Official 2009 Draft Thread

[Ronin]

Well, this'll make you happy then. The Sun's aren't going to take him.

Nice catch.




If the Suns were able to draft Blair, then people could start taking the soft label off the Suns.

 

[Gorillatank]

Yo I'm doing some work with the NBA's digital division and wanted to show you guys their coverage of the Suns on NBA.com. It's pretty useful, they take the Suns draft "under the microscope."

 

[Ronin]

Blair is going against Mullens today in Chicago.....

 

[Ronin]

"The fives," Miami Heat scout Chet Kammerer said of this year's class of centers, "are not good at all. It's sad. I mean, it's not very encouraging, that's for sure, if you're looking for centers."

The prize, or perhaps consolation prize, among this draft's big men is UConn center Hasheem Thabeet, who did not average more than 13.6 points in any of his three collegiate seasons and has been playing the sport for only six years
The only other center expected to be drafted in the first round is Ohio State freshman B.J. Mullens, who is so raw that he averaged just 20.3 minutes per game in being limited to just two starts.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-nba-draft-thabeet-s062209,0,3557538.story

 

[Ronin]

Board it: Some mock drafts list the Bulls taking Pittsburgh forward DeJuan Blair at No. 16. Though he measured only 6 feet 6 1/2 inches at the pre-draft camp, Forman doesn't sound concerned about a player who averaged 10.7 rebounds in two seasons.

"If you study drafts over the last 15 or 20 years, rebounders rebound," Forman said. "That's a stat that does translate. So I think he's going to be a good player in the NBA."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...i-23-bulls-bits-chicago-jun23,0,6265337.story

 

[AceP]

For those who think we need to draft a PG, check this first, season split of Goran Dragic:

Feb: 14.3 mpg, 6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.3 steal, 50% FG, 62.5% 3P
Mar: 11.4 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.5 steal, 42.6% FG, 37.5% 3P
Apr: 18mpg, 7.6 pprg, 3.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.9 steal, 4.18% FG, 44.4% 3P

Look around the league, among all backup PGs who had under 20 mpg, very few performed better than Dragic.

Unless we plan to trade Nash, we can't use another PG. Save the pick for something else.

 

[cly2tw]

For those who think we need to draft a PG, check this first, season split of Goran Dragic:

Feb: 14.3 mpg, 6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.3 steal, 50% FG, 62.5% 3P
Mar: 11.4 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.5 steal, 42.6% FG, 37.5% 3P
Apr: 18mpg, 7.6 pprg, 3.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.9 steal, 4.18% FG, 44.4% 3P

Look around the league, among all backup PGs who had under 20 mpg, very few performed better than Dragic.

Unless we plan to trade Nash, we can't use another PG. Save the pick for something else.

I hope we do just that.

 

[AceP]

I hope we do just that.

I have been thinking about this for a long long time ...

Consider if we have the whole same team but replacing Nash by Paul or Deron Williams, we'd instantly win it all ...

Shaq and Amare has been unfairly blamed simply because they can't completely cover up Nash's failure ...

Now, our moron GM plans to extend him and build the team around him. So let's hope he has a super-human big in hat, who can defend the other true centers one one on, hold the paint, box out and protect the board, defend out to perimeter, and move back quick enough for a block, hell ya, pretty much every damn thing you could think of. Anyone besides TD and KG fit that job?

 

[Ronin]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9719120/2009-NBA-mock-draft:-Version-3.0
No way Flynn last till the #14 pick.

 

[Russ Smith]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9719120/2009-NBA-mock-draft:-Version-3.0
No way Flynn last till the #14 pick.

And even I will be surprised if Holiday lasts until 18th and I think he's way overrated.

The Sac Bee writers think the Kings will take either Evans or Flynn at 4 so I don't see any way Flynn lasts to 14.

 

[Ronin]

And even I will be surprised if Holiday lasts until 18th and I think he's way overrated.

The Sac Bee writers think the Kings will take either Evans or Flynn at 4 so I don't see any way Flynn lasts to 14.

