. I’d still like him on the team though. I only saw Spencer Hawes play once, but he seemed to have good agility for a 7 footer and looks like someone that will be able to become a scorer in the NBA. He needs to get stronger, but that shouldn’t be too difficult, considering that he just turned 19. The notion of having a huge defensive center like Hibbert playing alongside Amare is very intriguing. Hibbert could give the Suns the interior defensive improvement that they need to match the level that Dampier/Diop has given the Mavs. I agree with those that have said that D’Antoni would have no interest in Hibbert, but I also think D’Antoni should be fired after this season anyway, and replaced with someone who despises small ball. I’ve seen 3 of Yi’s games and he’s made jumpers from just inside their 3-point line, and he moves very well for a guy his height (I agree with the Bargnani comparison at this point). His lateral quickness seems good defensively, but he doesn’t look strong enough to guard centers right now though.

I've saw Hawes play about a dozen times this season and he is an interesting project, but considering that his primary offensive repertoire consists of back to the basket moves in the post, I'd say the chances of D'Antoni incorporating his strengths into the offense are slim to none.

Taking Hibbert with a high lottery pick is a huge mistake, IMO. I know it's said that you can't teach height, but you also can't win without talent and I believe he has a lower ceiling than other players projected at the same spot.

Bottom line: Noah, B. Wright and Jianlian are can't miss players if they come out. Passing up any one of them is moronic. Who fills out lottery spots 6-13 is debatable and depends greatly on what a team needs.


With the Cavs pick, I like Thabeet (if he slips), Splitter, and McRoberts. Thabeet doesn’t look like he’ll be ready to contribute for up to 2 years, but considering that he might have more upside than others at this draft position, and that some of the Suns later picks aren’t even in the league anymore (like Casey Jacobsen and Vroman) I think he would be worth taking a chance on. Splitter would be a fairly safe pick and would help the team, but unless he improves (and he hasn’t improved in the last year or so) I wouldn’t expect him to be more than a solid backup. He has pretty good quickness for a 6-11 guy, but I’d estimate that his leaping ability isn’t any greater than Voskuhl’s when he played for the Suns. McRoberts would be somewhat undersized to play the 5, but he’s a good passer and might help the Suns offense more than Splitter. I’d prefer Splitter, but it seems that some of the McRoberts detractors here have been drinking Haterade. Among non big men, if Acie Law or Corie Brewer managed to slip this far then they would be good additions, but I don’t see that happening.

This cracks me up. You harp on the Suns needing a force to play along side Amare then mention McSoftie as a viable option. Fact is, he plays like a guard inside of a 6'8" body. Hello Boris Diaw clone.

I like the idea of drafting a project here if they go with a "big" player, assuming they get someone who can contribute more readily from the Hawks pick. However, I think the best move would be to draft a lengthy wing player. People seem to over look this, but the Suns need another guard. Ideally, next year Banks will be gone and Jalen Rose will be off hosting TV shows. That leaves them with Nash, Bell and LB. I'd love to see them draft Rudy Fernandez, Corey Brewer, Aaron Afflalo, Nick Young, Derrick Byars, or Morris Almond before taking on a big man project with this draft pick.


I wouldn’t be excited about anyone with the Suns own pick, and I don’t expect them to keep both of their later first rounders, but I do think Visser looks like someone who has a decent chance of becoming a rotation player in the NBA. I like that he plays with a high level of energy and intensity, and I think he could still score inside a bit at the NBA level. Marc Gasol is mediocre, and has none of his brother’s athleticism, but he’s big, and might be able to stick in the NBA. Aaron Gray deserves the criticism he gets, but he’s still another one that might work out as an NBA bench player. I don’t have much interest in Fazekas. I’d keep an open mind of they choose him, but I see a guy who is too weak to guard NBA centers (and many power forwards), and who doesn’t have the lateral quickness to guard forwards. I guess his shooting could earn him a spot, but I’d like him a lot better if he had the versatility to guard small forwards.

This is the deepest talent pool in the draft in quite a while, and at this point, considering the Suns latest draft debacles, I'd be excited if they drafted Stephen Hawking with their pick.

I'm not too high on the guys you just mentioned, they're too slow to play with the Suns. Fazekas will end up in Europe or a career D-Leaguer.


Even though I’ve hated seeing the Suns trade away their picks in recent years, I would be willing to trade the Hawks pick and filler (like KT’s expiring contract) for Darko (re-signed for up to around 50 million). Darko is one of the few true centers that can run with the Suns, and he has shooting range. I’d also be willing to offer Diaw and the other two first round picks for Darko. I don’t think Darko is a sure thing, but if he reaches his potential then he would be a really good starter for the Suns.

Saying "if" Darko reaches his potential is like saying "if" President Bush would admit the Iraq War was a bad idea. Probably not going to happen. Again, this idea of getting a big man to play along side Amare is being continuously contradicted by the under performing softies you are mentioning.


Lastly, I would have liked to see the Suns get Randolph Morris. He’s quick enough to guard power forwards, and looks strong enough to guard many NBA centers. He can also score inside, and seems to react quickly. The Knicks signed him for pennies, but he looks almost guaranteed to become a rotation caliber player in the NBA to me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually becomes a solid starter.

I can't argue that point. Any big body for next to nothing is a good deal, but at this point its highly unlikely he ends up on the Suns anytime soon.

[Double_A_Ron]

I know we need size but if Julian isn't coming out, chances are Jeff Green and Yi would be the only players available we supposedly like. I would prefer have Yi to Jeff since Jeff's game is very similar to Boris IMO. I just read that Conley is coming out most likely and I wish we could trade down for a lower lottery pick to go along with a mid-first rounder. Then again, as important as a good point guard is to our system, I might take him at 6 or 7 and look for Splitter or someone similar in the 20's.

[Mori_Chu]

You know, when we are running away with our division, have the #2 record in the league, AND we're able to talk about the young studs because we have a likely top-6 pick ... I realize how lucky we are as fans to have such a great team to root for. We hem and haw about rotations or minutes, but wow, what a great last 3 years we've had as fans. And it's really comforting to know that even if this isn't our year, there is no reason we won't get better with the addition of at least one stud draft pick.

I was just browsing nbadraft.net. I didn't realize Pau Gasol had a little brother who was coming out this year. Says he's not as good... still interesting. It's pretty crazy; looking at the nbadraft listing, there are going to definitely be some second round steals. Any draft board where I actually recognize several guys projected in the 2nd round (despite not following college ball very closely), you know it's a deep draft.

[Billyjoejimbob]

I was just browsing nbadraft.net. I didn't realize Pau Gasol had a little brother who was coming out this year. Says he's not as good... still interesting.


Gasol shares his brother's last name and little else.

[SunsFan4Life]

Brewer IMO will be the better pro then green

[sharkbite]

And no offense, shark, but it seems size is the only criteria you have to using the draft picks. That's how you screw the draft up. That's how you get Michael Olowakandi as the top pick, and Desagana Diop as a lotto pick. Whatever the Suns do, I want them to get basketball players, not just physical specimens.
My perspective is that if they don’t move Amare back to his natural PF position and bring in a taller center for the starting lineup then it won’t matter what else they do with the smaller positions (in terms of their championship hopes). I don’t expect them to take care of the center position through a trade, so that’s why I think they need to at least pick a big man with the Hawks pick.


This just seems plain crazy to me. If the Suns draft a player smaller than 6'10" they'll have to trade Marion and Boris for a player over 6'10" to play Center?
If they are keeping Diaw and Marion then there is almost no way they could justify taking a small forward when they desperately need centers. Small forwards and shooting guards are the most easy positions to fill, so they shouldn’t be viewed as equally valuable in the draft, especially when the Suns already have Marion and Diaw. If Julian Wright or Green looked like they could become the next McGrady or Kobe then I could understand it if they had serious interest, but they don’t look like future superstars to me.


I've saw Hawes play about a dozen times this season and he is an interesting project, but considering that his primary offensive repertoire consists of back to the basket moves in the post, I'd say the chances of D'Antoni incorporating his strengths into the offense are slim to none.
I want D’Antoni fired after this season anyway. If Iavaroni is willing to incorporate a full sized lineup then I’d be fine with him being the replacement.


Taking Hibbert with a high lottery pick is a huge mistake, IMO. I know it's said that you can't teach height, but you also can't win without talent and I believe he has a lower ceiling than other players projected at the same spot.
I’m not sure Hibbert has a high ceiling either, but I do think he could dramatically help the Suns interior defense. I see how much Dampier and Diop help the Mavs interior defense, and how their defense takes a nosedive when they go small, with Dirk at center, and that just reinforces my belief that the Suns need to get away from using Amare at center. They don’t necessarily need a gigantic, but slower center like Hibbert, but I think he’s a guy they should consider, especially if they can’t get someone like Noah.


This cracks me up. You harp on the Suns needing a force to play along side Amare then mention McSoftie as a viable option. Fact is, he plays like a guard inside of a 6'8" body. Hello Boris Diaw clone.
The Suns should use the Hawks pick to fill the need for a big man to play alongside Amare. I’d just consider big men with the Cavs pick as potential bench players. McRoberts would only be my 3rd choice, among the big men I mentioned, but he’s looks about 6-10 and I think he can become a rotation player (I’ve only watched him a couple of times though, including that last game where he played well). Regarding Diaw, I forgot to mention before that Gambo said if the Suns draft Noah that Diaw might become expendable. However, Gambo didn’t say whether that was just his opinion, or if he heard that from the Suns.


I'm not too high on the guys you just mentioned, they're too slow to play with the Suns. Fazekas will end up in Europe or a career D-Leaguer.
Visser isn’t slow, but like I said, I wouldn’t be excited about anyone that’s projected to be available with the Suns own pick. I agree that Fazekas might not even be able to stick in the NBA. I’m just trying to keep an open mind about him, since it wouldn’t surprise me if they drafted him.


Saying "if" Darko reaches his potential is like saying "if" President Bush would admit the Iraq War was a bad idea. Probably not going to happen. Again, this idea of getting a big man to play along side Amare is being continuously contradicted by the under performing softies you are mentioning.
Even at his current level, I would prefer Darko to Diaw in the Suns starting lineup. I think he would already be an adequate starter, without slowing down the Suns, and if he reaches his potential then the Suns would have a steal. The Suns need centers, and if they wait until they are already All Stars then those guys are either unobtainable, or the Suns would have to gut their team to get them.

[ShelC]

I’m not sure Hibbert has a high ceiling either, but I do think he could dramatically help the Suns interior defense. I see how much Dampier and Diop help the Mavs interior defense, and how their defense takes a nosedive when they go small, with Dirk at center, and that just reinforces my belief that the Suns need to get away from using Amare at center. They don’t necessarily need a gigantic, but slower center like Hibbert, but I think he’s a guy they should consider, especially if they can’t get someone like Noah.

I agree. IMO, Hibbert has more of a pro game and can be more effective than in college. And on certain nights, like against the Spurs, Pistons, Dallas, Nuggets, maybe rockets, maybe Lakers, where they have multiple defensive bigs across the frontline, Hibbert can help. I also think he can get better, tho he may not have the ceiling of a yonuger, more athletic player. But hes proven during his years at Georgetown that hes willing to work to get better and has even shed the "big stiff" label that his own coach had put on him.

