Mock Draft: The Sonics are up at #12!

[elindholm]

1. Orlando -- Emeka Okafor
2. L. A. Clippers -- Dwight Howard
3. Chicago -- Luol Deng
4. Charlotte -- Shaun Livingston
5. Washington -- Andris Biedrins
6. Atlanta -- Ben Gordon
7. Phoenix -- Andre Iguodala
8. Toronto -- Pavel Podkolzine
9. Philadelphia -- Josh Childress
10. Cleveland -- Devin Harris
11. Golden State -- Josh Smith
12. Seattle
13. Portland
14. Utah
15. Boston
16. Utah
17. Atlanta
18. New Orleans
19. Miami
20. Denver
21. Utah
22. New Jersey
23. Portland
24. Boston
25. Boston
26. Sacramento
27. L. A. Lakers
28. San Antonio
29. Indiana

 

[F-Dog]

This draft seems to have a 'big 2' and a 'medium 9', and now we're at the next tier of prospects. Seattle needs a center (as always) and a swingman to replace the defense and athleticism of Desmond Mason.

From who's left, my guess is that Snyder, Monya, Luke Jackson and maybe Ramos might make the Sonics' short list. I'll go with Snyder, since he's supposedly looked better than anybody in workouts.

 

[elindholm]

Drat, forgot to make this poll public. Sorry about that.

If they believe that Flip Murray and/or Brent Barry are part of their future, they don't need another swingman, in my opinion. They need size. They went with a small lineup (putting Rashard Lewis at PF) for significant stretches last season, but that approach has no future.

I think if a good PF prospect were on the board they'd go for him, but the closest seems to be Humphries, who sounds sort of like Rodney Rogers to me. So I think they'll roll the dice on one of the center prospects. Of those that are left, Ramos strikes me as the most appealing, so I'm going with him.

 

[elindholm]

By the way, whoever is sticky-ing these polls each day, thanks! (I'm assuming it's Joe Mama.)

 

[fordronken]

Drat, forgot to make this poll public. Sorry about that.

If they believe that Flip Murray and/or Brent Barry are part of their future, they don't need another swingman, in my opinion. They need size. They went with a small lineup (putting Rashard Lewis at PF) for significant stretches last season, but that approach has no future.

I think if a good PF prospect were on the board they'd go for him, but the closest seems to be Humphries, who sounds sort of like Rodney Rogers to me. So I think they'll roll the dice on one of the center prospects. Of those that are left, Ramos strikes me as the most appealing, so I'm going with him.

The thing is, there aren't any power forwards available who have any more of a chance of succeeding than Collison, so they may go another route.

 

[F-Dog]

Drat, forgot to make this poll public. Sorry about that.

If they believe that Flip Murray and/or Brent Barry are part of their future, they don't need another swingman, in my opinion. They need size. They went with a small lineup (putting Rashard Lewis at PF) for significant stretches last season, but that approach has no future.

I think if a good PF prospect were on the board they'd go for him, but the closest seems to be Humphries, who sounds sort of like Rodney Rogers to me. So I think they'll roll the dice on one of the center prospects. Of those that are left, Ramos strikes me as the most appealing, so I'm going with him.

Flip Murray had a lot of trouble with his decision-making and defense in the second half of the season, and Barry seems unlikely to stay.

The Sonics drafted Nick Collison last year, so I'm not sure they'd be interested in another PF this year, but if they like one of the centers, I'm sure they would be tempted to go in that direction.

 

[F-Dog]

I seem to be having trouble getting my posts up in a timely fashion tonight.

 

[hcsilla]

.

I think if a good PF prospect were on the board they'd go for him, but the closest seems to be Humphries, who sounds sort of like Rodney Rogers to me.

Humphries is an interesting player. He doesn't have Rogers' range but he is taller and more athletic.

Humphries is a cross between Tom Gugliotta (before injuries) and Marcus Fizer. I think that he will become at least a fine 6th man whose role is similar to Rogers/Williamson.

 

[elindholm]

Hmm, I thought I read that Humphries can shoot the three, but it doesn't sound like he's as quick as Gugliotta was.

 

[hcsilla]

Hmm, I thought I read that Humphries can shoot the three, but it doesn't sound like he's as quick as Gugliotta was.

He can shoot college 3's but I do not think that he will be close to Rogers' level as a 3P-shooter.
From the other side he looked surprisingly quick to me (considering the scouting reports about him).

 

[hcsilla]

After reading CHI's measurements Humphries is the biggest surprise to me. With 6'9" 1/2 he is lock for the lottery, IMO.

The big issue with him was that he will have to play SF because he is jut 6'8".

He is a very versatile offensive player with good mobility. nbadraft.net is right on with the Gugliotta comparison.

 

[George O'Brien]

This is an impossible draft for the Sonics. They already have three high priced project centers. They can keep Brent Barry if they just pay him for four years, so SG/SF is not a huge problem and they think Ridnour will be a good PG some day.

Humphres makes sense, but he a bit light for PF:
Humphries, Kris 6'8.25" 6'9.5" 238 7'0.5" 8'10.5"

One radical move would be to go for Jefferson. A bit of a reach here, but he is actually bigger than some of us expected and reputed to be a real horse:
Jefferson, Al 6'8.25" 6'9.75" 263 7'2.5" 9'2"

I haven't heard enough buzz on either lately to even guess.

 

[F-Dog]

Yeah, I think Al Jefferson should start showing up on teams' boards right about now.

We can probably start including him on our list when elindholm decides to shelve Perovic...

 

[Errntknght]

Maybe we should vote Perovic to the Sonics just to get him off the list... I'm guessing they will go with a C - Ramos

 

[elindholm]

Jefferson was next on my list anyway. I'm going to leave Perovic up through the end of the lottery, but you can always do a write-in vote.

 

[elindholm]

We need a tie-breaker, guys!

 

[elindholm]

I got tired of waiting, so I broke the tie with a coin flip.

The Sonics select Luke Jackson.

 

[hcsilla]

Hmm, I thought I read that Humphries can shoot the three, but it doesn't sound like he's as quick as Gugliotta was.

Another similar player to Humphries may be Drew Gooden.