IDK, Russ but Katz was on espn news (today), and he said that Jrue Joliday is the player that he thinks will fall out of the lottery....so maybe there's a chance that Holliday is there at #18.

 

[Ronin]

However, there is debate where the 6-foot-9, high-intensity player will be picked. Some think top 10. Others believe he will last until the 20s.
Hansbrough insists that he doesn't care either when he is taken or by whom.
"I just want to go in and make sure I take care of business after the draft," he said. "Wherever I go, I'll be happy and I'll be ready to get to work and help them out."
Whoever takes Hansbrough -- it would not surprise if it's the power-forward desperate Nets at No. 11 -- is going to get a player coming into the league determined to prove himself.
Hansbrough has heard the criticism of his game in recent months. He is not athletic enough. He doesn't shoot well enough. He's too old, since he will be 24 at the start of the season.
"People have doubted me my whole career, so whatever," Hansbrough said. "I enjoy it. I like to win national championships. I played in college for four years because I loved it, but I am ready to take it to the next stage and prove some more people wrong.
"No one thought I was going to be a good college basketball player and I ended up being the all-time leading scorer in ACC history and the national champs," he said.
Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe was impressed with Hansbrough's shooting from the 16-to-17 foot range, his athleticism and his competitiveness.
Vandeweghe even quipped that the bloody nose that Henderson sustained in the hour-plus workout probably was caused by Hansbrough, who, of course, denied it. The Nets executive added that what Hansbrough did in college, averaging 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, was impressive.

The one knock that annoys Hansbrough is that he is not athletic, something he has endured as long as he has played.
"OK, all right," Hansbrough said. "Get me to the gym and see how I do with what you call these superior athletes. It's kind of funny. Whatever you guys want to say, I'll prove you wrong in the gym."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/nba/06/23/nets.draft.ap/index.html

 

[joshstmarie]

Consider if we have the whole same team but replacing Nash by Paul or Deron Williams, we'd instantly win it all ...

WUT?

 

[Folster]

Interesting rumor from Chad Ford. I wouldn't be surprised to see this happen if our targeted guys are gone at #14.

One rumor that won't go away has the Suns and Thunder talking about a draft-day swap that would give Oklahoma City the 14th pick and land the Suns the Thunder's 25th pick and, more importantly for Phoenix, the return of their first-round pick in 2010. The Suns traded that pick to the Thunder several years ago as part of the Kurt Thomas trade. The trade is unprotected next year and with the Suns flirting with rebuilding, they don't want to lose it.

Sources say the Thunder have an eye for Ohio State center B. J. Mullens and would likely take him if he's there at 14.

My initial thought is WTF! But then when I think about it, this would allow us to blow up the roster and rebuild. The #25 could be just as valuable in this draft as the #14. Hansbrough, Jonas Jerbko, Lawson, Casspri, Budinger, Ellington, Daye and others could be available. And, if we do blow it up and trade Amare as well, we could still have a top pick. I'd really be open to this if we moved Amare to Sac or Golden State for a package involving their pick. Shaq and Nash would have to be moved as well. Having our pick next year is huge though.

 

[PhxGametime]

I like that Trade!! Getting back the '10 Pick would be huge!!


One of the wing Prospects: Young, Budinger, Ellington, Summers, Brown, etc.; could be there.


I would've REALLY liked adding Terrence Williams or Earl Clark but neither are a given being available... might be too good to pass up??

 

[cly2tw]

I have been thinking about this for a long long time ...

Consider if we have the whole same team but replacing Nash by Paul or Deron Williams, we'd instantly win it all ...

Shaq and Amare has been unfairly blamed simply because they can't completely cover up Nash's failure ...

Now, our moron GM plans to extend him and build the team around him. So let's hope he has a super-human big in hat, who can defend the other true centers one one on, hold the paint, box out and protect the board, defend out to perimeter, and move back quick enough for a block, hell ya, pretty much every damn thing you could think of. Anyone besides TD and KG fit that job?