Even at his current level, I would prefer Darko to Diaw in the Suns starting lineup.

On paper, Darko is a perfect match because of his legit size, shooting and rebounding and shotblocking ability. But he has yet to put it all together on a consistent basis and defintiely seems like a bit of a flake. He could turn out ot be one of those yonuger players who came into the league early, got his money, and is comfortable living the life. According to McCallums book, DanD has tried pursuading the coaching staff to look into Darko, only to get mocked.

Visser isn’t slow

Visser is superslow. I'd take Fazekas with our big only cuz he shoots the ball as well as anyone his size. Hell, we gave Burke 2 guaranteed years and hes supposed to be a shooter as well. At the very least he can take Burkes place at the end of the bench.

If Julian Wright or Green looked like they could become the next McGrady or Kobe then I could understand it if they had serious interest, but they don’t look like future superstars to me.

I dont tihnk we necessarily need a future superstar. We need an exceptional role player in the shawn marion mold, who will put up his numbers and still allow us to play the way we want to play. We dont need a young player unhappy with having to share the spotlight with Amare, Stevie, etc.

[LU]

Anybody know much about Marco Belinelli? He seems like a JJ Reddick clone based on his nbadraft.net description.

I don't know about the shooting comparison, but he is 2 inches taller and more athletic. Check out the couple of 360 dunks in the game. http://youtube.com/watch?v=KyPYO0L6_6U

I've been away for some time, but I'd like to add some notes about Belinelli.
First, it's very difficult to judge his improvements because his team has been a total wreck this season: they have changed 3 coaches this season, and this new one isn't even a coach, the ownership is changing, so many roster changes... (by the way, that you tube clip collects images from last season)

PRO
- the guy can shoot, his release is super quick. Bizarrely, his shot is better when he catches and shoots off a screen (à la Reggie Miller, he finds his body balance in the air) or fading away than when he shoots set.
- range isn't a problem, he has sinked some very long distance shots in his career, without any apparent effort, so I guess he will have no difficult in adjusting to the NBA 3-pt line.
- He is an athlete and the balance balance between outside shooting and penetration is getting better. Last year it was something like 90% 3-pointers (or long twos), 10% going inside, this year is more 70%-30%
- he is still young but very experienced: 3 years in the Italian league (including playoffs and finals) + Euroleague, the last 2 as a starter; he's his team go-to guy now (if a go-to guy can be found in such a mess)
- he definitely has a strong personality.

CON
- he showed some glimpse of good defense earlier in his career, but this year his defense simply sucks. period. He can be a good one on one defender, but his attitude for team defense is questionable.
- his ball handling seems to be regressing instead of improving.
- his personality: very cocky and stubborn. His goal is to become "the Italian Kobe" (it's a quote from an interview). He has a very high (maybe too high) consideration of himself. It can even be a good thing, but it depends on how he will reacts to the adversities he will face in the NBA

In general, as much as Bargnani is calm, controlled and hides his strong will and pride behind an almost-bored attitude, Belinelli is cocky, outgoing, vocal and has more ups and downs (let's say he fits the Italian stereotypes better!), but when he is on fire he's almost unstoppable.
I don't know many details about his contract and buy-out; he resigned with Bologna this summer, but now there are rumors that the new owner has already agreed to trade him to Rome this summer (you can do that in Italy): I don't know if it means he has decided to stay at least one more year in Italy or it's just the Rome owner trying to sell smoke to their fans

[juice]

thx for sharing the info LU
then again, I've alwayls like Rudy Fernandez better, even with his scary thin frame.
and the Italian Kobe...ouch

[UOducks4life]

Regarding Diaw, I forgot to mention before that Gambo said if the Suns draft Noah that Diaw might become expendable. However, Gambo didn’t say whether that was just his opinion, or if he heard that from the Suns.

Unless Boris puts together a masterful post season, I think that is exactly what is in the cards. For all of his down falls this season Boris is still a very good player in the NBA, but the combination of not being effective with Amare and his apparent lack of passion at times leads me to believe that he will be shopped around during draft time and likely dealt if the Suns land a player like Noah, Horford, Wright, etc...


Even at his current level, I would prefer Darko to Diaw in the Suns starting lineup. I think he would already be an adequate starter, without slowing down the Suns, and if he reaches his potential then the Suns would have a steal. The Suns need centers, and if they wait until they are already All Stars then those guys are either unobtainable, or the Suns would have to gut their team to get them.

My biggest gripe with Darko is his lack of passion or desire to work hard at times. I was pretty big on him before this season started but even since he's been given playing time in Orlando he hasn't stepped up the way I thought he should or would. Unless he becomes more of a "veteran" who makes the extra effort with his head and heart, I want him no where near the Suns.


I dont tihnk we necessarily need a future superstar. We need an exceptional role player in the shawn marion mold, who will put up his numbers and still allow us to play the way we want to play. We dont need a young player unhappy with having to share the spotlight with Amare, Stevie, etc.

Bingo.

[Double_A_Ron]

The good thing with this draft is there are a lot of high character guys at the top who know how to play within a system. IE Green, Horford, Noah, Wright, etc..

[Nash4MVP]

The good thing about this draft is that we're likely to keep one of our picks.

[Mori_Chu]

If we trade Boris and/or KT, you know karma is going to bite us and give us an injury to one of our remaining bigs, leaving us paper-thin up front. It's just the way things go with this team.

[UO]

Why are people talking about who we'll get with Cleveland's pick and with our own? You should all know by now (after three straight years of evidence) that those two picks will be packaged with any combination of Kurt Thomas, Marcus Banks, James Jones, etc.

Heck, if Atlanta nets a top 3 pick, we may not come out of the draft with a single first-rounder on our roster for the 4th straight year.

[ShelC]

This is true.

[SwingMan]

Why are people talking about who we'll get with Cleveland's pick and with our own? You should all know by now (after three straight years of evidence) that those two picks will be packaged with any combination of Kurt Thomas, Marcus Banks, James Jones, etc.

Heck, if Atlanta nets a top 3 pick, we may not come out of the draft with a single first-rounder on our roster for the 4th straight year.

I knew the cloud cover was yellow for some reason today..... :lol:

[sunsdotcom]

we need to draft a 6-7, 6-8 athlete who can create his own shots and is a good shooter.

[bjebaz]

we need to draft a 6-7, 6-8 athlete who can create his own shots and is a good shooter.

I kind of like these two guys:

Luol Deng (6'9")
Pts 18.9
Ast 2.5
Reb 7.0
FG 52%
FT 78.2%

Andre Iguodala (6'6")
Pts 18.2
Ast 5.6
Reb 5.8
FG 44.7%
FT 82.7%

......damn

[In2ition]

we need to draft a 6-7, 6-8 athlete who can create his own shots and is a good shooter.

I kind of like these two guys:

Luol Deng (6'9")
Pts 18.9
Ast 2.5
Reb 7.0
FG 52%
FT 78.2%

Andre Iguodala (6'6")
Pts 18.2
Ast 5.6
Reb 5.8
FG 44.7%
FT 82.7%

......damn

Maybe even a Joe Johnson.

[INFORMER]

he will be shopped around during draft time and likely dealt if the Suns land a player like Noah, Horford, Wright, etc...

Boris is going to be a BYC player, so even if the Suns do want to move him it will be difficult.

[OE]

How much money can we get for the second-to-last pick?

Who here thinks $100,000 would do the trick?

[FrontRowSun]

I am convinced.... Lets trade our bottom two picks and move up to get Corey Brewer. That dude has a set of Brass grapefruits.

Noah & Brewer.... Bring Florida to Phoenix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigLewy]

FRS, I'd do that in a heartbeat. Not sure if it would be possible though. Brewer would be a great fit here, but I have a feeling he will be gone by around the 14th pick...not sure if 2 late first rounders would be enough for that. Unless of course, there is a dumb GM that would take Banks too.

[FrontRowSun]

You might be right..... He just seems to have this "thing" about him.


Danny Granger fell. Maybe Brewer will have some bad workouts.

but who knowa.... I have drank so much beer tonight I might not be thinking straight.

[ShelC]

Hansbrough is probably staying at UNC, but surprising (IMO), Thaddeus Young is leaning towards declaring, so he might push someone down to us. Marcus Williams, Darren Collison, Josh Shipp and Spencer Hawes are leaning towards the draft as well. Durant is probably staying, Conley is staying and Oden might be coming out.

[In2ition]

Durant is probably staying, Conley is staying and Oden might be coming out.
I wouldn't be so sure about that. When all is said and done, I think all three will be coming out.

[Nash4MVP]

Who Wants to Draft a Good Teammate?

April 2, 2007 12:09 PM

The NBA has so much talent. Deep on every NBA bench is some guy good enough to carry the expectations of a town, county, state, or smallish nation on his shoulders. There are guys who hold all-time scoring records in some high school conference, guys who hit game-winners in big NCAA tournament games, and guys who used to be called the "Shaq of the [insert name of conference, league, smallish nation]."

What does that mean? That means that if any bad team were to suddenly start playing really well (like the Pacers beat the Spurs last night) it wouldn't be shocking. In part, that would be because every player in the NBA is, on some level, a great player accustomed to a lot of success. They have all taken over many games in their young lives. None of them expected to be bit players on bad teams.

It also means that if you were to somehow wave a magic wand over any NBA roster, and bless those players with the ability to play to the maximum of their ability, I believe just about every NBA roster has the talent to contend.

If that magic wand did exist, I'm convinced that more than anything it would sprinkle the ideals of teamwork around the roster. Make players learn to love helping their teammates do well. I'd bet my remaining hair (fair warning, it's mostly in my eyebrows) that the big key to turning a so-so roster into a great one is by getting the players to trust one another. Basketball is a fluid game, and teams that move the ball quickly and easily to the highest percentage shot, without letting it get stuck in the gooey molasses of ego, have a serious advantage. On defense, where there's hardly any glory to be had for anyone, the selfless helping and effort are even more important.

How can an NBA team get some of that magic teamwork pixie dust? One way is to draft it! They don't rank player in terms of their abilities as teammates, but if they did, Florida's Joakim Noah would certainly be high on the list. Consider this column from ESPN's Andy Katz:

Joakim Noah rightfully receives plenty of attention on this squad. He has been the face of the team for two seasons and, at times, you could argue he has been the face of the sport this past year, but he has no issues acknowledging how valuable Horford is to this team.

"When I was getting a lot of attention, I would think about it because I know how good Al is," Noah said. "Al would never get any credit for what he did. Even last year, he was such a huge part; we would have never won if it wasn't for Al.

"There's no question who our go-to post player is -- it's Al Horford," Noah said. "He's a great player, but he's quiet. I'm not. That's why I was getting a lot of attention."

See that? What he's doing there is saying the kinds of things that make Al Horford feel confident taking the big shot. But at the same time, just by being nice, he's also making Horford feel good giving up the big shot to Joakim Noah or someone else. Either way, Florida wins.

And that kind of team focus is exactly how they do win. As ESPN's David Thorpe just pointed out to me on the phone, no one on the team is even averaging ten shots a game. All five Florida starters are capable of scoring 25, but they all average between 10 and 14. That means that on the nights when the defense figures out how to stop option A, there is no hesitation in getting the ball to options B, C, D, and E.

Selflessness is a huge part of teamwork. And it's nothing new to Noah. Before he worked for ESPN, Thorpe had a blog of his own where he wrote about this very thing a year ago:

We all know Joakim Noah is their best player, a likely top 5 pick whenever he enters the NBA. But he refers to Florida's lone senior, Adrian Moss, as "Boss man", and said last night after the game that he's proud to be on Moss's team. MOSS'S TEAM!! Did your best player think, or say, anything similar to that after the season? Last week in a press conference, when Noah's teammate Taurean Green gave a short answer describing the solid play of a seldom used player off Florida's bench in an early round win, Noah jumped in to the discussion to add how hard that player has worked each day in practice. For press conferences, that is the equivalent of a player getting a quadruple-double, it basically never happens, as players only answer questions directed to them. Even after the game last night, Noah told the press that sharpshooter Lee Humphrey "was a monster on D". When your best player speaks that glowingly about his teammates, it is easy to get refined roles and avoid petty jealousy.

Thorpe and I were just on the phone, and he adds that Noah is a rare combination. "He's selfless in the best way possible," says Thorpe. "Yet he's also a tiger. He pounds his chest, screams, and plays unbelievably hard. A lot of selfless guys are just happy to be there. Not Noah. He just doesn't care about himself and his stats. He just wants to win."

And that involves teammates.

[SwingMan]

Just another reason Noah would fit on this team.

We've got star power aplenty and Noah's got the balance to defer without sacrificing too much of his own game (unlike JJ with Penny early on).

Love it.

[WestCoastBias]

Well, the way the gators are playing, even if we get the 4th pick (best case scenario at this point and any point), Noah could get snapped up. Especially should Oden choose to go back to school.

[Squeege63]

Here is a question - if he comes out, would it be worth it to take Conley Jr. with the Hawks pick, even if we get it as high as #4.

Here is my defense for this:

1) Our team is built to rely on an elite PASS-FIRST point guard. I would have to say that of all the NBA teams (except for the Hawks), we are probably the only team that could justify taking him this high.

2) Bigs are rather prevalent compared to elite pass-first PGs. Out of the past few drafts, only two truly pass-first PGs have come out (CP3 and Deron Williams). It would be virtually impossible to get either of these guys away from their teams when it is time for their contract extensions.

3) Conley has proven that he looks for others first, but when need be can take over a game, like he did against Georgetown - Just like Nash.

4) Conley would thrive as Nash's understudy, and he would come up for an extension right about when Nash's contract ends and the torch could be passed, even if Nash stays on a la Sam Cassell, he could be a mentor back up.

5) This draft is so deep. we could either package both our picks to move up or draft with either of our later picks and get a big that will be sufficient for what we need.

6) We couldn't get a backup PG (with big game experience) at a better price.

7) Our offense wouldn't slow down and implode when Nash went to the bench, and we would be more able to limit Nash's minutes next year as he is getting older.

This is just a thought. If Ohio State wins on the back of Conley it might be more feasible to suggest this. Right now, experts have him going in the mid to late lottery.

[UOducks4life]

You forgot that Conley is left handed.

I have a man crush on Conley, he is by far and away the best true PG in the college game.

[DrSublime]

hes not going to come out
TY Lawson might though

[k_kwan]

Like I said in my earlier post I'm not too worried in who we get with ATL's pick be it Horford, Noah, or the chinese kid Yi. I've always been pretty confident in the Suns scouting dept. when it comes to scouting players for our team our scouts have been pretty top notch.

I'm just hopping no praying that somehow the Suns can work some type of package with their two remaining picks to move up just enough to land Brewer I swear that kid is the reincarnation of rookie Shawn Marion.

[SpecialSauce]

We have the seasoned Shawn Marion, why get another when we have other needs?

[SpecialSauce]

I like Noah and Conley Jr personally. Or if Durant comes out I say do anything possible (trading Boris or Shawn) to grab him.

[DrSublime]

I'm just hopping no praying that somehow the Suns can work some type of package with their two remaining picks to move up just enough to land Brewer I swear that kid is the reincarnation of rookie Shawn Marion.

actually
i think Brewer could be a smoother version of Marion

[INFORMER]

All these point guards, Conley, Collison, and Lawson, need another year of college.

And no one is trading Kevin Durant unless it is for Greg Oden (a la Hardaway-Webber) or he pulls a Steve Francis.

[UOducks4life]

Let it be known I was completely wrong about Brewer. There is no going wrong drafting any of the Florida big 3, regardless of position needs.

edit -- except the Hawks.

[SwingMan]

Wasn't able to catch the game (nor most of the tournament, for that matter).

Speaking of Florida's Big 3, how did Noah look? The box says he got just 8/3 with 4 fouls in 21 minutes.

[INFORMER]

Let it be known I was completely wrong about Brewer.

I feel the same way. Going into the season, I wasn't too high on his potential as a NBA prospect. But he's really impressed me. I don't know how exactly he translates to the NBA, particularly offensively, but I'm confident he's going to be a postive impact player.

[BSabre5]

Let it be known I was completely wrong about Brewer.

I feel the same way. Going into the season, I wasn't too high on his potential as a NBA prospect. But he's really impressed me. I don't know how exactly he translates to the NBA, particularly offensively, but I'm confident he's going to be a postive impact player.

Damn after watching that game, I think we need to do whatever possible to get Brewer. He is listed at 6'9" and in the Suns system he could play 4 positions. It seems like he would instantly become one of our best defenders and his long arms and athleticism would be awesome.

Not sure if he would be worth the Atlanta pick if we get it, but to me, he seems to have more potential and value than Noah. Noah did not impress me at any point during this season....

[UOducks4life]

Wasn't able to catch the game (nor most of the tournament, for that matter).

Speaking of Florida's Big 3, how did Noah look? The box says he got just 8/3 with 4 fouls in 21 minutes.

Thats what you have to realize and appreciate about Noah. He doesn't always light up a box score but he provides a lot of energy, hustle, and competitiveness while making his biggest statistical effect in rebounding and playing defense. Because of this I'm still a bit skeptical about drafting him in the top 5 but the charisma and genetics he has really sells it for me.

[UOducks4life]

Let it also be known that Al Horford and Leandro Barbosa have to be related.

[SwingMan]

Thanks, UOd4l.

I've seen Noah a few times this season, just hoping that he didn't look as bad as the box indicated tonight.

[INFORMER]

I'm not sure Brewer is 6'9". He looks more like 6'6" or 6'7", and he isn't even 200 pounds. Consequently, even on this team, I think he's only a shooting guard/small forward.

[BKinSJC]

Bulk him up a little bit, he's a 4.

Just ask Shawn.

[UOducks4life]

I'd say Brewer is a legit 6'7", 6'8" in basketball shoes. He was definitely a couple inches taller than Oregon's Malik Hariston who I know is 6'6".

[ShelC]

Brewers listed as 6-8, but im sure hes a long 6-7. The concern with him is weight, as he might be able 195. But if hes a strong 195 and get up to 205, hes a 3 regardless with the ability to play some 2. Offense is the question, but his athleticsm, length, and defense are NBA level. And hes a 2-time winner, which counts a lot in my book.

I think Noah has a PF game and was forced to guard the best big man in the country. Oden is a handful, and would be for almost every NBA center. In reality, Noah is a lot like Clevelands Varajao with a higher bball IQ, and better ball handling skills. Or think of a taller Francisco Oberto. I could see him being a legit center on most nights and allowing Amare to really work inside as a 4 man. Noah would be ideal here simply because he doesnt need plays run for him, like a Varajao, David Lee, Shawn Marion...

Horford has an NBA body and very close to an NBA game. Hes like a bigger David West, but with less polish offensively. Hes got more spring and a bit more size than Boozer i think. But like Boozer and West coming out of college, he could lose some of that baby fat and gain some muscle. But hes gonna be a beast and a legit 4 man. He'd be great next to Amare as well cuz hes a wide body banger/rebounder with good hands and and a nice touch from outside.

[bjebaz]

Horford looked pretty good tonight. Hit a couple jumpers and got some boards.

But wow is Oden in a different league than all those Florida guys, and Durant. He was absolutely dominant, and had the O State guards either made a few threes or got him the ball more, the outcome of this game would have been very different.

[UO]

All these point guards, Conley, Collison, and Lawson, need another year of college.


Agreed.

[JustWinBaby]

Still not sold on Noah.

IMO Corey Brewer and Horford will be the better pros.

While rebounding is always an issue especially with the Suns - Brewer does it all - he would be my pick if we in fact get the Atlanta pick.

The league is made up of high scoring 1's,2's, 3's and 4's.

We need another legit swing - Raja is not getting any younger and generally is outsized in many match ups - Brewer can guard virtually any position on the court and has a nice handle and his shot is not bad and will improve - I love him for the Suns.

Surely we could use another big - but we also need another defensive minded swing man as well.

With him and LB off the bench - wholly crap - all hell would break loose.

Put Amare - Marion - Brewer - Raja and LB on the court together - we would have a world class relay team.

I just hope we get that pick this year - and have to suffer through the desision of Noah - Horford - Brewer - etc etc etc.

Cause if Atlanta get's Oden - they will not only make the playoffs - they will be a high seed and our pick next year will be crap.

Oden is going to be an unbelievable in the pros - maybe the best ever - WOW.

Florida is very fortunate that they hit all of those threes - there bigs virtually had no chance against Oden down low - he is a monster.

[RDM2]

Yeah Oden is just something else. Imagine if he could be paired with Amare in bizarro world. Steve Nash would average 30 assists per game all on alley oops.

For some reason, seeing the last few games has really made me prefer Horford over Noah. He just seems more polished in every way, maybe I haven't watched them enough though, I'll admit I don't watch much college ball. I do think Noah does resemble a Verajao type player, I believe thats a great comparison and definitely would like a player like that on the Suns. So who knows...I just pray for a good pick #.

[OE]

Oden for best ever? I think you're jumping the gun. Yes, he's got the athleticism and he's ahead of where Ewing was out of HS, but time will tell if he develops into a force. He has neither Shaq's body nor Wilt's body; he has neither Kareem's skill nor Hakeem's skill. I'm thinking more in the David Robinson mold which is, I'll admit, not bad.

Durant, however, might actually and honestly be the best ever. He'll be better than Lebron and Carmelo, I think. Think Larry Bird with out-of-this-world athleticism. GD!

That said, while I'm frightened of the possibility that we'll take Noah (because he's such a nice guy!), I'm holding out hope for Yi Jianlian. If he continues to develop his J and if he bulks up, there's no reason he can't be something close to Dirk. I think that, with Nash's direction, Yi would develop quickly here, as well.