Exactly my sentiment all along. Well, even Tony Parker or Billups would do. If you take a closer look at the last 30 games or so last reason, we defended great whenever Nash was on the bench and won many games this way. And when Nash played long min., we always lose the steam in the 4th quarter, with no defense stopping the other while not enough energy and game to win by pure offense as we used to under DA. Frustrating.

 

[Folster]

If we make the OKC trade then you'd think we'd have to bow it up, right? What would be the point if we were going to try to make another run at the playoffs?

 

[cly2tw]

If we make the OKC trade then you'd think we'd have to bow it up, right? What would be the point if we were going to try to make another run at the playoffs?

I still hope Jennings or Williams is at #14 for us.

 

[binkar]

That OKC deal would make a lot of sense for us. That could be why we worked out Jonas Jerebko and Nick Calthes. Or that could have nothing to do with it.

 

[HooverDam]

If we make the OKC trade then you'd think we'd have to bow it up, right? What would be the point if we were going to try to make another run at the playoffs?

I would certainly hope so, but you never know with this front office. They say they want defense, so they draft a slug like Lopez. But then they trade away their most versatile defender for a terrible defender (Marion for Shaq), and trade away their best perimeter defender for an offensive oriented guy (Bell for Jrich). I think essentially they are rudderless and can't stick to anyone plan for more than a few weeks.

 

[leclerc]

I would certainly hope so, but you never know with this front office. They say they want defense, so they draft a slug like Lopez. But then they trade away their most versatile defender for a terrible defender (Marion for Shaq), and trade away their best perimeter defender for an offensive oriented guy (Bell for Jrich). I think essentially they are rudderless and can't stick to anyone plan for more than a few weeks.

The way I see it Lopez was known for his defense so that's half true. When we had Marion we where getting killed inside and on the boards and Shaq certainly helped us with that. I agree that Bell and Diaw was probably our best perimeter defenders after Marion, so the J-Rich trade did us little good with that in mind, but Bell was declining as a "stopper" and Diaw had a bad contract so it's not all about the defense... even though I also want more defenders on the team. Dragic could be decent though.

 

[slinslin]

If we did that Oklahoma trade and then dont completely blow it up and tank to get a top 5 pick next year then i have no idea what the **** we are doing in the great picture. Then I will have absolutely no interest in watching just another season with a boring old team that tries to just make the playoffs.

Draftexpress today has shuffled their draft prediction A LOT.

#4 Jonny Flynn
#9 James Johnson
#11 DeMarr DeRozan
#12 Terrence Williams
#13 Ty Lawson
#14 Earl Clark
#16 Gerald Henderson
#17 Brandon Jennings
#21 Dejuan Blair
#28 Chase Buddinger

Thats some pretty good young players imo.

#21 Blair
#14 Clark
#11 DeRozan
#17 Jennings

That's a pretty good 1-4 lineup already without picking very high. DeRozan and Jennings both have enough potential to end up being the best player in the draft in a couple of years..

 

[elindholm]

However, it is the type of draft where a team would much rather pick in the 15-25 range than from 4-13.

LOL, it's like the author is saying, "But the one place you don't want to be is 14. Oh my goodness. For heaven's sake, get out of that spot!"

 

[Ronin]

Portland and Phoenix are interested in trading for one of Minnesota's two picks in the top 10 (No. 5 or No. 6).

http://www.boston.com/sports/basket.../2009/06/spears_latest_d.html?s_campaign=8315

While Memphis combo-guard Tyreke Evans may have point guard skills and is extremely gifted offensively, several scouts said he thinks shoot first, second, and third.

LOL!

One NBA scout said he wouldn't be surprised if Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks doesn't get drafted until the mid-to-late second round since he is a one-dimensional scorer.

Key guys to keep an eye on as possible trade bait Thursday include Cleveland forward-center Ben Wallace, New Jersey swingman Vince Carter, Orlando guard Rafer Alston, a Los Angeles Clipper big man named either Marcus Camby (most likely him), Chris Kaman or Zach Randolph and New York forward-center David Lee.

 

[AceP]

Can our moron GM do something meaningful?