No to Thornton. His game is too similar to Amare's. D'Antoni would NEVER want to put them on the court together, so Thornton would have a real problem developing here. I'm warming to Brewer, but I doubt we'd make the effort to snatch up a wing player if said wing player lacked a solid J. In this draft, however, we have no excuse not to have 2 good players with which to build for the future (if we get ATL's pick).

Personally, I'd like to see us make a commitment to pick up young, hungry players to round out our bench from now on. Primarily because we need to get back to developing talent; secondarily because we need fast, athletic players to come in the games and take their NBA auditions seriously. Part of the reason Jumaine, Burke, Rose, Pike, and Marks are such duds, I think, is because they've played meaningful minutes elsewhere and don't want to put up with the BS of auditioning for time whether it be for us or someone else. That applies to Marks less, but I think Marks knows where he's at as a player and knows there's no moving up, so why try?

Anyways, what I meant to say is... Yi. Draft Yi. That's my vote. Lots of options for #24. We'll see what happens in workouts and such. I bet if we move some underutilized talent (KT) out with the #24 and/or #29, we could pick up a player more suited to our style and perhaps even a mid-first rounder. KT still has some value. We'll see what we can get.

[ShelC]

No to Thornton. His game is too similar to Amare's. D'Antoni would NEVER want to put them on the court together,

After sleeping on it, ive come to same conclusion and was going to post the same thing. I've come to really appreciate Horford and think hes definitely more skilled offensively with post moves than Noah. But that doesnt necessarily mean he's a better fit here. He and Amare might get in each others way too often in and around the basket and Horford wouldnt exactly give us the size we're lacking (so to speak) in the frontcourt. Noah is a capable high post player/passer, not unlike Boris, but is bigger, stronger and relies on hustle and grit to make his impact. That may may be a better fit in our spread the ball type of system. Plus his size/athleticsm ratio would be a welcome addition IMO. Its hard ot find that perfect piece next to Amare and Noah might be it. Hes big enough to guard most 5s, but has shown the willingness and ability ot get our on the perimeter and D up. He knows how to get low for smaller player and use his length to bother their dribble so its not an obvious mismatch. I just like his mentality on both ends. Hes a very smart player. On top of all that, hes emotional (in a good way) and is recognizable. He'd add a lot of flair and excitement to an already exciting team.

[Billyjoejimbob]

Draft winners and losers from the NCAA Tournament
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com


This year's NCAA Final Four may go down as one of the greatest NBA scouting events ever.

A whopping seven players who played in Atlanta are considered possible top-10 picks. That type of talent playing head-to-head with so much at stake surely will have a major impact on NBA scouting reports this year, in what is considered one of the best drafts ever.

While the Florida Gators are again the NCAA champs, let's look at the winners and losers of this year's tournament from the NBA's perspective.

For the past few weeks, I've talked to NBA executives and scouts to get their thoughts. Here's my take on what I've seen and heard:


WINNERS

Greg Oden, Ohio State
We waited and waited to see Oden dominate. ESPN.com's Bill Simmons wrote a column Monday in which he wondered if Oden ever would.


Monday night, he finally did. For the first time this season, Oden looked like the No. 1 pick in the draft and a potentially great NBA center.

Unencumbered by foul trouble, Oden was tenacious, aggressive and persistent. He wasn't perfect, but for one night, he was the best player on the floor, wreaking havoc in the paint on both ends of the floor against the best front line in college basketball.

He ending up with 25 points, 12 boards and four blocks. If anyone on his team could have hit a jump shot, Ohio State may have won it all.

Oden was a bigger disappointment in the semifinal game against Georgetown, getting in early foul trouble. But when he was on the court, he played well.

The big question is, what will this loss do to Oden's NBA plans? By almost all accounts, Oden would prefer to stay in college. But as we've reported, Oden is receiving considerable pressure from family to declare for the draft.

Will the team's close call with an NCAA championship push him back toward school?

Everyone in the NCAA and the NBA waits with bated breath.

Al Horford and Corey Brewer, Florida
Last year Joakim Noah was the hero of the Final Four. This year Horford and Brewer stole the show.

Brewer was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, though most NBA guys believe Horford has been the team's MVP this season.

Horford became the team's best rebounder and physical defender in the paint. Offensively, he dominated on the low block, and in Monday's game against Ohio State he showed that he has a solid midrange jumper and can even hit runners off the dribble.

I believe Horford is the best NBA prospect at Florida (a view I've held for two seasons), and a number of NBA scouts agree. Horford has moved ahead of Noah on our draft board and looks like a top-five pick in this year's draft.

Brewer may have helped his stock more than anyone else in the tournament. Brewer already has the rep as an amazing defender, with great length and athleticism.

He found the range on his jump shot versus UCLA, scoring 19 points and hitting 4-of-5 3- pointers. Likewise he got off to a hot start against Ohio State, hitting three of his first five 3s. And he caused devastation with his probing defense.

A number of NBA teams are intrigued with his versatility and potential. It now looks like he is also a lock for the lottery and a probable top-10 pick.

Mike Conley, Ohio State
Conley started the season obscured by Greg Oden's huge shadow. Now NBA scouts and executives believe he's the best point guard prospect in the country and a likely top-10 pick if he were to declare for the draft.

Conley has said he's returning for his sophomore season, but we'll see. NBA teams want him now. He has the rare ability to play fast and stay under control. He needs to work on his jumper, but he appears ready to run an NBA team right now.

Kevin Durant, Texas
Durant was the best player in college basketball this year, period.

But was he the best player in the tournament? His numbers in Texas' two games -- 28.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg with 45 percent shooting -- essentially mirror his regular-season totals, though he did seem to be a little off in Texas' loss to USC.

No worries -- there wasn't much Durant could do to move his stock either way in the tournament. Of bigger concern is the fact that he's still waffling on his decision to turn pro. If he stays at Texas another year, I think even NBA commissioner David Stern will break down and begin weeping.

Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green, Georgetown
Both players moved from the middle of the first round to the top 10 with their clutch performances in the tournament.

Hibbert was a dominant force in the middle for most of the tourney. The much-hyped matchup with Greg Oden was a fizzle thanks to foul trouble, but even in the few minutes when Hibbert did go head-to-head with Oden, he showed he has the size and skills to be an NBA center.

Scouts still hotly debate whether he's going to be a starter or a big man off the bench thanks to just average athleticism and questionable conditioning, but at 7-foot-2 he's not going to last long on draft night.

Green began the year at No. 13 on our big board, so he didn't have a lot of room to move up. After a lackluster start to the season, he was awesome in the last few weeks for Georgetown and the most important player on his team right up until the Ohio State game.

NBA folks were scratching their heads a bit at Green's tentative, wallflower performance in the Final Four. Where was the guy who took (and made) that difficult, double-teamed buzzer beater vs. Vandy? The guy who carried the Hoyas on his back for the better part of the last two months? He took only five shots against Ohio State and seemed to defer to his less-experienced teammates in the backcourt.

But that won't be a huge blow to Green's stock. Everyone knows what he can do. The questions about his assertiveness have been there for years and what we saw (or didn't see) on Saturday doesn't change scouts' view of him as a prospect.

So look for Green to go in the Nos. 6-10 range on draft night.

Brandan Wright, North Carolina
Tyler Hansbrough may get more attention from the media, but NBA scouts love Wright's potential.

Wright didn't exactly dominate the tournament and even threw up a stinker versus Michigan State. But he was at the heart of North Carolina's amazing comeback win over USC and played well in the final game against Georgetown.

He has the size, athleticism and skill set to be an excellent NBA player, and his play in the tournament solidified what scouts had already believed. Wright looks like a lock to be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.

Nick Young, USC
Young looks like a prototypical NBA 2-guard with a lethal combination of excellent range on his jumper and fantastic athleticism. Everything seems to come easy to him.

During the tournament, Young averaged 19 points per game and 7 rpg and shot 49 percent from the field. That should be enough to get him consideration as a late lottery or mid-first-round pick. Among swingmen, only Florida's Brewer and Arizona's Chase Budinger rank higher at the moment.

Brandon Rush, Kansas
If there's another swingman out there who will challenge Young, it's Rush. He too has a great combination of size, athleticism and shooting prowess.

But he hasn't been as dominant this year as Young. Most scouts attribute Rush's passivity to unselfishness, but some aren't so sure.

Teammate Julian Wright may have more potential, but Rush was more consistent in the tournament. Given his skill set, he should be impressive in workouts. If he is, he could end up somewhere in the mid-first round.

Derrick Byars, Vanderbilt
The senior swingman shot the lights out from the 3-point line in an upset against Washington State. However, he couldn't duplicate the performance against a more athletic team like Georgetown.

Scouts like Byars' size and shooting ability, but short of a great run at the predraft camps and NBA workouts, he looks like a second-round pick on most NBA boards right now.

J.R. Reynolds, Virginia
Reynolds was unconscious in the tournament, averaging 27 ppg and shooting 9-for-18 from 3-point range in Virginia's two games.

Though he's been doing things like that all season, his tourney performance seems to have moved him up considerably in the minds of some NBA guys.

He's being compared to Chicago's Ben Gordon, and he does have a similar build, excellent athleticism and deep range on that jumper. And boy, can he light up the scoreboard.

He'll be an interesting sleeper to watch in the next few months as a few scouts mentioned him as a potential late first-rounder.

Chris Lofton, Tennessee
Speaking of little guys who can shoot it, Lofton is too short to be a 2-guard and doesn't possess the ballhandling skills or quickness to be a great lead guard in the NBA.

But he certainly knows how to put the ball in the basket. Lofton's great play against Ohio State (he went 6-for-13 from 3-point land) will get him a second look in NBA workouts.

With more combo guards getting love from NBA teams, he may have a role. But right now, he's still a second-rounder.

Aaron Brooks and Malik Hairston, Oregon
Hairston was once considered a potential first-round pick until injuries submarined his draft stock.

With his strong tourney play, he reminded NBA scouts why they liked him. His play against Florida was especially strong.

He has the size, strength and shooting ability to be an NBA 2-guard. But he probably needs another full year in school to erase all the doubts that have crept in.

Brooks' lack of size and discipline have kept him from much draft consideration. He's under 6 feet and often plays too out of control for NBA scouts.

But he's been great for Oregon this year, and his quickness and ability to finish around the basket make him an NBA prospect. He's likely a late second-rounder right now, but you never know.


LOSERS

Joakim Noah, Florida
Noah wasn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination. But he didn't recapture the magic he had last year.

Noah continued to display his hustle and energy all season, but his production was down across the board, and he failed to show significant improvement in any area of his game. In particular, Noah's inability to hit a jump shot really concerns scouts.

He scored just eight points and grabbed only three rebounds in the final against Ohio State. For the tournament he averaged just 11.5 ppg, down from 16.6 ppg last season in the tournament.

To a certain extent, this all is moot. Noah is a great teammate, has a great motor and will be a good NBA player on the right team. But he's no longer regarded to be in the rarified air he was last season.

Alando Tucker, Wisconsin
Tucker had a fantastic senior season but came up flat in the tournament, shooting just 10-for-28 from the field and 3-for-10 from the 3-point line.

As a guy whose ability to play on the perimeter is in question, that wasn't the result he wanted. Tucker is a talented guy, but he didn't make the push he needed to make himself a lock for the first round.

Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
NBA teams love big centers who can score and rebound. But Gray's plodding style combined with his struggles against quality big men in the Big East tourney and the NCAA tourney have raised questions about how effective he'll be in the NBA.

Size usually rises on draft night, but right now Gray is in the same place he was last year: on the first-round bubble.

Josh McRoberts, Duke
His team's one-and-out performance hurt him more than his own performance did.

The expectations for McRoberts were huge this year. As it was most of the season, his performance in the tournament was solid but unspectacular. NBA scouts expect a player with his talent to be able to put his team on his shoulders. McRoberts, at this point in his career, doesn't seem capable of that.

His size, skills and athleticism should guarantee that he's taken in the first round. But he's no longer considered a top-10 pick.

Arron Afflalo, UCLA
Afflalo was red-hot against Kansas, pushing UCLA to the Final Four. But his other tourney games were much more spotty. In particular, foul trouble and the long arms of Corey Brewer shut him down in the Florida game.

His lack of size, length and athleticism will be a problem at the next level.

He's tough and an excellent midrange shooter, but his weaknesses will probably keep him from being drafted in the first round.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Lawson started the tournament hot and drew enough praise from NBA scouts that he looked like a lock for the lottery.

But he struggled as the competition increased. He shot 4-for-19 against USC and Georgetown and had five turnovers in that key game vs. Georgetown.

He's still considered one of the best point guards in the country and a likely late lottery pick, but Mike Conley passed him on the board.


SLEEPERS

Eric Maynor, VCU
I don't think we'll see Maynor in the draft this year, but NBA scouts will be making frequent trips to see Maynor play next season after he destroyed Duke in the first round.

He's a point guard with some special attributes. He is quick with long arms and has good size for the position. And his fantastic assist-to-turnover ratio and fearlessness should make Maynor a strong prospect next season.

Trey Johnson, Jackson State
Johnson was one of the top scorers in the country, and he showed he can play against the big boys in an opening-round loss to Florida.

Johnson has the ability to play multiple positions and should be one of the more intriguing sleepers this spring. If he plays well at the NBA draft camps, he's got a chance of sneaking into the first round.

Chris Daniels, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
NBA teams usually don't find big guys of Daniels' quality at places like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

His 20 points, nine rebounds and four blocks against Wisconsin intrigued scouts. He's an early-entry draft candidate who may get drafted thanks to his one-and-done performance. That would make him the epitome of an NCAA Tournament draft winner.

[ShelC]

For the tournament he averaged just 11.5 ppg, down from 16.6 ppg last season in the tournament.

This is a bit misleading just because no one really dominated scoring-wise for Florida. It was just a balanced attack where 5 guys averaged between 11 and 13 points.

I think the 2nd round is a little low for Byars, as scouts may hold his experience against him. But i'd take him without hesitation if he was around with our pick, if we keep it.

Still not convinced on Nick Young, but he could be a good fit for us with his size and shooting. I love Rush physically and the fact that hes not a selfish, ball hogging, wanna-be superstar.

[Billyjoejimbob]

Prospects look ready for NBA
By Kiki Vandeweghe
ESPN.com

While watching Monday's NCAA championship game between Florida and Ohio State, I took notice of a handful of players who will be facing a decision to go pro sooner rather than later.

When I saw the fierce competitiveness of Ohio State's Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., and that of Florida's Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, for me, unless they feel they have something left to prove in college, I saw players who are ready for the NBA draft.

Once the excitement of the tournament dies down, these players should be weighing their options by talking with those they are confident have their best interest at heart, whether it's friends, family or a coach.

And it's not just the money that motivates these decisions. We should remember that these are competitive players, who arrived at this game in part because they've spent a great deal of time looking for the best competition in their respective cities and states, motivated by challenges.

For me, I think an underemphasized motivation is, and a question they will ask themselves in the coming days:

"Am I ready to come and join the big boys?"

The answer on the court seemed to be "yes" on Monday. Here's some impressions from the title game for these five, who would all likely be lottery picks if they were to come out this year:

• Oden -- A very special player, and he demonstrated it against Florida. For three-quarters of the game, he was all they had. He got tired, but he showed the heart of a champion and kept fighting.

He was the dominant inside presence against two of the dominant inside players in college. It looks like his offensive game is coming around. It's hard to judge because he had developed his left hand this year because of his injured right hand. Now his improved left hand skills are a bonus.

Where will he land? The centerpiece of almost any team is any center. If your team has the opportunity to get that piece, you would give up quite a bit. He has the potential to be one of the best defensive centers -- if not the best -- in the league.

• Horford -- A very impressive player. Could be the best all-around big man that Florida has. Somebody you can tell is a hard worker, is well coached by Billy Donovan, and knows how to play game of basketball.

• Noah -- His presence isn't always going to show up in the stat sheet, but I think he impacted this game because he played so hard. He's going to impact the NBA game with his fire. Playing with reckless abandon is very valuable. That gets everybody excited, and you can't help but play hard and practice hard -- it uplifts everything about a team.

• Brewer -- He's 6-8 with that great speed and all-around game. I think he's going to be a potent offensive player and a defensive stopper. They put him on Conley a lot, and he seemed to bother him with his length.

• Conley Jr. -- Very, very fast. A good shooter. Quick with the ball, great crossover dribble. Basically defenders cannot stay in front of him.

The days ahead will be busy for these players, but when a quiet time comes, it will be time for them to think about what's in their hearts.

Kobe, Duncan, Dirk and Nash are waiting.

[SunsRIt]

I think I am out on Noah, he just didn't show much. Horford would be a great addition, a body up big man with an inside game, a jumper and good B-ball IQ. Brewer would be a good addition if Marion is going away.

[Squeege63]

I still have to reiterate that if conley comes out, it would be prudent of us to pick him up. Yeah, a big would be great, but if we are going to start looking long term, a point guard is our biggest need.

Nash is going to start to decline in the near future and we need an elite PG to succeed him. If we have the option to draft an elite PG and develop him in our style as a backup to Nash, who would eventually take over, I can't really pass it up, even for Noah or Horford or whoever.

Every position on our team is staffed by players who can play multiple positions except for the PG position. Marcus Banks failed as a backup, and barbs has been servicable, but there is no one in the league that we wouldn't be over paying for to get, that would be a good backup for Nash, who could eventually take over for him. I know it is a bit of a reach, but if Conley comes out and we have the ATL pick, we can't not take him.

[blee732]

All these point guards, Conley, Collison, and Lawson, need another year of college.


Agreed.

Even though that's true, it would probably work in our favor if they leave early because next year they may be lottery picks. If they enter this year we at least have a shot at them and can just focus on developing their game.

[blee732]

What would you guys think of us trading our two later picks for a pick around 13-17? A team like the Nets may be looking to rebuild this offseason and would want to have 2 later picks in a deep draft than just one mid-first round pick.

I'm a little nervous about the Hawks tanking it the rest of the season and getting a top 3 pick. I just hope we pick up at least one impact player in this draft cuz we probably won't see another class like this one for a while.

[OrlandoGardener]

No to Thornton. His game is too similar to Amare's. D'Antoni would NEVER want to put them on the court together,

After sleeping on it, ive come to same conclusion and was going to post the same thing. I've come to really appreciate Horford and think hes definitely more skilled offensively with post moves than Noah. But that doesnt necessarily mean he's a better fit here. He and Amare might get in each others way too often in and around the basket and Horford wouldnt exactly give us the size we're lacking (so to speak) in the frontcourt. Noah is a capable high post player/passer, not unlike Boris, but is bigger, stronger and relies on hustle and grit to make his impact. That may may be a better fit in our spread the ball type of system. Plus his size/athleticsm ratio would be a welcome addition IMO. Its hard ot find that perfect piece next to Amare and Noah might be it. Hes big enough to guard most 5s, but has shown the willingness and ability ot get our on the perimeter and D up. He knows how to get low for smaller player and use his length to bother their dribble so its not an obvious mismatch. I just like his mentality on both ends. Hes a very smart player. On top of all that, hes emotional (in a good way) and is recognizable. He'd add a lot of flair and excitement to an already exciting team.

Exactly. Horford will probably have a better scoring average, But Noah is the perfect fit here.

[UOducks4life]

I think the 2nd round is a little low for Byars, as scouts may hold his experience against him. But i'd take him without hesitation if he was around with our pick, if we keep it.

Still not convinced on Nick Young, but he could be a good fit for us with his size and shooting. I love Rush physically and the fact that hes not a selfish, ball hogging, wanna-be superstar.

Byars is definitely 1st round material, IMO. He was 1st team All-SEC this year over Brewer who was 2nd team. He's also been one of the top shooters in the SEC over the last 2 years.

I wouldn't expect you to be convinced of Nick Young, you live in NJ. He is the real deal though, a slightly smaller version of Brewer with a more consistent jump shot. Brewer, Young, and Rush all look great. Right now, one couldn't go wrong picking any of the three.

[SunsRIt]

Noah is only the 3rd best player on his college team.

[UOducks4life]

The same college team that won back to back national championships, thats all. :roll:

[ShelC]

I wouldn't expect you to be convinced of Nick Young, you live in NJ.

Wow.

Noah is only the 3rd best player on his college team.

Thats like saying Shawn Marion is only the 3rd best player on the Suns.

[UOducks4life]

I wouldn't expect you to be convinced of Nick Young, you live in NJ.

Wow.

Well, tell me how many USC Pac-10 games you sat down and watched this year. It's probably the same amount of Rutgers games I saw this season.

[SunsRIt]

Yeah, put the Gators against the Suns and it would be really close, right. Our bench would beat their starting 5. I think there is a difference between being the 3rd best player on the Suns than the Gators. My point is he may end up being more bench fodder in the NBA. He has been consistently average in college.

Regarding his MOP in last years Final Four just look how Ed Pinkney(sp?) turned out. I have a really hard time with players who are barely heard of until the tourney and then jumping up draft boards because of Pinkney.

[OrlandoGardener]

My point is he may end up being more bench fodder in the NBA. He has been consistently average in college.

Wasn't Noah MOP last year? I don't think he's going to b a star, or a go-to guy, but he'll be a terrific role player. Maybe a bit like Mutombo, with less D and better handles.

[OrlandoGardener]

Regarding his MOP in last years Final Four just look how Ed Pinkney(sp?) turned out.

Ha! That'll teach me to post before I finish reading.

[ShelC]

Well, tell me how many USC Pac-10 games you sat down and watched this year. It's probably the same amount of Rutgers games I saw this season.

31. Beat that!

Yeah, put the Gators against the Suns and it would be really close, right. Our bench would beat their starting 5. I think there is a difference between being the 3rd best player on the Suns than the Gators. My point is he may end up being more bench fodder in the NBA. He has been consistently average in college.

That wasnt my point. Its not about Shawn being better than Noah or the suns being better than the gators. Its all relative tho. You cant look at the gators and rank those guys individually. They were a great TEAM, as Billy Donovan pointed out numerous times in the post game conference last night. Just because noah wasnt asked to go out and score 30pts a game doesnt mean hes not a great player. Would Durant have gotten his numbers on this florida squad? Perhaps, if thats what Donovan asked of him. Maybe Noah wouldve been putting up 37 and 15 for Texas.

[UOducks4life]

Noah is at least 6'11", 230lbs with freakish length and athleticism. Not to mention his work ethic and world class athletic lineage.

Pinckney is listed to have been about 6'9", 195lbs and possessed nothing close to the agility and athleticism Noah does at a smaller size.

Hell, even Pinckney averaged 10.5ppg and 7.5rpg for the Suns during his second season. I'd take those stats from Noah on this Suns team without thinking twice.

[ShelC]

Noah is a big boy. He could be closer to 7-0 245. He really looks exactly like Varejao from a physical standpoint. Even his lower body has nice bulk to it. He may not be a 25/10 superstar, but he'll be a stat-sheet filling do-everything type.

[OrlandoGardener]

Plus, he has that fire that this team needs. He's a very emotional competitor.

[blee732]

I concur with ShelC and OG on Noah. At first I thought his frame was too small (a la Mike Dunleavy) to play in the NBA, but if you look at his numbers they tell a different story.

He close to the same weight as Horford even though he looks like he should be 30 pounds lighter. But then again you never know, that hair of his might be adding dead weight =)

[SwingMan]

Just a reminder not to look solely at stats, folks.

That's what people did in 1995 with Michael Finley & even the stat-mongers got their drawers taken down: Finley shot 38% in his senior year at Wisconsin, folks paid WAY too much mind to that and, as a direct result, he dropped to us at #21.

What'd he end up doing from jump street? Just 15/4/3 while shooting 47% and averaging a Marion-like 39mpg - all as a rookie in 1995-1996.

Buyer beware - both ways..... :lol:

[ShelC]

Jason Smith declared for the draft. 7-0 perimeter big man out of Colorado State. Someone here said he'd be a better choice than Fazekas. Having never seen him play since i live in NJ, whats the goods on Smith?

[SwingMan]

I was reading up a bit on him yesterday, Shel. Here's what Matthew Maurer/NBADraft has to say. Updated 2-24-07:


http://nbadraft.net/admincp/library/players/small/jason-smith-hd.jpg

Jason Smith

Birthday:3/2/1986
NBA Postion:Power Forward
Class:Junior
Ht: 7-0
Wt: 240
College Team: Colorado St.
Hometown: Greeley, CO
High School: Platte Valley

NBA Comparison: Brian Cook

Strengths: 7-footer who shows solid mobility, able to run the court with no problems … Active player who constantly works the blocks to get open … Has developed into an above average rebounder … Underrated post passer who does a good job of recognizing double teams and reacting to them … Fundamentally sound player with few bad habits … Does a good job of keeping the ball high and not putting it on the floor after receiving the ball … For his size Smith is an adequate ball handler … Once Smith gets position in the post he makes his body wide giving his guards a bigger target … Great post footwork, and moves with good fluidity … Offensively he has range out to 18 feet when facing the basket … Excels at taking advantage of size mismatches … Back to the basket skills are still developing but have improved greatly … Owns a nice turnaround jumper in the post … Mobility allows him to be a sufficient help defender … Shows good touch around the basket where he is a solid finisher … Better athlete than he's given credit for as he is more than capable of getting off the floor quickly … Does a great job of creating contact and getting to the free throw line …

Weaknesses: Back to the basket moves have greatly improved but are still very much a work in progress … Needs to continue to add more upper body strength … Struggles to establish position against physical defenders as he can easily get pushed off the blocks … Rebounding has improved greatly this year but he needs to focus on boxing out better … Doesn’t always finish strong after absorbing contact … Above average shot blocker in college but likely will not be as fortunate in the NBA … Will need to upgrade his foot speed while adding weight, which could be a challenge … Athletic opponents tend to frustrate him defensively on the perimeter … Needs to take care of the ball better when making offesnive moves … Doesn’t shy away from contact but certainly does not seek it out … Lacks the killer instinct to consistently dominate games …

Matthew Maurer - 2/24/2007

If we somehow miss out on Tiago Splitter, Jason Smith wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.....

[RDM2]

Well it seems like the day after the Championship game lots of analysts put Noah down as having hurt himself in the views of the scouts with a bad showing. So does this benefit us as far as him maybe dropping to us? People seem to think Conley can legitimately take over for Nash, does he really have that much potential? He is pretty small, 6'1 and I can seriously see him being a major defensive liability....at least Nash has veteran knowledge on his side to survive defensively in the NBA.

[ShelC]

I dont necessarily like Conley or like him for this team. I'd rather make a big push for Sergio thru a trade or even Blake thru free agency or sign and trade.

Im hoping people think Noah isnt that good so that he slips to us. On PTI, Wilbon and Korny said that Brewer, Brewer!, would be a legit 3rd pick behind Oden and Durant. Cant agree with that cuz i think Brewer will be a super role playing 3 like Shawn, James Posey, TayPrince...they compared him to Scottie Pippen. Its that kind of a mistake that can raise expectations for a player too much. Brewer isnt a franchise superstar type that can lead a team and thats they kind of guy who should be drafted at the 3 spot IMO.

[torres]

Here's my issue with Conley: What does Conley have right now that Marcus Banks can't contribute?

Due to how things have gone with Banks this season, I see D'Antoni as incapable of developing a young PG due to the luxury of having Nash.

[UOducks4life]

Here's my issue with Conley: What does Conley have right now that Marcus Banks can't contribute?

A jump shot and over 2.5 assist/turnover ratio.

[OE]

Here's my issue with Conley: What does Conley have right now that Marcus Banks can't contribute?


Did you even watch the tournament?

I'd strongly consider Conley with the Hawks' pick. He's said he won't declare. We'll see.

[Dro]

Here's my issue with Conley: What does Conley have right now that Marcus Banks can't contribute?

A jump shot and over 2.5 assist/turnover ratio.

Exactly. If you watched a lot of OSU games this season, it should be clear to you that Conley was the best in the NATION at controlling the tempo of the game. He was always under control, finding the open man, and taking over when he needed to. I think what seperates Conley most is his basketball IQ.

However, with the Hawks' shutting down JJ and Childress (with maybe more to come), we're looking at a 4th or 5th pick (assuming the pick doesn't drop into the top 3, in which case we would get nothing). This is just personal opinion, but I think Conley would be worth a 4th or 5th pick...but there's too many people on the Horford/Noah/Yi bandwagon for the Suns to take Conley that early.

Regarding Noah...am I the only one who thinks he would be the wrong guy for us? Sure, he would be a nice fit for the Nash-led Suns, because he provides energy and finishing skills. But I think the Suns need to go into this draft planning for the post-Nash era. Lets face it...this will be a team with a completely different style once Nash is gone. That means we need more players who can create plays on their own rather than guys who are just great finishers. If the Suns really want to draft a big man, then it should be Horford, who reminds me of Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer.


On PTI, Wilbon and Korny said that Brewer, Brewer!, would be a legit 3rd pick behind Oden and Durant. Cant agree with that cuz i think Brewer will be a super role playing 3 like Shawn, James Posey, TayPrince...they compared him to Scottie Pippen. Its that kind of a mistake that can raise expectations for a player too much. Brewer isnt a franchise superstar type that can lead a team and thats they kind of guy who should be drafted at the 3 spot IMO.

Brewer would come in and would compete with Raja as the Suns' best lock-down defender. Dude can guard 1, 2, and 3 with his 6'8 frame. He can handle the ball, create off the dribble, finish with the best of them, and most importantly, he can drain the three. Haven't we all agreed that the Suns need a guy who can lock down big 1's and 2's? Chauncey Billups' big games against us would be a thing of the past. Jeff Green also fits this same mold, except he isn't the shooter Brewer is.

IMO, Brewer would be the IDEAL pick for the Suns' current and future needs, although I wouldn't be opposed to Horford or Conley. I'm just not sold on Noah at all, and I think all the pre-draft workouts will really hurt his stock, because his biggest asset, his motor, can't be showcased in a workout.

[bjebaz]

Banks can't finish at the rim. Conley appears to be able to do that.

[Squeege63]

Conley does everything we are looking for in a Nash backup. He is a pass first PG, who is also a good shooter (so teams have to respect him). he has a good assist/turnover ratio, and he can take over a game if need be. He really reminds me of everything that Nash brings to the team and I think it would be prudent as others have suggested to start thinking towards the post Nash era. But with Conley we could be also thinking about the current Nash era, as he would provide strong backup play to lessen Nash's minutes, while he is groomed to be his replacement.

[ShelC]

Banks can't finish at the rim.

Thats really the only thing he can do IMO.

But I think the Suns need to go into this draft planning for the post-Nash era.

We've been saying that for 2 years already. Last year was the year to take a PG, when you were looking at Williams, Rondo and Sergio. Especially Sergio.

Brewer would come in and would compete with Raja as the Suns' best lock-down defender. Dude can guard 1, 2, and 3 with his 6'8 frame. He can handle the ball, create off the dribble, finish with the best of them, and most importantly, he can drain the three. Haven't we all agreed that the Suns need a guy who can lock down big 1's and 2's?

Yup. Brewer would be a beast on this team. But i wouldnt take him, or Conley, at 4 or 5 if Noah is there. I would include Yi there as well if he turns out to be legit legit.

I understand the need of finding a replacement for Nash, but i think a legit frontcourt rebounder/hustle guy is a necessity. We're still looking at Damp/Diop and Duncan/Oberto/Elson and Bynum (wait, he'll get there) in the future. Big men always are harder to find and come at a premium in free agency. We can get a PG, if we dont already have him in Barbs. In fact, i'd be more inclined to let barbs play the point next season and go for a bigger guard like Marcus Williams or Brewer.

If we came away with Noah at 4 or 5 and Brewer/Williams at say 9-10 (assuming we can trade up with our other 2 picks), i'd be absolutely ecstatic.

[Dro]

I understand the need of finding a replacement for Nash, but i think a legit frontcourt rebounder/hustle guy is a necessity. We're still looking at Damp/Diop and Duncan/Oberto/Elson and Bynum (wait, he'll get there) in the future. Big men always are harder to find and come at a premium in free agency. We can get a PG, if we dont already have him in Barbs. In fact, i'd be more inclined to let barbs play the point next season and go for a bigger guard like Marcus Williams or Brewer.

If we came away with Noah at 4 or 5 and Brewer/Williams at say 9-10 (assuming we can trade up with our other 2 picks), i'd be absolutely ecstatic.

I see your point regarding the necessity for big men, and I agree, but I don't think Noah is the guy for the Suns. A few things about him bother me, starting with his weak offensive game. He has no shooting ability, no low-post moves, and very little back-to-the-basket game. From what I've seen, Horford is a much more refined offensive talent. Noah's lanky frame doesn't make him the ideal person to guard the caliber of players you just mentioned, whereas Horford is arguably just as effective a defender with a stronger body. Also, two things stood out to me about Noah's game last night: 1) he became fatigued early in the game, 2) he was on the bench for much of the stretch run. I would even consider Roy Hibbert over Noah.

Don't get me wrong, I love his motor and compassion, but I don't think those two qualities justify a 4th or 5th pick.

[ShelC]

He has no shooting ability, no low-post moves, and very little back-to-the-basket game. From what I've seen, Horford is a much more refined offensive talent.

No argument there. But again, think about this team and who those guys would be playing nextto...Amare Stoudemire. Horford is the type who will need the ball fed into him on the block to be an effective scorer. We dont play like that and if anyone is getting the ball on the block or in the paint its gonna be Amare 8/10 times. Horford would be great as a main low-post option in the right system and with the right players around him. Thats his best asset. But thats not how we play.

And shooting is something that can always be worked on. Boris couldnt shoot a lick when he got here and improved during the season last year. Amare was strictly a dunker when he came into the league, now hes talking about 3pt range. It all comes down to whether a guy is willing to work on his jumper (shawn marion) or not (desmond mason). I think Weber could do wonders with noah. And Noahs biggest asset is his ability to be a high post distributer. Hes always dribbling or passing at the 3pt line, which helps the spacing tremendously. This is probably where the coaches (supposedly) like Noah and would move boris if they got him. Not only can Noah handle and pass well for a big, hes much more of a hustle player who plays with great intensity, something Boris really lacks which hurts the team at times. And again, Noah doesnt need the ball to score. He can get his running the floor, scoring on dunks and putbacks and be happy with it.

Noah's lanky frame doesn't make him the ideal person to guard the caliber of players you just mentioned, whereas Horford is arguably just as effective a defender with a stronger body. Also, two things stood out to me about Noah's game last night: 1) he became fatigued early in the game, 2) he was on the bench for much of the stretch run. I would even consider Roy Hibbert over Noah.

I dont think hes lanky in a bad way, like hes skinny-lanky. I think hes got an excellent build with natural size that just needs some strength added. That comes with age and just working out. Horford is the one to watch, cuz hes either going to lose that bit of fat and make it muscle, or hes not. Brand and Boozer made big leaps when they got serious with their bodies. If he can do that, great. If not, he'll be Zach Randolph, which isnt exactly terrible.

And Horford is strictly a PF. I dont want a PF. Amares a PF playing center. KT is a PF playing center. shawn is a SF playing PF. Boris is a SF playing PF and C. I want a legit 6-11, 7-0 big man who can board, block shots and run the floor. Noah fits the bill there. He can body up all the 4s and most 5s in this league now. Thats helps take the pressure off everyone.

And really, i cant put too much stock into 1 game. Noahs been playing in every game and has won 2 titles there. Hes the emotional leader of that team. He was guarding Oden a lot early on, which no doubt wore him down. I dont think conditioning is really an issue at this point. And Hibbert over Noah? Maybe if this was SA or Detroit ;)

[Squeege63]

Ok, granted we need a big, but this draft is stacked with bigs. I truly believe our more pressing need will be a backup for Nash, as it looks like Diaw has been relegated to the bench and Barbs is taking the starting spot. We can't have Barbs starting and playing the backup PG duties at the same time. Besides, though Barbs' assists are going up he doesn't have the inherent court vision ability to find the passing lanes that Nash does. Conley has those skills and if we want to continue with this team once Nash is gone, we need an elite pass-first PG. Those are very rare. I believe that Conley is one of those. Its either draft the elite PG when we have the opportunity, or pay out the ass to get one once Nash is done.

[ShelC]

Or change up the system to take advantage of the players we have....like Barbs and Amare, when Stevie and Raja are done and Shawns contract is up.

[Squeege63]

We probably won't change the system unless we get a new coach.

[UO]

Even though that's true, it would probably work in our favor if they leave early because next year they may be lottery picks. If they enter this year we at least have a shot at them and can just focus on developing their game.

There's still a good chance that Atlanta keeps their pick this year. We'll see.

[ShelC]

Yea, thank you. I always get carried away with the draft and this years possibilities are tantalizing. Im gonna try not to get overly excited, cuz its more than likely we wont end up with any of these guys.

[SwingMan]

Even though that's true, it would probably work in our favor if they leave early because next year they may be lottery picks. If they enter this year we at least have a shot at them and can just focus on developing their game.

There's still a good chance that Atlanta keeps their pick this year. We'll see.

Damnit, UO!!!!!

Just had to bring on that bad juju, didn't ya? Check ESPN:


Childress shuts down season with stress fracture

Associated Press

ATLANTA -- Hawks guard Josh Childress will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot.

The team announced the injury Tuesday and said Childress, a first-round draft pick from Stanford in 2004, is expected to recover in four to six weeks.

Childress is averaging 13 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals, mostly coming off the bench, this season. He is the team leader in field goal percentage at .504.

BTW UO, I keed, keed..... ;)

That said, tank city. :(

[BigLewy]

Hey look on the bright side, Swing. Imagine if the Hawks keep the pick, but Oden and Durant stay in school for some reason, which isn't an impossibility. Who would they draft with the pick? Someone like Horford or Noah may not help them that much, and if Conley stays who will play the point? Just imagine the Hawks sucking ass next year and winning the lottery and Durant coming to the desert. Ok, I will now step away from the bottle....

[ShelC]

F%$K the Hawks. They're shutting everyone down and dumping and making it blatantly obvious. Who cares...theyll probaby get the 2nd pick and take Brewer.

[SwingMan]

F%$K the Hawks. They're shutting everyone down and dumping and making it blatantly obvious. Who cares...theyll probaby get the 2nd pick and take Brewer.

Our only soltice is that Milwaukee seems to be tanking just as much - and lost once again tonight.

[Mori_Chu]

I'll be so sad if we don't get the Hawks' pick. It's worth so much more this year than it will be next.

[UOducks4life]

Hey look on the bright side, Swing. Imagine if the Hawks keep the pick, but Oden and Durant stay in school for some reason, which isn't an impossibility.

If the Hawks are picking 1st or 2nd I'd reconsider too.

[UO]

I'll be so sad if we don't get the Hawks' pick. It's worth so much more this year than it will be next.

I don't know . . . things tend to work out a lot different than you would think.

If either Durant or Oden decide to stay, a Top-1 protected pick next year becomes more tantalizing, considering that we'd be looking at--at the very least--OJ Mayo (assuming the Hawks are still terrible).

[SwingMan]

I'll be so sad if we don't get the Hawks' pick. It's worth so much more this year than it will be next.

I don't know . . . things tend to work out a lot different than you would think.

If either Durant or Oden decide to stay, a Top-1 protected pick next year becomes more tantalizing, considering that we'd be looking at--at the very least--OJ Mayo (assuming the Hawks are still terrible).

Top 1 protected hell, UO. That sucker is unprotected in 2008.

That said, I rather have it this year than next, as it looks like a #10 pick this year might be as good as a top 3 pick in 2008.

[bjebaz]

Banks can't finish at the rim.

Thats really the only thing he can do IMO.



That's why on 82games.com the only rotation players who shoot a worse inside percentage are Barbosa, who is noted for his missed layups, and James Jones, who basically takes all jumpers anyway? Bell's the same percentage, and who would call Bell a good finisher? Keep in mind you can't take other team's numbers into account as they likely don't see anywhere close to as many open layups as the Suns do.

Banks can't finish well for a guy who gets right at the rim.

[ShelC]

So hes a better finisher than Barbs, JR, and the same as Bell? Thats basically our guard rotation. Stevie is a 2 time MVP so you know hes making his, Shawn and Amare gets dunks or fingerolls at the basket. From the games ive seen when he gets minutes, he can get to the rim at will and finish the tough shots, like reverse lay-ups. Ive also seen him take it to the basket, get the foul and miss the lay-up but get 2 FTs, which may or may not account for some inaccurate numbers.

[blee732]

If the Hawks finish with the 4th worst record, the odds they'll have a top 3 pick would be roughly 38%. Charlotte, Philly, Portland, and Seattle are all just 2-3 games better so things might still change.

Atlanta's actually playing the Bucks twice, Philly, and Boston in their remaining games. Now those are games worth watching =)

[Nash4MVP]

Atlanta vs Bucks twice more this season?!

Wow. I wonder what a game looks like when both teams want to lose very badly. I guess we'll see...

Predicted scores: Atlanta 17, Bucks 15

Coach Woodson gets ejected when he storms the court after Royal Ivey scores their final basket screaming "I told you--no more scoring!!"

[ShelC]

Haha...basically. Or the refs throw up the jump ball and everyone just stands there watching it drop cuz no team wants possession.

Its stupid, cuz the league and these teams know their dumping and playing for lotto balls. They may not lose on purpose (well, the celts have) and make it that obvious, but how can a coach/GM/players legitimately go out at this point in the season and try and win games? There should be some kind of incentive or motivation the leageu can come up with to keep the last games of a season honest between the worst teams.

[ShelC]

From Hoopshype:

http://hoopshype.com/draft.htm

They have us taking Horford. I dont like the comparison between him and Emeka tho.

[In2ition]

There are so many scenarios and possibilities in how the draft could go for the Suns that we will be saying the same thing over and over for nearly the next three months. What I really wonder about and perhaps someone can ask this question to D'Antoni, Sarver, or any of the other brass is why haven't the Suns or it seems won't consider taking a foreign player and letting them develop for a couple of years overseas?
If they have a lot of potential and have a huge buyout, and you don't want to have three rookies on the roster at the same time, you don't have to have them count against the salary cap, and you aren't in need of immediate help, where is the down side? Any of the good Internationals would be perfect for this scenario: Yi, Splitter, Batum, Belinelli, Fernandez, or Ajinca.

[SwingMan]

So, how's about that Milos Vujanic? :lol:

[Squeege63]

They might do that with one of the later picks, but I think we need a player who can contribute right away if we get ATL's pick. I still say Conley is the best bet as it had been shown that one of our most glaring weaknesses is a drop off in production when Nash is out.

[Squeege63]

So, how's about that Milos Vujanic? :lol:

Word

[bjebaz]

So hes a better finisher than Barbs, JR, and the same as Bell? Thats basically our guard rotation. Stevie is a 2 time MVP so you know hes making his, Shawn and Amare gets dunks or fingerolls at the basket. From the games ive seen when he gets minutes, he can get to the rim at will and finish the tough shots, like reverse lay-ups. Ive also seen him take it to the basket, get the foul and miss the lay-up but get 2 FTs, which may or may not account for some inaccurate numbers.

Well we must be watching different players because every time I've watched him play this year it seems I've seen him miss gimmes right at the rim. He gets there easily enough, I agree, but misses them. And if a player gets fouled, but misses the shot, it doesn't effect FG%, so that doesn't have anything to do with it.

Example: Don't remember which game, but the wide open layup he had after he got a steal at the end of a quarter. I don't even think that drew iron.

[DrSublime]

hoopshype also has the suns drafting
Thaddeus Young at the no 24 stop
....
i wanted him with the ATL pick when the season started
if they can get him at 24 that would be outstanding

[UOducks4life]

Example: Don't remember which game, but the wide open layup he had after he got a steal at the end of a quarter. I don't even think that drew iron.

I think I remember that and IIRC he missed because he was rushing the shot to beat the buzzer at the end of the quarter.

[In2ition]

So, how's about that Milos Vujanic? :lol:

Word

Word???........




Maybe you guys are right. Maybe it would be better to sell it for $3 mil.

[Squeege63]

I never said sell it. I was just agreeing with the idea that our experience of leaving players abroad hasn't worked so well in the past.

[In2ition]

Well, if we have it, and if we don't want to have three rookies on the roster next year, wouldn't it be a good alternative? I can think of many examples of just because it didn't work out the first time, doesn't mean it isn't a good idea.

"Just because you got hit by a baseball the first time you were up to bat, doesn't mean you should never step in the box again." Well, maybe that is kind of lame, but I am sure you get the point.

[UOducks4life]

The main reason I think that's a bad idea is because I don't see the point in paying a player to be coached by another staff across The World.

[In2ition]

The main reason I think that's a bad idea is because I don't see the point in paying a player to be coached by another staff across The World.

I don't believe that you are paying them, just have their rights until they are on the roster. When that time comes, then they start their rookie contract.

[UOducks4life]

Oh I see. That makes sense.

[blee732]

hoopshype also has the suns drafting
Thaddeus Young at the no 24 stop
....
i wanted him with the ATL pick when the season started
if they can get him at 24 that would be outstanding

man, that would be great. thaddeus young has been lost in the mix due to the success of durant and oden, so he may still be flying under the radar until the draft. young hasn't been able to really shine b/c he's playing with a PG who really dominates the ball (Crittenton). When workouts start coming around, I think we'll see him move up on the draft board pretty quick.

[In2ition]

The biggest discrepancy is Ajinca. While his 7- 3/4 measurement is close to the 7-1 on the original roster, he only weighs 207 pounds compared to his originally listed weight of 240. The only thing that remained constant is that his wing span is indeed 7-8 3/4.


French big man Alexis Ajinca stood out more than anyone else today. Physically, Ajinca is an absolute freak of nature, listed at 7-1 (though he appears to be 7-2) with a huge wingspan and gigantic hands. Combine these attributes with an explosive vertical leap and nimble feet, and Ajinca can be considered an intriguing prospect based on size and athleticism alone. There is a lot more to be intrigued about than just his physical attributes, though.

Offensively, he has great hands under the basket, and uses his great length to keep loose balls alive on the offensive end, as well as sky over opposing players for rebounds on the defensive end. In the practice, Ajinca played the power forward position on the offensive end, playing opposite Nigerian big man Solomon Alabi. He appeared comfortable playing on the perimeter, showing soft shooting touch on his mid-range jump-shot. Inside, the big man handled the ball comfortably in traffic as well. During the scrimmage, Ajinca did most of his damage inside by gaining position, and either driving to the hoop or going to a hook shot with great success. On one possession, he shocked everybody in the practice facility by bring the ball back behind his head with his right arm and throwing down a monster dunk.

A big weakness that Alexis Ajinca must improve is the lack of bulk on his frame. He has the frame to add weight, but he struggles to gain position against the more physically developed competition he faces in the French ProA league. If he can add weight, he has the potential to play both the 4 and 5 at the next level, and his face the basket game would be an absolute nightmare for opposing centers to guard. It will also before important for him to gain experience and prove he can apply his raw skills on the basketball court before he enters the NBA draft.

Here is a perfect example of a player that you would want to retain his rights and keep in Europe. I have been trying to keep an eye on him since I heard about him two years ago, and he seems to be improving. I am sure that some of you here could comment more from seeing him in person.

[UOducks4life]

Thats all cool, until I read this:


March 28, 2007
Alexis Ajinca had played a grand total of 16 minutes combining both the Euroleague and French LNB. He was injured coming into the season, but being healthy for an extended period of time now, it seems that he’s not being counted on by his coach at all. It’s relatively understandable after watching him against Tau. Contrary to what he did last summer, Ajinca seems to be back to the power forward spot now, playing mostly facing the basket. Obviously, to battle under the rim with his super-skinny frame is a lost cause. However, he keeps filling out his body slowly, but steadily. He still gets outmuscled, but not as blatantly as before. Anyway, despite looking greatly intriguing with that incredibly long frame and nice mobility evolving on court, he wasn’t effective this time. He missed a couple of three-point jumpers, committed an offensive foul when he put the ball on the floor to attack a rival, and also committed a turnover when he tried to dribble past a smaller defender from his own court to solve a full-court pressure. Highly predictable stuff for a guy of his characteristics, who is clearly not used to this level of competition. That’s why Ajinca needs playing time like he needs air; he can become a freakishly amazing 7-1 PF with a great feel for the ball. Still, it’s hard to bet on a guy that will likely make you less competitive in the short term and you know will probably be gone as soon as he blossoms; meaning that he will have to convince his coach in practices to give him that playing time.

Why does it make too much sense to draft guys like this anyway in the 2nd round just in case. What are the rules on draft rights, international players and team salary?

[SwingMan]

Well, if we have it, and if we don't want to have three rookies on the roster next year, wouldn't it be a good alternative? I can think of many examples of just because it didn't work out the first time, doesn't mean it isn't a good idea.

Got a 4-letter word:

NBDL.

[SwingMan]

Awesome. :evil:

Boston just lost to Milwaukee and Atlanta lost to NJ.

Translation: Just 1/2 game more and Atlanta goes to #3 from #4. Shit.....

[INFORMER]

Regarding Noah...am I the only one who thinks he would be the wrong guy for us?

I'm not going that far, but I do have my doubts. I don't see how you can expect Noah to be such a great fit here when he probably won't be able to play at the same time with Amare because of his lack of an offensive game.

[ShelC]

Why does it make too much sense to draft guys like this anyway in the 2nd round just in case.

Duh! We did that with Marcin Gortat in 2005. Then of course, we promptly traded his rights to Orlando.

I think, in general, teams are afraid of leaving a guy overseas for fear of injury or that he may not be learning "NBA Basketball". The thinking might just be that what he can learn over there, he can learn more over here, practice against better players, learn the system hes going to be playing in and maybe most importantly, get the proper strength and conditioning.

However, when you look at the Spurs and how they drafted Manu and brought him over 3 years later, u wonder why it doesnt happen more often.

[INFORMER]

In response to UO's sentiments, I'm having my doubts about the Hawks' pick as well. I don't think we'll get it. I've been concentrating most of my attention on the other picks and the prospects that may be available in that range.

[OrlandoGardener]

Regarding Noah...am I the only one who thinks he would be the wrong guy for us?

I'm not going that far, but I do have my doubts. I don't see how you can expect Noah to be such a great fit here when he probably won't be able to play at the same time with Amare because of his lack of an offensive game.

Noah will be satisfied letting Amare score 30/game. Just look at out team this year; all season long we've been upset about one guy or another not getting enough touches. We don't need another big who wants the ball to be effective.

[INFORMER]

And to elaborate, while I think if we keep our late round picks we can add two solid rookies, I recognize the Suns might try to package one or both picks with Marcus Banks to dump him.

The Warriors might be an option at 14 (if they miss the playoffs) with us getting the 14th pick and Jasikevicius for Banks, the 24th and the 29th picks.

Then there's Philidelphia, currently at 18 I believe, who could send us the 18th pick and Kevin Ollie for Banks and the two late round picks.

Miami could send us the 19th pick, Michael Doleac, (and possibly Dorell wright or Wayne Simien) for Marcus Banks and two late first rounders.

[INFORMER]

Regarding Noah...am I the only one who thinks he would be the wrong guy for us?

I'm not going that far, but I do have my doubts. I don't see how you can expect Noah to be such a great fit here when he probably won't be able to play at the same time with Amare because of his lack of an offensive game.

Noah will be satisfied letting Amare score 30/game. Just look at out team this year; all season long we've been upset about one guy or another not getting enough touches. We don't need another big who wants the ball to be effective.

Swing, you completely missed my point. It isn't about what Noah will be willing to do. What I'm saying is that D'Antoni won't play Noah and Amare together. Noah doesn't have offensive game, so he'll be reduced to being Amare's back-up.

[LazarusLong]

Noah's weird jumper and even weirder FT stroke may be a considerable handicap, in D'Antoni's eyes. Horford has equal parts McDyess and KT in him; I also could see Brewer in a Suns uni if the balls put Phoenix a bit lower than hoped for.

[SwingMan]

Uh, INF? That wasn't me.

That said, Noah will surely get Kurt's minutes, at least, seeing as Kurt's likely gone either this summer or by February.

[INFORMER]

Woops, sorry Swing. Yeah, that was OrlandoGardener.

[ShelC]

I just feel like, realistically, we're not getting anything from Diaw on a consistent basis either. Why not replace him with another guy who doesnt/cant score? That would be the plan anyways, right? Its more about bringing in a different type of game. Replace Diaw with Noah on the floor and he's getting more boards, giving us more energy and hustle, more shotblocking and would probably score more off garbage points.

[WestCoastBias]

yes trade diaw...get rid of his lazy ass

[UO]

That sucker is unprotected in 2008.


Wow, good catch, Swing. For some reason, I thought it was protected 1st overall . . .

In that case, we had better hope one of Oden/Durant stays, and that the Hawks keep their pick this year.

[OE]

Somebody should catch the OGW and ship her to Atlanta. Make sure she stays through next year.

You know, we get lucky and ATL picks up Jianlian or Hibbert. Worst case scenario, they take Noah or Horford. Horford would certainly push them into the playoffs, methinks.

[In2ition]

Well, if we have it, and if we don't want to have three rookies on the roster next year, wouldn't it be a good alternative? I can think of many examples of just because it didn't work out the first time, doesn't mean it isn't a good idea.

Got a 4-letter word:

NBDL.

Well, I've got three words that don't make that quite as viable:

"salary cap hit"

[SwingMan]

2 more words:

Bird rule.

[OrlandoGardener]

Regarding Noah...am I the only one who thinks he would be the wrong guy for us?

I'm not going that far, but I do have my doubts. I don't see how you can expect Noah to be such a great fit here when he probably won't be able to play at the same time with Amare because of his lack of an offensive game.

Noah will be satisfied letting Amare score 30/game. Just look at out team this year; all season long we've been upset about one guy or another not getting enough touches. We don't need another big who wants the ball to be effective.

Swing, you completely missed my point. It isn't about what Noah will be willing to do. What I'm saying is that D'Antoni won't play Noah and Amare together. Noah doesn't have offensive game, so he'll be reduced to being Amare's back-up.

I think I see. You might or might not like Noah, but you don't think he's D'Antoni's kind of player.

I like him, and hope that D'Antoni is the kind of coach/GM who will like him.

[In2ition]

2 more words:

Bird rule.

I think that you are proving my point.

[SwingMan]

Ok. 3 more words:

Boston Celtics, 1994.